2 Razors

Red Hood and the Outlaws #20

/ / Comics

Red Hood and the Outlaws #20Red Hood and the Outlaws #20 picks up with Starfire and Arsenal trying to convince the magic monk who has wiped Jason Todd‘s mind clean to return his friend’s lifetime of horrible memories, whether he wants them or not. The question of whether or not we are more than the sum of our memories and whether bad memories are better than none at all is debated as it appears the New 52 editorial staff have decided what’s best for Red Hood is a clean slate.

We get flashbacks into Roy Harper’s first meeting with Jason Todd as well as the revelation that Starfire’s short-memory has been largely exaggerated (which should quiet some of the critics for this version of the character). I don’t like the idea of taking such a drastic step with the character after the hard road to redemption Jason Todd earned.

Whether or not it’s good for the character, or for the New 52, we’ll have to wait and see, but my initial reaction is this is an easy choice for DC Comics to give the character a completely new direction while thumbing their noses a decades of history. Well, this is the New 52. Pass.

[DC, $2.99]

Red Hood and the Outlaws #20 Read More »

Transformers: Regeneration One #91

/ / Comics

Transformers: Regeneration One #91In a story arc that’s offered us Grimlock, Starscream, and Shockwave, and teased of the first showdown between Optimus Prime and Galvatron, the latest issue of Transformers: Regeneration One is something of a disappointment as it deals with the fallout of Scorponok‘s plan to release the “Warrior Gene” and turn all the Autobots into Decepticons (yeah, I know exactly how dumb that sounds).

Transformers: Regeneration One #91 primarily deals with the Autobots on Cybertron facing their own actions now that the Gene has been turned off and blaming Hot Rod‘s leadership for the entire misadventure, especially as he was deep inside Cyberton learning more about Primus and the primordial Transformers while this was going on.

Although the issue does have appearances by Soundwave and Prowl, and gives us the Dinobots willing to work with Hot Rod to return to the center of Cybertron in search of their fallen leader, it centers around the comic’s most ridiculous storline leading to mixed results. Pass.

[IDW, $3.99]

Transformers: Regeneration One #91 Read More »

Batman and Red Hood #20

/ / Comics

Batman and Red Hood #20How can a comic that starts off so well end in the kind of trainwreck that will damage two of DC’s Bat-books for months to come? The latest issue of Batman and… gives us a team-up of a more brutal Batman than we’ve seen in a while with Red Hood who has finally found some peace with his mentor after the fallout of mostly wretched Death of the Family.

The only good thing to come out of Death of the Family was bringing Jason Todd back into the fold. Well, that was short lived. When Batman tries to force Jason to face his death and resurrection, hoping for clues to do the same to Damian, the hard earned respect between the characters is thrown away in a handful of panels (perhaps for good).

Although I think Todd overreacts to Batman’s grief, the result is to push yet another member of the Bat-Family further from the Dark Knight Detective. Batman and Red Hood #20 also offers another appearance by Carrie Kelley looking for Damian, teasing that she’s not going away anytime soon. Pass.

[DC, $2.99]

Batman and Red Hood #20 Read More »

Bon Jovi – What About Now

/ / Music News & Reviews

Bon Jovi are certainly looking and feeling their age in the video for “What About Now,” the title track off the New Jersey band’s twelfth studio album. From the band that rocked my childhood, the song isn’t so much bad as tired and instantly forgettable. For those interested, you can currently listen to the rest of the album on SoundCloud.

Bon Jovi – What About Now Read More »

Red Hood and the Outlaws #19

/ / Comics

Red Hood and the Outlaws #19Jason Todd gets little more than a cameo here as the story focuses on Arsenal and Starfire tracking down their friend who, after surviving the Joker‘s final attack, left them and headed straight for the All-Caste. By the time the duo track him through the Himalayan mountains and discover the secret entrance to the home of the magical monks who continued to train Todd after he returned from the dead, Todd has already made a rash decision which will effect all three of their futures.

Red Hood and the Outlaws #19 is a mixed bag as we’re given a Red Hood wiped of nearly all his memories (at his own behest). If this was where the New 52 planned on taking the character I’m not sure why they didn’t just allow the Joker’s final attack to do the damage.

The issue also has an odd appearance by Essence who attempts to influence Arsenal through his dreams. The point of this subplot isn’t very clear (or interesting), but it’s arguably better than the beyond bland blank slate of Jason Todd we’re left with as the issue closes. The consequences to this issue might be interesting, but this issue is a mixed bag.

[DC, $2.99]

Red Hood and the Outlaws #19 Read More »