Green Arrow: Stranded will offer fans a new origin for Oliver Queen. Part of DC's 2022 line of young reader graphic novels, the book will place Ollie back on the island where he learns the skills that make him the Green Arrow. DC has been killing it with their young reader line and this one will introduce a new generation to the Emerald Archer.
The young reader line of graphic novels from DC has explored many fan-favorite and iconic characters. From Beast Boy and Raven to Black Canary and Catwoman, there are numerous stories to be told. These graphic novels explore different aspects of these characters' teenage selves, allowing new readers and young DC fans to see themselves in these heroes who already have lengthy legacies. They are perfect jumping-on points to introduce new fans to classic characters, but are also enjoyable for long-time fans to see a new side of their favorite heroes.
Green Arrow: Stranded is written by Brendan Deneen with artwork by Bell Hosalla. It will tell the story of Oliver Queen, who will be thirteen in this retelling of his origin story. Long-time DC fans - particularly fans of the Arrowverse - may be familiar with his origin story. Ollie goes on a trip with his father and some friends, but it goes horribly wrong when their private jet crashes. Now, Oliver must survive the island he lands on and try to locate any other survivors. In Stranded, these life-changing events happen to him much sooner.
The synopsis is as follows:
Following a plane crash on a deserted island, 13-year-old Oliver Queen must learn the skills he needs to survive and to protect his injured father. Ollie has always hated the idea of hunting, but his dad insisted they go on this trip with his business partner, Sebastian, and his son, Tyler. When Ollie fails to take a perfect shot, the teasing starts, and he wonders if his dad will ever be proud of him again. But just when he thought their trip couldn't get any worse, their private jet is struck by lightning and Ollie awakens to find himself stranded on a deserted island, with no idea what to do or where the other passengers might be--including his dad. He has never felt less sure of who he is...or if he will be able to hang on until help arrives.
The story of Oliver Queen was told in the TV show Arrow, which kicked off DC's Arrowverse in 2010. The show just ended in 2020 after eight seasons, but it has been a little while since fans spent time with Ollie on the island. This graphic novel will take a different approach to the story, however. In this version, Oliver Queen is much younger (13 instead of 22, as he's portrayed in the show). Additionally, the show had him on a private yacht partying, not on a private jet for a hunting party. This story will explore more of the struggles that Ollie faces in trying to be accepted by his father and base needs of survival. It will likely focus on Ollie during his time on the island as it happens to him in real time, as opposed to a flashback when he's older, keeping the focus on his adolescence to better connect to younger readers. Typically the character is written as an adult, which makes this a fresh change to the character.
Brendan Deneen has written the Night Night Groot picture book series starring Marvel's Rocket Raccoon and Groot, as well as numerous novels. He previously wrote a graphic novel adaptation of the Christmas classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Island of Misfit Toys, the graphic novel Scatterbrain, and a Flash Gordon comic series in 2010. Bell Hosalla is an illustrator who creates comics with this being their first major graphic novel title. Green Arrow: Stranded will release on March 1, 2022.