Issue: Adventure Comics 251
Title: The Case of the Super-Arrows
Credits: France Herron (scripts) Jack Kirby! (art)
Cover Date: September, 1958
Overview: The issue begins with mysterious people from the future sending a gift to the past, specifically a set of "super-arrows" to one of the 20th century's greatest crime fighters, Green Arrow! GA and Speedy run out to test the new arrows, and they prove quite effective in nabbing the bad guys.
Unfortunately, a mishap with the "hypnosis arrow" leaves GA and Speedy helpless before a group of criminals. The crooks know opportunity when they see it, and grab the future-tech for themselves. Armed with the super-arrows, the gang commits caper after caper, with GA and Speedy helpless against them.
Finally, Green Arrow comes up with a scheme to put an end to the super-crime wave. He and Speedy challenge the crooks one last time, armed only with regular old pointy arrows. The crooks try taking them out with yet more super arrows, but GA and Speedy's keen aim allows them to use their pointed arrows the destroy the super-arrows mid flight. Without their edge, the crooks are easily defeated. GA decides that the super-arrows are best left for later study, and locks them up the Arrowcave's vault.
Thoughts: Everything about this story screams "Silver Age," from the big-headed future people, time travel, seriously goofy super arrows, to bombastic dialog; this story has it all. Plus, check out that art credit! Yup, the man, the myth, the legend, Jack Kirby contributed the pretty pictures for this story. I had no idea he'd ever drawn Green Arrow, and finding that out warmed my geeky heart.
(Looking forward in the Showcase: Green Arrow, I see that Jack Kirby had quite the run on GA stories. Woot!)
1 comment:
Yep, The King actually helped define Green Arrow early on, like he did so many other characters. Gotta' love that Silver Age goofiness:P
On another note, I just read the first 10 issues of Kevin Smith's run on GA. It had tons of great material, but also tons of what I've come to expect from modern comics. Mia's origin was handled better than I had expected, but still, so much of what was in those pages made me more than a little uncomfortable. Apparently Smith is Smith no matter what he's writing.
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