tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3056373842046198497.post9106588556791646845..comments2023-11-05T21:22:27.350-08:00Comments on Exploring The Time Lab: Red Hood/Arsenal Series Overview Part 2Erin S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15663158782066282265noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3056373842046198497.post-84427743856369124832016-06-14T10:43:56.979-07:002016-06-14T10:43:56.979-07:00Thank You.
It really is because there's so mu...Thank You.<br /><br />It really is because there's so much depth that's being missed. Especially by other writers. <br /><br />It's really depressing to be a Jason Todd fan when many refuse to see him as more than the dead Robin that everyone blames for his own death.Erin S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/15663158782066282265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3056373842046198497.post-60749016682951222252016-06-14T10:41:39.146-07:002016-06-14T10:41:39.146-07:00Opinions vary of course. I don't think people ...Opinions vary of course. I don't think people on forums praising this out number those that criticize it. Often unfairly by those that haven't read the title and many of whom only state "it sucks" as a reason. I'm not saying everyone makes blanket statements or dislikes it without reading it but there are also bandwagon critics too.<br /><br />I've done many pieces discussing the character growth for both Roy and Jason in these titles so I won't add more here. I haven't seen many writers outside these titles (RHATO/RHA) in the new 52-DCYOU era that gave either much in character growth or be in character. <br /><br />I've also discussed that quite a bit but from what I've read most titles reduced Jason to being the "bad boy" that often looks pathetic compared to the other Robins. Lobdell hasn't made Roy drunk in this title that happened when Roy fell off the wagon in Titans Hunt. <br /><br />Under Lobdell Roy has been a recovering alcoholic which has inspired others. In fact I've come across a review stating how affected the reviewer was because they relate to Roys' experiences. It has been mentioned FAR less than Roys' past with drugs was before the relaunch. <br /><br />Much of the insight Lobdell adds has been based on who post-Crisis Jason Todd actually was not what the various retcons after his death would lead us to believe. We got more background on Jasons' family which was barely talked about before. We actually hear from Jasons' POV how he's effected by his own death and explore his low self esteem instead of everyone just acting like he's a two dimensional street punk.<br /><br />Jason has friends which he's barely had prior to these titles. He was pen pals with Kid Devil, worked with the Titans and pre-Crisis was buddies with Harvey Bullock (which Lobdell gives a nod to.) The Titans didn't respect Jason enough to even acknowledge he was a member after he died. Now Jason has people that respect him and admit he did good as a Robin like Superman.<br /><br />We see Jason show compassion to those he could easily kill. He has showed mercy, tried to help them and in some cases let them die to honor their requests. That's not an "angry" person. In some cases like Night of the Owls he was one of the only ones to bother and treat a Talon like a person.<br /><br />As for the "half baked plots that get dropped" do you really blame a writer for editorial mandates? Prior to NOTO and Death of the Family Lobdell HAD planned to have Crux come back around #20. Remember who wrote #20? Tynion took over around this time and that didn't go over well.<br /><br />What twist? The first issue? I admit the first issues' tone is odd but after that I think it managed to handle the tone better. Tynion had the League of Assassins telling Jason they needed to prepare for an attack then proceed to waste time pointlessly messing with him. Or when Tynion had Cheshire flirt with Roy in a way that made it look like a potential assault.<br /><br />No, this title is around because people demanded Jason Todd have a title. DC didn't know what to do with Arsenal or Starfire since the old Titans canon was out. Then they started having plans for Starfire and this title came from that. But thanks for sharing your view it honestly was enlightening.Erin S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/15663158782066282265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3056373842046198497.post-32748256519575940592016-06-14T10:41:30.916-07:002016-06-14T10:41:30.916-07:00Thanks. Me too. :(Thanks. Me too. :(Erin S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/15663158782066282265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3056373842046198497.post-31414796423520312592016-06-11T06:19:16.679-07:002016-06-11T06:19:16.679-07:00Very well said. Now I'm sad again. D:Very well said. Now I'm sad again. D:Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09126436921160299669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3056373842046198497.post-17367791919934748872016-06-10T15:37:52.370-07:002016-06-10T15:37:52.370-07:00For all the shilling that this book seems to get o...For all the shilling that this book seems to get on forums, it never really lives up to what people think it does. There's a lot of "people just don't GET it", but having read all of that, it's clear that there is very little underneath the surface. Consistency from character growth from issue to issue is nearly non-existent, and it's a sad thing when other writers have plotted more fully formed arcs for Jason and Roy as side characters in other books. If you were to try to characterize Jason and Roy without describing their appearances, their relationship to other characters, or their actions, you'd be hard-pressed to come up with anything beyond "angry" and "immature", respectively. And what Scott Lobdell doesn't understand is that you can't just shoehorn characters into these basic traits without developing them past that. For all the monologuing and exposition-wringing Lobdell does, he adds very little insight to these characters. Instead, it's simply repeating ad nauseum how Jason Todd was the angry dead Robin, or how Roy was a drunk.<br /><br />And that's not to get into the half-baked plots that seem to get dropped just so the writer can go capitalize on the latest crossover or whatever. Or the lack of consistency in character motivations.<br /><br />Red Hood and the Outlaws was a book that thrived off its controversial first issue, a tone-deaf instance of throwing out twists for the sake of shock value, and failing to develop past that twist. And Red Hood/Arsenal suffered from it, as its predecessor failed to do anything meaningful with its characters. It's obvious that this book is around solely due to brand recognition, but isn't powerful enough of a brand to warrant a capable writer, but rather just being relegated to whoever is friendly enough with the higher-ups.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3056373842046198497.post-3439490355634142212016-06-10T15:11:21.679-07:002016-06-10T15:11:21.679-07:00Excellent overview and very on point.
Is incredib...Excellent overview and very on point.<br /><br />Is incredibly irritating the way people misses the point of Lobdell's characterization out of petty bias both against him and Jason. For them, Jason's core is that he's a failure and he will always be one and thus, they don't bother to actually engage with Lobdell's writing to see there's a lot more in Jason than just that.<br /><br />The most depressing thing is that DC actually agrees with them. So they could pander to all the people claiming for the return of the pre flashpoint status quo, DC pretty much throwd out of the window all the development Jason and Roy had over five years. <br /><br />Luckily, Lobdell is still in charge so all the progress Jason did won't be forgotten nor ignored (a shame the same can't be said about Roy)but is still really depressing the way DC continues to handle Jason.Dark_Tzitziminehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17055905660404131186noreply@blogger.com