The Dawn of DC marches along with new, excellent installments of Green Arrow and Unstoppable Doom Patrol. One issue is chock full of much-needed therapy sessions and another has some long-awaited reunions and explanations.
Tread carefully as there are spoilers ahead.
Green Arrow (2023) #3 Recap and Review:
This was an exposition-heavy issue, though it was very needed. Fans have been wondering how Lian Harper survived her awful “death” at the hands of The Electrocutioner and Prometheus. We finally got some semblance of an explanation for how she came out alive, but also why she’s older when she “died” at 5 years old.
The answer? [Spoiler] Time travel and teleportation shenanigans courtesy of Amanda Waller AND old man Green Arrow! Because of some great disaster that apparently happens in this old ass Ollie’s future, now the entirety of the Arrow family can no longer be together, otherwise BAM teleportation to another timeline or reality or Earth.
It’s a grand reveal and makes a whole lot of sense that Oliver, in his eagerness to protect, ends up making the situation harder to handle.
I loved all the little moments between the Arrow family: Lian flying with Connor, Ollie and Connor’s reunion, and Dinah backing up Roy. Three issues in and I’m still enjoying each page, filled with color and life and Peacemaker quips. Another surprise reunion at the end is sure to get all the Ollie and *** fans excited.
Rating: 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SHOOT TO THE FUTURE. Arsenal and Black Canary versus Peacemaker and the new Peacewrecker! While Arsenal and Black Canary’s quest for answers has sent them into danger, Green Arrow is lost in time and space—but at least he’s not alone now. Two members of the Green Arrow family join Oliver Queen in the last place you’d expect!
Written by: Joshua Williamson
Art by: Sean Izaakse
Colors by: Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Letters by: Troy Peteri
Cover by: Sean Izaakse
Price: $3.99
Unstoppable Doom Patrol (2023) #4 Recap and Review:
In the wise words of one Cliff Steele, “THERAPY.” What a phenomenal and necessary issue of USP! The inclusion of therapy is nothing new for comics, but it’s not shown as commonly as it should be. Let’s not only normalize going to therapy, but also normalize that therapy doesn’t work the same for everyone / may take several different professionals or sessions to be fruitful for the person seeking help.
Each member of the Doom Patrol, with the exception of The Chief, are having their own post-mission sessions with Dr. Syncho, the team’s therapist. According to Dennis Culver, she has powers that allow her to channel the higher consciousness of five fifth dimensional imps, JERRY, for short. Rita, Larry, and Cliff, in particular, have interesting sessions that, with Lafuente’s amazing art, explore every version of their past, tying them all in together.
The theme of these Dawn of DC era books is how a lot of characters are reconciling with memories of converged timelines, murky pasts and realities being meddled with. This is especially obvious with the three senior members. All in all, a wonderful issue and probably my favorite of the series so far.
Trouble is brewing with The Chief and the other alters and I cannot wait to see how this turns out.
Rating: 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
BREAKTHROUGH BREAKDOWNS. Saving the world by saving the monsters isn’t easy and the World’s Strangest Superheroes need someone even stranger to help them process everything they endure. Join Doom Patrol’s resident therapist. DR. SYNCHO, as she channels five Fifth Dimensional entities into one SUPER CONSCIOUSNESS to delve deep into the psyche’s of ROBOTMAN, ELASTI-WOMAN, NEGATIVE MAN, and more in BREAKTHROUGH BREAKDOWNS!
Written by: Dennis Culver
Art by: David Lafuente
Colors by: Brian Reber
Letters by: Pat Brosseau
Cover by: Chris Burnham and Brian Reber
Price: $3.99