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Green Arrow (1988) (Collected Editions)
Green Arrow (1988-1998) Vol. 4: Blood of the Dragon
More adventures with the star of the CW’s hit TV series Arrow!
As Green Arrow, Oliver Queen’s life holds many secrets-one of which comes calling when he gets a strange letter from Shado, the woman who saved his life and bore witness as he risked his soul. Leaving Dinah Lance, the love of his life, and his home in Seattle, he travels to Japan to help save Shado’s soul and the life of her son from the merciless Yakuza. But as Ollie’s quest bathes him in Yakuza’s blood and international intrigue, he must come to terms with what he wants in life and what Shado means to him.
Collects GREEN ARROW #21-28.
As Green Arrow, Oliver Queen’s life holds many secrets-one of which comes calling when he gets a strange letter from Shado, the woman who saved his life and bore witness as he risked his soul. Leaving Dinah Lance, the love of his life, and his home in Seattle, he travels to Japan to help save Shado’s soul and the life of her son from the merciless Yakuza. But as Ollie’s quest bathes him in Yakuza’s blood and international intrigue, he must come to terms with what he wants in life and what Shado means to him.
Collects GREEN ARROW #21-28.
183 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2016
13 people are currently reading
139 people want to read
About the author
Mike Grell
713 books82 followersMike Grell (born 1947) is a comic book writer and artist.
Grell studied at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, the Chicago Academy of Fine Art, and took the Famous Artists School correspondence course in cartooning. His entry into the comics industry was in 1972, as an assistant to Dale Messick on the Brenda Starr comic strip.
In 1973 Grell moved to New York, and began his long relationship with DC Comics. His first assignment at DC was on Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes, a high-profile assignment for an artist with no prior experience illustrating a monthly comic book. Grell says he got that job because he was walking in the editor's door to ask for work, literally, as the previous artist was walking out the door, having just quit. These stories were written by Cary Bates and Jim Shooter. The Bates/Grell/Shooter run on the title is very well-regarded today by Superboy/Legion fans, who consider it one of the high-water marks in the character/team's history. Grell's work on SATLOSH is widely thought to be some of the best beefcake/cheesecake ever committed to comic book pages, and is affectionately referred to as the 'disco Legion' in retrospect by fans of the title.
A writer as well as artist, Grell cemented his status as a fan-favorite with his best-known creation, The Warlord, one of the first sword and sorcery comics, and reportedly the best-selling title published by DC Comics in the late-1970s.
The character first appeared in 1st Issue Special #8 (Nov 1975) and was soon given his own ongoing title (The Warlord #1, Jan/Feb 1976). In this book, Air Force pilot Travis Morgan crash-lands in the prehistoric "hidden world" of Skartaris (a setting highly influenced by Jules Verne's A Journey to the Center of the Earth and Edgar Rice Burroughs' Pellucidar). For years thereafter, Morgan engages in adventures dressed only in a winged helmet, wristbands, boots, and breechclout, and armed with a sword and (years before Dirty Harry handled one) a .44 Auto Mag.
At DC, Grell also worked on titles such as Aquaman, Batman, and the Phantom Stranger, and with writer Dennis O'Neil on the re-launch of the Green Lantern/Green Arrow series in 1976.
[edit] Tarzan
Grell wrote and drew the Tarzan comic strip from July 19, 1981 to February 27, 1983 (except for one strip, February 13, 1983, by Thomas Yeates). These strips were rerun in newspapers in 2004 - 2005.
[edit] First Comics: Jon Sable Freelance and Starslayer
Cover to Jon Sable Freelance #7. Art by Mike Grell.Through the 1980s Grell developed creator-owned titles such Jon Sable Freelance and Starslayer. Jon Sable Freelance was published by the now-defunct First Comics. Starslayer, a space-born science fiction series, started at Pacific Comics, but shifted to First.
The titular character of Jon Sable Freelance was a former Olympic athlete, later a African big-game hunter, who became a mercenary. First appearing with a cover date of June 1983, Jon Sable Freelance was a successful non-super-hero comic book in an era when successful non-super-hero comic books were almost unheard of, and a graphically violent comic sold in mainstream comic book stores in an era when such was as rare. Jon Sable was a precursor to what would eventually be called, by some, "the Dark Age of Comics," when even long-established super-heroes would become increasingly grim and violent.
The character was heavily influenced by Ian Fleming's James Bond novels as well as drawing on pulp fiction crime stories. Also, many of the stories of Sable's hunting exploits in Africa were influenced by Peter Hathaway Capstick's novels. At a convention in the late 1980s, Grell stated that his idea for Sable was "something like a cross between James Bond and Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer."
Sable was adapted into a short-lived television series and the character's origin tale, "A Storm Over Eden," from the comic book, was expanded and novelized by Grell under the title Sable, which was publ
Grell studied at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, the Chicago Academy of Fine Art, and took the Famous Artists School correspondence course in cartooning. His entry into the comics industry was in 1972, as an assistant to Dale Messick on the Brenda Starr comic strip.
In 1973 Grell moved to New York, and began his long relationship with DC Comics. His first assignment at DC was on Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes, a high-profile assignment for an artist with no prior experience illustrating a monthly comic book. Grell says he got that job because he was walking in the editor's door to ask for work, literally, as the previous artist was walking out the door, having just quit. These stories were written by Cary Bates and Jim Shooter. The Bates/Grell/Shooter run on the title is very well-regarded today by Superboy/Legion fans, who consider it one of the high-water marks in the character/team's history. Grell's work on SATLOSH is widely thought to be some of the best beefcake/cheesecake ever committed to comic book pages, and is affectionately referred to as the 'disco Legion' in retrospect by fans of the title.
A writer as well as artist, Grell cemented his status as a fan-favorite with his best-known creation, The Warlord, one of the first sword and sorcery comics, and reportedly the best-selling title published by DC Comics in the late-1970s.
The character first appeared in 1st Issue Special #8 (Nov 1975) and was soon given his own ongoing title (The Warlord #1, Jan/Feb 1976). In this book, Air Force pilot Travis Morgan crash-lands in the prehistoric "hidden world" of Skartaris (a setting highly influenced by Jules Verne's A Journey to the Center of the Earth and Edgar Rice Burroughs' Pellucidar). For years thereafter, Morgan engages in adventures dressed only in a winged helmet, wristbands, boots, and breechclout, and armed with a sword and (years before Dirty Harry handled one) a .44 Auto Mag.
At DC, Grell also worked on titles such as Aquaman, Batman, and the Phantom Stranger, and with writer Dennis O'Neil on the re-launch of the Green Lantern/Green Arrow series in 1976.
[edit] Tarzan
Grell wrote and drew the Tarzan comic strip from July 19, 1981 to February 27, 1983 (except for one strip, February 13, 1983, by Thomas Yeates). These strips were rerun in newspapers in 2004 - 2005.
[edit] First Comics: Jon Sable Freelance and Starslayer
Cover to Jon Sable Freelance #7. Art by Mike Grell.Through the 1980s Grell developed creator-owned titles such Jon Sable Freelance and Starslayer. Jon Sable Freelance was published by the now-defunct First Comics. Starslayer, a space-born science fiction series, started at Pacific Comics, but shifted to First.
The titular character of Jon Sable Freelance was a former Olympic athlete, later a African big-game hunter, who became a mercenary. First appearing with a cover date of June 1983, Jon Sable Freelance was a successful non-super-hero comic book in an era when successful non-super-hero comic books were almost unheard of, and a graphically violent comic sold in mainstream comic book stores in an era when such was as rare. Jon Sable was a precursor to what would eventually be called, by some, "the Dark Age of Comics," when even long-established super-heroes would become increasingly grim and violent.
The character was heavily influenced by Ian Fleming's James Bond novels as well as drawing on pulp fiction crime stories. Also, many of the stories of Sable's hunting exploits in Africa were influenced by Peter Hathaway Capstick's novels. At a convention in the late 1980s, Grell stated that his idea for Sable was "something like a cross between James Bond and Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer."
Sable was adapted into a short-lived television series and the character's origin tale, "A Storm Over Eden," from the comic book, was expanded and novelized by Grell under the title Sable, which was publ
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
April 19, 2025
2025 Review: Green Arrow continues to deliver.
As I mentioned in my original review, the first four issues are absolutely stellar. Seeing Shado and Oliver team up again is always a treat, this time, she's on a full-blown revenge mission, and it’s as brutal and intense as it is satisfying. There’s a surprising amount of emotional weight behind their team-up too, which adds real depth to all the action.
The next couple of stories don’t quite hit the same high, especially the one involving a witch, which felt a bit weaker. But the final arc brings things back around. It leans into a more goofy, fun vibe, and it worked for me. Plus, it introduced me to Warlord, a character I’m now genuinely curious about. Definitely planning to check out more of his adventures when the Omnibus drops later this year.
2020 Review: Blood of the dragon ain't playing, there's a shit load of deaths in this one.
Oliver goes back to Japan after something happens to Shado. When a kid goes missing they both team up to take care of the bad guys. And this isn't a normal team up beat up bad guys, this is slaughtering them all to get the baby back. Then we have another story of a young girl who is claimed to be a witch. And last but not least a mystery figure goes into Green Arrow's city but the bad guys think he is Oliver and try to kill him. So he decides to pay Oliver a visit.
The first story is great revenge tale. Fast paced, brutal, and well drawn. The witch story is okay, some cool ideas, but not one I'll remember probably. The last story isn't great but it's really fun. Mostly thanks to Oliver and Dinah relationship shown here. Overall, this is a really solid collection of stories this time around.
A 4 out of 5 all together.
As I mentioned in my original review, the first four issues are absolutely stellar. Seeing Shado and Oliver team up again is always a treat, this time, she's on a full-blown revenge mission, and it’s as brutal and intense as it is satisfying. There’s a surprising amount of emotional weight behind their team-up too, which adds real depth to all the action.
The next couple of stories don’t quite hit the same high, especially the one involving a witch, which felt a bit weaker. But the final arc brings things back around. It leans into a more goofy, fun vibe, and it worked for me. Plus, it introduced me to Warlord, a character I’m now genuinely curious about. Definitely planning to check out more of his adventures when the Omnibus drops later this year.
2020 Review: Blood of the dragon ain't playing, there's a shit load of deaths in this one.
Oliver goes back to Japan after something happens to Shado. When a kid goes missing they both team up to take care of the bad guys. And this isn't a normal team up beat up bad guys, this is slaughtering them all to get the baby back. Then we have another story of a young girl who is claimed to be a witch. And last but not least a mystery figure goes into Green Arrow's city but the bad guys think he is Oliver and try to kill him. So he decides to pay Oliver a visit.
The first story is great revenge tale. Fast paced, brutal, and well drawn. The witch story is okay, some cool ideas, but not one I'll remember probably. The last story isn't great but it's really fun. Mostly thanks to Oliver and Dinah relationship shown here. Overall, this is a really solid collection of stories this time around.
A 4 out of 5 all together.
July 13, 2020
Next best to Mike Grell as writer/illustrator is Mike Grell as writer with freedom to rebuild the GA legacy.
Ollie continues in Seattle, and world-wide, as in several great stories. Mysterious forces bring Shado and Ollie back together, with a surprise twist that not even Ollie figures out. The Ollie gets a mystery in Nottingham, England and a moment of advice from John Constantine. Finally, Ollie look-alike Warlord Travis Morgan stops in for a disastrous case of mistaken identity.
Ollie continues in Seattle, and world-wide, as in several great stories. Mysterious forces bring Shado and Ollie back together, with a surprise twist that not even Ollie figures out. The Ollie gets a mystery in Nottingham, England and a moment of advice from John Constantine. Finally, Ollie look-alike Warlord Travis Morgan stops in for a disastrous case of mistaken identity.
August 31, 2024
There's nothing to save in this volume. The return of Shado and her little secret brought my suspension of disbelief to its knees, Robin Hood flattened it on the ground, and the cross over with Warlord finished it off.
What's more, I get the impression that the artists also found it so lame that they put their talent aside and waited for better days. The only remotely interesting issue was Trevor von Eeden’s, an unfairly overlooked artist.
What's more, I get the impression that the artists also found it so lame that they put their talent aside and waited for better days. The only remotely interesting issue was Trevor von Eeden’s, an unfairly overlooked artist.
December 13, 2018
Blood of the Dragon (#21-24). The return of Shado, and a rather marvelous story that also introduces her green-eyed son. Otherwise, this is pretty typical for Grell's espionage-related adventures, but it's full of nicely visualized action sequences as part of a really desperate quest [4/5].
Witch Hunt (#25-26). A literal trip to Sherwood Forest is a bit over the top, but Grell nicely mixes together mystery, magic, and some legends. There's not a lot of depth to this story, but it's nonetheless nicely evocative [3+/5].
Enter .. Siege (#27-28). Grell has a problem with slow-walking the first parts of his two parters, so that you get to the inciting incident only at the very end of the first issue, and that's never been more obvious than here, where The Warlord is clearly shown on the cover, and we get to the exciting reveal that the Ollie-a-like is actually Morgan ... on the last page. Still, Ollie and Morgan interact great with each other, making this a charming story [4/5].
Witch Hunt (#25-26). A literal trip to Sherwood Forest is a bit over the top, but Grell nicely mixes together mystery, magic, and some legends. There's not a lot of depth to this story, but it's nonetheless nicely evocative [3+/5].
Enter .. Siege (#27-28). Grell has a problem with slow-walking the first parts of his two parters, so that you get to the inciting incident only at the very end of the first issue, and that's never been more obvious than here, where The Warlord is clearly shown on the cover, and we get to the exciting reveal that the Ollie-a-like is actually Morgan ... on the last page. Still, Ollie and Morgan interact great with each other, making this a charming story [4/5].
July 26, 2018
Guess who's back? Back again? Shado's back, and she's brought...a baby with her? Oh boy. Plus, Oliver meets his twin, and has an English adventure in the depths of Sherwood Forest!
Shado's influence over this series is clear - whenever she turns up, things get even more exciting. It's almost as if the story is holding its breath in between her appearances. She always forces us into four part stories as opposed to the two-parters that fill the spaces between, which are by no means bad, but you can tell that Grell really likes pairing the two of them together, even while it's clear that Oliver loves Dinah.
Blood of the Dragon is a quick read, since quite a lot of it is silent fight scenes, but they're beautifully choreographed by Grell's script and Dan Jurgens' panel arrangements. The ending loses a bit of punch in retrospect, but it's still fun to see Shado dance around what most of the audience will already realise before it's confirmed.
The two two-parters that follow up are fun too, as Ollie gets to explore his Robin Hood roots in a magic-inspired story that features a cameo by everyone's favourite Hellblazer but ends with a disturbingly mundane conclusion that reminds us that humans are pieces of trash 9 times out of 10.
The second one's another of those stories where the reveal should really have been obvious to me, but I didn't get it until the last few pages of the second issue. It's a clever little story that plays up to Grell's strengths (quite literally) by throwing together two characters he's basically (re)defined from the ground up in a siege-like storyline with a fair few unexpected laughs thrown in too.
This volume's super great, from the strength and beauty of the Blood Of The Dragon story to the variation and unexpectedness of the second half of the book.
Shado's influence over this series is clear - whenever she turns up, things get even more exciting. It's almost as if the story is holding its breath in between her appearances. She always forces us into four part stories as opposed to the two-parters that fill the spaces between, which are by no means bad, but you can tell that Grell really likes pairing the two of them together, even while it's clear that Oliver loves Dinah.
Blood of the Dragon is a quick read, since quite a lot of it is silent fight scenes, but they're beautifully choreographed by Grell's script and Dan Jurgens' panel arrangements. The ending loses a bit of punch in retrospect, but it's still fun to see Shado dance around what most of the audience will already realise before it's confirmed.
The two two-parters that follow up are fun too, as Ollie gets to explore his Robin Hood roots in a magic-inspired story that features a cameo by everyone's favourite Hellblazer but ends with a disturbingly mundane conclusion that reminds us that humans are pieces of trash 9 times out of 10.
The second one's another of those stories where the reveal should really have been obvious to me, but I didn't get it until the last few pages of the second issue. It's a clever little story that plays up to Grell's strengths (quite literally) by throwing together two characters he's basically (re)defined from the ground up in a siege-like storyline with a fair few unexpected laughs thrown in too.
This volume's super great, from the strength and beauty of the Blood Of The Dragon story to the variation and unexpectedness of the second half of the book.
August 16, 2016
Another strong entry in the series with great writing, building on previous storylines, and with a few good surprises. I never thought I'd see the day where Oliver Queen mows down ninjas with a machine gun!!
First off we have the title story, Blood Of The Dragon, a 4-parter featuring an assassination plot, a whole bunch of ninjas, the Yakuza, Shado and her baby boy, as well as cameos by Mikhail Gorbachev and George Bush (Sr.). Great action story with a very interesting final panel, full of implications for (the unaware) Oliver Queen. Definitely a soap opera-ish twist/reveal, but also a hook that guarantees I'll be reading the subsequent volumes. I am not looking it up online, I want to find out the old fashioned way: by reading the books themselves!
Then we have two 2-parters:
- one where Oliver is tasked to find a modern-day witch (featuring a special appearance by John Constantine of Hellblazer),
-and another where Oliver and Dinah meet - and end up teaming up with - Travis Morgan (The Warlord, a Mike Grell creation from the 1970s - look it up). This one was by far the better of the two short stories: a case of mistaken identities (Morgan looks almost exactly like Oliver Queen) that is action-packed, but also quite funny, which is sort of unexpected. You can tell Mike Grell had a lot of fun with this one.
Coming up: Green Arrow, Vol. 5: Black Arrow.
First off we have the title story, Blood Of The Dragon, a 4-parter featuring an assassination plot, a whole bunch of ninjas, the Yakuza, Shado and her baby boy, as well as cameos by Mikhail Gorbachev and George Bush (Sr.). Great action story with a very interesting final panel, full of implications for (the unaware) Oliver Queen. Definitely a soap opera-ish twist/reveal, but also a hook that guarantees I'll be reading the subsequent volumes. I am not looking it up online, I want to find out the old fashioned way: by reading the books themselves!
Then we have two 2-parters:
- one where Oliver is tasked to find a modern-day witch (featuring a special appearance by John Constantine of Hellblazer),
-and another where Oliver and Dinah meet - and end up teaming up with - Travis Morgan (The Warlord, a Mike Grell creation from the 1970s - look it up). This one was by far the better of the two short stories: a case of mistaken identities (Morgan looks almost exactly like Oliver Queen) that is action-packed, but also quite funny, which is sort of unexpected. You can tell Mike Grell had a lot of fun with this one.
Coming up: Green Arrow, Vol. 5: Black Arrow.
Read
June 14, 2023The title story's return to Japan initially looks like another iteration of that classic idiot plot, 'kidnap an elite killer's family to get them to do a job for you, what could go wrong?' It eventually reveals itself as something a little less stupid, but you can tell it's from decades ago by the mention of Tom Cruise as someone who ages (in a list of leading men all the rest of whom have since died, at that), not to mention the orientalism. Then it's off to the other island full of weirdos at the end of the world for an equally stereotypical version of Britain; yes, the story may be set in Nottingham, but that's no reason not to have a shot of Big Ben first. Points for acknowledging that Sherwood Forest isn't what it used to be, but Nottinghamshire residents on a murderous witch-hunt in 1989? Come off it (although if you'd said we were over the border in Derbyshire, I'd concede the point). Still, Ollie tripping his way through a meeting with Hern(e) the Hunter was sufficiently Robin that I'll forgive much (and the art remains gorgeous in general, bar some oddly static action panels in the lead story - this despite a lot of different artists being involved). That story also features a Constantine cameo I didn't initially register, because he was wearing a chunky sweater, not to mention Ollie getting all sceptical about magic despite being at least lightly acquainted with Zatanna, but the final two-parter really takes the biscuit, somehow doing a grounded gang warfare story guest-starring the bloody Warlord.
August 24, 2023
This run is so good seriously I am loving it a lot!
So this volume we see Ollie get a letter from Shado to help her out and so he has to go to Japan and we see her child has been taken hostage by Yakuza and so she has to kill for them but Ollie helps her to find her son and thats an action romp as we see them fighting so many people and Yakuza bosses and agents and when it seems like Shado will fail and she has to carry out their orders, Ollie finds a way to save the son but tbh its the art and the action sequences that sell that story because its just gorgeous and Jurgens was on another level there! I loved it and omg clues of Ollie's son..!
Also, the second story where he travels to England to help out this guy Dunston to find this girl Rowan who people believe is a witch and responsible for the death of her grandfather and the story behind it is another good one.. it has various commentaries on superstitions and greed and what not.. and how jealousy and all is not good, and lead people to Dark paths and all but I love the Robin-hood imagery for Ollie here and the forests and all.. loved it!
And the ending with him sort of coincidentally running into his look-alike "Morgan" and his life story was so crazy and filled with intrigue and really makes you wonder how Ollie pissed off so man y people in seattle and its wild, the way it ends and the action sequences are again the highlight of it!!
Its a volume filled with so many great moments and stories that really show Ollie at his best and his love scenes with Dinah were the best!!
So this volume we see Ollie get a letter from Shado to help her out and so he has to go to Japan and we see her child has been taken hostage by Yakuza and so she has to kill for them but Ollie helps her to find her son and thats an action romp as we see them fighting so many people and Yakuza bosses and agents and when it seems like Shado will fail and she has to carry out their orders, Ollie finds a way to save the son but tbh its the art and the action sequences that sell that story because its just gorgeous and Jurgens was on another level there! I loved it and omg clues of Ollie's son..!
Also, the second story where he travels to England to help out this guy Dunston to find this girl Rowan who people believe is a witch and responsible for the death of her grandfather and the story behind it is another good one.. it has various commentaries on superstitions and greed and what not.. and how jealousy and all is not good, and lead people to Dark paths and all but I love the Robin-hood imagery for Ollie here and the forests and all.. loved it!
And the ending with him sort of coincidentally running into his look-alike "Morgan" and his life story was so crazy and filled with intrigue and really makes you wonder how Ollie pissed off so man y people in seattle and its wild, the way it ends and the action sequences are again the highlight of it!!
Its a volume filled with so many great moments and stories that really show Ollie at his best and his love scenes with Dinah were the best!!
February 26, 2025
... Oh, thank God, it's gone back to being stupid and mindlessly violent over being preachy and reactionary. I can enjoy it again!
In this volume:
--Shado's newborn baby (no prize if you guess who the father is) gets kidnapped by the Yakuza to coerce her into killing Mikhail Gorbachev. Three issues of mass yakuza murdering, followed by Ollie saving the day by torturing a man for information (but thankfully, they don't show it). Also, no, the baby is NOT Conner Hawke, despite my initial assumption that it was.
--Ollie travels to Nottingham, England to track down a woman who may or may not be a witch. He communes with Pan, the spirit of the forest, after being dosed and tripping balls on LSD (in a sequence likening Oliver to Robin Hood while completely ignoring Robin's political motivations and reducing him to a thrill-seeking adventurer), and there's a brief scene where he meets John Constantine in a pub (further confirming that this was unofficially a Vertigo book). Otherwise, it's a pretty nothing story.
--There's a crossover with the Warlord comics as that book's lead character Morgan comes to Seattle and gets attacked by several crooks who mistake him for Oliver Queen, because they look nearly identical. Dumb, violent fun throughout, though it doesn't amount to much if you're not a fan of weirdo niche fantasy comic Warlord (which I am not).
This is brain-dead, macho action schlock, but it's at least ENTERTAINING schlock.
In this volume:
--Shado's newborn baby (no prize if you guess who the father is) gets kidnapped by the Yakuza to coerce her into killing Mikhail Gorbachev. Three issues of mass yakuza murdering, followed by Ollie saving the day by torturing a man for information (but thankfully, they don't show it). Also, no, the baby is NOT Conner Hawke, despite my initial assumption that it was.
--Ollie travels to Nottingham, England to track down a woman who may or may not be a witch. He communes with Pan, the spirit of the forest, after being dosed and tripping balls on LSD (in a sequence likening Oliver to Robin Hood while completely ignoring Robin's political motivations and reducing him to a thrill-seeking adventurer), and there's a brief scene where he meets John Constantine in a pub (further confirming that this was unofficially a Vertigo book). Otherwise, it's a pretty nothing story.
--There's a crossover with the Warlord comics as that book's lead character Morgan comes to Seattle and gets attacked by several crooks who mistake him for Oliver Queen, because they look nearly identical. Dumb, violent fun throughout, though it doesn't amount to much if you're not a fan of weirdo niche fantasy comic Warlord (which I am not).
This is brain-dead, macho action schlock, but it's at least ENTERTAINING schlock.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2022
(Zero spoiler review)
The third instalment in the 'dragon' arc, and likely the weakest of the three, although so much of what made the previous two arcs so enthralling still remains here to be seen. In fact, the opening page contains a spoiler so shocking, yet I stared at it for around ten seconds, only realising the significance of it when I was halfway through turning the page.
Likely my reason for putting this one in third place is that it is far more action than story orientated. Yes, there is certainly an interesting premise behind it all, although around half the pages spread across these four arcs contain no dialogue. And whilst Dan Jurgens art is nothing to be sneezed at, it has always been the sparse yet haunting quality of Grell's words that elevated these stories from being good, to great, or even God tier in the case of The Longbow Hunters. I must also admit, the final issue falls a little flat, with a rushed, and perhaps slightly underwhelming conclusion. The final page of both previous arcs had been one of supreme mastery, both in storytelling and art. This one coming nowhere near the heights of those previous two.
All in all, a welcome if unspectacular addition to the storyline, and one that buckles under the weight of what came before. Still well worth a read though. 4/5
OmniBen.
The third instalment in the 'dragon' arc, and likely the weakest of the three, although so much of what made the previous two arcs so enthralling still remains here to be seen. In fact, the opening page contains a spoiler so shocking, yet I stared at it for around ten seconds, only realising the significance of it when I was halfway through turning the page.
Likely my reason for putting this one in third place is that it is far more action than story orientated. Yes, there is certainly an interesting premise behind it all, although around half the pages spread across these four arcs contain no dialogue. And whilst Dan Jurgens art is nothing to be sneezed at, it has always been the sparse yet haunting quality of Grell's words that elevated these stories from being good, to great, or even God tier in the case of The Longbow Hunters. I must also admit, the final issue falls a little flat, with a rushed, and perhaps slightly underwhelming conclusion. The final page of both previous arcs had been one of supreme mastery, both in storytelling and art. This one coming nowhere near the heights of those previous two.
All in all, a welcome if unspectacular addition to the storyline, and one that buckles under the weight of what came before. Still well worth a read though. 4/5
OmniBen.
June 18, 2017
Los cuatro primeros números, "Blood of the Dragon", donde aparece Shado, parece una película de acción. El honor personal y los límites personales vuelven a jugar un papel fundamental, junto a la política y a la manipulación.
A estos números le siguen dos, con un cameo de John Constantine. En el bosque de Sherwood, se da una pequeña aventura con toques oníricos causados por las drogas que resulta interesante. La magia se abre un poco el paso, aunque sin resultar demasiado extraña en el mundo de Oliver Queen.
Finaliza con otros dos números, en los que aparece Travis Morgan, Warlock. Ese parecido con Oliver Queen toma el papel de "comic relief" en el nuevo intento de asesinato a Oliver y Dinah.
Definitivamente, los primero cuatro números me parecen de mejor calidad, y supongo que por eso dan nombre a la obra. Disfruto de las apariciones de Shado bastante; Mike Grell sabe cómo escribir un buen guión para este superhéroe, que ya se aleja cada vez más de aquellos parecidos con Bruce Wayne con los que fue concebido.
A estos números le siguen dos, con un cameo de John Constantine. En el bosque de Sherwood, se da una pequeña aventura con toques oníricos causados por las drogas que resulta interesante. La magia se abre un poco el paso, aunque sin resultar demasiado extraña en el mundo de Oliver Queen.
Finaliza con otros dos números, en los que aparece Travis Morgan, Warlock. Ese parecido con Oliver Queen toma el papel de "comic relief" en el nuevo intento de asesinato a Oliver y Dinah.
Definitivamente, los primero cuatro números me parecen de mejor calidad, y supongo que por eso dan nombre a la obra. Disfruto de las apariciones de Shado bastante; Mike Grell sabe cómo escribir un buen guión para este superhéroe, que ya se aleja cada vez más de aquellos parecidos con Bruce Wayne con los que fue concebido.
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November 13, 2019“Blood of the Dragon” is another fantastic Shado story, taking Ollie to Japan to extricate her from a Yakuza plot and save her kidnapped baby. The Shado stories seem to be the main through line of Grell's run. They’re the longest arcs and contain the most development for Ollie. This one is tense, exciting, and beautifully realized, with clear seeds planted for later stories. To me, Dan Jurgens is the star here – his silent action sequences leap off the page, and his framing shots are perfectly executed. He’s been my favorite artist for the series and this is his best work yet.
The other two stories, while good, aren’t as memorable. First, Ollie heads to Nottingham, England to solve a supernatural murder case. This one’s gimmicky, yes, but has a few nice moments plus a cameo from John Constantine. The next arc sees Travis Morgan, Warlord roll in to Seattle and get mistaken for Green Arrow. I have no experience with this character so it didn’t do much for me. Like the Sherwood Forest one, it plays on a fun gimmick but there's little substance beyond that.
The other two stories, while good, aren’t as memorable. First, Ollie heads to Nottingham, England to solve a supernatural murder case. This one’s gimmicky, yes, but has a few nice moments plus a cameo from John Constantine. The next arc sees Travis Morgan, Warlord roll in to Seattle and get mistaken for Green Arrow. I have no experience with this character so it didn’t do much for me. Like the Sherwood Forest one, it plays on a fun gimmick but there's little substance beyond that.
September 22, 2025
I was kinda surprised at the unfiltered swearing in this, nor that I mind it. Too bad more comics don't have that today. Reading $h!t like this can get tiresome after a while, trying to figure out what swear word fits more neatly into the context of each scenario. Just use the damn word you wanna use, not a jumble of symbols. I also enjoyed the colors, even though they're less nuanced than the colors we're used to seeing in modern comics. I also noticed more panels with no text, which I enjoyed since I like a story that can be told without the use of words all the time (makes sense in comics, right?) The stories were ok. Idk if I'm missing something with Oilver's doppelganger in the last issue but if left me with a lot of questions...mainly who the hell is this guy? Why does he look just like Ollie (and can find his residence no problem without a reason to even know he exists) but no explanation about the lookalike showing up out of nowhere....weird
October 15, 2017
Mike Grell's masterful run on GA continues - he's rejoined by Dan Jurgens, who does graceful work as the artist for the bulk of this volume. In the title story, Shado needs Ollie's help - whether she wants it or not! - in a Yakuza plot involving blackmail and assassination. Then it's a weird two-parter that takes Ollie to Nottingham for a magical encounter with a certain fabled archer. The book concludes with another two-parter, in which Ollie meets his erstwhile doppelgänger (I had to look up "Morgan" after finishing the book - is this the first time the series really ties into the larger DC universe?). I'm burning through this arc because it might be the best Green Arrow I've read thus far.
February 27, 2018
My favorite volume so far but I totally understand why it might not be everyone's cup of tea.
I liked the variety of stories because they were just so strange. Peter Pan? (ETA: Oh it was Warlord! I totally should have realized that. Very clever Grell.) I do wish that this volume had the covers between each issue because that helps me not read the entire volume in one sitting.
I feel proud of myself for totally calling that it was Constatine in the bar. And I enjoyed Ollie's acid trip sequence. That was fun. And as usual Dinah and Ollie's relationship makes my day. I am dreading what I know is coming for them in future volumes.
I liked the variety of stories because they were just so strange. Peter Pan? (ETA: Oh it was Warlord! I totally should have realized that. Very clever Grell.) I do wish that this volume had the covers between each issue because that helps me not read the entire volume in one sitting.
I feel proud of myself for totally calling that it was Constatine in the bar. And I enjoyed Ollie's acid trip sequence. That was fun. And as usual Dinah and Ollie's relationship makes my day. I am dreading what I know is coming for them in future volumes.
July 5, 2021
Green Arrow Vol. 4 Blood of the Dragin collects issues 21-28 of the series written by Mike Grell with art by Dan Jurgens and Dick Giordano.
Oliver teams up with sometimes partner, sometimes enemy Shado to rescue her baby who has been kidnapped by the Yakuza.
This volume is a brutal revenge story. Green Arrow definitely isn't afraid of killing bad guys in this series. The art has also been top knoth thought the series.
Oliver teams up with sometimes partner, sometimes enemy Shado to rescue her baby who has been kidnapped by the Yakuza.
This volume is a brutal revenge story. Green Arrow definitely isn't afraid of killing bad guys in this series. The art has also been top knoth thought the series.
January 13, 2021
Grell parece que quiere mucho a Shado, ya que es su creación. Este fue un trabajo excelente. Lo disfruté de principio a fin. El ritmo impecable y las secuencias magistrales.
Estoy al punto de observar a Grell como alguien a quien imitar.
Estoy al punto de observar a Grell como alguien a quien imitar.
August 8, 2023
Un reencuentro forzoso con Shado, una invitación a Sherwood y la visita de un desconocido extrañamente familiar. Grell obsequia un par de sutiles cameos desde el universo DC y Dan Jurgens intenta tomarle el pulso a la labor gráfica.
August 3, 2017
Definitely the weakest volume I've read so far from this series. Just not up to par with volumes 1-3.
September 16, 2023
It's a good read as always if you don't think too much about how icky the thing between Shado and Ollie could be. Nice art and decent story.
May 7, 2024
Great series.
A great series to pick up. Loved every minute and page. The art was great as well. Violent and bloody til the very end!
A great series to pick up. Loved every minute and page. The art was great as well. Violent and bloody til the very end!
June 24, 2024
great fun
Nonstop action! Witty dialogue! Japanese mobsters! And a one-of-a-kind crossover appearance by Mike Grell’s greatest character The Warlord! What’s not to love?
Nonstop action! Witty dialogue! Japanese mobsters! And a one-of-a-kind crossover appearance by Mike Grell’s greatest character The Warlord! What’s not to love?
October 15, 2024
4⭐. Still good- great art, and didn't mind the little wink at the camera with Shado.
January 18, 2025
DC PREMIERE: GREEN ARROW
(DC Première 4 de lomo)
(DC Première 4 de lomo)
February 12, 2020
I'm really digging this whole run. I enjoyed the Shado arc and was pleasantly surprised by the Constantine cameo. The last issue with Morgan was pretty exciting too. I'm just gonna let it ride.
We discussed this run, plus the Green Arrow's complicated history in a special episode of the All the Books Show: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/ep...
We discussed this run, plus the Green Arrow's complicated history in a special episode of the All the Books Show: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/ep...
July 16, 2024
DC PREMIERE 4. No se aclara en el lomo ni portada pero en orden de lectura coincide también como el taco 4 de Green Arrow. El contenido no debe equivaler al mismo TP.
January 19, 2020
Taco anexo que complementa los tres tomos de Green Arrow publicados previamente por Zinco, por lo cual podría considerarse el cuarto tomo de la serie. Si se toma en cuenta la numeración de DC Premiere, se trata del quinto taco.
December 9, 2018
You can find my spoiler-free review here:
https://www.nerdinthenoke.com/2018/12...
https://www.nerdinthenoke.com/2018/12...
August 19, 2016
A couple years ago, I rated the first volume of Mike Grell's run only three stars. I found the art wonderful but the story was lacking, wallowing in its grit and adult themes. Well, picking the series back up at volume four, I was pleasantly surprised to find a mellower tone and an actual sense of humor here. While Grell is not the artist here, his visual style and layouts are still evident, and I love the economy of dialogue and his use of the silent panel. There are three stories here, all very different. The first, featuring Shado, is the grittiest and best, and uses silence brilliantly. The middle story is the weakest, with a supernatural element, but it does have a cameo by John Constantine. The final story is a surprisingly light and funny one, showcasing Warlord, who is mistaken for Oliver Queen. A mixed bag overall, yes, but highly entertaining and well done.
October 24, 2013
A veces consigo comics buenísimos a precios bajísimos y me siento un capo. Otras, los dejo pasar y me siento un idiota. Eso me sucedió con este taco de Green Arrow en DC Premiere. Conseguí algunos números sueltos (tengo que chequear si ya tengo todos) y cuando vi el taco pensé que era al pedo comprármelo. Hoy en día, obsesionado con los libros y con el formato tomo, no dejo de preguntarme cómo serán los ISBNs de estos bonitos libros. En fin... En cuanto al comic en sí, sigue muy interesante, aunque sin el dibujo del propio Grell es difícil que alcance la chapa de "El cazador acecha".
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