Review: Rebirth – Red Hood and the Outlaws
By Philip Schweier
July 29, 2016 - 09:04
DC Comics
Writer(s): Scott Lobdell
Penciller(s): Dexter Soy
Inker(s): Dexter Soy
Colourist(s): Veronica Gandini
Letterer(s): Taylor Esposito
Cover Artist(s): Giuseppe Camuncoli, Cam Smith and Dean White; variant cover by Bengal
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.
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.
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