Oliver Queen has been a faithful member of the Justice League of America and defended Star City with his trusty bown and an arsenal of deadly ar... read full description
reviews
Nov 20, 2011
Sam
rated it: 
I've never been a fan of Green Arrrow's and have only seen the character crop up in big events like Final Crisis a few years back, so I didn't know what to expect from the character. He's basically just Robin Hood right?
Well I was pleasantly surprised. Oliver Queen is a rich playboy who lives a directionless life until one day while practicing archery in the Pacific, his friend betrays him and leaves him for dead. He washes ashore a desert island and hones his skills with a bow and ar More...
Well I was pleasantly surprised. Oliver Queen is a rich playboy who lives a directionless life until one day while practicing archery in the Pacific, his friend betrays him and leaves him for dead. He washes ashore a desert island and hones his skills with a bow and ar More...
Nov 12, 2010
Michael
rated it:
I've been reading a lot of DC comics lately and this comic is not a DC comic. One thing that I'v noticed is that most DC comics are littered with words, which isn't a bad thing, they just have tons of dialog. This comic is more action packed and visual. Jock's art is beautiful. Andy Diggle's writing is amazing. This is fast marvelous read. If you like the Green Arrow this is a great origin story. I've never been much of Green Arrow fan, but this comic is great. It brings out a reason why
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Nov 10, 2010
Anne
rated it: 
Honestly, this is really the first time I've really read anything about Green Arrow, so I can't compare it to anything else, but I really enjoyed this one! In fact, I think this is one of the better origin stories that I've read. I'd recommend it to anyone who loves to read comics.
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Mar 28, 2011
There is not much to recommend this. Playboy becomes superhero after spell of bad luck and a stay in the jungle, thanks largely to some sort of vague chance link to a figure associated with a modern adaptation of the legend of Robin Hood. The dialog is pretty cookie-cutter, the villain devoid of personality. And the plotting feels like it's just rushing toward the inevitable closure of the single volume.
As for the art, Jock is talented, of course, but here the pages seem roughly laid More...
As for the art, Jock is talented, of course, but here the pages seem roughly laid More...
Jan 11, 2009
Chris
rated it:
In general, I'm sort of "over" long retellings of superhero origins. While there's usually something interesting unearthed when the magnifying glass is brought over an origin story that only took two or three pages to cover in the 1950's, I've suffered through too many languidly paced Year One mini-series to very much care anymore.
That being said, I was surprised to find myself loving Green Arrow: Year One as much as I did. I had heard amazing things about the creative team More...
That being said, I was surprised to find myself loving Green Arrow: Year One as much as I did. I had heard amazing things about the creative team More...
May 19, 2009
Dufour
rated it: 
I'm amazed this didn't turn out better. Diggle and Jock murdered the action genre with their Vertigo LOSERS series, which is perhaps one of the most surprisingly fun series I've read in the past 5 years. So one would expect their take on Green Arrow's origin to be similarly cool, right?
Wrong. Lame characterization. Lame plot. Nothing interesting about this story at all. This could be ANYBODY in the Green Arrow role. Nothing sounded remotely Ollie Queen to me. And by a different token More...
Wrong. Lame characterization. Lame plot. Nothing interesting about this story at all. This could be ANYBODY in the Green Arrow role. Nothing sounded remotely Ollie Queen to me. And by a different token More...
Aug 31, 2008
Caroline
rated it:
It's not really fair to say, because this came out first, but "Green Arrow: Year One" reminds me of the "Iron Man" movie in a couple ways. Ollie Queen's character arc is similar to Tony Stark's (irresponsible playboy discovers, through betrayal and adversity, that he has a greater purpose in life). Both are also retelling of potentially corny, highly implausible origins that make them feel like they could (almost) work in the real world.
In short, anyone who li More...
In short, anyone who li More...
Jan 19, 2009
Mark
rated it: 
Wow, I knew that the Green Arrow had amazing abilities in archery and... jumping. But obstetrics?
Still, pretty ballsy of Diggle to co-opt the title of Frank Miller's seminal Batman comic, and he doesn't disappoint. Oliver Queen is a spoiled rich goatee brat stranded on a tropical island. He learns some arrow-shooting and survival skillz, unearths a massive heroin operation, frees some enslaved poppy workers, delivers a baby, etc. etc. Pretty entertaining.
Still, pretty ballsy of Diggle to co-opt the title of Frank Miller's seminal Batman comic, and he doesn't disappoint. Oliver Queen is a spoiled rich goatee brat stranded on a tropical island. He learns some arrow-shooting and survival skillz, unearths a massive heroin operation, frees some enslaved poppy workers, delivers a baby, etc. etc. Pretty entertaining.
Sep 03, 2010
Liza
rated it:
I read this based on a recommendation. I'm not sorry that I did, but this was a case for me of the reader not being the least bit able to sympathize or empathize with the main character. That said, Jock's art was fantastic and his points of view just plain stunning. Baron's coloring was divine and was a great match for Jock.
Although the story itself didn't grab me, the art grabbed enough of my attention that I will continue on.
Although the story itself didn't grab me, the art grabbed enough of my attention that I will continue on.
Dec 23, 2008
Steve
rated it:
Before reading this miniseries, I felt it was a bit unnecessary, since Green Arrow's origins had already been so masterfully retold by Mike Grell during the ‘80s. But the creative team behind The Losers stepped up to the plate and hit a homerun with this new revisitation of Oliver Queen's early days, telling a rollicking tale of high seas adventure and espionage.
Jul 31, 2010
Don
rated it:
If you can get past the too-impossible-to-believe coincidence that drives the story and just go with it, this is a good re-telling of Green Arrow's origins as a hero.
Is it necessary in any way? No. Does it break new ground? No. But Diggle ad Jock do handle Oliver well so I'd say the book is worth reading if you're a fan.
Is it necessary in any way? No. Does it break new ground? No. But Diggle ad Jock do handle Oliver well so I'd say the book is worth reading if you're a fan.
Aug 14, 2010
Jerry
rated it:
Green Arrow: Year One is another origin story about yet another billionaire -- and a laid back drunken one at that! He has no super human strength and no magic toys to make him into the hero he becomes. Instead, Oliver Queen, while stranded on a seemingly deserted island makes use of some scraps to create a bow and arrow that he uses to help destroy an icy drug lord and liberate the people she enslaves. Simple and straight forward is this story.
Sep 14, 2011
Esteve
rated it:
The Losers Diggle & Jock take a look to Green Arrow's origin, in an amazing-looking book, that feels like a (good) summer blockbuster -- mostly because of Jock's astonishing art.
http://thecommuterblog.tumblr.com/post/1...
http://thecommuterblog.tumblr.com/post/1...
Oct 19, 2009
Coral
rated it:
nice read, well-written and I like the art too. I love origins stories, so I might've been biased - besides, like Ollie I got quite a thing for Robin Hood, so I liked the references and all in that respect. the whole thing with the girl giving birth at the end was kinda cheesy, though..
Mar 19, 2010
Sophie
rated it:
I actually was surprised at how much I liked this. But while the story itself was good, it was the art and the coloring that really impressed me. Jock's style really works here, and the cover that's also on the trade is really something.
Oct 28, 2010
Mo
rated it:
It's difficult for anyone to try and match the awesomeness of Miller with a Year One story -- many have tried and horribly failed. But this one, as Brian K. Vaughan mentions in the introduction, definitely comes close. Really well executed art and script that I enjoyed all the way through. Too many similarities to the Batman storyline of course, but then, that's just a flaw in the Green Arrow design.
Jan 01, 2012
Brittany
rated it:
Excellent! I loved this retelling of Green Arrow's origin. It's definitely more of how I imagine Green Arrow to be, not just some millionaire playboy with a bunch of toys. There's good reason why he does what he does.
May 22, 2010
Michelangelo
rated it:
This was a pleasant surprise. I came across green arrow in Identity Crisis, but hadn't read any other stories about him. This was loaned to me and I was hooked! Great introduction to this not so well known character
May 01, 2011
Angela
rated it:
Retelling Ollie's time before and on the island that changed his life. The artwork is stunning and the story enthralling. A great read and no prior knowledge is needed to enjoy it.
Jul 18, 2009
Mark
rated it:
Yet another "let's re-tell the origin story but make it grittier" graphic novel... some nice stuff here (the opening conversation on the glacier is really very good) but overall this doesn't really break any new ground.
Oct 27, 2011
Kendra
rated it: 
Art was solid, sometimes beautiful. Writing was good but the overall theme of white-man-saves-"native"-populace is not only trite but racist so.
Aug 25, 2010
Dan
rated it:
An excellent version of Oliie Queens transformation from spoiled billionaire playboy to vengeful superhero - worth a read for all DC fans.
Mar 13, 2010
Jon
rated it:
didn't know much about The Green Arrow. His super power? Archery! Hard to believe he hangs with Supes and The Flash, let alone Batman. But he's cool I guess.
Sep 04, 2009
Jamie
rated it:
Great illustrations tell the story behind the millionaire-turned-crime-fighting-archer. Green Arrow is one of the least famous members of the Justice League, but this is worth a read.
Mar 26, 2011
Mike
rated it:
Still stands up to my insane devotion to Diggle and Jock on repeated readings. This is a helluva modernization - feels like all the antiquated foolishness of Green Arrow's olden days is washed away, leaving only the core of a real live flawed man who needs so badly to find purpose in his life. I know exactly how he feels, so maybe this resonates so much with me because I see myself so easily in this Oliver Queen.
Fantastic, rapid-paced action, none of the usual braying by heroes or vill More...
Fantastic, rapid-paced action, none of the usual braying by heroes or vill More...
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Feb 18, 2010
Kathleen
rated it:
He's brash, opinionated, rude, a drunk, and an asshole, even after he learns to care about other people.
I like him a lot.
I like him a lot.
Feb 15, 2010
Samantha
rated it:
Interesting. My first encounter with the Green Arrow so I have nothing to compare it to. It was not bad, but reminded me a lot of Batman, especially at the end.
Nov 14, 2009
Declan
rated it:
Excellent comic. Andy Diggle's work when its at its best (i.e. Losers, this) feels like watching a really good movie.
Feb 14, 2009
Jen
rated it:
Oliver Queen reminds me of what Bruce Wayne could have been like if he'd had say, a bogan personality and thrown in with a few amphetamines and a social conscience to kick-start. The story begins a little slowly, but soon becomes a spectacular romp of Survivor meets Die Hard. Discover how Ollie embraced the Robin Hood persona, destroyed an international drug ring, helped a pregnant woman give birth and all the while maintain his colourfully sardonic, obnoxious personality.
The art by More...
The art by More...
Jan 25, 2010
Katie
rated it:
Knowing pretty much nothing about Green Arrow. I found this to be a great, approachable origin story.
