I just read Absolute Green Arrow #2 that came out this week. It’s a very strong follow-up that leans further into horror and mystery while delivering some surprising developments. The issue left me more intrigued than I was after the first one.
The Setup
The story opens with a dark, horror-tinged dream sequence that feels like a metaphor for Black Canary trying to piece everything together. The visuals are striking, particularly the jigsaw puzzle piece panel images being used in creative ways. In these dreams, the colors are much darker, and we see Green Arrow as Oliver Queen — who is dead in the real world of this story (see Absolute Evil #1). He begins to transform in an unsettling way, with imagery that connects back to the mysterious dead boy we saw at the end of issue #1.
The Cool (and Interesting) Parts
The art continues to impress with strong shifts in style and color. Present-day scenes lean into warmer yellow tones, while flashbacks use a softer, old comic book paper texture look that helps sell the different time periods. The use of striking greens and reds throughout the issue is especially effective.
We get some solid action and the introduction of a new character who immediately feels like they’ll be important to the story going forward. Without spoiling too much, their arrival adds another layer to Oliver Queen’s world and leads to some unexpected developments.
One of the more uncomfortable moments comes when we learn more about Oliver’s partner, Jubal Slade. When confronted with serious allegations against him, Oliver’s reaction feels surprisingly passive. He refuses to fully believe it at first and insists he’ll talk to Slade and help him “get his act together.” It’s a reaction that feels off for the Oliver Queen I’m familiar with, and it left me wondering how deep his denial ran.
The issue ends on a strong cliffhanger that raises plenty of new questions about what’s really going on.
Final Verdict
Absolute Green Arrow #2 is a noticeable step up in intrigue from the first issue. The darker tone, culturally relevant references, creative visual storytelling, and the new character introduction make for a compelling read. The art shifts and color work continue to be highlights, and the cliffhanger has me genuinely curious about where the story goes next.
That said, Oliver Queen’s reaction to the situation with his partner felt surprisingly lenient and out of character. It’s hard to imagine the Oliver Queen we know being so quick to downplay something so serious, even if denial is playing a role. It’s one of the few moments in the issue that didn’t quite land for me.
Overall though, this is a very strong second issue that has me more invested than I was after #1. If the creative team keeps leaning into the horror elements and the mystery surrounding Oliver Queen’s death, this series could become something special.
What did you think of the new character’s introduction? And how did Oliver’s reaction to his partner sit with you? Tag me on X @NostalgicNestEg!
Originally posted as a thread on X — check out the original conversation here:
My Absolute Green Arrow #2 and Absolute Batman #21 cover pulls this week.
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