BOOK REVIEW: ARROW: HEROES AND VILLAINS / AUTHOR: NICK AIRES / PUBLISHER: TITAN BOOKS / RELEASE DATE: FEBRUARY 3RD
At first glance, Arrow: Heroes and Villains is much like the TV series; glossy and full of beautiful people. It’s packed with pictures of cast members looking suitably brooding or wryly amused, cheekbones and pouts highlighted to immaculate effect. Initially, it seems that this book is a gallery of publicity stills put together for an audience that would rather drool over their heroes than read about them, which is a shame because there’s a lot more to these pages than meets the eye.
Publisher Titan Books hasn’t skimped on the text, despite the dominance of the images on show. Over fifty characters populate this book and, while the obvious ones get more pages, none of them are short-changed. Each entry summarises their actions within the first two series of Arrow, while a neat little ‘fact sheet’ informs the reader of any aliases and relationships, as well as providing a brief snippet of text regarding any comic book history. It covers heroes and villains from Starling City and The Island, as well as offering an enticing glimpse into a certain Task Force X.
Arrow: Heroes and Villains does feel targeted for a specific demographic of the TV audience, so it may not be what all fans of the show are looking for, and anyone hoping for pictures from the comics or any in-depth behind the scenes facts may find it disappointing. That said, this is a book that sets out to inform its reader of the characters populating the TV series, and it does just that in a clear, comprehensive and entertaining manner. Much like its source material, it has hidden depths for those willing to look for them, and it’s a worthy introduction for anyone wanting to descend further into Oliver Queen’s world.
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