Broken Frontier

Tomorrow, Green Arrow and Black Canary find themselves in rosy circumstances as Ollie pops the question and asks for Dinah’s hand in holy matrimony in Green Arrow #75, the series final issue. Will she accept the proposal, or break his heart? BF turned to Judd Winick for an answer and some comments on writing Green Arrow now that the title is ceasing publication.

BROKEN FRONTIER: You’ve been writing Green Arrow for four years now, starting with issue #26 in mid-2003. Looking back on your run up till the final issue, what do you consider your best story arc?

JUDD WINICK: Well, I’m the last person to ask what I think MY best arc is. That’s a bit indulgent for my taste. I can tell you what some of my favorite moments are. And they usually involve the artist delivering a scene in a delightfully over the top way, or zigging when I thought we would zag.

Phil Hester and Ande Parks knocked my socks off on many occasions. Drakon and Connor Hawke’s face off in STRAIGHT SHOOTER. There was Ollie duking it out with Mia in CITY WALLS. It ends with a shot where Ollie tells Connor to, " Get her a God damn mask." It just killed me. He really nailed the emotion.

Tom Fowler is an artist who makes me laugh harder than any one I’ve worked with. The faces he creates just bangs out the characterization. Check out a scene in the beginning of his arc when two dudes are trying to set up a meeting with Drakon. It goes bad. The LOOKS on their faces, the way their bodies move—Tom is a dynamic artist.

And then there’s Scott McDaniel. Scott just went to town at every turn. Whether it is a kick ass battle with Ollie and Deathstroke (that first one he did was something people STILL come up and talk to me about), or delivering the goods on a TV pundit debate. It could be swords on a tropical island or a few talking head butting noggins on politics. He always made it sing.

BF: How familiar have you become with the character over the years?

JW: Very. I like to think I’ve really gotten into Ollie’s head.

BF: Still, writing the same character for 50 issues might also have meant that it was hard to keep things fresh and interesting. Is that a hurdle you’ve had to overcome?

JW: At every turn when it felt like we were reaching an end point, and I suppose I mean ME, creatively, we’d make a serious turn that would reinvigorate it. Like Mia becoming Speedy, and Ollie becoming Mayor in ONE YEAR LATER. Sometimes the tank feels empty, but this is the fuel that keeps it going. It’s the strong winds that change the course of the boat. I could make a few more bad analogies if you like. It’s the cooler of Peanut butter, jelly and banana sandwiches along with a case of barbiturates that gets Elvis through the next 3 shows…

BF: Ok, you can stop there! [Laughs] Related to that question, did the ONE YEAR LATER event go a long way to refresh the series for you personally? Certainly, Green Arrow was one of the titles that took OYL to heart the most…

JW: Absolutely. "Mayor Queen" entirely built a year and change’s worth of story right form the jump. My intention was never for it to be a quick gag, it was major arc. A defining moment for Green Arrow.

BF: You already hinted at it a bit, but what was working with Scott McDaniel really like for the past 15 issues?

JW: Nothing short of amazing. Scott is a skilled storyteller. He’s not just showing up to draw "perty pictures". He crafts the tale. Tells the story. Adds to whatever I’ve given. And really knows his way around drawing a fight, with words or with swords. Truly, he KICKS ASS.

BF: Moving the discussion along to present events, the Jericho arc is in full swing now that Ollie’s mayoralty may soon be over. Seeing as how the title of the arc may refer to the biblical destruction of the walls of Jericho—that could be a good indication of how things will play out…

JW: If you’re looking for a gold star for calling it out, you’ll have to wait until we’re done. [Laughs]

BF: Why are you making Ollie’s proposal to Dinah amid a story that gives him such a difficult time, both professionally and emotionally?

JW: Well, we think it’s a good story. That’s the answer both personally and professionally.

BF: What’s your opinion on them as a couple, and their on-again, off-again relationship? In case Dinah accepts Ollie’s proposal, should the marriage last, considering the very nature of their relationship in the past?

JW: I like these guys together. I like that we’ve been developing them as a volatile relationship. Many people don’t quite get this. There are some folks who live through passion. They need their partners to be people who can keep up on all levels. Dinah and Ollie FIGHT. And they’re nuts about each other. Like teenagers.

AND the very things that almost breaks them apart—Ollie’s spontaneity, his lack of impulse control, and Dinah’s strength, force of will, indomitable spirit—these are qualities that make them great heroes. AND, it’s the very things that attract them to one another.

BF: Overall, how will Ollie come out of this arc? With #75 being the final issue, to what extent will the future be a new beginning?

JW: That would be telling. And we won’t be doing that.

BF: Well, it was worth a try… During this year’s Wonder Con, you’ve hinted that while the current monthly will end, you’re not done with Green Arrow. Can you give any hints at what’s to come?

JW: Yeah. Somebody’s drawing it right now! [Laughs]

Green Arrow #75 goes on sale tomorrow through DC Comics.