Red Hood and the Outlaws #19 Volume 2

The "Date Night" with Artemis and Jason. I don't think Lobdell will make them a couple given his interviews but it should be fun.

SPOILERS AHEAD

Artemis comes out in a black dress leaving Jason unable to form a proper sentence. She tells Jason to pay up for a bet although he thought it was more of a dare. They go out leaving a brooding Bizarro. Lex Luthor watches footage of the Outlaws remarking that Bizarro is clever. Jason and Artemis go out as Bizarro watches much like Lex did. Pup Pup tells him off for his behavior getting Bizarro upset. Jason and Artemis go off the grid but Bizarro thinks it's a private moment. Instead of searching for them he gives them their space. Artemis set the date up to discuss Bizarro in private. Bizarro meets Solitary in a bar that knows what he did and claims he formed the team. Jason and Artemis arrive twenty minutes later to pick up Bizarro.




Overall: I love the opening with Artemis standing there so confident while Jason seems to fondly recall the first time she hit him. It could be a comparison to the sudden wow factor hitting him or just wonder at how much has changed. The level of charisma with the cast is adorable.

I didn't read the preview although I did see people criticizing the art. Personally I think Artemis looks gorgeous, Jason feels off but he's not ugly like some claimed. He's cuter in later art after the opening pages but I'm not seeing what's so awful.

I was waiting for Lex to show up again and seeing him check up on the Outlaws in this issue was still a surprise. His interest in them is stronger than he let on although we don't know if it's solely Bizarro that caught his eye. But Lex definitely figured out Bizarro is planning something.

Something about Artemis' comment on there being a beautiful section of Gotham and then Jason's response that I just love. Much like her voicing her dismay that Jason grew up there some issues back suggests she's pleasantly surprised. For someone that usually expects the worst it's such a nice twist to her. With Jason his reply speaks of some of the duality of feelings for the city. He adores a lot about Gotham but he isn't blind to the horrible unfairness to it. Much like Bruce and Black Mask the love for Gotham is something Jason feels profoundly. I don't think it has been part of any of the other Bat kids characters and it makes him stand out more.

The waiter's disdain for Jason's soda is hilarious, for a moment I thought it was Alfred just from his "you ordered this" disgust from his word bubble. The soda bit does remind me of Jason ordering a soda on the plane when he met Isabel. But Artemis actually ordered and Jason claims he's been drinking since he was eight. Which I don't like and made me think it's the replacement for his smoking habit. (Although judging by the art of his first post-Crisis appearance I always thought it was supposed to be Maharaja. )

His comment could just be snarky but it does make me wonder how that could happen. Did Jason just drink beer as a kid because there was nothing else? He claims to be able to handle it but he got drunk when he did shots with Artemis. Jason claims he didn't eat anything that day which if true is worrying given his food issues. So either he's trying to save face because he isn't experienced/is a lightweight drinking or he did fake being drunk. I like that Artemis made sure he didn't get drunk again though.

Bizarro watching their night out is creepy and it highlights how he operates much like Lex Luthor does in his own scene. It's pretty clear by the way Artemis talks during this bit that Bizarro is listening in to make sure she doesn't convince Jason something is wrong. Pup Pup tells him off for spying and I like that we're getting more of a story out of this then when Roy checked up on Jason in the previous series. There's also some confirmation that the kryptonite bath keeps Bizarro smart and we learn it's making him more paranoid.

The scene is heartbreaking as his old speech pattern comes back after he spills some and is so desperate not to waste it he licks it off the floor. The breaking point feels like it's drawing near.

I feel for Jason who's not used to going on an actual date. He previously claimed Essence was his first kiss and doesn't seem too comfortable with acting like a "normal" person as evidenced by his previous date with Isabel. Jason doesn't know how to relax and he has no life outside of the mission. His honesty with Artemis is sweet and shows he's trusting her not to mock him for his lack of dating experience. It also has him explaining away his unease so she knows it doesn't have to do with her.

It makes what happens all the more worse. Their flirting and chemistry is amazing. They don't lose that playful element even her teasing is still present. I have to say it's absolutely incredible to see Artemis so happy. I've seen her mourning her ex, lusting after someone and meeting an "ex" after an apparently bad "break up." (I'll write more on the last one in another entry.) Even outside a romantic viewpoint it's great to see her in a good mood. I've been going through a lot of back issues and that's not always the case. How much of it is real?

I was waiting for the other shoe to drop and to find out the date was a ruse. It's sad to see Jason caught off guard by Artemis using it to discuss Bizarro. You can tell he's hurt by the deception. I am glad to see Artemis being smart about approaching the situation but damn. Jason wasn't blind to Bizarro acting strange and noticed what he did. Even still Jason was vulnerable and it's awful to see that trust betrayed. Yes she had a good reason but still.

After I read the issue and wrote most the above part of the review I checked out Dexter Soy's instagram to look for upcoming art and it looks like the tumblr people were there to complain about the picture of the two kissing. It has the typical complaints and Soy says it's not happening. Which is a shame after this issue as Artemis doesn't completely dismiss the idea of it being a date.

It's canon that Jason is interested in Artemis and she clearly knows it as she set everything up. But if nothing will comes of it then it feels like she's playing with his feelings by not just sorting this out. The teasing of this pairing has been around in the art of three different artists with their body language. Artemis trolled him by flirting with Dick--who asked if they were together--in the Annual. She seemed genuinely down when Dick asked about it. If she is interested he's going to stop believing her.

I knew it wasn't going to happen but that felt harsh for someone that barely opens up to people. No, it's not apparently going to happen. If it was I wouldn't have wanted them to rush into it anyway but rather build it up. Still Lobdell and three artists have teased this pairing. If he just wanted to get past it I think Lobdell would make it clearer. For now he's seems fine teasing and just building up the team. Which is fine, I could buy it going there but if bad things are coming it's not a good time anyway. I did like this issue which was extremely entertaining especially after my disappointment with the recent Action Comics.

Is Solitary the stalker guy? He doesn't dress like him and has different speak bubbles. I'm just not sure who else he could be. Bizarro acts like he was called there with the guy trying to get his attention and the man knows about him licking his "drink" off the floor. Was Solitary Pup Pup? He says he doesn't want Bizarro's smarts and planning to get in the way of what he's trying to do. How much does he know about the team?

In the end Jason and Artemis decide to wait before they confront Bizarro. Hopefully it doesn't go too far before that happens.





Say What?: When Jason says "my old man" I though he was talking about Bruce but Willis does make more sense for not paying his debts.

Outlaw-Mobile? Bizarro might have to hang out with Roy if he's making these kind of jokes.

I just want to say Jason's babbling about not expecting anything from their night out is charming, sweet and funny. Artemis' "don't wait up" is equally cute. But does he really want to go all the way on the first date? Isabel and him at least had a week or two in space before that.

Jason mentioning Essence as a date feels wrong given the timeline. He would have been a minor if they were together before he returned to Gotham. He doesn't really count it and says it would be weird so I'm not really sure what scenario to go with for what he's suggesting.

Good Lord did Lobdell have fun with the nudge nudge wink wink dialogue.



Did You Notice?: The detail on Artemis' earrings. She's worn simple gold hoop earrings in the past but these looked awesome. Maybe the stars, the hoops and the silver color are a nod to her namesake?

The scars on her back.

Just want to say Pup Pup continues to be adorable.

Is Bizarro wearing a thong?

Solitary in the background.



Questions Asked?: Is Bizarro funding all this stuff by using Jason's money? Jason doesn't even seem aware of what they have.

Did Jason think they were going to have sex and decided to go to the bat cave? Because it's not really empty a lot. People are usually there, so is Bat Cow. His memorial case is there ! Even if he went upstairs that would be awkward. Maybe he just wanted to impress her?