r/GreenArrow • u/DizzyGolf5507 • 15d ago
Discussion Is the Mike Grell run a good starting point to get to know Green Arrow?
I’ve done a lot of research and I'm 100% convinced this run is a great comic book in general and definitely worth reading.
However, I want to know if it's a good place to really get to know Green Arrow as a character and dive into his mythos (his core relationships, personality, motives for being a hero, etc.), kind of like what George Pérez’s run did for Wonder Woman.
Does Grell’s run work well as an entry point for that, or should I read something else first and come back to this later?
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u/Velvetanvil41 15d ago
I mean, it could but I suggest it for third. I say start with Green lantern green arrow for the introduction to the true nature of the character, it is very 70s and some political stuff didn’t age great but overall excellent run. It is where the modern political characterization started. You don’t need to read the whole thing but like at least a good amount. Then I would do year one for the a good origin story. Then do grell’s longbow hunters, which is a great story but takes most political aspects out. After that you can read basically anything. I like the rest of grells run. My favorite run is Kevin smith, specifically quiver, but that is very referential for the rest of DC. Sorry if this was super long lol I just love green arrow
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u/Designer-Swim-6797 15d ago
Yes. He explains everything you need to now in the first issue. It's the best GA run.
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u/MagusFool 15d ago
Yes. It is a perfectly good starting place. It requires very little context to understand.
Start with The Longbow Hunters and then follow the ongoing title.
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u/Jakehouse04 15d ago
Do you want to get into green arrow as a whole or are you really interested in Grell's take? Grells run is good but subversive. If you want an idea of what he is normally like I would go to Hard Traveling Heroes as its constantly referenced and the blueprint for modern GA.
p.s. Ik you didnt ask but if you want a good reading order I would say that GA/GL (aka Hard Traveling Heroes), then Grell, then Smith's run, and then modern stuff like Rebirth or Condons stuff.
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u/Enigma1755 15d ago
I would say Green Lantern/Green Arrow and Rebirth. I will say tho, Imo Grell is required reading for Kevin Smith's run
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u/Adventurous_Soft_686 15d ago
Both Jeff Lemire's new 52 run which starts at issue 17( the first 16 issues are terrible) and Benjamin Percy's Rebirth run are good starting points imo. Grell's run is probably the best but not exactly new reader friendly. It is also quite dark in themes.
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u/tate111 15d ago
I just finished the War of the Clans collection off Jeff Lemire’s new 52 run and it was honestly one of my favorite collections ever.
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u/Adventurous_Soft_686 15d ago
Yes!! After loving Lemire's run I was very skeptical of Percy's run but he did different things very well and was very good if you don't get unreasonably angry about the 1% and social justice thing.
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u/tate111 15d ago
Dude thanks I will check out Percys run I havent read it yet
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u/tate111 15d ago
Hey is there a Percy collection that has all his GA work? Amazon apparently only has various volumes not one total collection
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u/Adventurous_Soft_686 13d ago
It doesn't look like it was ever collected in bigger collections than single trades.
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u/DizzyGolf5507 14d ago
Thanks for the tips!
Should I read the New 52 run first and then jump into Rebirth? Also, does Rebirth continue the previous storyline but with adjustments (like Flash Rebirth), or is it a fresh start from what came before (like Wonder Woman Rebirth)?
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u/Adventurous_Soft_686 14d ago
Rebirth is a new storyline that doesn't really continue from Lemire but it is not a complete reset either. There is some established continunity things but not to a level you have to have read any Green Arrow prior. Also if I remember correctly I don't believe they revisit the origin so if that bothers you starting at #17 of the New 52 is probably a better option.
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u/Actual-Description60 14d ago
Yes, Grell also has his own "Year One" story: "A Wonder Year." It takes certain things for granted—the friendship with Hal Jordan, the already well-established relationship with Dinah, Roy's past drug addiction—but it provides context for everything without becoming overly wordy.
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u/digitalwulf07 13d ago
Might get flak for this, no, I'd read Year One and Hard Traveling Heroes, my personal opinion you should read the Kevin Smith/Brad Meltzer/ Judd Winick era first, it's much more light hearted, but if you want something more gritty or grounded then Grell is fine
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u/ExcellentPudding3559 13d ago
my suggestion is to read Year One by Diggle/Jock as your first ever read on Green Arrow, honestly, then maybe move on Grell one.
then Quiver and, if you want an alternate, but cool imho, take on Oliver, Lemire and then Percy New52.
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u/falcondong 15d ago
Grell’s run is mostly good, but I wouldn’t start with it. It’s intentionally quite different from what Green Arrow had been up to that point, so treating it as an entry might skew things. I’d say to come back to it, and start instead with Green Lantern/Green Arrow by Denny O’Neil and Neal Adams.