I remember reading The Dark Archer and a few issues of Adventures of Supergirl before, but I can’t say I remember either book that well, so it doesn’t really feel like it. For a while now, I’ve just been fixated on reading new comics that come out every week, and that’s sort of given me some tunnel vision in terms of going back and reading other stuff. Of course having DCU has definitely helped a lot in terms of reading titles I had wanted to for a while but just never got to, and this is no exception
Well considering the first issue was basically just a mission statement for Oliver, I’d say pretty accurately. While all the backstories and conspiracies may have seemed complicated at the time, all the metahumans, magic, aliens and cosmic crises we’ve gotten in the Arrowverse in the years since Arrow’s freshman season now make that seem a lot more simplistic, and there’s something refreshing about revisiting that material now
The issues that stuck out the most to me were the ones focusing on China White’s backstory and how Moira discovered the Queen’s Gambit had been sabotaged. I’ve always had a certain fascination w/ China White, if only because she’s one of the few characters, let alone villains, who was on the show for its entire run. One problem I did have w/ her character is that she never really felt too developed, but this issue definitely helped shed some light on that lack of a backstory. Granted, there’s only so much they could fit in a single digital comic, but for the limited space the writers had, I think they did a solid job. Whenever I go back to watch Arrow and see her pop up again, I’ll definitely be thinking of the cold look on her face as she watched her parents die right in front of her, which I feel will enhance my enjoyment of her character and the show overall.
I also never realized that it was the comic which actually showed how Moira discovered the Queen’s Gambit had been sabotaged. It’s certainly been a while since I saw season 1, and I just misremembered that happening on the show. It served as a solid reminder that not only is there still a lot of untapped backstory to uncover in these comics, but that I also really need to go back and rewatch these shows. If only I had enough free time…
I’m kind of conflicted with this. On the one hand, I feel like these books should provide an accurate representation of what the show is like. There are obviously going to be some inherent differences between watching a show and reading a comic, but I still feel like accuracy beyond just continuity is an important factor to take into consideration. I feel like if somebody reads this book before watching Arrow, they might think it’s a show w/ more blood and violence than a typical network would be able to show. This could either turn them off to watching it, or make them disappointed when checking it out if that factor was a positive for them.
That said, I also realized that the amount of people who’d see the comic before the show is probably miniscule compared to the other way around. The comic ultimately would’ve been provided to give existing fans more story to take in and also possibly spark an interest in reading other books that DC produces. At the end of the day, Arrow remains the grittiest and most violent show in the Arrowverse, so I guess it’s actually kind of appropriate that the book gets to showcase that in some areas just a little more than the CW was
Getting someone like Grell was definitely a cool move that must’ve given the book, and the show, by proxy, more legitimacy at the time. Not only does Grell have decades of experience as a comic artist, but his legacy is inextricably linked to Oliver Queen given all the work he’s done on Green Arrow and in building up the character over the years. His gritty artwork really matches the tone of the show, and also reminds me a lot of Neal Adams’ work.
It was also a pleasant surprise to see Jimenez on this title, as he’s definitely one of the better artists working today. His work here is definitely rougher than what I’m accustomed to seeing, but that also makes sense given that it’s some of his earliest art for DC. It’s still objectively solid, and it’s just fascinating to see these pencils from several years ago when he was just starting out. It really gave me a sense of the progress he’s made over the last several years and a greater appreciation for the kind of art he’s currently producing
At the time Ruby’s departure was announced, I think I would’ve been more in favor of this move than a recast. I just couldn’t see anyone else taking up that role after Ruby had been in it for this long, and I ultimately still kinda feel that way. But after seeing a number of actresses brought up as potential replacements, I now feel like there actually could be some potentially viable replacements. I’ve especially warmed up to the idea of Wallis Day (Nyssa-Vex from Krypton), who actually looks a lot more like Ruby than I initially realized after seeing her on the show. I’m not sure if she ultimately could be the right fit for the role, but seeing her and other actors in that light made me more open to the idea.
While I do have faith that the Batwoman writers will be able to make Ryan Wilder into a legitimately interesting character, the fact that Kate’s story will be prematurely ending still stings. It was a relief to see that she wasn’t going to be killed off, but I’ve just gotten so invested in her character and her personal journey that seeing her disappear is also going to hurt. My hope is that w/ the extra time the writers have before filming season 2, they’ll be able to really put the necessary care into handling this transition effectively. I will say that if the show can get me as invested in Ryan as I was w/ Kate, then I’ll gladly give major props to the writers for pulling off an admirable feat under what have to be incredibly frustrating circumstances
I think if the show can find an actor who also has really good chemistry w/ Natalie Dreyfuss, then I’d be more open to a recast. While I have enjoyed Ralph over the course of the few seasons he’s been on the show, I can’t say I’m inherently broken up about the idea of him leaving. What would make me upset is the fact that if he leaves, Sue would also probably have to be written out, and I really don’t wanna see that happen so soon after she was introduced. As a number of other people have suggested, the writers should be able to use the excuse of Ralph having to change his appearance to explain a different actor playing him, as he’s done it plenty of times before. It’d certainly be weird to see, but I also don’t want this move to compromise what was looking to be a really promising romance before it really has a chance to bloom
