GREEN ARROW AND BLACK CANARY WEDDING SPECIAL #1
Reviewed by Andrew Dowdell
"And They Said It Wouldn't Last"
Writer: Judd Winick
Artist: Amanda Connor
Editor: Mike Carlin
The Story: As the wedding day of Oliver Queen and Dinah Lance fast approaches, preparations are quickly made. Invitations are sent out, parties are thrown and the Secret Sanctuary is decorated for the reception. The ceremony, however, is interrupted by a super-villain attack organized by Dr. Sivana and Deathstroke the Terminator. After a pitched battle, the assembled heroes defeat the villains and the ceremony goes off without a hitch. However, Ollie and Dinah's wedding night hits a snag when he goes into a homicidal rage and nearly kills her. She stabs him in the neck with an arrow, and he collapses on top of her, seemingly dead.
Review: The best thing that I can say about this issue is that it's "okay." Which isn't a bad thing, considering that thre are so many books on the racks these days which are less than "okay." I did, however, expect more.
I think that there's just too much that seems contrived and coincidental. I have no problem with Black Canary and Green Arrow getting married; I don't think that it hurts them as characters, nor do I thinkthat the marriage closes off storytelling opportunities. And I also think that the multiple and various reactions to the wedding among the super-hero community were well done.
My problem lies with the "super-villain attack. Sivana steals an invite to the wedding, and the villains organize to attack the wedding so that they can say that they at least tried? What was the purpose of the attack? To just cause mayhem or was there something else they wished to accomplish? And, perhaps the Deathstroke-led attack wouldn't bother me so much if it wasn't occurring immediately after Lex Luthor and the Injustice League attack the JLA. it feels like a little bit too much, too soon.
My biggest gripe, of course, is with the end of the story. A seemingly brainwashed Green Arrow violently attacks his new bride, and all she can do to stop him is stab him in the neck with an arrow? The Black Canary is one of the, if not the, world's greatest martial artists. I am sure that she knows hundreds of ways to incapacitate a target without sticking a wooden arrow through their necks, let alone using her canary cry. It all just seems like she is acting out of character for a few moments to ensure a tragic ending.
This issue is not without its strengths. For the most part, Judd Winick's story is fun and engaging. Amanda Connor's artwork is wonderful as always; get this woman on a regular book, DC! And while it seems like Green Arrow has gone to the Hall of Justice in the sky, I have my doubts about his "death." Hey, he's died and come back once already, remember?
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
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