The Reasons
Bizarro has been having trouble with his fluctuating intelligence. He knows he's working on a timer which seems to be why he's so determined to accomplish so much. I don't read DET but I heard a theory that Bizarro wanted to get put into the Suicide Squad to use it to steal some advance tech the Colony used. The idea is that he wants to use it to help keep his intellect. He is seen contemplating how to study the brain, although he specifically mentions a human mind. Still this makes some sense.
(I originally thought the image of the brain we see has some tech inside it. Maybe something to do with the SS nano bombs and planning ahead?)
Another idea is that Bizarro is doing this for Jason. It might turn out to be a combination of the two but if I had to choose between the options I'd pick the latter. His narration seems to indicate he has something important in mind. First is his reaction to Gunns' behavior after he turned her away with Jason's letter
Bizarro: Faye Gunn has isolated herself recently. That might be a problem. For Jason. Which means, ultimately, for me. I regret--that she didn't listen to me.
That sounds kind of ominous almost like a threat but if Jason's (and Lobdell's as he said this elsewhere) statement on Bizarro's heart being the same is true he won't hurt Gunn over this. Still it's odd that Bizarro is so concerned over the letter. Sure he might not want Jason to read it but why would he be concerned with her reading it? Does he know what's in the letter? In theory he could do so without even opening it. We don't even know for sure if Jason would want to read a letter from his dad. Yet Bizarro is still focused on it after Gunn left?
I'm not totally sold on him putting his intelligence first as he mentions what Luthor did to his mind then says this:
Bizarro: Maybe more importantly...will I have time to do everything I wish before...
Losing his smarts is considered secondary to doing what he wants to do and he seems to view a reversal as inevitable. That could mean inventing more things, enjoying his change in mentality, etc. But Bizarro has to have a purpose for setting everything in motion. An end game that requires them being taken into the SS custody. While I like the second option for his reasoning he could also being fulfilling Luthor's wishes to ensure his friends don't have to.
Lex made it very clear that he does nothing out of the goodness of his heart. Jason and Artemis know he expects something in return for saving Bizarro's life. Artemis herself mentions that Lex Luthor isn't a humanitarian in #15.
Whatever reason Bizarro is putting his plan in action he ensures things goes his way.
Making sure Jason and Artemis have no idea what's going on. Bizarro successful gets the DET team's attention without tipping his teammates off to his plan. The one time they come close to finding out is during an exchange with Batwing and Jason which Bizarro cuts off. When Artemis worries early on Bizarro says she's right to be concerned but she doesn't know why yet. She'd probably be concerned about all three reasons I listed. His friends would likely object to the lengths he's going to.
If he's doing this to keep is mind intact they might want to look into other less effective means or worse help him thereby incriminating themselves. Here he makes them the innocent party. If this is being done to protect Jason then he wouldn't tell Artemis either since she doesn't seem to believe in keeping the truth from someone. Remember her calling Jason out for lying to Bizarro to try to ease his fears when they thought he was going to die? They would definitely not want him working for Luthor and like with the first option this ensures Batman can't blame them.
Taunting the DET team. He could have avoided them entirely but he makes sure they know who it was and allows them to take him. Only once he's in the chair does Bizarro start doing his best to tick them (or rather Kate) off. He tells them that they can't restrain him for long, that he's doing all this because he can and says the Outlaws are doing a better job than they are. And technically speaking the Outlaws aren't the ones in the wrong.
I was wondering how Bizarro knew how to successfully get Kate to do what he wanted. They never met before yet he's able to easily get under her skin. It stands to reason that if he knows about the SS he could have hacked into the DEO files and gotten Kate's psych profile. He certainly fights her for control during the entire confrontation. Kate's behavior towards Jason also plays into this plan. She doesn't view him as part of the family, tries to ignore the actual leader of the Outlaws and demeans him. By doing this it makes sure Kate can't get to the bottom of things since Jason doesn't hear what Bizarro did and Bizarro won't give them a straight answer.
The Possible Fall Out
I've talked a little about the potentially devastating emotional blow to Jason if he learns of Bizarro keeping his father's letters from him. But he'd likely be upset regardless of the reason for the deception. What I wanted to talk about is how this could affect the bat family. Now given how little other books seem to note what happens in RHATO I have doubts on how much will transfer over. Regardless DC has been playing with the idea of Kate messing up. Future Tim blames her for what happened in his time.
Kate seems to look down her nose at Jason and by extension the Outlaws. Let's look at what she says.
Kate Kane: (When she's asked who the Outlaws are.) Until today I would have said they were estranged friends of the family. Red Hood and a changing roster of gray hats.
Her answer is kind of strange and I wondered how much she knew bout Jason's mission throughout the book given her later behavior. It suggests here that she's aware the Outlaws are allies. Yet "estranged friends of the family" ? Jason IS family, estranged I could buy since Jason himself questions how close they are. This issue highlights the idea that Jason isn't regarded as family and seen with distrust. I mean look at how quickly Bizarro's taunting escalated to the Outlaws being turned into Amanda Waller. Bizarro would have to know Kate had such disregard for Jason to do that.
Note Kate names Red Hood before the others implying as the only recurring member he's the leader of the Outlaws. When Jason and Artemis arrive she questions Jason's ability to judge the character of a person. Saying they didn't start it but they are prepared to finish it. Kate never tells them what set her off before she decided to have Bizarro kidnapped. She could easily solve this by demanding answers from Jason or Batman.
Kate Kane: For reasons I don't understand Batman hadn't made shutting you down a priority.
Clayface: Unfortunately for you--Batman isn't here.
I think this confused a lot of us on whether or not Kate was informed of Jason's mission. If she is she must really distrust Jason if she can't see the value in what he does. Jason can get life saving information that's probably helped her team out in the past. I've pondered why Batman wasn't informed by Kate and I think the implication is that Kate doesn't think Bruce would be objective. Clayface seems to think so too as his line indicates he believes Batman would protect Red Hood if he was there.
Bizarro was obviously banking on this otherwise his plan would fall apart. There would be no fight since Bruce would ensure they got to the bottom of things. Batman knowing also jeopardizes his plans as Bruce promised to pull Jason out if he felt he was in too deep.
Kate Kane: The adults are talking, Jason. We'll be with you in a moment.
She talks down to Jason even though he has a right to be upset. There's no attempt to explain the situation even though he's the leader, Kate treats him like a child and not the priority. Imagine if this was in reverse with Clayface in the Outlaws hands while they ignored Kate. That wouldn't fly.
Now assuming this whole event isn't shrugged off by the bat family at large (it shouldn't be if their in character) this could have heavily consequences. Given Kate's actions Bruce and the others should be rightfully pissed at her. Let's see how badly Kate handled the whole thing.
- In the end she never even got a real answer for why Bizarro taunted her. Meaning the reasoning she gives for her actions was ultimately pointless.
- The Outlaws--ironically--didn't break any laws. Bizarro was taken in for apparently bragging and basically telling them they might as well retire.
- Kate ordered Clayface to kidnap Bizarro. He left behind evidence tracing it back to them. That's sloppy and ensured they'd face the rest of the team.
- Not once did Kate attempt to get information from the actual leader or explain why they kidnapped a team member. Instead she disrespected and ignored him.
- She never contacted Batman or Nightwing who have more experience with Jason and his team. (Trinity for Batman and the Annual for Nightwing.)
- If Bizarro was the threat she thinks he is, and she knows the only reason they have him is because he allowed it, then she's also potentially endangered her team's lives.
- She starts the fight by having Clayface detain Jason and Artemis making no attempt to discuss it rationally with them.
- When Batwing asks about "professional courtesy" Kate answers with a "screw that" not even attempting a peaceful resolution.
- I guess you can count her smirking in the art when she gives Bizarro a pill. She's taking a lot of pleasure out of this.
- Kate goes for the extreme by deciding to hand the Outlaws over to Amanda Waller. Someone who uses shady tactics and puts bombs in people to ensure their compliance. Which means Kate was okay with forcing the Outlaws, who she earlier saw as allies, into be used as weapons for a merciless woman.
I've seen it theorized that Kate is trying to protect Jason's cover but I don't buy it. Not if she's sending him to the SS.
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