With Batman now dead and Green Arrow eager to join Jokerin the infamous ‘I Killed a Robin’ club, the Emerald Archer cements himself as DC’s most ruthless hero, willing to cross any line to achieve his goals. This fact is further solidified with one brutally cold line that reveals just how far Oliver Queen has fallen from grace.
...the Green Arrow of Earth-63 surpasses even Batman in his savagery when it comes to achieving his goals.
On December 11, 2024, the full issue of Matthew Rosenberg and Otto Schmidt’s DC vs. Vampires: World War V #5 hits shelves. Until then, fans can dive into a four-page preview packed with carnage and action, featuring leading characters like Oliver “Green Arrow” Queen, Damian “Robin” Wayne, and Scott “Mister Miracle” Free.
The standout moment in this preview comes from the tense interaction between Oliver and Damian, picking up right where the previous issue's major cliffhanger left off: Oliver drawing his bow on the vampiric Damian. Despite Damian’s peaceful intentions and his plea to join forces against Vampire Queen Barbara Gordon’s army, Oliver makes it clear he has no plans to let the Boy Wonder walk away.
“No. We’re Just Supposed to Beat Them”: Green Arrow Tried to Kill Robin (Seriously)
Cover F 1:50 Card Stock Variant by Nikola Čižmešija for DC vs. Vampires: World War V #1 (2024)
Green Arrow makes it abundantly clear from the start that he’s ready to kill Robin solely because he’s a vampire. However, not everyone agrees with the archer’s ruthless plan. Black Canary steps in to defend Damian, reminding Oliver that Robin came to them for help. She challenges him, asking, “Isn’t the point of all this that we are better than our enemies?” Her words aim to make Oliver see the wrong in his actions. Instead of backing down, Green Arrow delivers a brutally cold response: “No. We’re just supposed to beat them.”Without hesitation, he releases an arrow aimed directly at Damian’s heart, at point-blank range.
Swamp Thing intervenes just in time, blocking the arrow before it can strike Robin’s chest. Although Damian’s life is spared, it’s clear this act of mercy didn’t come from Green Arrow. This moment underscores just how unapologetically savage the Emerald Archer can be in his pursuit of victory—this time, in his war against ALL vampires, even those not allied with the tyrannical Vampire Queen. While Oliver has always been relentless in achieving his goals, this marks a shocking escalation, proving he’s willing to kill a child to accomplish his mission—even if that child happens to be an undead vampire.
Another Robin’s life is on the line, but this time, it’s not the Joker threatening the Boy Wonder—it’s a major Justice League hero.
Earth-63's Green Arrow Out-Savages Batman
Cover C Card Stock Variant by Daniel Bayliss for DC vs. Vampires: World War V #4 (2024)
Among the heroes of the Justice League, Batman is often depicted as the most ruthless—a reputation cemented in the Tower of Babel storyline, where it was revealed that Bruce had secretly devised contingency plans to neutralize each League member should they ever go rogue. However, with Batman’s death in DC vs. Vampires #6, fans were left to wonder just how far the Dark Knight might have gone to end the vampire war. Still, it’s almost certain that he would never have gone as far as killing a child who came in peace seeking help, even if that child was a vampire. This makes it undeniable that the Green Arrow of Earth-63 surpasses even Batman in his savagery when it comes to achieving his goals.
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