The least stable Robin also has a new name. The difference is that this guy’s recruiting a whole team.
General Information
Title: Red Hood and the Outlaws #1
Author: Scott Lobdell
Illustrator(s): Kenneth Rocafort (art) and Blond (colours)
Cover Date: November 2011
Cover Price: $2.99
Buy the digital edition.
Premise
Roy Harper is unjustly imprisoned, and Jason Todd breaks him out with the help of Starfire and others.
High Point
“His name is Jason Todd. A lot of peole say he’s crazy. Like, say, the entire staff of Arkham Asylum.”
Low Point
I like a lot of action, but when it so dominates the title that I have no idea what any of the characters’ goals are, that’s a bit too much.
The Scores
This is hard to judge on originality after this issue, because I really don’t know where the title is going. Roy is broken out of jail, in what is described as a “getting the band back together” style moment, even though I had no idea they had a recent history. Then we meet Starfire, who is treated almost entirely in terms of the history of the last DCU, which doesn’t help. This title just feels… empty. I give it 3 out of 6.
The artwork is somewhat scratchy and not as consistent as I’d like. Some panels are great, while others feel rough and unpolished. I give it 4 out of 6.
The story isn’t clear at all. We have events, but we have no idea or perception of the goals that would put those events in context. I give it 3 out of 6.
The characterization of Jason is odd, as he seems fairly sane towards the end of the book. Starfire is the only one who feels well defined in the bunch. I give it 3 out of 6.
The emotional response is okay. There are some pretty amusing lines of dialogue, but there’s no connective tissue to bind it all together effectively. I give it 3 out of 6.
The flow works well for the most part. The jump to the last scene is a bit abrupt. I give it 4 out of 6.
Overall, I can only recommend this to the existing fans of these characters. I really have no idea where this title is going at this point. I give it 3 out of 6.
In total, Red Hood and the Outlaws #1 receives 23 out of 42.
The New 52
Here are handy links for the reviews of all 52 new #1 issues:
- Action Comics
- All-Star Western
- Animal Man
- Aquaman
- Batgirl
- Batman
- Batman and Robin
- Batman: The Dark Knight
- Batwing
- Batwoman
- Birds of Prey
- Blackhawks
- Blue Beetle
- Captain Atom
- Catwoman
- DC Universe Presents
- Deathstroke
- Demon Knights
- Detective Comics
- The Flash
- Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E.
- The Fury of Firestorm
- Green Arrow
- Green Lantern
- Green Lantern Corps
- Green Lantern: New Guardians
- Grifter
- Hawk and Dove
- I, Vampire
- Justice League
- Justice League Dark
- Justice League International
- Legion Lost
- Legion of Super-Heroes
- Men of War
- Mister Terrific
- Nightwing
- O.M.A.C.
- Red Hood and the Outlaws
- Red Lanterns
- Resurrection Man
- The Savage Hawkman
- Static Shock
- Stormwatch
- Suicide Squad
- Superboy
- Supergirl
- Superman
- Swamp Thing
- Teen Titans
- Voodoo
- Wonder Woman