The Super Powered Fancast

Green Arrow 80th Anniversary 100 Page Super Spectacular #1

DC Comics

Written by Mariko Tamaki, Tom Taylor, Stephanie Phillips, Mike Grell, Ram V, Brandon Thomas, Devin Grayson, Phil Hester, Vita Ayala, Benjamin Percy, Jeff Lemire and Larry O’Neil

Art by Javier Rodriguez, Nicola Scott, Chris Mooneyham, Mike Grell, Christopher Mitten, Jorge Corona, Max Fiumara, Phil Hester, Laura Braga, Otto Schmidt and Andrea Sorrentino

Inks by Ande Parks

Colors by Javier Rodriguez, Annette Kwok, Mike Spicer, Lovern Kindzierski, Ivan Plascencia, Matheus Lopes, Max Fiumara, Trish Mulvihill, Adriano Lucas, Otto Schmidt, Jordie Bellaire and David Stewart

Letters by Andworld Design, Clayton Cowles, Tom Napolitano, Travis Lanham, Aditya Bidikar, Steve Wands, Ariana Maher, Clem Robins, Becca Carey, Nate Piekos and Rob Leigh

The Rundown: New stories celebrate the Emerald Archer and his adventures.

The Disappearing Bandit

A series of robberies force Green Arrow and Speedy to track down a villain stalking the streets of Star City. The elusive thief continues to elude the heroes by disappearing in plain sight. It will take a new innovation from Oliver Queen to stop the bandit. One that will come in handy when the bandit tries to sell out the hero to some dark forces.

A great Green Arrow story with a classic feel and look. I love the throwback vibe to the entire story and the tone is perfectly captured in the art.

Punching Evil

Oliver decides to pay a visit to Ted Grant aka Wildcat to try to impress Black Canary. Unfortunately, his lack of concentration costs him when Dinah pays a visit. In the midst of his lessons, an attack from one of Wildcat’s rogues results in Oliver finding something new for his arsenal.

Taylor does a great character study for Oliver and Ted and the short story has a great vibe with a fun ending.

Who Watches the Watchtower

The Justice League has a mission in deep space and Oliver has been tapped to stay behind and guard the Watchtower. A task he not only doesn’t want, but has no problem voicing his objections to with the team itself. When aliens invade the Watchtower, Oliver finds himself outnumbered, but not outmatched as he finds a new weapon to help him in his fight.

A thoroughly fun and exciting short story that is full of personality. I also love the throwback tone in the art.

…Just the Usual Sort of Stuff

Oliver returns home after a long night to tell Dinah of his latest adventure. An adventure that has him teaming up with Shado to fight a group of smugglers as well as discuss the nature of their evil and how to stop it.

A well done story that I want to see expanded on.

The Arrow and the Song

Oliver Queen looks back on the life he led, the circumstances that made him the man he is today, the relationships that shaped him and the future he hopes to forge.

A sweet short story that encompasses who Oliver is as a character.

One

Connor Hawke has picked up the mantle of the Green Arrow in the face of Oliver’s death and finds himself on a one man hostage rescue mission in a Queen Industries building. With the odds against him and everyone doubting his abilities, Connor will have to prove to himself and the rest of the world that Green Arrow lives.

A great, fast-paced story that is filled with awesome art and thrills.

Green-Man and Autumn-Son

Roy Harper is in the middle of a mission when he gets a call from Oliver. Roy’s daughter Lian is refusing to go to sleep until she is told her favorite story. Roy tells her that story, the story of his life from his time on a Navajo reservation to the moments when his choices cost him and how he pulled his life together.

A great retelling of Roy’s origin that has an even more important message in it at the end.

Star City Star

Green Arrow goes after a group of kidnappers who have taken a young girl with special powers. After dispatching them, he discovers that members of his rogue’s gallery want the young girl as well. Things get more difficult when allies arrive to stop Oliver as well and Arrow determines that he will have to find another way to reach the girl if he has any chance of helping her.

A brilliant story that, despite the predictability of its plot, showcases how multifaceted a hero Oliver Queen is.

Happy Anniversary

Oliver is kidnapped on he and Dinah’s anniversary and Canary thinks it’s all a game until she realizes that Deathstroke is involved. After tracking him down, Dinah decides that she and Ollie should have a little fun taking down the mercenary together.

A fun short story that exemplifies the relationship between Oliver and Dinah. Laura Braga delivers some beautiful art.

The Sympathy of the Woods

Oliver is in a bad mood and looking for some perspective. Something that will be interruped by the presence of Malcolm Merlyn in the woods Oliver is vacationing in. When Oliver’s hunt is upended by an arrow from Merlyn, Oliver’s allies show up to help him roust the villain.

A fantastic short story that encapsulates Oliver’s connection to the people in his life and how they connect to him. Schmidt delivers some beautiful and exciting art throughout.

The Last Green Arrow Story

An older Oliver Queen returns to where it all began for him and prepares for one last hunt. As he sits by the fire wondering if he made a mistake, the shape that stalks him appears and offers him what he came to the island for.

A dark story from Jeff Lemire that is deeply moving and interesting to read.

Tap Tap Tap

A beautifully touching tribute to Dennis O’Neil closes out this issue. With no dialogue, every frame of the story tells a wonderful story that is both touching and emotional.