Red
Hood, yes, but Outlaws, not so much. And that’s bound to happen from time to
time, as a story focuses on a specific character rather than the team as a
whole. I’m okay with that, and you should be, too.
In this
issue, we’re provided some background on Jason Todd’s childhood, pre-Batman.
Jason reviews a handful of letters from his dad, written to him from prison.
Jason’s father was originally a drug dealer, his mother a customer. When Jason
was born he had medical needs, steering Dad into a life of crime as a
super-villain henchman.
As the
letters conclude, Jason realizes his father may have had one last gamble in
play, and pursues the obvious lead to determine how it panned out (if it panned
out). This brings him into contact with the Penguin, who has a much more
personal connection to Jason’s father. In the end, a seed is sown, one I hope
will entirely grow in the manner I expect. I’d prefer to see the story take a
more original trajectory.
It’s only
the beginning of the story, so there’s no way to guess how much Artemis and
Bizarro will play into matters with Jason. As co-stars, it’s safe to say they
will. As Jason’s investigation becomes more troublesome, he’ll need their help.
But if this is perhaps a prelude to the series being retitled as a solo book,
well, I’m okay with that, too.
Rating:
7/10