Dennis O'Neil (writer) and Neal Adams (penciler) don't tread lightly when it comes to tackling issues of the day in their run on Green Lantern/Green Arrow. During their time on the title they address the issues of racism, drug use, child abuse, cult followings, and more! Seems simple enough today, but back in the 70's the industry had never seen this type of raw expression before in comics.
This issue picks up where #85 left off with Green Arrow delivering a punch to his doped out ward, Speedy. While this issue mainly deals with drug use and the negative consequences of using, it also touches on the father and son relationship between Ollie and Roy (Speedy). This relationship comes across as very real and human as the two characters can't reconcile over Speedy's addiction. Ollie decides to find the people responsible for supplying the drugs and make them pay...
While the writing of O'Neil is top notch, a good amount of the story telling in this issue is done by the art work of Adams. It works well, specifically the scenes where two junkies take heroin, and Dinah Lance helps Roy overcome his addiction. These are some of the most powerful scenes in comics, especially back in 1971. Happily, there isn't much corny dialogue, which compliments the serious overtone of the story. What's even cooler? How about the fact that this issue was endorsed by the Mayor of New York City at the time, John V. Lindsay!
Rock on!
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