Green Arrow #4

Green Arrow #4 was published in 1988 as part of the seminal DC Comics limited series written by Mike Grell. This storyline, titled The Longbow Hunters, marked a significant departure for the character, stripping him of his superhero gadgets and placing him in a grounded, gritty urban setting in Seattle. Grell, who also provided the painted cover art, intended to re-establish Oliver Queen as a street-level vigilante dealing with mature themes like crime, political instability, and internal moral conflict.

The reception to this series was overwhelmingly positive, as it successfully revitalized a character that had previously struggled to find a consistent modern identity. By moving away from his traditional DC Universe roots and focusing on the noir-inspired, realistic tone that defined the late eighties, the series set the template for the character's appearance and personality for the next several decades. It remains a cornerstone of the 'grim and gritty' era of comic book storytelling.