One thing that I'm strongly reminded of in this arc is how Lobdell had smaller one shot stories in early Red Hood/Arsenal that connected to the series development as a whole. I'm reminded of this by the scattering of appearances by characters and how it all works into a domino effect.
The Pug/Dollotrons/Penguin Encounter
At first this just seems like a scene to highlight the changes to the team with Bizarro having an increased intelligence. Red Hood and Artemis use his jetpacks, teleportation discs and antidotes to take care of the situation. It establishes as well as pokes fun at canon with Pyg too. But the team also get on Penguin's bad side for stealing his money which comes up later in the arc. Jason voices the belief that it feels like their making an actual difference for once with Bizarro's help and later on he'll have concerns about losing their perspective.
When Bizarro was dying he told Gunn he hears everything which makes it stand to reason he'd hear what Jason says here along with potentially listening into other Gotham residents. This makes me think about the meeting with the next set of characters.
The Detective Team Encounter
I wondered if this appearance along with the next one were strictly editorial mandates at first. They still could be but I think their a little deeper plot wise. Bizarro decided to use this team as a stepping stone to get what he wants without his teammates realizing it. As I understand it DET. is going through a story concept that Kate Kane/Batwoman isn't quite going about things right. I can't say for sure if this is an extension of that idea or if this arc will be brought up for why she's unfit in the other title. If it is great but let's talk about what her actions mean in this story.
Bizarro decides to use her team to get the Outlaws taken to the Suicide Squad. He had to be sure about how the whole thing would go down to meet his end goal. As established above Bizarro can hear pretty much anything. Since he can get any piece of information he wants he likely listened in and read up on the team. Throughout the entire encounter it's clear as day that Kate does not trust or respect Jason. She's ignores him, mocks him and treats him with visible disdain. It's strange to say Waller ends up being more pleasant and more willing to cooperate than Kate. That does say a lot about how Jason is viewed in the Gotham circle of heroes and it's probably why he has doubts about being accepted by the bats.
When Kate herself was forced to work with the DEO this was what was said about her:
Agent Asaf: Yes, it's clear this Batwoman hates authority figures, yet needs to be one herself. She doesn't see the contradiction, but knows she must be in control at all times.
Throughout the encounter Bizarro constantly pushes her buttons and pokes at her role as a leader to get the results he wanted. Even still it didn't take much of a push as the Outlaws themselves didn't actually do anything morally questionable and Batwoman ends up looking like the one in the wrong. She gets her team to kidnap Bizarro without bothering to check in with Jason or Bruce just because Bizarro taunted them. It makes sense when you consider her own apparent dislike of Red Hood based on how she treats him and the quote above. If she contacted Bruce then he'd take over and she'd lose control.
Likewise Bizarro has to know that she'd act this way since I doubt he'd want to get Batman's attention and risk him pulling Jason off his mission. This way if Batman checks into it the whole thing will be Kate's fault for acting extreme. She knows she's not getting any information out of Bizarro yet she stubbornly continues questioning while ignoring Jason's demand for answers. Just think about how lowly she must think of Jason just based on her giving the team to Amanda Waller. Even Waller knew there wasn't really a legal reason they could hold the Outlaws.
In the end this part makes it crystal clear how Jason's seen by other crime fighters. Clayface, a former member of Batman's rogue's gallery, is given far more respect. He even implies that without Batman's presence Jason won't be protected. It's vague how much the team knows about the Outlaws mission. Does Batwoman not know the truth? Or does she know and still look down at them anyway? I think it's hinted at that she doesn't know but why wasn't she informed by Bruce?
The Suicide Squad Encounter
By making sure he got on Batwoman's nerves Bizarro ensured the next step of his plan went into action. The SS are only a means to get the Kryptonite he needs. His teammates have no idea what his true purpose is and can at the very least deal with Waller enough to work with her team. I doubt Bizarro had any idea about Jason's history with two of the SS members beyond "he probably fought them as Robin."
At least not at first, he might have over heard Jason telling Artemis about his experience with Harley Quinn and decided to pair him with Croc. If Bizarro knows about Jason's death he probably also decided not to let Jason be the one looking for survivors in a place they likely died. This plot helps tie up a loose end with Lobdell's Teen Titan run and gives some understated character moments.
Artemis being utterly annoyed and disgusted by Harley Quinn to the point she knows the world would be a better place without her. The respect for the dead and her spiritual side also makes a welcome return.
Jason has a heavily implied unpleasant past with Harley to the point he seriously worries about Artemis being hurt by her. Whatever happened between them isn't elaborated on making it a plot for another story. Given the way the story progresses in this arc and the focus mostly being on Bizarro it's probably for the best. The only other connection he has with the SS is through Killer Croc who helped Roy Harper/Arsenal fight his addiction. The two are on okay terms through their mutual bond with Roy.
We learn that Roy has been struggling with staying sober since rejoining the Titans. Some thought Lobdell was being petty for suggesting the Titans are a bad influence on him but it sounds like this is a plot that's been toyed with in the Titans series. Roy actually did fall off the wagon in Titans Hunt due to bad resurfacing memories. Jason is worried for his friend although the topic shifts to the weapons they find. Which strangely enough reminds me of Jason in RHATO #6 Volume 1 (strange because Lobdell didn't write the issue and seems like he just plotted) where Jason gets excited over the new technology of the weapons he finds.
Croc is somewhat insightful noting something many characters, writers and some fans fail to note: that Jason Todd at heart is a good kid. Their talk ends humorously but I do think Croc was sincere. Roy is a good person and if Jason was his friend then he's not nearly as bad as he tries to convince others. It's true that Croc doesn't realize that the Outlaws are undercover but he still has valid points. By dealing with bad elements Jason is risking not only himself but his friends losing their way. Later on in #18 Jason even worries that they will lose sight of the bigger picture. Waller herself basically echoes Croc when she voices her belief that in time the Outlaws will be forced to work for her like Croc.
In a way it's almost like an out of order Christmas Carol with the spirits of present, the past and a possible grim future. If the DET. shows how poorly other heroes in Gotham perceive Jason right now the Suicide Squad reminds him of horrors he already experienced and the possibility of things getting bleaker.
H.I.V.E. Encounter
This ties into the team's actions at the start of this arc coming back to bite them. Penguin was going to pay H.I.V.E. for services they already provided but the Outlaws took the money. Personally I like that there are consequences in the same arc even if it didn't amount to much. H.I.V.E. Queen also sees something in Jason that stuns her and reveals he knows something but refuses to accept it. Bizarro takes this as his cue to cut her off much like he stopped Batwing from explaining what he did. I don't think it's related to Jason knowing Bizarro is acting strange and doing questionable things. I just can't see her caring that much. I firmly believe this is a hint at something else.
If you want to get meta about it you could view the scene as a way to say you can only hide the truth for so long. Fittingly Bizarro starts to worry that Jason will catch on at the end of this scene as Jason plans on visiting Gunn.
Faye "Ma" Gunn:
She doesn't show up much but we got some insight into her character. Confirmation that she does in fact know Red Hood is Jason Todd one of her former charges. Not only does she feel bad for her past actions but she's also a bit of a snoop. We don't know much about what she read but it's enough for her to want to contact Jason.
Bizarro:
With his intelligence increased it seems like Bizarro is doing questionable actions to achieve the goals he set out. These are the main objectives he's had in this arc:
- Making Jason and to a lesser degree Artemis happy which he mainly does by creating inventions.
- Preventing Jason from learning of the letter Faye "Ma" Gunn found from Willis.
- Getting Kryptonite to presumably retain his intelligence.
- Recruit Creeper for unknown reasons.
Bizarro sees Willis' letters and Gunn's knowledge of them to be a problem simply because he thinks they will be a problem for Jason. It might be simply because he knows Jason won't react well since he didn't like his dad. The letters could contain things Jason is in the dark about that might not be pleasant. Regardless Bizaro treats this as a serious priority and is going to extremes to protect Jason.
While I don't doubt that Artemis is important to him it's pretty clear that Bizarro is mostly concerned with Jason's welfare. Maybe because Artemis is harder to figure out although her earlier declarations of him being a monster might have made her less of a priority. He knows he can't really change her mind so he doesn't really try to convince her. I don't think he'd entrust her with his secrets either. Artemis made it very clear when he was on the verge of death that she doesn't believe in lying even if it's to ease another's suffering. If he's trying to protect Jason from secrets I can't see him trusting her to keep them from Jason.
The pool of kryptonite is very reminiscent of the Lazarus Pit which I think was done deliberately. Jason was reminded of his own rebirth in the pit when Bizarro was "born" and suggests it as a means to save Bizarro. Now Bizarro seems to abusing it to do what he thinks is necessary to ensure Jason's happiness. How far is he willing to go?
Artemis "Grace":
I don't know where the Grace name came from as it wasn't previously a thing with her. Grace is an Amazon that was on the Outsiders and a lost member of the Bana-Mighdall. Maybe it's her attempt at a last name like Diana had Prince. Artemis mostly questions what Bizarro is doing and tries to get Jason to realize something is wrong. The surprising history she has with Creeper is intriguing, both seem pretty familiar with each other and seem to hold a grudge.
Jason Todd:
I was struck by how supportive Jason was in this arc and how much Bizarro values him. Neither are new editions but it was heartwarming to see nonetheless. Jason might have been blinded some as he didn't seem to believe anything was wrong with Bizarro for most of the arc. I haven't seen anyone really talk about it but a huge reason for this is probably him still seeing Bizarro as a child he has to protect despite the intelligence increase. When Batwoman "takes out" Bizarro it makes him so upset he leaves his guard open and he yells that Bizarro is only a month old.
Kate pisses him off and he later thinks that he could have explained himself but didn't because of her attitude. Which some saw as him being petty while I think it was kind of a naive and ticked off after thought. It was pretty clear that Kate didn't give a damn what he had to say. Jason is angry with Waller for knowing about N.O.W.H.E.R.E. turning kids into soldiers and doing nothing. There's sort of a scale for how Jason deals with people based on their overall humanity. He's wary and disgusted by Harley Quinn who he has a vague history with. Killer Croc is seen in a better light for his time looking after Roy. And Gunn might have a better relationship with Jason but if her past comes after her then that's on her.
Jason still seems to struggle with his lot in life. He doesn't know if their going to lose sight of the bigger picture and it worries him. Croc highlights these concerns which link back to the reason Jason previously cut himself off from Roy. He still worries that he'll taint his friends by association and how he does things.
I've been thinking of this arc, mainly the whys of Bizarro's actions. I believed it was connected to his need to make Jason happy and protect him for a while. Back when Lex Luthor was saving Bizarro there was a scene where Jason blamed himself for Bizarro pushing himself to please him. Likewise he realizes Bizarro is still overdoing everything since he's always in his lab. It's not a secret that all these gadgets, a headquarters, etc. are all for Jason to help with his mission. Presumably recruiting Creeper factors in although it's hard to see how this early on. It's not really much of a leap to say Bizarro is going to extremes for Jason too.
Obviously the letters Gunn has that Wills Todd wrote are important otherwise Bizarro wouldn't have put her in a bottle. But just think about that for a moment: what could Willis possibly have written that would cause this reaction? At the time it was written Jason wasn't even Robin yet. If it was about his birth mother it shouldn't be that big of a deal unless she's someone else that we know. Bizarro's reaction is too intense to be something like another sibling unless it's an already established character and even then that doesn't feel right.
I made it no secret that I believe Willis plays a bigger role but given the timeframe? I'm not sure he would write something like "their say I'm dead but I'm going to fake it." I guess he could have gotten someone to smuggle the letters out? I don't know if guards read letters to make sure prisoners don't plan crimes but it just seems off to send letters with sensitive information normally. It stands to reason Willis could be informing Jason about something he did that Jason might not be aware of. Maybe what the H.I.V.E. Queen says connects to this and we the audience are meant to think Bizarro is protecting himself when he actually knows what she is saying connects to the letters?
I do believe Jason is figuring everything out in regards to Bizarro doing shady things. He immediately finds Gunn's piling newspapers questionable. It doesn't fit with what he knows about the woman. The letter it's self mentions "compatriots" which smart Bizarro has been using not Gunn. There are probably other clues in how the letter is written like her handwriting or turns of phrases she wouldn't use. Perhaps she's not close to her family, Gunn might not even have one. Jason's way of answering Bizarro's question: "You know Faye." Makes me think he's implying Bizarro doesn't and saw the slip up. But he probably doesn't have all the pieces yet so he can't address it head on.
Overall: I don't mind this arc like some do. It's different than the first arc but that's not necessarily a bad thing. I'm fascinated by the twists and where these threads will go. I suppose the cameos can be annoying and pointless to some. I don't really expect the DET. part to be followed up on at least not in their title or making Kate own up to her behavior. I don't expect to see any punishment for her role in this since she acted unprofessional and was willing to ship the Outlaws off to potential die working for Waller of all people. I expect to at least get more plot involving Harley and possibly Roy at some point.
Honestly the appearances reminded me of the earlier story structure of Red Hood/Arsenal and that's not a bad thing. There was still a lot of heart which usually puts this title far above my other reads. The character work, especially with Jason, is typically the best while some other titles struggle to use more than one character trait. I didn't think Artemis' story was over with her arc especially since so much was still left untold. I have no idea what to make of her connection to Creeper much less his involvement. I'm thinking that regardless of him becoming an official member or not he will be the wild card.
The story of Bizarro being so devoted to Jason while struggling to retain his intelligence is very engaging. I love the parallel to the Lazarus Pit and Pup Pup acting as his conscious. It feels like some big stuff is going to happen because of all of this and it's pretty exciting. I'm glad Lobdell built this all up, I've seen some pretty sloppy set ups so believe me when I say I appreciate the effort he went through.
I plan on doing a separate entry to talk about the art Soy does but he has an excellent eye for detail. It's really incredible and truly adds something special to this title.
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