Green Arrow's Death & Resurrection Was Even Better Than Superman's
In the 80 years since his debut, Green Arrow has cheated death more than once, but his literal resurrection was one of the most satisfying rebirths in DC Comics history – even rivalling the return of Superman. While Connor Hawke did an admirable job taking over for his father as the Green Arrow, the Oliver Queen version of the character was brought back to the forefront years later by Kevin Smith and Phil Hester in Green Arrow #1. Not only did this series return Ollie to the pages of DC, but it also returned him to the characters and fans alike who loved him.
But in order to set up his eventual return, Oliver Queen first had to die. Killed in an explosion while thwarting an eco-terrorist attack on Metropolis, the Emerald Archer refused to allow the Man of Steel to save him when it became clear that the only way to do so would be to amputate his arm. Ollie was nothing if not stubborn, and it was that pride that sent him to the grave – at least until Hal Jordan resurrected his old friend. This reborn, amnesiac Oliver operated in Star City, wandering the streets until he’s taken in by the wealthy Stanley Dover as his memory and personality slowly return.
When he does cross paths with the Justice League, it’s clear that not only does Oliver not remember the last few years, but he also doesn’t realize that he died at all. Batman ultimately tells him the truth, and after a brief run-in with Jason Blood, it’s determined that Oliver is what’s known as a hollow: a human body with no soul. Eventually, Ollie is visited by Hal Jordan, now the Spectre, who takes his old friend to Heaven to meet the soul of Oliver Queen to explain why the resurrected Ollie has felt so out of place. While Jordan needed to resurrect his friend as redemption, Oliver wanted to enjoy his rest. He allowed Parallax to bring Green Arrow back, but only so long as Hal left Oliver's soul in heaven and gave this new Arrow no memories past a certain point.
The hollow Oliver is returned to Earth where he tells Stanley what he’s learned, only for the old man to knock him out by surprise. With Ollie captured, Stanley reveals his identity as the Star City Slayer – a serial killer who murdered his victims as a part of a scheme for eternal life through a powerful demon. With Oliver’s soul gone, the Slayer plans to transfer his soul into the Green Arrow’s body and assume Oliver’s life as he continues his occult quest. Before he can go through with it, Connor Hawke arrives to rescue his father.
Unfortunately for the younger Green Arrow, Stanley uses his occult knowledge to summon demons, nearly killing Connor. Realizing that Connor is his son, Oliver calls out to his soul for help. While the true Oliver at first refuses to return, his hollow ultimately convinces him to come back, not to save the world but to save the son he’d abandoned before. Green Arrow has always been one of DC’s most hard-headed heroes. When taking this into account, it’s less surprising that his stubbornness almost prevented his resurrection just as it got him killed. After all, it literally took an argument with his own soul to fully convince him to return.
Luckily, Oliver Queen is fully restored, and the father/son duo saves the day leaving them to get to know each other for the first time. But it’s this intensely personal reason for Ollie’s return that stands out because he didn’t feel as if he had any unfinished business to handle. Clearly, he wasn’t even particularly interested in saving the world again. He just wanted to save his son and be the father he never was for Connor – a truly unselfish motivation.
Oliver may not always be the greatest dad, but he’s always been one of DC’s greatest heroes. And while he’s far from the only superhero to die and come back, his resurrection is definitely one of the most heartwarming. And it’s certainly one of the strongest moments in Green Arrow’s 80-year history.