Green Arrow: Stranded is a cozy book, yet I was unsatisfied at the end. Is there a sequel? Why should I like these people? Who are these people? Ollie Queen has an interesting set of morals: don’t kill the wild boar trying to kill you and the others but the snake is fair game? The plane crashes but four of the five people survive, but you never find the pilot? Then again, we never did see them, just some snide comments from the father of Ollie’s partner. There are a few holes for the older and/or adult reader, but probably ages 10 and up would be best for the enjoyment level. It is the art that adds to the story making it the three rating (more later).
Brendan Deneen missed the boat (I would say airplane, but since the one in the story crashed…. it might be too soon) with this one. There was a lot of build up but just a fizzle at the end. I knew nothing about who Green Arrow was, but nothing about this story screamed: I AM GOING TO BE A SUPERHERO WHEN I GROW UP! It just felt like Hatchet in the Jungle, with three other people. I looked up a little about who Green Arrow was, but come to find out, he is just meets Batman meets Spiderman meets Robin Hood. (And the story is just Hatchet by Gary Paulsen with a someday he’ll be a superhero twist). There seems to be nothing exciting about him. And unlike Nubia, the sister to Wonder Woman, I have no interest in reading about The Green Arrow again. Even if there is a sequel to this book. And I went into both thinking this would be a “one deal read” and I was good. Yet, I wanted to learn more about Nubia, sadly Ollie not so much.
But that can be forgiven with the art of Caleb Hossalla. The images are familiar (we have seen deep, dark jungles before), but they are nice by being colorful, and busy, and while that means it can be a smidgen distracting at times, that is the point. Take in the surroundings. They are made to help you think like our main character. We are meant to travel with him on his journey of self-discovery. And the fact this book is a graphic novel and not a traditional text only novel works in its favor. Several reviews on Good Reads did say the story was weaker, but the art was worth the journey.
