This story ends on “To Be Explained”, and all I could think was, please explain something…
First off, before I begin truly reviewing this mess, I would like point out the typo of “to to” on none other than page one. In this day and age I might be able to forgive it being printed with that typo, but why exactly couldn’t they correct the download.
Now that I have pointed that out, this happens to the be the first digital download I have purchased of the New 52, prior I have only downloaded the ARKHAM CITY digital chapters. I have to say, I may wind up converting 100% to digital download. A major reason for me, quite simply is that it saves a ton of space. Currently my wife and I are saving for a house, and I am self-financing a new entertainment venture, so money is tight. We downsized tremendously, and I have a lot of things in a storage unit. Those things include 5 giant containers of comic books. I am looking forward to not having to fill another one.
I began reading RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS with a tremendous amount of hope. Unlike many, I really like the character of Jason Todd. BATMAN: UNDER THE RED HOOD animated film is my favorite from DC thus far. I also think it gave a much better explanation to Jason coming back from the dead. The Superboy Prime excuse is practically embarrassing. I choose to go with the Lazarus Pit excuse instead. As a matter of fact, I may enjoy stories with Jason more so than stories with Dick Grayson. (Tim is my favorite Robin by the way and it infuriates me that they canceled RED ROBIN.)
Anyway, our story opens on Roy Harper AKA Arsenal, as a prisoner being taken to see a visitor. For me, this was the best part of the issue, as Jason takes an old school play out of the Bruce Wayne handbook to initiate Roy’s escape.
Things get a bit out of hand quickly as tanks outnumber our reject heroes. That’s when backup arrives in the form of the Porn Star-- I mean alien Starfire. I must admit, I do not generally read DC titles outside of the Batman Family, so some of the characters here are completely unknown to me. That said, I do know who Starfire is strictly from crossovers, and her time as Dick’s girlfriend. She has been changed quite a bit it seems in the New 52. Not a fan, whatsoever. Starfire is written as nothing more than a hot drink to quench a hormonal teenagers thirst. I do not mind writing sexual situations into comics, its realistic. Starfire however is a flat out overdone waste of time so far. The drawings of her and the dialogue especially paint a picture that is going to be very hard for writers to work with.
Who is Essence?
When did Jason dye his hair?
For a girl who states that Love has nothing to do with sex, she sure does like to cuddle while she sleeps.
Truthfully, this story was just a mess. I think they were going for a story that sets up a whole, yearlong arc of flashback explanations to the overall scenario we have been presented with. All it did for me was irritate me and make me second-guess downloading issue #2.
This series has potential if handled correctly. You have a set of characters that so easily could have an overall concept of redemption. It’s easy to find villains that reflect the nature of that beast. The problem I initially see is that all the characters are broken. That’s like having Celebrity Rehab without Dr. Drew. They need someone to guide them back to being heroes.
DC is lucky I am reviewing this series for BOF, cause otherwise they might have lost a customer for this title. Hopefully issue #2 will give us something tangible to hold onto. - Anthony Purzycki
GRADE: D
Anthonyy Purzycki is the creator andpProducer of the upcoming Live ARG, FindMeEvent.com.
SYNOPSIS: No sooner has Batman's former sidekick, Jason Todd, put his past as the Red Hood behind him than he finds himself cornered by a pair of modern day outlaws: Green Arrow's rejected sidekick Arsenal, the damaged soldier of fortune, and the alien Starfire, a former prisoner of intergalactic war who won't be chained again. As a loner, Jason has absolutely no interest in this motley crew of outlaws. So what's he going to do when they choose the Red Hood as their leader?