Makes about as much sense as the mutterings of a Cthulhu-exposed madman. I *really* don't get Nocenti's 30-year career in this industry. I've read some early stuff and this and it just seems like arbitrary nonsense. The dialogue, the characters' actions & motivations, it all just reads like she did a Scarface-sized pile of cocaine and peyote and then sat down and vomited the words onto the page...and not in a cool way. Out of the gate with DC’s NEW 52, Green Arrow was provided a subpar creative team that left audiences in a state of flux with the titular archer. Volume 1, The Midas Touch, simply did not hit well with fans. It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t memorable either. It wasn’t the kind of work that whispered “seminal” in anyone’s ears. If you are curious about my thoughts on the first volume, please check out the attached link below labeled, “Review: Green Arrow, Vol. 1: The Midas Touch (2012).”Triple Threat switches things up by passing the baton off to a new team, which doesn’t happen unless the book isn’t selling well. If the series is hopping right off of the shelves the DC editorial staff will keep the same team working on multiple story arcs for as long as the book sells and critiques well.Unfortunately, the unmemorable first attempt is far better than the disastrous second one. Replacing Dan Jurgens, J.T. Krul, and Keith Giffen on the writing front, Ann Noncenti weaves a tale that is at best sexist and at worst awful storytelling. Harvey Tolibao takes the reins as lead penciler and manages to create decent renderings with terrible direction. His art isn’t anything to write home about and is obviously influenced by the top heavy DC editorial department…but it isn’t bad either.The script is choppy. It skips around from issue-to-issue. An argument could be made that the in between portion from comic-to-comic will make a necessary leap in these hidden, transitional periods. Which is true, however, what is irksome is the size of the time gap between the issues. The audience is left with no clue as to how the next comic is going to begin, because as soon as you dive into the next one it has shifted so far south of the conclusion of the last that it might as well be missing an entire graphic novel, plot line, and creative team. It is incredibly jarring and ruins what could be a halfway decent product.Plot-wise the tale is lackluster. The Triple Threat subtitle is in reference to a set of genetically engineered triplets that use their blonde locks and ‘feminine wiles’ to seduce Green Arrow. In stereotypical fashion, Queen indulges, which sends him down a path that eventually leads to their engineer and ultimately the title’s initial villain. From this first batch of comics, the story unsanctimoniously shifts to several other ‘C-list’ villains that are never fully fleshed out or explained— They merely crop up without warning, motive, or provocation; Green Arrow always responds by running off to indulge them till they scamper away with their tails tucked between their legs. Triple Threat is only the second volume in a jumping on point for new readers, yet it leaves potential fans in a perpetual state of confusion due to its poor writing. As a reviewer and a Green Arrow fan, I cannot in good conscience recommend this graphic novel to anyone. It is poorly written and constructed. I found the supporting cast and ‘triplets’ to be sexist and degrading, which then chips at away at the integrity of the character. This is disrespectful to the history of the character, and I am surprised that it even went to print. Tolibao’s artwork unfortunately isn’t good enough to lift this fledgling novel by its bootstraps. For more coverage on DC’s NEW 52, the Emerald Archer, and all things comic book related check back here for more #ArrowWeek.#ArrowWeek is a celebration of Green Arrow and DC Comics in all its numerous forms. Running from October 1st to the 8th of 2014, ARSchultz.com, The Martian, and their respective Tumblrs will be posting all things Green Arrow related for #ArrowWeek culminating with the season three premier of CW’s Arrow. Join us in our celebration by commenting and sharing as we post.
What do You think about Green Arrow, Vol. 2: Triple Threat (2013)?
This one seemed to jump around alot. Not sure I liked it as much as the first set.
—Jerry
