DC Confirms New Green Arrow For Its Dark Rebooted Universe

Published Sep 16, 2026, 10:30 AM EDT

An experienced Editor representing Canada via ScreenRant's Team Anime, J.R. has been reading manga since the first printing of Shonen Jump in North America. This passion drove him to write about anime, manga, and manhwa since 2022, having recently served as Lead Anime Editor for ComicBook.com.

His favorite moments in media coverage include reviewing the series premieres of Zom 100 and Bleach: TYBW Part 2 back-to-back and briefly meeting Junji Ito at a VIZ gallery event in 2023.

Warning: Spoilers Ahead For Absolute Green Arrow #5!

Among the multiple impressive chart-topping successes of DC's Absolute Universe, one series punching above its weight class ever since its debut has been Absolute Green Arrow since its debut earlier this year. The series has consistently ranked only below Absolute Batman among all other stories in this rebooted continuity, with August 2026's sales figures saying about the same, and for good reason. It's gorgeously drawn by Rafael Albuquerque, with positively addictive action and an enthralling mystery written by Pornsak Pichetshote. But a major draw bringing readers back to the comic book store each month has been the series' central mystery: who is the Green Arrow Killer?

In what was once a typically easy question usually answered by "Oliver Queen", the series has beaten readers over the head with reminders that it's incredibly unlikely, barring some soap opera twist, to have Queen back in any shape or form under the hood. Primary suspects have included classic archers and associates of Queen's like Mia Dearden, Roy Harper, and Thomas Ludlow Hallaway. But as the suspects keep getting knocked away, and an entire unmasking occurs, it seemed like the mystery was unceremoniously resolved in issue #5. But as the final pages show, it turns out that the Green Arrow's image was too big to be left resting on one man's shoulders alone.

DC's Absolute Universe Reveals Two Green Arrows Have Been Working Together

While Oliver Queen's remains pretty much definitively ruled out his survival and candidacy, as has Harper's incapacitation against Solomon Grundy in this latest issue and Hallaway's massive disfigurement, few options remain for known suspects left. Mia Dearden would be a fun twist, especially since it'd be an upgrade to her typical Speedy sidekick role. That, and her initial creation by Kevin Smith and Phil Hester as a survivor of child sex trafficking, could easily have inspired her understandably furious response to Queen's reluctance to oust Jubal Slade from his company.

But the twist will now have to be whether the theoretical Mia, or indeed somebody else, is the second Green Arrow Killer. The latest issue's Edvin Zytle flashback could be a solid tip-off, as well. The Lesley Li variant cover for issue #6 would be especially cheeky in that case, given the unsubtle Count Vertigo-esque pattern on Lance's tank top.

While the Malcolm Merlyn reveal from the issue #5 preview is now confirmed as only part of the full picture, the second Green Arrow Killer's identity is viewed by Dinah Lance as all but one guess away at this point, indicating she recognizes their voice, if nothing else.

With the unmasking of one Green Arrow Killer as Malcolm Merlyn, and the reveal of a second one, it's clear that the powerful elite are in mortal danger with more than one lethally efficient assassin on their tails, with a growing body count in their wake. Merlyn was shown stalling for time until his backup arrived in the final moments of Absolute Green Arrow #5.

However, the issue stops short of actually revealing this second Green Arrow, promised instead in the next issue with who will presumably become the definitive Absolute Universe's Green Arrow going forward.

Absolute Green Arrow Reveals Its Biggest Secret In October 2026

Matching the pacing of Absolute Batman's first major arc, Absolute Green Arrow is set to reveal its central superhero's real identity, closing the books on the Absolute Universe's possible biggest mystery of the year. But as issue #6's newly-revised synopsis points out, not everyone will survive this confrontation, with the second Green Arrow presumably now being the only one following Merlyn's passing, and the tease of one more major death among the key characters involved on the way. But, much like Absolute Batman following issue #6, the story's horizons will be broadened significantly.

Green Arrow. Black Canary. Solomon Grundy. Hector Hammond. Their paths violently converge in a bloody finale one of them won't walk away from as the identity of the Green Arrow Killer is finally revealed. But it's only the first of many surprising revelations as the stage is set for the next audacious chapter in the saga of the newly extended Absolute Green Arrow.

-Absolute Green Arrow #6 Synopsis

To the delight of readers everywhere, Absolute Green Arrow has had its run extended for six more issues beyond the initially-planned limited run. Were it not for the quick and enthusiastic response, as well as Pichetshote's impressive vision, this may not have happened. But the world is clearly craving more of this addictive version of the Green Arrow legend, even if it only ever features Oliver Queen in flashbacks. With Absolute Green Arrow #6 coming on October 21, 2026, and issue #5 out as of today, it has the chance to continue showing up the rest of the Absolute Universe, and giving even Absolute Batman a run for its money in the months to come.

Green Arrow