Ma Gunn: She's what to who?

I've wrote my review for the Batman and Red Hood confrontation issue but I have to edit it to tone it down. It was just emotional, okay. I've decide to just talk about one of the bombshell moments for now.

SPOILER AHEAD

We learned that Faye "Ma" Gunn is more than the headmistress for the crime school Jason once attended. I'm a little conflicted on this reveal since it does feel ever so slightly contrived. (*1) On the other hand it actually explains a lot in regards to how Ma Gunn has been acting towards Jason.

I wrote off her recognizing Jason as her realizing it was the same boy that helped Batman take her down. Which would make Jason more memorable than most of her students. It's still a little odd since you don't usually see that kind of instant acknowledgement. It's been years since then, she doesn't show any anger towards him and starts acting regretful after he saves her. It bugged me because we never saw much of them interacting. She was uneffected by Batman telling her that she used children like weapons yet she seemed more moved by Jason? What brought about her change when she fully intended to go back to her old ways at the start of the series? Jason saving her?

At first I assumed her allowing the Outlaws to stay with her was her way of repaying Jason for saving her. Maybe even for letting her deal with Black Mask. The way she dealt with Jason just felt off since we never got the whole picture of why she started feeling guilty. I kept thinking that she must have seen other kids she used to train over the years yet he's the one that changes her mind? Without really discussing their past on panel? There's still some unexplained bits like why she would hide her son's letters but I'm going to try to work with what we know.

She knew Jason was her grandson, she was in denial and/or playing dumb? I can buy both, not just because she was a different greedy person but it's already happened in this series. She pretended she didn't know who Jason was when Red Hood saved her. The letter she left Jason was oddly affectionate when we see he doesn't feel the same about her. Jason's shocked to hear she thinks so highly of him, that she trusts him more than anyone else, when they never had any real closeness.

In her letter she says her house is open to them, she's thinking of him and that she was dealing with family business. Which was written during the time she's gives Willis' letters to Faye to give to Jason. I'm mad at myself for not noticing the most subtle of hints with Faye Gunn (Jr.) being named after her grandmother and Willis naming Jason after his grandfather. Lobdell made a point to mention both. This would make them cousins which isn't totally out of the blue. Jason seemed aware of his dad having siblings in the first volume.

I found it weird that Faye Jr. delayed giving Jason the letters until their second meeting. Faye claims her grandmother tried to keep her family life separated from her criminal life. She hasn't seen her grandmother in years, maybe because she was in prison or maybe it's been longer. The fact "nana" thinks Jason is special makes Faye intrigued. Whether Faye sees the family resemblance like her grandmother did? Maybe? Jason does asks her if she read what's inside and she asks him if he'd believe her if she said no. I'm leaning towards Faye at least being suspicious of who he is.

Theories for how this could work? Jason didn't have all the fact about his family but he knew something happened with Catherine's parents arguing about his dad. According to Willis it's true even if certain details weren't. Jason thinks Willis came from a broken home which might be somewhat true. The Gunn/Todd names might have to do with her maiden name being used or an alias. Ma Gunn has been a criminal for years so the name difference and possible family problems aren't the big issues for me, I can buy it.

While Willis seems close enough to his mom he made it sound like Catherine was the only one that had been there for him in his letters. If he's the prisoner that begged Artemis for his life he claimed he was the only family his son has left. Maybe they had a falling out? Gunn says it's been awhile since they saw each other and Willis was surprised she realized Jason was her grandson. All of which hints that they weren't in contact with each other for years. Not even when he was struggling.

Also Gunn isn't shocked by her son having powers which leads me to believe she has lived a very interesting life.



*1 I find it far less contrived than Bruce being related to both Batwomen and Bette Kane though. In the greater scheme of things up to this reveal Ma Gunn is a bit character that's only been in Jason's story.