Green Arrow 2: Island of Scars

It's three stories in one!Story: It opens with Emiko and Shado going to see someone that Shado is indebted to, but also shifts to a flashback story where we see Emiko and Oliver's relationship in living together. Emiko uncovers a sinister plot by someone who's killing teens with a sort of tech drug. The story does flesh out her character a little more, but I don't think I agree with her being portrayed as being equal in skill or better than Ollie. Ollie and Shado are supposed to be somewhat equal in skill, especially with a bow, but Emiko out shoots Ollie here. I just don't agree with the depiction of Emiko's skill being on par with Ollie's. It doesn't make sense. Ollie is the DC Universe's best archer. Emiko shouldn't be able to out shoot him. I feel this is some sort of "strong woman, don't need men, feminist agenda pushing" and it's what has made Marvel so horrible in the past several years. We jump to the present where we find Ollie, and Dinah stranded on Scar Island where they attempt to destroy a drug manufacturer and help a native get his island back. There's an exotic quality to this part of the book, and we get to see more of Ollie and Dinah's new relationship explored with some help from the native as he relates the story of his wife. They are joined by John Diggle, also stranded on the island. They all manage to escape into a transcontinental railroad, running under the ocean. Here's where the story really gets good! After the ordeal on the island, they just need to make their way back home, so they barely manage to stow away on this bullet train. It's the maiden voyage of the Empire Express, and it's carrying some diplomats who are going to begin peace talks between the Middle East and America. BUT, there's an assassin on board who isn't interested in peace. Ollie, Dinah, and Diggle get embroiled in a spy thriller that channels a LOT of James Bond. Stopping an assassin on a high speed train traveling several miles beneath the ocean has movie adaptation written all over it! The intrigue, the mystery, and especially the action really pick up here, and it's wonderful! There's a seriously high octane finale that sets things up for the future. I felt as though this book kind of hurried through individual stories, and packed together three short stories that could have each been its own volume. But, the final story with the Empire Express saved the book and made it enjoyable for me.Art: Here, we get the work of three artists: Stephen Byrne, Juan Ferreyra, and Otto Schmidt. Byrne does a nice job, but has a style that in my opinion is a sort of discount Schmidt, who is still the best artist on this title. It's a shame that Schmidt only draws the first issue of the "Island of Scars" arc. It's the best art in the book, I wanted more. Ferreyra does a pretty good job on the final arc with some breathtaking underwater scenery and some awesome race for your life moments! Clearly, the older blonde woman at the end is supposed to be a stand in for Hillary Clinton. She's not named in the book, but if that aint Hillary, then I'm the King of England!Overall: It's kinda convoluted with three arcs that could have each gotten their own volume. The arc for which this volume is named is actually the weakest of the arcs. The first and third stories are stronger. As stated before, I don't agree with Emiko being depicted as so skilled as she is, because it also makes Ollie look weaker and somewhat incompetent. But, this book does offer some good brother/sister moments and some great Ollie/Dinah moments. There's a good bit of action, and the book improves as it moves along, especially once you get to the final arc. I'm giving it four stars because I enjoyed the art, and the final story.

I really enjoyed the first volume of Green Arrow and I wanted to continue the adventure that was set up in volume one. Volume Two Island of Scars begins with two stories about Emiko Queen, Oliver’s half sister. These stories are alright but don’t really contribute much to the overall story set up within this volume. Hopefully, Emiko’s story will be expanded on in the subsequent volumes that follow.I like Percy’s writing, he creates a great dynamic between Green Arrow and Black Canary. The one flaw that I found was the inconsistency of the artwork. Otto Schmidt did such a great job in volume one and I would have loved for his work to be present throughout this book instead of the last two stories, Murder on the Empire Express and Murder Incorprated.I highly recommended this book, the writing is great, the artwork is good, and it’s definitely action packed. Can’t wait to read the next volume.

Great writing in a wonderful volume of the GA rebirth! Just ordered the third installment today and I can't wait for it to get here! I love these collections

Good Read! only problem it came beat up or bent. cmon amazon you can do better then this.. good thing its not too bad to where i send it back for a better copy.

Not quite as good as volume 1 but still terrific! Can;t wait to get volume 3. This is by far the best thing DC rebirth is putting out.

To be honest I have never read any Green Arrow book before I started reading the rebirth series because of the TV show when I picked the first volume I really enjoyed it and the art was good but the second arc "volume" isn't as good as the first volume the art was still cool but the story wasn't as strong as the first volume "I heard that it gets better with the third volume" So I will keep reading Green Arrow I am enjoying the series and the art is cool too

This book constantly makes Green Arrow look like a liability to the supporting cast. Emiko takes the rains as the book's focus for the first half and it is a drag. I roll my eyes every time this 14 year old girl triumphs over everyone else including GA without so much as a struggle. For as much talk as there is about setting apart Green Arrow and Batman, giving Green Arrow a sidekick who acts the same as Damian Wayne without any of his charm is just disappointing, this book doesn't need her. This book isn't all bad though, it picks up at the end giving the reader more of what was loved about the first book, a captivating dynamic between Black Canary and Green Arrow. The two are the stars of the cover after all. But it still manages to hide in the shadows of laughable and distracting cameos and political talk with the unmistakable appearance of Hillary Clinton. The next books cannot stray any further away from what grabbed many readers (including mine) attention, an Oliver Queen doing his best to look after the people in his city while the woman he loves, Black Canary, questions his methoods. (And mabey make Green Arrow more of a bad*ss)

FANTASTIC!

This is run of the mill comics which also at some points tries to comment on current politics which it does in a very clumsy and unintelligent way. For example in a run-in with some angry loggers, Oliver feels the need to comment on their skin color, which makes no sense.Will not be reading more from this run.

Writer Benjamin Percy and artist Otto Schmidt bring Green Arrow together with dynamic heroine Black Canary to deliver a layered and impactful storyline. With fun action and exceptional plot points this continuation of the Rebirth continuity of Green Arrow is a must have and has a sense of finalism that will allow readers to jump off early without forcing them to slog on through multiple volumes. That being said its such an interesting read you'd be a fool not to continue after this.

The Green Arrow comic has been eclipsed lately by its tv counterpart... but the two couldn’t be more apart.Island Of Scars was a great read and really reminded me what I enjoyed about GA comics so much. There’s amazing chemistry between Oliver and Dinah and the two characters work beautifully together.A great read. Get on it

The story follows on exactly where the first volume ended. The art is stunning and again some of the best I've ever seen, if you enjoyed volume 1 you will enjoy this, if you haven't read either but you are interested in reading green arrow I highly recommend both. For me it's probably the best title to come out of rebirth so far.

If you like the series, you will like Benjamin percy's Green Arrow series.