At
the end of this issue, we are promised “a double-sized epic 35 years in the
making.” Well, 35 years ago, Jason Todd was about the time that Jason Todd
joined the Batman cast o’ characters, so it makes me wonder (given the events
here) if this isn’t the penultimate issue of Red Hood & the Outlaws.
As explained
previously, Bizarro’s intellect is regressing back to it’s child-like
monosyllabic state. By now, he’s just about there. What that means for his
teammates Artemis and Red Hood remains to be seen. Their super-secret invisible
clubhouse floating in the sky is in danger of crashing, unless they can get a
handle on its security system.
Meanwhile,
Jason is on the trail of the man responsible for his father’s eventual fate.
It’s good to see new life breathed into stale characters like the Penguin, but
rather than give DC Comics the credit, I think much of it should go to the
writers and producers of the TV show Gotham,
as well as actor Robin Lord Taylor. Together, they have created a much more
lethal version of the character, rather than the caricature we remember as
portrayed by Burgess Meredith.
This issue
also suggests a forthcoming clash between Red Hood and Batman. At least now we
know why it hasn’t happened before. Clearly, writer Scott Lobdell was saving
the event for when it mattered, giving it gravitas, rather than being a
guest-star gimmick.
It’s a
potentially powerful issue. I say potentially because I’m too jaded to accept
what I’ve read at face value. Somewhere there may be misdirection and misrepresentation,
but I suspect the truth will have to wait for next issue.
Rating:
8/10