Andrew Kreisberg and Ben Sokolowski, show runners of the hit TV show Arrow, will be taking over the Green Arrow comic series following Jeff Lemire’s exit from the series.
Since the reboot of the DC Universe with the New 52, Green Arrow comics hasn’t been a hot seller, failing to captivate readers, unlike the show Arrow that continues to gain popularity. I myself have had a difficult time getting into the series as the story arc seem long and boring despite the very strong characterization in the series. Green Arrow comics has had a string of writers before finally turning to Jeff Lemire, a man who also worked on Animal Man and Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E. in the New 52. Lemire was able to give the series an impressionable mold, making it a solid, if not big, seller. He also went above and beyond to ass John Diggle into the series.
For those of you who may be unfamiliar, Diggle is Oliver’s bodyguard on the hit TV series.
As the pair take over the series, penning the script while Daniel Sampere does the artwork, readers will find Oliver back in Seattle as he takes on the task of dealing with a mysterious woman. No details have surfaced around who she is and what connection she will have in the comics.
While they take on the Green Arrow comics, readers should know that the series will not be a direct adaptation of the TV show but will rather “cross-pollinate” with it. Just like Diggle made an appearance, Felicity Smoak, who was the obscure step-mother of Firestorm (Ronnie), will be entering the series is a very large way. Perhaps not as big a role as she has in the TV show, but the role will certainly gain her a foothold in the comic world.
Here’s what the pair had to say about their plans for Ollie:
“We really want to bring the old-school Oliver Queen voice back to the character. In other words, the opinionated, liberal Robin Hood-esque hero that has fallen through the cracks a bit, both in the comics and TV models.”
- Sokolowsky to Los Angeles Times
“We thought there was a real opportunity here not to do another adaptation of the TV show, but infuse the comic world of Oliver Queen with some of the stronger elements of the show.
- Kreisberg to Los Angeles Times
Additionally, Kreisberg is a comic writing veteran having worked on Green Arrow/Black Canary for a year before the launch of the Arrow TV series as well as the Arrow digital comic, a comic that was a direct tie-in to the show.
The pair will take over with Green Arrow #35 set to release on October 1st.
Source: ComicBook.com
