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Review: Rebirth – Red Hood and the Outlaws

By Philip Schweier
July 29, 2016 - 09:04

Of the Rebirth titles I've read said far, Red Hood is the one that gives me the biggest thrill. As before, former Robin Jason Todd has been resurrected, and now straddles the line between hero and villain. Hero in the sense that he's out to do some good, but villain in the sense that he potentially will be a thorn in Batman's side in the months to come.

The Rebirth issue recounts Jason's origin (the ret-conned one). After being caught trying to boos the Batmobile's wheels, Batman takes Jason under his wing and trains him to be the new Robin. But after an encounter with the Joker leaves him really most sincerely dead, Jason is resurrected by Lazarus Pit. Fallout from the experience has addled Jason's mind a wee bit. Not that he's crazy; just a little dangerous.

Here's what I like about the story: it puts Batman in a Commissioner Gordon type of role. For a man who has always skirted the boundaries of law and order, and due process, Batman finds himself scolding Jason for operating outside the law – WAY outside. The Dark Knight is obviously displeased with Jason's methods, but that might be because they are Batman's own methods taken to the extreme.

Jason also borrows from another favorite hero of mine, the Green Hornet. His moral ambiguity made him a wanted man by authorities, but enabled him to operate deep in the heart of the underworld. As I'm sure many an undercover cop might tell you, it can be a challenge not to be sucked into the depths of a criminal lifestyle.

Another point is something touched on in the Dark Knight Returns – that sometimes a hero isn't the one Gotham City wants, but the one it needs. There will be conflict, from all sides, but Jason seems well armed to handle it – until he comes up against Batman.

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12