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Red Hood and the Outlaws (2016)
Red Hood: Outlaw, Vol. 2: Prince of Gotham
The Outlaws never thought things would look this bad, as Jason Todd gives in to his addiction to Venom in order to find the missing Starfire in Red Hood: Outlaw Vol. 2: Prince of Gotham!
Jason Todd is the new proprietor of the Penguin's Iceberg Lounge, Gotham's most notorious floating casino/crime front. Hiring the Sisters Su as his security and former Teen Titan Bunker as his second-in-command, Jason Todd announces to the world that he is leaving his past behind and going legit. But if that's the case, why is he keeping the Penguin locked up as his prisoner? Is this Jason's masterstroke in his efforts to infiltrate the criminal underworld and take them down from within or has he finally crossed the line from pretend villain to actual criminal mastermind?
Writer Scott Lobdell (Nightwing) and artist Pete Woods (Justice League) take the Red Hood from vigilante outlaw to entrepreneur in Red Hood: Outlaw Vol. 2: Prince of Gotham, a story where nothing is as it seems. Collecting Red Hood: Outlaw #32-36 and Annual #3.
Jason Todd is the new proprietor of the Penguin's Iceberg Lounge, Gotham's most notorious floating casino/crime front. Hiring the Sisters Su as his security and former Teen Titan Bunker as his second-in-command, Jason Todd announces to the world that he is leaving his past behind and going legit. But if that's the case, why is he keeping the Penguin locked up as his prisoner? Is this Jason's masterstroke in his efforts to infiltrate the criminal underworld and take them down from within or has he finally crossed the line from pretend villain to actual criminal mastermind?
Writer Scott Lobdell (Nightwing) and artist Pete Woods (Justice League) take the Red Hood from vigilante outlaw to entrepreneur in Red Hood: Outlaw Vol. 2: Prince of Gotham, a story where nothing is as it seems. Collecting Red Hood: Outlaw #32-36 and Annual #3.
144 pages, Paperback
First published December 3, 2019
11 people are currently reading
209 people want to read
About the author
Scott Lobdell
1,625 books230 followersScott Lobdell (born 1960) is an American comic book writer.
He is mostly known for his work throughout the 1990s on Marvel Comics' X-Men-related titles specifically Uncanny X-Men, the main title itself, and the spin-off series that he conceived with artist Chris Bachalo, Generation X. Generation X focused on a number of young mutant students who attempted to become superheroes in their own right at a separate school with the guidance of veteran X-related characters Banshee and Emma Frost. He also had writing stints on Marvel's Fantastic Four, Alpha Flight, and The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix mini-series with artist Gene Ha. He wrote the script to Stan Lee's Mosaic and an upcoming film from POW Entertainment featuring Ringo Starr. He also participated in the Marvel Comics and Image Comics (from Jim Lee's WildStorm) crossover mini-series WildC.A.T.s/X-Men.
He is mostly known for his work throughout the 1990s on Marvel Comics' X-Men-related titles specifically Uncanny X-Men, the main title itself, and the spin-off series that he conceived with artist Chris Bachalo, Generation X. Generation X focused on a number of young mutant students who attempted to become superheroes in their own right at a separate school with the guidance of veteran X-related characters Banshee and Emma Frost. He also had writing stints on Marvel's Fantastic Four, Alpha Flight, and The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix mini-series with artist Gene Ha. He wrote the script to Stan Lee's Mosaic and an upcoming film from POW Entertainment featuring Ringo Starr. He also participated in the Marvel Comics and Image Comics (from Jim Lee's WildStorm) crossover mini-series WildC.A.T.s/X-Men.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
July 26, 2023
I think one of my problems with Lobell as a writer is he easily gets bored. The beginning of this arc establishes Jason Todd as the owner of the Iceberg Lounge. Feels like this is being setup to last a while. Yet a couple of issues later he's giving it up and driving off into the sunset. I thought having Jason run the Iceberg was an interesting idea. I'm also always iffy any time Lobdell returns the story back into that All-Caste nonsense from his new 52 run. This time he just dips Jason's toes into it so it's alright. I did like that we finally found out what happened to Artemis and Bizarro. I really miss those two.
October 10, 2019
My thoughts during the reading progress:
THAT PERSON now knows who Red Hood really is! Then how can things go from here!????
I'm looking forward to what will happen next.
Short review here:
(1) I guess you know how much I don't like the new artwork and the characters' outlooks, right? Still, I'd decided to make my peace with it for a bit by deciding to view Red Hood's new custom as his summer outfit because let's face it, leather jacket is great but it's one hell of a bitch to endure in the summer heat. Lol
(2) But.........how come the Penguin just I would have screamed bloody murder already if this kind of shit happens in some other series...but I'm so damn biased so...I turn a blind eye. XD
(3) OMG Lex, I thought you are supposed to be a smart guy! What in the world would you think it's a smart thing to let Jason teach anything to anyone at all!? XD
(4) Well, I don't think it's wise to surround yourself with hired-guns instead of buddies who share common goals with you.
(5) Given how things usually develop in the Red Hood series, I won't put it past Jason's new girlfriend to turn out being a villain too; but I'm giving her the benefit of doubt now because the doggy dog seems to like her...
(6) Halfway through the story, the Su Sisters started to grow on me! Plus Jason admits Suize Su is his best frenemy! ^_^
(7) As to the new direction of the story, I only want to say...Hell yes, bring it on, just bring it on...
OMG, that sounds super positive! LOL
By the later part of the story, I noticed there is a new artist doing the artwork, and I'm like...'Am...am I dreaming!!????' The artwork and the characters actually look super cool and well-drawn in this volume!!! Perhaps it's the end of all the terrible artwork I'd to stomach (ever since Red Hood: Outlaw vol. 1) and the return of the old glory!?
(8) Don't get me wrong, I don't hate the former artist (don't even remember his name, is it 'Peter' something?) or think his artwork is really so bad but I was seriously pissed when I couldn't even recognize the lead character, namely, Jason Todd.
(9) As to the story itself, I still haven't seen much of the main plot but the newly introduced young supervillains (e.g. Cloud 9, Devour, DNA etc) look really interesting. I'm totally looking forward to see more of these new characters.
(10) I am super happy to know the tiny Superman plush is alright and still talking to Bizarro too. Plus......interesting to see Bizarro has a snow globe and a little someone inside it.
(11) Last but not least Jason's old girlfriend does show up to kick his butt around for a bit, I'm also LOL at it.
*goes back to write Batman fanfics*
Review for volume 1: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review: Batman: Battle For the Cowl: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review: Batman: Life After Death: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review: Batman & Robin: Batman Reborn https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Book Review: Batman: The Long Halloween https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review: The Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told Vol. 1 (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)
More to come.
THAT PERSON now knows who Red Hood really is! Then how can things go from here!????
"Spare me your hypocrisy."
I'm looking forward to what will happen next.
Short review here:
(1) I guess you know how much I don't like the new artwork and the characters' outlooks, right? Still, I'd decided to make my peace with it for a bit by deciding to view Red Hood's new custom as his summer outfit because let's face it, leather jacket is great but it's one hell of a bitch to endure in the summer heat. Lol
(2) But.........how come the Penguin just I would have screamed bloody murder already if this kind of shit happens in some other series...but I'm so damn biased so...I turn a blind eye. XD
(3) OMG Lex, I thought you are supposed to be a smart guy! What in the world would you think it's a smart thing to let Jason teach anything to anyone at all!? XD
(4) Well, I don't think it's wise to surround yourself with hired-guns instead of buddies who share common goals with you.
(5) Given how things usually develop in the Red Hood series, I won't put it past Jason's new girlfriend to turn out being a villain too; but I'm giving her the benefit of doubt now because the doggy dog seems to like her...
(6) Halfway through the story, the Su Sisters started to grow on me! Plus Jason admits Suize Su is his best frenemy! ^_^
(7) As to the new direction of the story, I only want to say...Hell yes, bring it on, just bring it on...
"Never apologize for trying."
OMG, that sounds super positive! LOL
By the later part of the story, I noticed there is a new artist doing the artwork, and I'm like...'Am...am I dreaming!!????' The artwork and the characters actually look super cool and well-drawn in this volume!!! Perhaps it's the end of all the terrible artwork I'd to stomach (ever since Red Hood: Outlaw vol. 1) and the return of the old glory!?
(8) Don't get me wrong, I don't hate the former artist (don't even remember his name, is it 'Peter' something?) or think his artwork is really so bad but I was seriously pissed when I couldn't even recognize the lead character, namely, Jason Todd.
(9) As to the story itself, I still haven't seen much of the main plot but the newly introduced young supervillains (e.g. Cloud 9, Devour, DNA etc) look really interesting. I'm totally looking forward to see more of these new characters.
(10) I am super happy to know the tiny Superman plush is alright and still talking to Bizarro too. Plus......interesting to see Bizarro has a snow globe and a little someone inside it.
(11) Last but not least Jason's old girlfriend does show up to kick his butt around for a bit, I'm also LOL at it.
*goes back to write Batman fanfics*
Review for volume 1: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review: Batman: Battle For the Cowl: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review: Batman: Life After Death: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review: Batman & Robin: Batman Reborn https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Book Review: Batman: The Long Halloween https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review: The Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told Vol. 1 (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)
More to come.
January 7, 2020
Ouch, the first bad volume in the Red Hood series.
While we drifted away from the Dark Trinity (A dumb idea, Lobdell had struck gold with those 3) we get focused on just Jason. This volume has him trying to become the Prince of Gotham by taking out as many crime lords as possible while he has Penguin kidnapped. We also have the annual which lets us know what happened to the second half of the trinity.
Overall, this was all over the place. The pacing was messy, the trinity stuff was...tacked on. The twist at the end was out of nowhere. The art remains decent and Jason can be a likeable character. However everything else feels forced and...boring? Yeah boring works here.
A 2 out of 5.
While we drifted away from the Dark Trinity (A dumb idea, Lobdell had struck gold with those 3) we get focused on just Jason. This volume has him trying to become the Prince of Gotham by taking out as many crime lords as possible while he has Penguin kidnapped. We also have the annual which lets us know what happened to the second half of the trinity.
Overall, this was all over the place. The pacing was messy, the trinity stuff was...tacked on. The twist at the end was out of nowhere. The art remains decent and Jason can be a likeable character. However everything else feels forced and...boring? Yeah boring works here.
A 2 out of 5.
August 16, 2023
Jason in that suit is the only reason to read this.
February 24, 2020
fuck lobdell rights but extra star for my jason in a suit and tie rights
November 29, 2019
Jason Todd has earned a rest. He’s lead the Outlaws. He’s mourned the death of Roy Harper. What’s he going to do now? Oh, how about take over the Penguin’s casino. Because why the hell not.
I think ‘not going to last’ is something that follows this book. I certainly didn’t expect the high quality to last, that’s for sure. Jason murdering the Penguin? Didn’t last. The latest incarnation of the Outlaws? Didn’t last (more on that in volume 3 though!). This status quo. Yeah, not going to last either. But it’s the journey that’s the fun here. Even though we all (Jason included) know that his happy ending is going to be fleeting, that doesn’t mean he (and we) can’t enjoy it while it lasts.
Bringing back supporting characters from across Lobdell’s run with the character, from Bunker in the last volume way back to Essence and Suzie Su from the original New 52 run, this feels like a coming home, as well it should, since it repositions Jason back in Gotham. It’s nice to see Lobdell revisit the characters from earlier like Essence, since he handles them far better than he did when they were first introduced. It shows how far he’s come as a writer (which feels weird to write about a guy who’s been writing comics for 30 years but you know what I mean).
Pete Woods finishes out his run on Red Hood with this volume. His art’s always been a fun fit for Jason, a little chunky and rough around the edges, like Jason himself. The colours feel a little flatter, but that’s mostly because the locale of the Iceberg Lounge doesn’t really lend itself to much more than that unfortunately. Oh, there’s a fill-in issue by Stephen Segovia as well, but the fact that I didn’t remember until I looked it up should probably tell you that he blends in pretty well.
Red Hood: Outlaw continues to defy the odds. It knows that change is fleeting in the comics world, but it revels in the changes while they last. The art’s pretty great, and the story moves swiftly along while reminding us of how far we’ve come from the past. All around good times for everyone, except maybe Artemis and Bizarro.
I think ‘not going to last’ is something that follows this book. I certainly didn’t expect the high quality to last, that’s for sure. Jason murdering the Penguin? Didn’t last. The latest incarnation of the Outlaws? Didn’t last (more on that in volume 3 though!). This status quo. Yeah, not going to last either. But it’s the journey that’s the fun here. Even though we all (Jason included) know that his happy ending is going to be fleeting, that doesn’t mean he (and we) can’t enjoy it while it lasts.
Bringing back supporting characters from across Lobdell’s run with the character, from Bunker in the last volume way back to Essence and Suzie Su from the original New 52 run, this feels like a coming home, as well it should, since it repositions Jason back in Gotham. It’s nice to see Lobdell revisit the characters from earlier like Essence, since he handles them far better than he did when they were first introduced. It shows how far he’s come as a writer (which feels weird to write about a guy who’s been writing comics for 30 years but you know what I mean).
Pete Woods finishes out his run on Red Hood with this volume. His art’s always been a fun fit for Jason, a little chunky and rough around the edges, like Jason himself. The colours feel a little flatter, but that’s mostly because the locale of the Iceberg Lounge doesn’t really lend itself to much more than that unfortunately. Oh, there’s a fill-in issue by Stephen Segovia as well, but the fact that I didn’t remember until I looked it up should probably tell you that he blends in pretty well.
Red Hood: Outlaw continues to defy the odds. It knows that change is fleeting in the comics world, but it revels in the changes while they last. The art’s pretty great, and the story moves swiftly along while reminding us of how far we’ve come from the past. All around good times for everyone, except maybe Artemis and Bizarro.
September 8, 2020
Still reeling from the loss of his team, Jason Todd (Red Hood) takes on a new role, owner of the Iceberg Lounge. Wait, what? What happened to Penguin? Highlights:
-Helping him run the casino is a gang who have decided to go straight: The Sisters Su: Suzie, Blanc, Anastasia, Night, Candy. Su gets a lot of attention and time because she is so huge, but they work really well for Jason
- Also on the team (and temporary members of the Outlaws) are Wingman (we met in the last Volume, Jason's dad) and Bunker, a former member of the Teen Titans, who creates constructs made out of purple bricks
- Jason's rule is threatened by the arrival of Essence, the First Daughter of the All-Caste, the mystical people who taught Jason to fight after his Lazarus Pit resurrection. Of course they fight, using their blades, and Jason ends up capturing her inside her Blood Blade
- Jason is in charge, but what happened to the Penguin? Turns out he's been trapped inside his own Panic Room this whole time. When Bunker lets him out, Penguin escapes to return another day.
- Jason gets an opportunity from Lex Luthor that he decides to take, so he leaves the Sisters Su in charge of the Iceberg Lounge
- We do see a story of Bizarro and Artemis on another Earth and they really are trying to get back home, though they are changing a lot
What is this task Lex has given? On to Volume 3!
Recommend. I love the moral ambiguity of Red Hood.
-Helping him run the casino is a gang who have decided to go straight: The Sisters Su: Suzie, Blanc, Anastasia, Night, Candy. Su gets a lot of attention and time because she is so huge, but they work really well for Jason
- Also on the team (and temporary members of the Outlaws) are Wingman (we met in the last Volume, Jason's dad) and Bunker, a former member of the Teen Titans, who creates constructs made out of purple bricks
- Jason's rule is threatened by the arrival of Essence, the First Daughter of the All-Caste, the mystical people who taught Jason to fight after his Lazarus Pit resurrection. Of course they fight, using their blades, and Jason ends up capturing her inside her Blood Blade
- Jason is in charge, but what happened to the Penguin? Turns out he's been trapped inside his own Panic Room this whole time. When Bunker lets him out, Penguin escapes to return another day.
- Jason gets an opportunity from Lex Luthor that he decides to take, so he leaves the Sisters Su in charge of the Iceberg Lounge
- We do see a story of Bizarro and Artemis on another Earth and they really are trying to get back home, though they are changing a lot
What is this task Lex has given? On to Volume 3!
Recommend. I love the moral ambiguity of Red Hood.
July 29, 2020
Vamos ser sinceros: Jason Todd, sozinho, não tem nenhum carisma com os leitores, sejam eles batmaníacos ou não. Seja ele como Robin ou como Capuz Vermelho, essa sua abordagem radical para combater e, por horas, se juntar ao crime, fazem dele um anti-herói bem chinfrim. Mas existe um elemento que junto ao Capuz vermelho funciona, que são os Foragidos, os outros anti-heróis que acompanham Jason. nesta fase do renascimento DC, eram Bizarro e Ártemis. Estava funcionando muito bem até que os editores resolveram limar os dois personagens. Vou confessar que ler essa série tem sido um guilty pleasure bem prazeroso, principalmente porque torço pelo retorno de Biz e a Red One, que neste encadernado já deram sinal de vida e estão voltando para as páginas, para minha alegria. Por outro lado, Lobdell usa outros subterfúgios para deixar as historias do chato do Jason Todd interessantes, como coadjuvantes como o uso de personagens como as irmãs Su, o Casamata dos Novos Titãs e o Alado, da Corporação Batman. Além, é claro, de manter o Pinguim em cativeiro dentro do seu próprio cassino Iceberg. Toda essa salada sai com um resultado bem peculiar e de prazer culpado.
August 13, 2020
Reading Lobdell is giving me such a whiplash, honestly. Why are we back to the All-Caste bullshit? Everyone hated it in N52 because it was a bad take for Jason and after finally enough time passed to pretend that didn't happen in this continuity, Lobdell brings it back. Why is he still writing this title if he's so out of ideas he has to rehash his own failures from N52? And don't even get me started on the fact that suddenly Roy is Jason's best friend again after a few volumes back in THIS SAME RUN Jason was saying that before Bizarro he didn't have a real friend since resurrection! I'm used to superhero comics being inconsistent across eras, runs, and authors. But the amount of contradicting information Lobdell is giving in the title he's been writing for years and years is just so damned exhausting.
August 9, 2020
This was the only volume that I have given 4 stars too, maybe because there was just something missing. I really enjoyed it but I want to see the dark trinity reunite really bad and the annual issue at the end gave me hope for that!
June 6, 2022
Imagining tearfully saying goodbye to my wife as someone puts a gun to my head and asks me to recall anything that happens in this book.
July 20, 2021
The story abruptly jumps from the last volume to this one, and the whole time you're reading it there is a nagging feeling that an issue or two was left out, but the story is strong enough despite that to be quite enjoyable, the most enjoyable entry in the series so far, in fact.
September 22, 2025
Why is every writer in DC allergic to happiness? Why do I hate this, but also like it. This hurt. It hurt a lot. It still does. I need therapy. Jason Todd also needs therapy.
January 3, 2026
Another wonderful installment of Red Hood & The Outlaws 😎👍💯!!
We begin with Jason taking over the Iceberg lounge with the help of Wingman, Miguel, Suzie & The Su Sisters. Jason is officially the owner of the Iceberg lounge & Casino as he makes his re-emergence in Gotham City live with Vicky Vale. Jason discusses how he bleeds Gotham much like his adoptive father Bruce Wayne and how he wants to do good for Gotham by providing an escape.
Jason further goes on to narrate how he has a specially designed roll for each of the Su sisters to keep the family unit together while Wingman serves as a chauffeur/sercurity along with Suzie Su while Miguel is Jason's right hand man & cheif of staff. Shortly after opening the Falcone mob affiliates accuse the table of unfair gambling practices on the Roulette wheel to which Jason handles the situation by offering a suite to the prospective young men. They are led by Miguel into what appears to be an Icy lavished suite but are then swiftly encapsulated in a ball and rolled back to Gotham bay. Jason congratulates Miguel/Bunker on his efforts then returns to office suite above to check in with Suzie. The two toast but it isn't long before Batman comes in and knocks out the hired bodyguard to further inquire about Jason's plans for re-entering Gotham against his advisement.
Jason further increases the stakes by reminding Batman that Gotham is home as well and that he could blow the top on the whole operation if Batman chose to suddenly arrest Jason Todd when it was Red Hood who shot the Penguin (Vol 4 Good Night Gotham). Batman is forced to conceed to Jason's blackmail attempts and leaves. It is then revealed that behind a fish tank is a two way mirror trapping the Penguin who Jason has captured as his prisoner.
The next evening Jason is doing some rounds on the Iceberg lounge and runs into Isabel his only stable love connection from when he was working with Roy & Starfire. Isabel admits that she wanted to check out the place as well as check in on Jason now that he is going legit. When suddenly troubled arrives from a group known as the Five Aces who were seeking to find the Penguin who has suddenly vanished. The Su sisters rise to the tasks to take down the motley group and are successful baring the one Ace who manages seeks to take the soul of Red Hood. Miguel shows up in the nick of time to usher Isabel to safety while leaving Jason's Red Hood attire in a breif case. Red Hood emerges and after a breif fight with Ace who reveals himself to be one of the All-Caste, Red Hood smites him and his soul banished into the Beyond.
We then cut to the next scene where we get a narrative recap of Jason explaining how he banished a monster with the All-Caste soul blades and how this granted him access into the alliance to be trained by Dregon (I believe that is the name of the mother of the All-Caste). Jason also recounts how he noticed that everyone wasn't thrilled with his acceptance. In present day we see that Jason has arranged for reservations at a restaurant in Paris where he invites Isabel the flight attendant to join him for a nice date. Isabel arrives and notices a thrid glass of champagne then asks if they were expecting company. Jason explained that it is in memory of Roy from their last trip to Paris (Arsenal & Red Hood) and Isabel instant understanding recognizing this as a grieving tribute. After Dinner Jason walks Isabel to her hotel room and they share a kiss. Isabel reminds Jason that she isn't with him for the money as the airline picks up her tab & stay in the hotel before departing inside.
Red Hood then emerges jumping over roof tops to take care of some business when he gets a phone call from Suzie who assures him that the repairs to the damages from the Five Aces are nearly complete. Meanwhile Miguel goes into the penthouse office to check something and comes across a strange noise coming from behind the fish tank.
In the following scene, we see Essences (daughter to Durca) congure up the spirit of Ace as she compels him to tell her if Jason had a soul behind his eyes to which Ace replies that he didn't. Essences then retracts into the main hall where she asks the god S'aru what precious memory Jason delivered to him and sees an image of Jason with Bruce/Batman as he remarks that Jason was the only human to comply when Durca emerges and announces that she has made her decision.
Meanwhile we see Red Hood who enters a fragrance store and barges in some back door to find the Euro-Block (repersenting Germany England, Scotland, Russia, and Denmark) waiting for him. Red Hood goes onto explain that Jason Todd is the figure head to the Iceberg lounge enterprise and that he is the main one running it. When they ask where Penguin disappeared to Red Hood lies and says he skipped town leaving him with a bunch or laundered money and that he won't be doing them a favor any further. The Euro-Block aim there guns at Red Hood and explain that they all invested over hundred million dollar to turn their money clean and that he better pay up. Red Hood then gets a call from Wingman explaining that he has drone snippers on each of the Euro-Block heads and that he will deditate at his will. The snippers retract their marks on Red Hood. Red Hood departs home and we cut to Miguel who has discovered the Penguin behind closed doors.
In the next scene we see Jason at a party as he overlooks the Gotham sky line with disdain for the guest present. Isabel tries to comfort him as she joins Jason on the balcony as she asks what these people ever did to him. To which Jason replies that they did absolutely nothing for him and all of them looked away from the systematic problem when he was a homeless kid. Isabel understands his pain, resonates, and leaves Jason be but asks that he not throw anyone off the balcony.
Jason then takes off to his limo driven by Wingman who asks him why Jason trusts him so much after knowing next to nothing about him. Jason replies that trust is an overused commodity and that he could just kill him if Wingman ever betrayed him but that he admires his loyalty. At the docks they meet up with Susie Su who informs him that the repairs are complete and that she is thankful to Jason for keeping her family together. He then boards the ship and takes off for the Iceberg lounge but gets a strange sense as the fog begins to roll in.
Essences appears and informs Red Hood that she is there to deliver his soul to the Beyond via the Blood-Blade and put a stop to his plans. Red Hood expresses that they've come a long way since "the thousand acres of all". The two begin to battle but as Essences strikes Red Hood with the Blood-Blade to encapsulate his souls she recognizes her fatal mistake that Red Hood is an innocent and the Blade is only ment to punish those with tainted souls. Red Hood explains her error and that it was a rookie mistake because he is neither good nor bad but is an innocent.
Red Hood switches into his normal clothes attire as he enters the penthouse office to sercure the Blood-Blade with Essences' soul inside when he is confronted by Penguin. The Penguin holds Jason at gun point and asks him why he decided to become involved with Red Hood. Jason is confused and asks if Penguin remembers anything from that night he was shot at th grand opening of the Iceberg lounge to which he replies that he does. Jason narrates and recounts how he maliciously planed to kill the Penguin on that night for vengeance for his father who took the fall for the bastard. He notes how ironic it is that in his greatest moment that the Penguin recounts nothing. Jason then retorts by answering the question that he just works for the Red Hood as a means to replace one son of Gotham with another. Penguin prepares to take aim but is ambushed by Dog allowing Jason the chance to get the upper hand.
Jason then explains how the Euro-Block will be very interested to hear of the Penguin's return as Oswald's eues fill with fear for what they will do to him. Suddenly the walls burst through from Bunker who confronts Jason as he sections off a wall of privacy from Penguin. Jason is frustrated as to why Miguel released him to which he retorts that Red Hood wrongfully imprisoned the man. Jason replies by expressing whether Bunker knows the sheer evil, acts of domestic terrorism, and families that Penguin has single-handedly committed and asks how he could compare Penguin to him. Miguel in a confused state of morale injustice takes off leaving Jason in the penthouse as Penguin hijacks a boat before leaving back to Gotham.
Wingman then shows up and offers to go after Penguin to which Jason disapproves allowing Oswald to run. Wingman asks what his purpose was to do with the Penguin to which Jason replies that he shot him in the monicale because he knew the glass would slow down the bullet but make it look real enough. Wingman is surprised to hear that Red Hood didn't want to kill Penguin but Jason replies that his whole goal was to get him off the table for what was to come. Susie Su then shows up and looks at the mess asking what happened. Jason doesn't reply but instead hands over the keys to Susie to run the Iceberg lounge with her family to finally go legit.
James aka Wingman then takes Jason for a ride back to Gotham with Dog and the Blood-Blade. The two take a moment to admire the vie of the city and waterfront but Jason looks at Gotham with disdain because no matter how much you give to Gotham it will never be enough. Jason jumps off the boat with Dog and the blade before taking off to swim to shore. Wingman looks on with a proud look and we pane down to see a Batman signal tattooed on his arm.
Red Hood makes a quick stop to drop off Dog with Isabel with a note asking her to look after Dog. We then cut to see Red Hood driving his motorcycle with a drone following him which reveals Lex Luthor who has a proposition for Red Hood to do what Batman got wrong which is to teach a new generation of mutant Meta-humans. Red Hood is intrigues and agrees.
Our final section of this arc delves into Artimis & Bizzaro and how they came to be trapped in an alternate universe. The two investigate the Hall of Justice which is now renamed to the Hall of Punishment where they learn of what is known as "Hero Day" by a sercurity man who shows them the a room with the Daily Planet Globe mounted on Superman's head killing the Man of Steel. Artimis seeks to inquire further and the sercurity guard metahumans up explaining how all normal humans inherited their powers and that they all rose above the metas. Artimis & Bizzaro manage to escape but are corner shortly there after until a guy named Knife shows up and offers to help them as apart of the resistance.
We fast forward to see a mohawk version of battle Artimis be held captive with Knife as apart of their grand plan. Meanwhile Bizzaro helps Flutter who is a young girl with bee like wings escape the clutches of the status quo gang who now hate her for joining the resistance. Flutter & Bizzaro meet up with the group and await Artimis's call.
Meanwhile Artimis & Knife are to be brought in to General Lane but they evade the guards and ambush the lot where they fine General Lane who explains how Knife & Artimis are to be sentence to death for their atrocities. Lex Luthor ( a giant brain like creature) also steps up and explains how they plane to set off a bomb in another dimension using the universal qauntum door which they found to he in pieces and put together. Artimis looks in fear as she realizes the bomb that the goes wish to set off would be for her home world. As the villians close in Artimis calls out for Bizzaro who ambushs the villains with the help of the resistance. Artimis then observes the door and Bizzaro asks if they are to go through it. Artimis retorts that she can't guarantee that they will ever make it home and Bizzaro reassures that he is home as long as he is with 'Red Her'. The two then jump into the door and our arc concludes.
Wow this was a great volume that continues to excit and reveal further plot features from past arcs further creating an all encompassing lore for Red Hood. My only complaint is that the Iceberg Casino did feel short lived and could have further expounded upon but beyond that the set up is impeccable. The Euro-Block scene was one of my favorite as it is more like a call back to Red Hood's early days as a Crime Boss. I also greatly appreciated the who arc including a cohesive story for the Penguin. I am excited to read Vol 3 and see where this arc takes us with Artimis & Bizzaro now re-emergence into our main arc. 8.8/10 🌟😎👍💯!!
We begin with Jason taking over the Iceberg lounge with the help of Wingman, Miguel, Suzie & The Su Sisters. Jason is officially the owner of the Iceberg lounge & Casino as he makes his re-emergence in Gotham City live with Vicky Vale. Jason discusses how he bleeds Gotham much like his adoptive father Bruce Wayne and how he wants to do good for Gotham by providing an escape.
Jason further goes on to narrate how he has a specially designed roll for each of the Su sisters to keep the family unit together while Wingman serves as a chauffeur/sercurity along with Suzie Su while Miguel is Jason's right hand man & cheif of staff. Shortly after opening the Falcone mob affiliates accuse the table of unfair gambling practices on the Roulette wheel to which Jason handles the situation by offering a suite to the prospective young men. They are led by Miguel into what appears to be an Icy lavished suite but are then swiftly encapsulated in a ball and rolled back to Gotham bay. Jason congratulates Miguel/Bunker on his efforts then returns to office suite above to check in with Suzie. The two toast but it isn't long before Batman comes in and knocks out the hired bodyguard to further inquire about Jason's plans for re-entering Gotham against his advisement.
Jason further increases the stakes by reminding Batman that Gotham is home as well and that he could blow the top on the whole operation if Batman chose to suddenly arrest Jason Todd when it was Red Hood who shot the Penguin (Vol 4 Good Night Gotham). Batman is forced to conceed to Jason's blackmail attempts and leaves. It is then revealed that behind a fish tank is a two way mirror trapping the Penguin who Jason has captured as his prisoner.
The next evening Jason is doing some rounds on the Iceberg lounge and runs into Isabel his only stable love connection from when he was working with Roy & Starfire. Isabel admits that she wanted to check out the place as well as check in on Jason now that he is going legit. When suddenly troubled arrives from a group known as the Five Aces who were seeking to find the Penguin who has suddenly vanished. The Su sisters rise to the tasks to take down the motley group and are successful baring the one Ace who manages seeks to take the soul of Red Hood. Miguel shows up in the nick of time to usher Isabel to safety while leaving Jason's Red Hood attire in a breif case. Red Hood emerges and after a breif fight with Ace who reveals himself to be one of the All-Caste, Red Hood smites him and his soul banished into the Beyond.
We then cut to the next scene where we get a narrative recap of Jason explaining how he banished a monster with the All-Caste soul blades and how this granted him access into the alliance to be trained by Dregon (I believe that is the name of the mother of the All-Caste). Jason also recounts how he noticed that everyone wasn't thrilled with his acceptance. In present day we see that Jason has arranged for reservations at a restaurant in Paris where he invites Isabel the flight attendant to join him for a nice date. Isabel arrives and notices a thrid glass of champagne then asks if they were expecting company. Jason explained that it is in memory of Roy from their last trip to Paris (Arsenal & Red Hood) and Isabel instant understanding recognizing this as a grieving tribute. After Dinner Jason walks Isabel to her hotel room and they share a kiss. Isabel reminds Jason that she isn't with him for the money as the airline picks up her tab & stay in the hotel before departing inside.
Red Hood then emerges jumping over roof tops to take care of some business when he gets a phone call from Suzie who assures him that the repairs to the damages from the Five Aces are nearly complete. Meanwhile Miguel goes into the penthouse office to check something and comes across a strange noise coming from behind the fish tank.
In the following scene, we see Essences (daughter to Durca) congure up the spirit of Ace as she compels him to tell her if Jason had a soul behind his eyes to which Ace replies that he didn't. Essences then retracts into the main hall where she asks the god S'aru what precious memory Jason delivered to him and sees an image of Jason with Bruce/Batman as he remarks that Jason was the only human to comply when Durca emerges and announces that she has made her decision.
Meanwhile we see Red Hood who enters a fragrance store and barges in some back door to find the Euro-Block (repersenting Germany England, Scotland, Russia, and Denmark) waiting for him. Red Hood goes onto explain that Jason Todd is the figure head to the Iceberg lounge enterprise and that he is the main one running it. When they ask where Penguin disappeared to Red Hood lies and says he skipped town leaving him with a bunch or laundered money and that he won't be doing them a favor any further. The Euro-Block aim there guns at Red Hood and explain that they all invested over hundred million dollar to turn their money clean and that he better pay up. Red Hood then gets a call from Wingman explaining that he has drone snippers on each of the Euro-Block heads and that he will deditate at his will. The snippers retract their marks on Red Hood. Red Hood departs home and we cut to Miguel who has discovered the Penguin behind closed doors.
In the next scene we see Jason at a party as he overlooks the Gotham sky line with disdain for the guest present. Isabel tries to comfort him as she joins Jason on the balcony as she asks what these people ever did to him. To which Jason replies that they did absolutely nothing for him and all of them looked away from the systematic problem when he was a homeless kid. Isabel understands his pain, resonates, and leaves Jason be but asks that he not throw anyone off the balcony.
Jason then takes off to his limo driven by Wingman who asks him why Jason trusts him so much after knowing next to nothing about him. Jason replies that trust is an overused commodity and that he could just kill him if Wingman ever betrayed him but that he admires his loyalty. At the docks they meet up with Susie Su who informs him that the repairs are complete and that she is thankful to Jason for keeping her family together. He then boards the ship and takes off for the Iceberg lounge but gets a strange sense as the fog begins to roll in.
Essences appears and informs Red Hood that she is there to deliver his soul to the Beyond via the Blood-Blade and put a stop to his plans. Red Hood expresses that they've come a long way since "the thousand acres of all". The two begin to battle but as Essences strikes Red Hood with the Blood-Blade to encapsulate his souls she recognizes her fatal mistake that Red Hood is an innocent and the Blade is only ment to punish those with tainted souls. Red Hood explains her error and that it was a rookie mistake because he is neither good nor bad but is an innocent.
Red Hood switches into his normal clothes attire as he enters the penthouse office to sercure the Blood-Blade with Essences' soul inside when he is confronted by Penguin. The Penguin holds Jason at gun point and asks him why he decided to become involved with Red Hood. Jason is confused and asks if Penguin remembers anything from that night he was shot at th grand opening of the Iceberg lounge to which he replies that he does. Jason narrates and recounts how he maliciously planed to kill the Penguin on that night for vengeance for his father who took the fall for the bastard. He notes how ironic it is that in his greatest moment that the Penguin recounts nothing. Jason then retorts by answering the question that he just works for the Red Hood as a means to replace one son of Gotham with another. Penguin prepares to take aim but is ambushed by Dog allowing Jason the chance to get the upper hand.
Jason then explains how the Euro-Block will be very interested to hear of the Penguin's return as Oswald's eues fill with fear for what they will do to him. Suddenly the walls burst through from Bunker who confronts Jason as he sections off a wall of privacy from Penguin. Jason is frustrated as to why Miguel released him to which he retorts that Red Hood wrongfully imprisoned the man. Jason replies by expressing whether Bunker knows the sheer evil, acts of domestic terrorism, and families that Penguin has single-handedly committed and asks how he could compare Penguin to him. Miguel in a confused state of morale injustice takes off leaving Jason in the penthouse as Penguin hijacks a boat before leaving back to Gotham.
Wingman then shows up and offers to go after Penguin to which Jason disapproves allowing Oswald to run. Wingman asks what his purpose was to do with the Penguin to which Jason replies that he shot him in the monicale because he knew the glass would slow down the bullet but make it look real enough. Wingman is surprised to hear that Red Hood didn't want to kill Penguin but Jason replies that his whole goal was to get him off the table for what was to come. Susie Su then shows up and looks at the mess asking what happened. Jason doesn't reply but instead hands over the keys to Susie to run the Iceberg lounge with her family to finally go legit.
James aka Wingman then takes Jason for a ride back to Gotham with Dog and the Blood-Blade. The two take a moment to admire the vie of the city and waterfront but Jason looks at Gotham with disdain because no matter how much you give to Gotham it will never be enough. Jason jumps off the boat with Dog and the blade before taking off to swim to shore. Wingman looks on with a proud look and we pane down to see a Batman signal tattooed on his arm.
Red Hood makes a quick stop to drop off Dog with Isabel with a note asking her to look after Dog. We then cut to see Red Hood driving his motorcycle with a drone following him which reveals Lex Luthor who has a proposition for Red Hood to do what Batman got wrong which is to teach a new generation of mutant Meta-humans. Red Hood is intrigues and agrees.
Our final section of this arc delves into Artimis & Bizzaro and how they came to be trapped in an alternate universe. The two investigate the Hall of Justice which is now renamed to the Hall of Punishment where they learn of what is known as "Hero Day" by a sercurity man who shows them the a room with the Daily Planet Globe mounted on Superman's head killing the Man of Steel. Artimis seeks to inquire further and the sercurity guard metahumans up explaining how all normal humans inherited their powers and that they all rose above the metas. Artimis & Bizzaro manage to escape but are corner shortly there after until a guy named Knife shows up and offers to help them as apart of the resistance.
We fast forward to see a mohawk version of battle Artimis be held captive with Knife as apart of their grand plan. Meanwhile Bizzaro helps Flutter who is a young girl with bee like wings escape the clutches of the status quo gang who now hate her for joining the resistance. Flutter & Bizzaro meet up with the group and await Artimis's call.
Meanwhile Artimis & Knife are to be brought in to General Lane but they evade the guards and ambush the lot where they fine General Lane who explains how Knife & Artimis are to be sentence to death for their atrocities. Lex Luthor ( a giant brain like creature) also steps up and explains how they plane to set off a bomb in another dimension using the universal qauntum door which they found to he in pieces and put together. Artimis looks in fear as she realizes the bomb that the goes wish to set off would be for her home world. As the villians close in Artimis calls out for Bizzaro who ambushs the villains with the help of the resistance. Artimis then observes the door and Bizzaro asks if they are to go through it. Artimis retorts that she can't guarantee that they will ever make it home and Bizzaro reassures that he is home as long as he is with 'Red Her'. The two then jump into the door and our arc concludes.
Wow this was a great volume that continues to excit and reveal further plot features from past arcs further creating an all encompassing lore for Red Hood. My only complaint is that the Iceberg Casino did feel short lived and could have further expounded upon but beyond that the set up is impeccable. The Euro-Block scene was one of my favorite as it is more like a call back to Red Hood's early days as a Crime Boss. I also greatly appreciated the who arc including a cohesive story for the Penguin. I am excited to read Vol 3 and see where this arc takes us with Artimis & Bizzaro now re-emergence into our main arc. 8.8/10 🌟😎👍💯!!
November 2, 2020
Again another terrible turn out from Lobdell. It's as if he has no idea how to pace a story and form a strong and developed plot. So after his battle with Solitary, Jason has returned to Gotham to take over the Iceberg Lounge. The Penguin who survived his gunshot to the head is trapped in has panic room in the lounge and has to watch as Jason "takes apart his empire"? The first three issues sort of show Jason's new life as a Casino owner along side an ex-villain, an ex-Teen Titan, and a nobody name Wingman. Then the final two issues follow in perfect Scott Lobdell fashion. Instead of continuing to develop upon the Casino angle and further insight into the characters; Lobdell closes up shop and moves Jason to the next plot. Something to do with the All-Caste?
Spoilers...vvvvv...
The things that really pissed me off though were the reveals that Jason shot Penguin with a blank and that Wingman was really Jason's farher!!? The fact that Lobdell tried to pass that Jason had planned from the very beginning to merely incapacitate Penguin so he could get him out of the way to take over the Lounge, is bull shit and disrespectful storytelling. Ditto for his "pull up the sleeve and reveal the batarang brand" to say Wingman is Jason's real dad. Like what the fuck was the point of Solitary if you're just going to do that!!!
Spoilers...vvvvv...
The things that really pissed me off though were the reveals that Jason shot Penguin with a blank and that Wingman was really Jason's farher!!? The fact that Lobdell tried to pass that Jason had planned from the very beginning to merely incapacitate Penguin so he could get him out of the way to take over the Lounge, is bull shit and disrespectful storytelling. Ditto for his "pull up the sleeve and reveal the batarang brand" to say Wingman is Jason's real dad. Like what the fuck was the point of Solitary if you're just going to do that!!!
November 23, 2020
The story telling is so atrocious everything is so didactic. They just have to shove it in your face every three seconds that Jason isn't like other girls its so cheesy and it honestly just takes a giant shit on his character
June 7, 2020
Don’t know how to feel about this volume. I love the Prince of Gotham storyline. Jason being the rebellious Bat-son is the most Jason-esque thing he can be. Him taking over the Iceberg Lounge and teaming up with the Su sisters, Bunker and Wingman was pretty amazing. And Susie wasn’t the brunt of stupid fat-jokes, which is a plus. I loved it. But that plot played such a tiny part in the whole volume. There were so many problems with this book.
The mystical All-caste mumbo jumbo didn’t work for Red Hood. I know it was introduced by the author in an earlier Red Hood title, and it didn’t work then either. It seemed like a boring retread because the creators ran out of ideas. I would have preferred if Red Hood was out to take down Penguin’s old associates. That would have made for a much better story.
Next, who the heck is Isabel? I don’t know why DC and its writers insist on adding these bland, conventionally boring female characters as these beatific love interests for the Bat-boys. Dick is saddled with so many of them, and Red had mostly escaped it this entire series but Isabel keeps popping up in this volume. And what was worse was that Red seems to have his mind more on Roy Harper than on Isabel. Why not just let him mourn his friend instead of having this female prop inserted in the story.
Now let’s get to the most problematic part of the volume. The alternate universe with Bizarro and Artemis. I don’t know why they were written out of the main story, but the other universe seemed interesting... till the misogynistic crap got in the way.
Plebs are super powered in the other universe, which means every guy is hideous looking, but the two women we see are excruciatingly thin and conventionally attractive to the male creative team.
And then there’s Artemis. Her outfit before was bad enough, but in the alt universe she wears a bustier and pants so low cut they barely cover anything. She’s there to be tortured and horrified, and does little else. I mean, seriously? I am just really surprised that the blatant sexism of this author took so long to smear itself all over the RHATO series. But this is more proof that you have to be careful about who is creating the material that your customer is reading, because biases behind the scenes impact the end product.
I was enjoying this series. I love Jason and this series was fun and engaging. Then, this volume happened and I have no words other than, screw DC was backing a sexist ass to continue writing for them.
The mystical All-caste mumbo jumbo didn’t work for Red Hood. I know it was introduced by the author in an earlier Red Hood title, and it didn’t work then either. It seemed like a boring retread because the creators ran out of ideas. I would have preferred if Red Hood was out to take down Penguin’s old associates. That would have made for a much better story.
Next, who the heck is Isabel? I don’t know why DC and its writers insist on adding these bland, conventionally boring female characters as these beatific love interests for the Bat-boys. Dick is saddled with so many of them, and Red had mostly escaped it this entire series but Isabel keeps popping up in this volume. And what was worse was that Red seems to have his mind more on Roy Harper than on Isabel. Why not just let him mourn his friend instead of having this female prop inserted in the story.
Now let’s get to the most problematic part of the volume. The alternate universe with Bizarro and Artemis. I don’t know why they were written out of the main story, but the other universe seemed interesting... till the misogynistic crap got in the way.
Plebs are super powered in the other universe, which means every guy is hideous looking, but the two women we see are excruciatingly thin and conventionally attractive to the male creative team.
And then there’s Artemis. Her outfit before was bad enough, but in the alt universe she wears a bustier and pants so low cut they barely cover anything. She’s there to be tortured and horrified, and does little else. I mean, seriously? I am just really surprised that the blatant sexism of this author took so long to smear itself all over the RHATO series. But this is more proof that you have to be careful about who is creating the material that your customer is reading, because biases behind the scenes impact the end product.
I was enjoying this series. I love Jason and this series was fun and engaging. Then, this volume happened and I have no words other than, screw DC was backing a sexist ass to continue writing for them.
March 15, 2020
Red Hood: Outlaw: Prince of Gotham continues where the previous trade paperback left off collecting five issues (Red Hood: Outlaw #32–36) of the 2016 on-going series with Red Hood: Outlaw Annual #3 and collects two stories: "Prince of Gotham" and "We're Not in Kansas Anymore".
"Prince of Gotham" is a four-issue storyline with a finale (Red Hood: Outlaw #32–36) that has Jason Todd as Red Hood with his new Outlaws in the mysterious Wingman and Miguel Barragan as Bunker returns to Gotham City and takes over the Iceberg Lounge – the headquarters to the missing Oswald Cobblepot as The Penguin, whom Jason Todd has imprisoned in order to determined what happened to his father.
"We're Not in Kansas Anymore" is one-issue storyline (Red Hood: Outlaw Annual #3) retells the story of what happened to Artemis and Bizarro when they were separated from Jason Todd as Red Hood many issues ago, where it forced Jason Todd as Red Hood to become an outlaw on his own.
Scott Lobdell penned the trade paperback. For the most part, it is written rather well. It tells two stories: one, of Jason "Red Hood" Todd's rise as new owner of the Penguin's Iceberg Lounge and his attempt to take the control of the Gotham underworld that comes with it and two, his battle with the supernatural All-Caste that trained him and now wants him to return and rejoin their ranks, which felt more like an afterthought.
Pete Woods (Red Hood: Outlaw #33–36, and Annual #3), Stephen Segovia (Red Hood: Outlaw #32), and Adam Pollina (Red Hood: Outlaw Annual #3) penciled the trade paperback. The penciling styles of each artist meshed well with each other, which makes the artistic flow of the trade paperback rather smoothly, despite changing pencilers mid-story and mid-issue in the case of the annual.
All in all, Red Hood: Outlaw: Prince of Gotham is a good continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series.
"Prince of Gotham" is a four-issue storyline with a finale (Red Hood: Outlaw #32–36) that has Jason Todd as Red Hood with his new Outlaws in the mysterious Wingman and Miguel Barragan as Bunker returns to Gotham City and takes over the Iceberg Lounge – the headquarters to the missing Oswald Cobblepot as The Penguin, whom Jason Todd has imprisoned in order to determined what happened to his father.
"We're Not in Kansas Anymore" is one-issue storyline (Red Hood: Outlaw Annual #3) retells the story of what happened to Artemis and Bizarro when they were separated from Jason Todd as Red Hood many issues ago, where it forced Jason Todd as Red Hood to become an outlaw on his own.
Scott Lobdell penned the trade paperback. For the most part, it is written rather well. It tells two stories: one, of Jason "Red Hood" Todd's rise as new owner of the Penguin's Iceberg Lounge and his attempt to take the control of the Gotham underworld that comes with it and two, his battle with the supernatural All-Caste that trained him and now wants him to return and rejoin their ranks, which felt more like an afterthought.
Pete Woods (Red Hood: Outlaw #33–36, and Annual #3), Stephen Segovia (Red Hood: Outlaw #32), and Adam Pollina (Red Hood: Outlaw Annual #3) penciled the trade paperback. The penciling styles of each artist meshed well with each other, which makes the artistic flow of the trade paperback rather smoothly, despite changing pencilers mid-story and mid-issue in the case of the annual.
All in all, Red Hood: Outlaw: Prince of Gotham is a good continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series.
February 15, 2020
Why? Why do I like this? I don't really care for Lobdell (at least what I've read of his DC work) and I couldn't even get through the Nightwing stuff. Why would I like him writing another ex-Robin?
I don't know. The character is enjoyable but still has cringey dialogue from time to time, cuz he's "hip" and occasionally "edgy". The characters he is surrounded with are C or even E listers: oooh, a team of reformed "super" female assassins, one of which is fat, which is her power, I guess? She's just a big old broad who punches people. Thrilling stuff. The Royal Flush Gang makes an appearance for God's sake. There's even the predictable Batman cameo which serves to soak up a few pages with a predictable outcome.
Batman: "You are doing bad things, and we are going to fight!"
RH: "Yeah, but you have no evidence, so let's punch each other!"
Batman: "You're right, this is silly," (clenches jaw, strikes pose) "Welp, I'm off! Into the darkness!" (jumps off something in a literal cloud of bats)
RH: "...I think that went well."
But somewhere between sword fights with soul blades, gloating over a sloppy, nightdress wearing Penguin and make out sessions with Todd's ex-girlfriend ("She's just so NORMAL, the only NORMAL person in my life, and I love how NORMAL being NORMAL is") Jason mentions like a thousand times, almost guaranteeing she is going to end up being some sort of deep cover sleeper agent or something, I found I was really enjoying myself. I don't even really like his new costume redesign!
Anyways, this is all I have for you. It's cheesy, but it's lighthearted and there is plenty of action. The ending kinda sucks and the final issue in the collection is about Starfire and Bizarro, which was lame. The rest is enjoyable.
I don't know. The character is enjoyable but still has cringey dialogue from time to time, cuz he's "hip" and occasionally "edgy". The characters he is surrounded with are C or even E listers: oooh, a team of reformed "super" female assassins, one of which is fat, which is her power, I guess? She's just a big old broad who punches people. Thrilling stuff. The Royal Flush Gang makes an appearance for God's sake. There's even the predictable Batman cameo which serves to soak up a few pages with a predictable outcome.
Batman: "You are doing bad things, and we are going to fight!"
RH: "Yeah, but you have no evidence, so let's punch each other!"
Batman: "You're right, this is silly," (clenches jaw, strikes pose) "Welp, I'm off! Into the darkness!" (jumps off something in a literal cloud of bats)
RH: "...I think that went well."
But somewhere between sword fights with soul blades, gloating over a sloppy, nightdress wearing Penguin and make out sessions with Todd's ex-girlfriend ("She's just so NORMAL, the only NORMAL person in my life, and I love how NORMAL being NORMAL is") Jason mentions like a thousand times, almost guaranteeing she is going to end up being some sort of deep cover sleeper agent or something, I found I was really enjoying myself. I don't even really like his new costume redesign!
Anyways, this is all I have for you. It's cheesy, but it's lighthearted and there is plenty of action. The ending kinda sucks and the final issue in the collection is about Starfire and Bizarro, which was lame. The rest is enjoyable.
January 9, 2020
It's been a while since I've picked up Rebirth Red Hood. Mostly because, unlike the recent Nightwing issues, I was willing to wait for this volume to come to my library. It was an interesting read with Jason officially on his own with these issues (since in Requiem for an Archer did have Roy at first and some appearances from Bruce and Batwoman).
It was interesting to see Jason run Iceberg Lounge and the return of Essence and Isabel, who had originally shown up in the New 52's Red Hood and the Outlaws. It was also kind of nice to see Jason still willing to admit that he misses Roy (their friendship was one of my favorite thing to come out of the New 52 and I wasn't a fan of how they killed Roy off in Heroes in Crisis) and the reference to Red Hood/Arsenal. It was also nice to see the Bizarro and Artemis again and it'll be interesting to see how they incorporate the whole Year of the Villain in the next few issues (again, I have only really read Nightwing's which, of course centers around Talon).
One criticism I did have with these issues was when Bruce (as Batman) showed up at the Iceberg Lounge. I kind of got some mixed signals. I know things between him and Jason would be kind of rough after Red Hood and the Outlaws after issue 25, but when we got to issue 27, where Bruce tells him about Roy's death, he seemed concerned and not as antagonistic. Then jump to 32 (where this volume starts) and he's back to being upset with Jason. Which is it? I know Jason was being a bit snide about Batman possible arresting him, but does admit that he at least appreciates/understands Bruce.
It was interesting to see Jason run Iceberg Lounge and the return of Essence and Isabel, who had originally shown up in the New 52's Red Hood and the Outlaws. It was also kind of nice to see Jason still willing to admit that he misses Roy (their friendship was one of my favorite thing to come out of the New 52 and I wasn't a fan of how they killed Roy off in Heroes in Crisis) and the reference to Red Hood/Arsenal. It was also nice to see the Bizarro and Artemis again and it'll be interesting to see how they incorporate the whole Year of the Villain in the next few issues (again, I have only really read Nightwing's which, of course centers around Talon).
One criticism I did have with these issues was when Bruce (as Batman) showed up at the Iceberg Lounge. I kind of got some mixed signals. I know things between him and Jason would be kind of rough after Red Hood and the Outlaws after issue 25, but when we got to issue 27, where Bruce tells him about Roy's death, he seemed concerned and not as antagonistic. Then jump to 32 (where this volume starts) and he's back to being upset with Jason. Which is it? I know Jason was being a bit snide about Batman possible arresting him, but does admit that he at least appreciates/understands Bruce.
February 18, 2020
This was dumb. Mostly it was just kind of ok but the massive amount of plot conveniences is ridiculous. I shot the Penguin with a blank and planned to send glass shards into his brain to keep him out of the way. That is stupid as shit. Suddenly, red hood is owner of the Iceberg Lounge even though we never see how he managed to lock up Penguin, a missed opportunity. Some girl comes at him with a sword but gets trapped inside of it because she "took the blood of an innocent", excuse me, how many people has Jason Todd killed at this point? Dumb Dumb DUMB.
The art is pretty good in this one and I have no complaints there. The story does have occasionally a good point or two but not enough to recommend at all. The Artemis/Bizarro storyline had promise and I did laugh when Bizarro punched a guy into the soon but that storyline is a huge missed opportunity with nothing done with it. Overall this was just disappointing.
I mean if you don't think about it too much, maybe this would be a fine read but I really did not like this once I sat down and thought about it. Some of it works but there's no excuse for how ridiculously convenient half of it is. Definitely not recommended at all. If there's any reason I continue this series it'll be the return of Artemis and Bizarro promised by the end.
Story: 1.5/5
Art: 4/5
Overall: 1/5, Dumb.
The art is pretty good in this one and I have no complaints there. The story does have occasionally a good point or two but not enough to recommend at all. The Artemis/Bizarro storyline had promise and I did laugh when Bizarro punched a guy into the soon but that storyline is a huge missed opportunity with nothing done with it. Overall this was just disappointing.
I mean if you don't think about it too much, maybe this would be a fine read but I really did not like this once I sat down and thought about it. Some of it works but there's no excuse for how ridiculously convenient half of it is. Definitely not recommended at all. If there's any reason I continue this series it'll be the return of Artemis and Bizarro promised by the end.
Story: 1.5/5
Art: 4/5
Overall: 1/5, Dumb.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2019
For me Jason can absolutely be the Prince of Gotham. Not because of his good for nothing father, not at all, but because he really saw every face of the city, from the darkest and poorest parts to the highest and richest parts. Some things he understands better and more than Bruce could ever do, and maybe that's why he is also not that attached. That's why he could go away, then came back, and go away again. That's why he didn't intend to kill Penguin from the beginning (still fuck you, Bruce), that's why he played the long game and made him lose everything. That's why even though he is grieving his best friend and he is not welcomed back by his foster family and he also lost his team members, he is still there helping others.
I love Jason Peter Todd. I wish someone else could finally write him besides Lobdell but I get what I can.
I love Jason Peter Todd. I wish someone else could finally write him besides Lobdell but I get what I can.
May 16, 2020
I'd been mostly happy with this series, but it was so much better with the Lobdell's "Dark Trinity" around. That series of stories was pure epic...This? Not so much.
Picking up on Jason have supposedly gone completely bad--not apologizing for saying that, did anyone believe it was actually happening? Come on...--Jason is now running Penguin's Iceberg Lounge. The volume spends a lot of time setting this up as if it were to be the new status quo, but by volume's end everything's abandoned again, nothing is what we think it was (in a bad way), and Jason is off, alone to further adventures. The annual was the best part of this one as it followed Bizarro and Artemis as the continue their travels across the multiverse. Unfortunately this best part of the volume was much shorter than the rest of it.
Picking up on Jason have supposedly gone completely bad--not apologizing for saying that, did anyone believe it was actually happening? Come on...--Jason is now running Penguin's Iceberg Lounge. The volume spends a lot of time setting this up as if it were to be the new status quo, but by volume's end everything's abandoned again, nothing is what we think it was (in a bad way), and Jason is off, alone to further adventures. The annual was the best part of this one as it followed Bizarro and Artemis as the continue their travels across the multiverse. Unfortunately this best part of the volume was much shorter than the rest of it.
June 22, 2020
2.5
This volume clearly identifies the Red Hood problems and it's quite a mess. Lobdell tends to complicate the arc with a storyline that's unnecessary and all over the place. Red Hood feels forced into this volume and the writing team might've been better allowing Jason Todd to be the entire focus.
Why the 2.5?
I was confused early on and it only got worse as the story sped to the conclusion. The first volume is tossed to the side and they attempt to mould our character into something likable. I was enjoying the Red Hood on the road and was expecting more isolated adventures. Outlaw makes a fatal error by attempting to course correct an action by Red Hood and it feels corporate DC forced. Considering Joker War is coming, it makes sense for that event. I'm unsure why they chose to this storyline and sadly it hurt what might've been one of the better DC storylines.
This volume clearly identifies the Red Hood problems and it's quite a mess. Lobdell tends to complicate the arc with a storyline that's unnecessary and all over the place. Red Hood feels forced into this volume and the writing team might've been better allowing Jason Todd to be the entire focus.
Why the 2.5?
I was confused early on and it only got worse as the story sped to the conclusion. The first volume is tossed to the side and they attempt to mould our character into something likable. I was enjoying the Red Hood on the road and was expecting more isolated adventures. Outlaw makes a fatal error by attempting to course correct an action by Red Hood and it feels corporate DC forced. Considering Joker War is coming, it makes sense for that event. I'm unsure why they chose to this storyline and sadly it hurt what might've been one of the better DC storylines.
September 21, 2022
I've read enough cape comics to realize that there's bound to be inconsistencies between creative teams, but before Lobdell I've never seen a writing fail so impressively to keep his story straight. After the explosive action of issue #25, which wasn't really a thing I loved but was a thing I accepted, we discovered that actually and everything is going according to plan. There is absolutely no indication leading up to this revelation. It is just a thing we are told.
I enjoyed this trade because Jason has at least 2 braincells to rub together, which is again baffling because the writer has not changed. This is more the style of Red Hood story I'd like to read, what with being set in the seedy underbelly of Gotham, even if I still have a lot of quibbles about the whole thing. Good thing I know not to get used to it.
I enjoyed this trade because Jason has at least 2 braincells to rub together, which is again baffling because the writer has not changed. This is more the style of Red Hood story I'd like to read, what with being set in the seedy underbelly of Gotham, even if I still have a lot of quibbles about the whole thing. Good thing I know not to get used to it.
December 21, 2019
This Was a fantastic addition up the awesome red hood series collecting volumes 32-36
In this instalment continues from the previous book with Jason Todd running the iceberg lounge and holding penguin captive. With the help of his enforcers the Su sisters they run the casino. A blast from the past in Jason's past an assassin from
The all caste has been sent to kill him. This was a wonderful instalment of the series and I enjoyed reading this book very much
In this instalment continues from the previous book with Jason Todd running the iceberg lounge and holding penguin captive. With the help of his enforcers the Su sisters they run the casino. A blast from the past in Jason's past an assassin from
The all caste has been sent to kill him. This was a wonderful instalment of the series and I enjoyed reading this book very much
June 11, 2020
Red hood is my favorite though I don’t have a good reason as to why. Probably the origin story. While the first two vol of red hood are the only I’ve read so far I still enjoyed it. I definitely can’t rate it poorly and there was way more action in this one with the euro block and essence and five aces and that art work alone was pretty good; I don’t know enough about comics to give it higher then 3. If 3.9 was there I could do that but obviously there’s no decimals.
May 17, 2021
**I've read WAAAY more than I've been able to review, so.... time for some knee-jerk reactions!**
- Oh, Jason Todd... I never know what you're going to do next. As you said, you're not good and you're not evil... you're just you. (And maybe that is pathetic, or maybe it's just a lost soul trying to do good in a world that keeps showing him every reason to do bad.)
- I'm going to miss Bunker....
- Oh, Jason Todd... I never know what you're going to do next. As you said, you're not good and you're not evil... you're just you. (And maybe that is pathetic, or maybe it's just a lost soul trying to do good in a world that keeps showing him every reason to do bad.)
- I'm going to miss Bunker....
March 21, 2021
For the past two volumes they separated the core group of Red Hood, Artemis, and Bizarro. The latter two being stuck in another dimension while Red Hood tried to get on without them and take on Penguin.
This one is really good. I think I liked it better than the last volume. And at the end of this it looks like Artemis and B are coming back!
This one is really good. I think I liked it better than the last volume. And at the end of this it looks like Artemis and B are coming back!
October 22, 2021
Even better than the first volume, Jason really starts upping his game and we get references galore from the rest of the run, well played. It still has a few inconsistencies, the bizarro segments and full issue at the end just felt unneeded.
Overall a pretty decent Jason Todd story, which is what Red Hood should be.
Overall a pretty decent Jason Todd story, which is what Red Hood should be.
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