For fans who made their way into the Green Arrow comic universe from the Arrow TV series, brace yourselves for a familiar face entering the fray. While the cover of Green Arrow #4 might tease the high-stakes confrontation with the Ninth Circle and the looming threat of Shado and Emiko, the real excitement lies in the arrival of John Diggle into Oliver Queen’s comic book world.
For readers like myself, whose initial exposure to Green Arrow stems from the television adaptation, the introduction of Diggle is a particularly noteworthy moment. Much like Harley Quinn’s transition from Batman: The Animated Series to comic canon, John Diggle, a character originally crafted for the Arrow TV show on CW, has successfully made the leap to the source material. His first appearance in the Green Arrow comics dates back to December 2013, and his presence in this current story arc is a welcome addition, even for those unfamiliar with his prior comic appearances. The question of what transpired between Diggle and Oliver to cause a rift remains an intriguing element for readers to discover.
It’s almost impossible not to hear David Ramsey’s distinctive voice when reading Diggle’s dialogue in this issue. However, this comic book version of John Diggle presents a different dynamic compared to his TV counterpart. He’s more assertive, less refined, and engages with Oliver in a manner reminiscent of classic buddy cop pairings, where Diggle embodies the headstrong “Hawk” to Oliver’s more strategic “Spencer”—a dynamic that might evoke nostalgic memories of 80s detective shows for some.
The overarching narrative of this Green Arrow arc centers on Oliver Queen’s battle against the nefarious Ninth Circle. This shadowy organization is exploiting Oliver’s own fortune to fuel their criminal enterprises, including a large-scale human trafficking ring operating in Seattle. While the previous issue momentarily sidelined Dinah Laurel Lance, also known as Black Canary, she takes center stage in this installment, finding herself directly in the path of the Ninth Circle’s machinations and their intricate connections to Shado and Emiko.
Overall, the Green Arrow Rebirth series continues to deliver compelling storytelling. Benjamin Percy masterfully crafts a narrative rich with engaging characters, intricate plot developments, and dialogue that resonates with a desire for live-action adaptation. Yet, the comic book format allows these stories to flourish, blending timely humor and lighter moments with the underlying gravity of Oliver’s ongoing struggle against the Ninth Circle.
This issue is a solid 5 out of 5, and with the bi-monthly release schedule, the next chapter of this gripping series arrives on August 17th.
