Green Arrow #23: Dark, Tense Penultimate Showdown

Issue #23 isn’t the grand finale—it’s the penultimate thunderdome before everything comes crashing down in the concluding chapter. Chris Condon uses this second-to-last stand to tighten the screws on both our hero and his adversaries, ratcheting up tension and setting the stage for what promises to be a white‑knuckle conclusion.

Creative Team: Chris Condon (Writer), Montos (Artists), Adriano Lucas (Colors), Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou (Letters)

Green Arrow #23 – DC Comics

******Potential Spoiler Warning******

The Writing:

Rather than wrapping threads, Condon deepens them. We learn even more about the Freshwater Killers’ shattered dreams and the betrayals that forged their vendetta. Their drive for revenge is palpable—every arrow loosed, every pulse‐pounding escape feels loaded with the weight of systemic neglect. And with only one issue to go, the question isn’t just if Oliver Queen can stop them, but what he’ll sacrifice in the attempt.

Detective Benitez’s arc explodes here: she’s no longer just piecing clues together—she’s staring down her own mortality. With one step between her and a red‑masked assailant, the issue turns her investigation into a life‑or‑death gamble. This build‑up cleverly primes readers for the finale, ensuring every personal thread—regret, guilt, hope—will snap into place when the last arrow flies.

Check Out Green Arrow #22 Review Here!

The Art, Colors and Letters:

Montos leans into a relentless downpour, letting rain streak across panels like tears before a storm. The motion in the fight scenes is more frantic than ever, as though every swing of the bow could be the one that changes everything. Intense close‑ups on clenched fists and blood‑spattered masks heighten the sense that the walls are closing in, both on our hero and the killers.

Adriano Lucas’s palette remains murky—with slashes of crimson that bleed through pages to mirror the villains’ warped vision through their red masks. It’s an immersive POV trick that’s especially effective here, making readers feel the claustrophobia before the storm breaks. The muted greens of Queen’s hood stand in stark relief, reminding us of the fragile line he treads between justice and vengeance.

Hassan Otsmane‑Elhaou’s lettering crackles with urgency. SFX burst from the page like gunshots, and whispered conversations feel as dangerous as any pitched battle. His placement guides the eye through the chaos without sacrificing clarity—vital when every second matters and the finale looms just one issue away.

Final Thoughts:

Green Arrow #23 doesn’t just lead into the climax—it fuels it. By amplifying backstory, raising life‑or‑death stakes for Benitez, and drenching every beat in an atmosphere of impending doom, this penultimate issue is the perfect setup for issue #24. If you want to fully appreciate the fallout when the final showdown arrives, you can’t skip this charged chapter.

Overall Grade: 9/10

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