by Kroze Kresky, Media Editor

Ever since Smallville started branching out and including live action versions of the heroes of the DC Universe, fans of the hit television superhero show have clamored for a spinoff to feed their hunger of weekly comic book battles. One of the most requested spinoffs from fans was a series based off their favorite Robin Hood knockoff: Green Arrow. The CW heard these cries and have delivered…in a slightly different way than expected. At SDCC 2012, preview night attendees were treated to the pilot of Arrow! How does the Emerald Archer hold up in this new live action series?

Arrow goes back to square one with its brand new retelling of a playboy billionare and his fight against injustice (no, not THAT playboy billionare…) bringing a brand new version of Oliver Queen to the small screen. Stephen Amell (Private Practice, Heartland) brings a harsher, more rugged Ollie to life as we start with finding him surviving on a deserted island off in the middle of nowhere. Being rescued as the show begins, we slowly learn through a series of flashbacks how Ollie ended up there. As he finds his way back home, we find out in a way of how much he has changed being stranded on the island reconnecting with his family and friends. Secretly Ollie begins training on his own to take down some of the most corrupt business men in the city with his new skill set he gained while away.

If this sounds much like Batman Begins, well it does borrow a lot of cues from Nolan’s revisioning of a classic hero into a darker direction. But when it comes to Arrow, it works to the show’s advantage contrasting the more lighter take on superheroes we got from Smallville. Granted purests may nitpick over the such small (and weird) changes such as Star City being renamed to Starling City, and Dinah “Laurel” Lance, but overall the pilot episode feels very solid and is enjoyable to all fans of the hero genre. Check out Arrow this fall on Wedensday nights on The CW!

ComicsOnline gives Arrow “Pilot” 4 out of 5 tennis balls shot out of air with arrows.

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