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How the real-world response to killing of healthcare CEO Brian Thompson is influencing DC Comics’ Absolute Green Arrow, according to its writer
DC’s revamped Green Arrow is about killing corrupt billionaires. And now with a masked vigilante killing a billionaire on the streets of Manhattan, its influencing the story
NewsbyChris Arrant, Editor-in-Chief
Published on Tue Jul 14 2026
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Vigilante justice is on the rise, and it’s not just in superhero comics… and in fact, it’s inspiring superhero comics.
The current DC Comics series Absolute Green Arrow is a rebooted version of the classic hero, with an anonymous masked individual dubbed ‘The Green Arrow Killer’ ona spree of killing corrupt billionaires. Described by DC as “I Know What You Did Last Summer for billionaires,” but it is released at a time when the killing of a wealthy individual that some classify as corrupt by a masked vigilante is actually happening in America. I’m referring to the December 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on the streets of Manhattan.
During an AMA on the popular comics website League of Comic Geeks, Absolute Green Arrow writer Pornsak Pichetshote was asked if and how the killing of Brian Thompson and the conversations surrounding it inspired this hit DC series.
“The ‘serial killer targeting corrupt billionaires’ was something I came up with before the killing happened, but I wasn’t sure if anyone would ever be able to root for him,” Pichetshoke says. “Since then, I’ve used the real world response to the killings to inform how Star City responds to the Green Arrow.”
At the same time, Pichetshote says that a revamped version of Green Arrow as seen in this series has “the potential to be the most relevant character to talk about the world today,” adding, “hopefully I can live up to that potential.”
The killing of Brian Thompson prompted broader conversations about how the corrupt nature of several aspects of the US healthcare system (which Thompson was a key player in) has led to financial pain, literal pain, and death of many in this country. According to a late 2024 AP News poll, roughly 80% of respondents said that the killer bore “a great deal” or at least “a moderate amount” of responsibility for the killing, 70% said that that denials for health care coverage by insurance companies such as Thompson’s UnitedHealthcare (and profits derived by such) also bear “a moderate amount” of responsibility for the murder.
US authorities have arrested Luigi Mangione for the killings on charges including, but not limited to, first-degree murder. Mangione has pleaded not guilty and is in police custody
Absolute Green Arrow #3 (of 6) goes on sale on July 15.
DC Comics’ goal of the Absolute DC line is “let creators do the books that they feel really passionate about,” says architect (and Absolute Batman writer) Scott Snyder
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Chris Arrant: Chris Arrant is the Popverse’s Editor-in-Chief. He has written about pop culture for USA Today, Life, Entertainment Weekly, Publisher’s Weekly, Marvel, Newsarama, CBR, and more. He has acted as a judge for the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, the Harvey Awards, and the Stan Lee Awards. (He/him)
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