Unmasked Secrets Are Deadly — Reviewing ‘Absolute Green Arrow’ #5

The rich are a plague upon society, reveling in their unchecked, seemingly endless power over the lives of others. In the Absolute Universe, Hector Hammond has wielded that power in horrific and life shattering ways. From the shadows a green clad archer has been seeking out Hammond and those like him, for justice.

In Absolute Green Arrow #5 the mystery of this archer is finally resolved, while more mystery and horror is heaped onto the satisfyingly full plate. Another dynamic bolt in the quiver comes from Pornsak Pichetshote, Rafael Albuquerque, Marcelo Maiolo, and Jeff Powell.

-Spoilers Follow-

When a creative team crafts a satisfying mystery wrapped up in a solo story that isn’t even about the title character, it sure is a beautiful thing. For five issues we’ve been getting one of the most solid Dinah Lance or Black Canary solo runs masquerading as a Green Arrow book. Sure, the archer is there and is important, but Dinah has been, rightfully, our point of view and actually characterized character. She’s the warrior, the impetus, and the heart of this overall story.

Even as hope fades, she is able to bounce back strong and take on forces beyond her pay grade. She discovers that the archer she’s been captured with is none other than Malcolm Merlyn, the man who seemingly was the head of security for Hammond. He also happened to be somehow around when the archer had come for Hammond before.

We get some pieces connected and new threads to pull. We learn that Dinah’s mother was deemed a corrupt cop, said to be working with a drug cartel, except Merlyn hints there was more to this story. Glimpses of the life of the late Oliver Queen continue to tantalize as Pichetshote builds up his corner of the Absolute Universe with gusto and great care.

Merlyn dies, but the Longbow Killer, otherwise known as Green Arrow, remains, a hidden protege, as there were always two of them operating. Pulling a page from the book of the Scream series, where there was almost always at least 2, sometimes 3, Ghostface killers.

Dinah states it’s fairly obvious who this protege is, and I honestly find myself not fully sure who this obvious person might be. I’m glad she’s a better detective than I am.

Tonally, the book is so perfect. It’s so raw and hard at every turn, fully embodied by the artistic stylings that Albuquerque is known for. Artwork that has a baked in rough texture at all times, keeping things grounded but also fantastical feeling at the same time. Character emotions and motion are clear, distinct, and full of weight upon the page.

Moody feelings permeate at every turn as the setting space is expanded and contracted to best fit the needs of any given panel. Those same panels shift and change on the pages to give the reader a chance to take in every angle and element. There are few artists that I would instantly tap for any type of story, but Albuquerque has to be on the top of lists for these more street and hefty type of stories.

Paired with Maiolo’s colors gives the work even more weight. They are light and vibrant in some spaces while being very reliant on darker and more distressed color palette choices. This is not a standard superhero book, so things are not flashy and over the top. No, they are more down to Earth, and the more natural and washed out feeling of the colors matches this easily.

Characters are weakened and speaking in hushed tones at various points, as the omnipotent narrator gives us green tinted insight through the issue. All of this is brought to solid lettering life by Powell, who also dips into the well of the series overarching energy to keep delivering lettering which creates and maintains cultivated voices. It’s rife with tonal shifts, volume indicators, and plenty of character personality and quirks.

Absolute Green Arrow #5 is now available from DC Comics.