Absolute Green Arrow #5 (DC Comics, 9/16/26): Writer Pornsak Pichetshote & artist Rafael Albuquerque finally unmask Green Arrow with a shocking twist, but that’s not the end of the surprises. Pichetshote’s script has more twists and turns than a mountain trail, but sometimes less is more. Verdict: A genuine surprise that doesn’t quite work.
Credits:
- Writer: Pornsak Pichetshote
- Artist: Rafael Albuquerque
- Colorist: Marcelo Maiolo
- Letterer: Jeff Powell
- Cover Artist: Rafael Albuquerque (cover A)
- Publisher: DC Comics
- Release Date: September 16, 2026
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover Price: $4.99
- Page Count: 24
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of Absolute Green Arrow #5:
First Impressions:
I knew Absolute Green Arrow #5 would be the big issue that unmasks the “Weapon,” and I had to admit, it’s not who I would have expected. That’s both a good thing and a problem.
Recap:
In Absolute Green Arrow #4, Dinah fought off Solomon Grundy after following the trail of failed mutation experiments to a lab on Jubal Island, where she discovered Hammond interrogating Oliver Queen’s former bodyguard, Hallaway, who had been grotesquely transformed by Dr. Iker. After shooting Iker and forcing Hammond out of the lab, Dinah learned the horrifying truth about Oliver Queen’s death before Hammond regenerated Grundy and turned him loose again. As the monstrous Grundy overwhelmed her, Absolute Green Arrow appeared to save Dinah, but lost his hand in the process.
Plot Analysis (SPOILERS):
The issue begins with Dinah and the one-handed “Weapon” tied to chairs in one of Jubal Island’s labs. Dinah has given up hope, but the Weapon hasn’t, telling Dinah he knows all about Dinah’s family history, including important details Dinah didn’t know. Hammond storms into the lab, boasting and bragging, to unmask the Weapon. The emerald archer is…
Malcolm Merlyn (???)
Merlyn monologues about his quest to fight Hammond and Jubal after his nephew, Guillermo Garcia, was kidnapped and experimented on in Jubal Island. He enlisted Oliver Queen’s help, but through a series of flashbacks, we see Queen wasn’t fully committed to either his political aspirations or his alter-ego as a vigilante. When Oliver died, Merlyn took up the mantle.
Hammond directs Grundy to kill Dinah and Merlyn when Roy rushes in, guns blazing, to start a battle. During the fight, Merlyn is killed, Hammond gets away, Roy may or may not be dead, and Grundy has his hands full fighting the mutated Hallaway. The issue ends with a second Green Arrow arriving on the scene – Merlyn’s unnamed partner, whom Dinah somehow knows.
How is the story in Absolute Green Arrow #5?
Readers love mysteries when they’re done right. Therein lies the problem with Pornsak Pichetshote’s script. For a mystery to be fun for the reader, there have to be clues and hints that could lead you to the answer or in a completely different direction altogether. Here, the mystery of the Weapon’s identity doesn’t quite work because there were few to no clues that suggested he was Merlyn, much less a suggestion that there were two of them. It feels like Pichetshote couldn’t work out how to make the mystery engaging, so he threw all the spaghetti at the wall to see what would stick.
To be fair, the pacing and energy are high, and the sheer number of twists keeps you on your toes. The drama and twists hit you so fast that you don’t have time to think too long about the revelations, but once you turn the last page and think about what happened, the contrivances become glaring.
How is the art in Absolute Green Arrow #5?
Thankfully, Rafael Albuquerque has really stepped up his craft in this series, delivering high-octane action, dramatic character acting, and cool monster designs. I’ve criticized Albuquerque in the past for inconsistent faces that look warped or distorted, but you get none of those problems in this issue. Plus, Marcelo Maiolo’s brilliant use of color to visually express the hellish atmosphere of the Jubal Island lab and contrast it with green-saturated flashbacks looks great.
Characters
Dinah is still the star of the show, which is still a bizarre creative choice. She is shocked to hear that her mother’s misdeeds are not what she thought; she projects rage and fury onto Hammond for his atrocities, and she shows a calm assurance about Merlyn’s death. It’s just unfortunate that the central character after five issues is not the title character.
Originality & Concept Execution
Yes, you could superficially argue that Absolute Green Arrow #5 is full of surprises, so there’s some merit to saying this issue is original. However, the original ideas are hamstrung by incomplete execution. How would anyone guess that Merlyn was the Weapon? How would anyone guess that there are two Weapons? How could Dinah, on the last page, confidently state that the identity of the second Weapon is “obvious”? Again, mysteries need clues for the audience to play along, and Pichetshote fell short in dropping those clues.
Pros and Cons
Art Samples:
The Scorecard:
Writing Quality (Clarity & Pacing): 2/4
Art Quality (Execution & Synergy): 3.5/4
Value (Originality & Entertainment): 0.5/2
Final Thoughts:
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Absolute Green Arrow #5 finally unveils the Weapon’s identity, but that’s just the start of the surprises. Pornsak Pichetshote’s Dinah-centric story keeps readers on their toes, and the art is impressively strong, but you won’t shake the feeling that the surprises and reveals come out of nowhere, with little to no setup.
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