Red Hood

Red Hood and the Outlaws #10

/ / Comics

red-hood-and-the-outlaws-10-coverKori is approached by Orn, a former comrade, who enlists the princess’ help to save her homeworld. Soon Arsenal, Red Hood, and Jason’s date for the evening find themselves on Tamarian battle cruiser with Starfire preparing for war.

Although the story introduces the new arc I’ll admit to being a little lost as Starfire’s choice to return home (to save a people who enslaved her) doesn’t really sit well with the New 52 version of the character. We get short reunions with Starfire and members of the ship’s crew (with more revelations for the heroine’s past to come), but “the Blight,” the invading alien force, is pretty damn generic.

The issue also begins an ongoing back-up story of Essence and a man with a “Life Hammer” hunting the Untitled (who he may, or may not, once been a part of – clarity is not this issue’s strong suit).

Although it has some fun moments (including Jason’s date), the latest issue is by far the weakest of the series so far. Hit-and-Miss.

[DC, $2.99]

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Red Hood and the Outlaws #9

/ / Comics

red-hood-and-the-outlaws-9-cover“Night of the Owls” continues as the Red Hood finds himself in Gotham doing a favor for Batman and protecting Mr. Freeze from an man brought back to life as an assassin. The irony of the situation isn’t lost on Jason Todd.

As Todd gets reacquainted with his hometown, and deals with his conflicted feels with helping his former boss who he is adamant he now hates (although it’s clear his feelings are far more complicated), Starfire and Arsenal try to keep Freeze under control so the Red Hood can deal with the Talon sent to kill him.

Although I’m not thrilled with the redesign of Freeze or the conclusion of the Red Hood’s battle with Talon there are several nice moments here including Kory’s reaction to being attacked by Mr. Freeze, Todd’s inner struggle and walk down memory lane, and his confrontation with Batgirl in the comic’s final pages. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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Red Hood and the Outlaws #8

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red-hood-and-the-outlaws-8-coverThe Red Hood returns to Gotham along with Starfire and Arsenal in an issue that gives us the backstory of Suzie Su and begins to weave Jason Todd back into the Bat-Family (at least for the foreseeable future).

The Outlaws show up Gotham to take down Su who is holding the residents of the Children’s Ward at Gotham General Hospital hostage in order to draw out the Red Hood and take revenge for the murder of her entire clan.

The Suzie Su story works well enough, but the issue is memorable for two other reasons. The first the Red Hood responding to Alfred‘s message for help with the Court of Owls unleashing their assassins across Gotham. The choice of the man Red Hood is supposed to save should make for a fun next issue.

And the second is a small scene between Todd and Tim Drake that suggests the pair have an interesting relationship that may not be sanctioned, or known about, by the Dark Knight Detective. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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Red Hood and the Outlaws #6

/ / Comics

red-hood-and-the-outlaws-6-coverThe latest issue of Red Hood and the Outlaws takes a look back at the first meeting between Jason Todd and Starfire months before the events of the first issue. Writer Scott Lobdell has taken quite a bit of heat for the current version of Starfire and this month’s comic is obviously an attempt to try and molify some of the criticism the title has garnered.

You can certainly argue Lobdell’s writing has been lacking in how he has expressed the character’s redesign on the page, but I’m actually like the idea of expanding on the character’s existing alien look at emotional and physical relationships. In more than one way Kory saves Jason Todd in this issue, first from his wounds and later by offering her friendship and a simple view of the world that at least begins to put him on a better path.

Would I like this version of Kory to be a little more sentimental and care about the past? Sure. But as a concept her current outlook fits not only the redesign of the character but also the comic and relationship with Todd she finds herself in.

…

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Red Hood and the Outlaws #5

/ / Comics

red-hood-and-the-outlaws-5-coverThe latest issue of Red Hood and the Outlaws gives us not one but two battle scenes as the Red Hood battles the Untitled and Arsenal and Starfire take down the crocodile-Man-Bat-thing known as Crux. It’s not a great story, and (as has been the case for this comic) some of the writing may illicit unplanned groans or giggles from the reader, but (unlike a vast majority of the New 52) it is fun.

This issue puts Jason Todd on a path. It’s a murderous path to be sure, but at least we now know where writer Scott Lobdell is planning to take the Red Hood and the rest of the team. I’m confused by the blood blades and the reasoning why Starfire didn’t loose her powers, but let’s be honest – logic has never been this comic’s strong suit.

Even though I’ve stopped reading many of the New 52 titles I’m going to stay with Red Hood and the Outlaws for at least awhile longer. It’s never quite what I expect, and its not the direction I would take the characters, but I’m still intrigued by what Lobdell has planned for this motley crew he’s assembled. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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