Beta Ray Greg Presents : Green Arrow #45

Somber.

This issue is practically one scene. An important, relentlessly somber scene. Roy Harper’s funeral. Let’s play catch up. Roy and Oliver made up or at least settled back together while working on themselves. Ollie has been given a sort of gift, a weapon of sorts by the Martian Man-Hunter. The box is said to possess the power to take down the Justice League in the event of a hostile take over or someone going bonkers.

Now with that being said, Ollie found something deep down and realized he needed to trust Roy more. He wants Roy to be the back up for ‘the box’. But then he finds out the super recovery center started by the JL was attacked. Everyone was murdered.

This issue is Roy’s funeral. It’s exactly like you expect an issue like this to be. Uncomfortable. Not in a bad way, just deep and emotional. Ollie blames the JL. He takes a swing at Clark Kent. Connects. Ouch. Oh please stop. Super Man just takes it. He knows what Roy meant to him. Everyone does. But Green Arrow blames the Justice League for what happened at The Sanctuary.

Roy had an addiction. There’s a scene in his issue with him, a spoon, and a needle. This was some serious stuff. But you find out in the issue from a fellow addict, Roy knew it was time to get clean and he helped others to get to that point too. He was doing good work. I’m sure he went out like the hero that he was.

Oliver finally sees what he was trying to find to say to Roy for months, years. He didn’t know what was best for him. Roy had to find that out for himself. That Roy didn’t need a mentor, he needed a father. Oliver says good-bye with “…but I love you, SON. Good-bye, Roy.”

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know he difference.

If you know someone who struggles with addiction, any addiction, encourage them to seek help. You can’t make them want to get help but a friend is what they need. If you are an addict and want to get help, there are people that can help without prejudice.

That’s it. I’m not rating this issue. There’s not a rating that would satisfy the message it brings. Good day and Godspeed.

BRG