‘Green Arrow #49’ (review)

Written by Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly
Illustrated by Javier Fernandez
Published by DC Comics

Count Vertigo is back and he’s made Seattle an Inception level distortion field for Green Arrow and Black Canary to fight through. He’s on the heels of Roy Harper, whom he doesn’t realize has been killed in the events of Heroes in Crisis.

Both Ollie and Vertigo have mentored Roy through his addictions and struggles, but now the Count is seeking revenge on Roy incarcerating him.

For the first time, this reader has witnesses the deaths occurring in Heroes in Crisis having a reverberation in the DCU. Writers Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing are telling a Green Arrow story that is exciting, mysterious and shows a complicated bond between Oliver and Count Vertigo over the death of Speedy.

New sidekick, or Team Arrow Outsider Jayce aka Riot finds herself in the fray as it is revealed that Vertigo has mastered his powers to unleash illusions that would make Marvel’s Mysterio jealous. Some people earn a law degree in prison, some get jacked, and some take Vertigo’s path to master his innate skills to seek revenge on his captor.

Balanced with the smartly drawn fight scenes by Javier Fernandez are some great flashbacks to Ollie and Vertigo spending time with Roy separately, showing two sides of the crimson sidekick and his fatherly relationships.

True character building and empathy happens in moments after the big battle when Roy’s fate is revealed. Just when you think Vertigo has turned a corner though, his evil side kicks in, forcing Ollie to give him an ultimatum.

I’m having a great time with this run, I hope the creative team stays on. The relationships are real, fun dialogue and as quippy as the Arrow TV show.

This is recommended for Green Arrow fans and a great exploration into Vertigo’s motivations.

I’m also interested to see where Heroes in Crisis lands, so I look forward to that conclusion and the reverberations through the universe.

Whoa boy: Next up in the Arrowverse: a landmark issue #50 with more pages as key events of Justice League: No Justice and Heroes in Crisis come to a head! This is what we need, DC, more connecting the dots!