“Y’know, I never realized that Kevin Smith’s stint on “Daredevil” was just a warm-up! But now that I’ve read the first issue of his “Green Arrow” series, it’s obvious that he was holding back the best stuff for Ollie.

“Green Arrow” marks Oliver Queen’s return to the role that he filled for more than a half-century – and it marks Kevin Smith’s DC debut. This series united him with artists Phil Hester and Ande Parks; together, the three are pulling out all the stops to make the Emerald Archer an A-team player in the DC Universe.

How does he do it? How does Kevin Smith bring back a character who was blown to bits a few years ago? I’m not going to give that one away – but I will note for posterity that my good friend Michael Brown accurately predicted exactly how this story would tie in with “Final Night”. And, just as Doctor Mike claimed, it works…and it makes perfect sense, since the clues were there all along.

But how Kevin Smith brings Oliver Queen back is less important than why he brings Oliver Queen back. Oliver Queen’s death was far more memorable than the last few years of his super-hero life – and if Smith had brought Ollie back only to return him to his previous career of mediocrity, then all the effort would have been wasted. Instead, Smith is rebuilding the character without tossing out any of the qualities that defined him in the past. And, of course, he’s very good at it – but what would you expect from a man who’s made his career as a filmmaker whose skill at characterization is superlative?

All the questions aren’t answered in the first issue – but there’s no rush, since Smith has a twelve-issue odyssey mapped out. And while Odysseus’ journey took twenty years, Oliver will find his way home in twelve issues.

One surprise here was Smith’s choice of artists: after working with a high-profile fan-fave like Joe Quesada on “Daredevil”, Smith could have had his choice of artistic superstars. He chose Hester and Parks, though, because they’re more than flash and finish – their storytelling skills are top notch, and their bold linework gives the story a dynamic style that immediately establishes this book as much more than the typical fine-line pin-up comic or the manga-derivative flavor of the month.

And one other surprise – Kevin Smith does manage to get away with one sexy scene that surprised me; it’s perfectly in character and, while the scene’s merely suggestive, it’s still a little more risque than you expect from a mainstream superhero comic.

Want a superhero comic you can truly enjoy – and one that you won’t be embarrassed to put into a non-fan’s hands? With its combination of believable characterization, dynamic visuals, and deft plotting, “Green Arrow” fits the bill perfectly.”