Red Hood and the Outlaws #24 Vol. 2

Due to solicits we already have some idea what's going to happen and where it leads into the next arc. That doesn't mean there's no suspense in how we get there or what else happens.

SPOILERS AHEAD

Bizarro dreams up watching a tv show featuring the Outlaws with all the previous members (the official ones) along with a living Pup Pup and Creeper. Jason arrives to attack Penguin at his grand opening. He reveals that it's because of Willis Todd and tells more than he should including his ID. Artemis has trouble with their HQs since it's going to blow up without Bizarro having his smarts. The "show" Bizarro saw started to dissolve. "Pup Pup" leaves Bizarro and Artemis arrives realizing Bizarro has returned to his old self. After shooting Penguin Jason realizes he messed up and tries to contact his teammates. He sees their headquarters falling out of the sky.

Bruce watches a live broadcast of the shooting and says he's bringing Jason in.


Overall: I really have to write a post talking about Dexter Soy and his art when he leaves. I've been meaning to do this for awhile but I keep putting it off. The expressions, especially during Jason's confrontation with Penguin are so emotional. I'm going to miss him. Alison Borges also does a great job this issue, particularly the opening fight Bizarro is imaging with the team. Otherwise known as the teasing dream team battle that I saw nearly everyone getting excited about before our dreams get crushed. ;)

Bizarro seeing himself as someone that acts as Jason's conscience is a neat idea. It makes you wonder how Jason's scene would have played out if his friends were there. We've seen the opposite was true throughout this series with Jason attempting to teach Bizarro to hold back. I wonder if this has to do with Bizarro trying to prevent Jason from reading the letters because he knew it would end bad. I understand that Bizarro lost his smarts but I'm still not sure why he didn't sort out other things before he lost it. Did he get influenced to suddenly do things by "Pup Pup"?

There's been a ton of build up to this issue with Jason and others questioning his path. He almost strayed from it in #7 when Artemis got him worried about Bizarro being a threat. I can say that Jason honestly has his intimidation factor turned up in this issue. The way he walks in like an unstoppable force towards Penguin does bring back UTH memories although he has none of his humor. Even Penguin who seems to see this as all fun and games loses his grin and wants to know where this change came from. That's a detail I love, he's obviously caught off guard because this isn't the same kid he's been fighting.

He acts like an idiot since he still taunt Jason to the point he laughs in his face. Which is pretty in character even if he figured out Red Hood was suffering last issue. If he had sense he wouldn't constantly be aggravating people that could kick his ass in the first place. At least Lex Luthor can do it because he's an actual threat. You know things are about to be serious when Jason tells his story and shows his face.

I want to thank Scott Lobdell for having Jason saying "it's not a game" in response to Penguin. It might not directly tie into DITF but I think the spirit is there. I always felt that Jason's intent in claiming "life is a game" in that story was misunderstood. Writers and fans have used it to claim Jason was irresponsible and didn't care about what he was doing. Making it sound like he was just in it for the thrills. I saw it as a kid flippantly saying something when he was upset. In the rest of DITF Jason takes the lives of others very seriously.

Here Penguin is responding to Jason's frustration about the revolving door policy in Gotham with:"Little late in the game for recriminations, kid." Jason's response of it not being a game and seeing how it affects others shows he is seeing a bigger picture. He might be a little blinded by his own pain at the moment but we know he's been aware of this for awhile. Previous issues have shown his conflicting feelings and acknowledgement that none of them knows the right answers. That's something even Alfred couldn't soothe away as he didn't even pretend to have the answers.

The way Penguin reacts does make sense when you realize he honestly doesn't believe Jason will kill him. Does he think Jason's actions in UTH were another Red Hood? Before he knew the identity he doesn't seem all that worried about being harmed. Arrogance sure but does this mean he never bought into the undercover act? Credit to Lobdell again with Penguin claiming Jason is just a kid playing dress up. This feels like another callback to Alfred recalling Jason's thoughts on "dress up" and his talk about Batman not being able to control them merely with fear since everyone knew he wouldn't kill them.

This definitely lines up with the warning Croc gave Jason about what he's doing. He knew Jason was a good kid pretending to be bad and even Penguin has trouble believing his sincere commitment even when a gun is being pointed at his head. Jason does shoot Penguin and after fleeing the scene realizes his mistake.

I love the detail of Dick, Tim and others calling when they saw the news. It's a detail I wish was in more bat books. I'm hoping it was because their concerned not to gang up on him. I don't like how Bruce's first impulse is to "bring him in" and Alfred just accepts it. Mostly because I can't see them acting like that for any other bat kid. Which I think is part of the problem Jason had with the concept of the family. Acceptance and love aren't unconditional for him. But that's going off topic.

I truly enjoyed this issue and I'm glad it wasn't spoiled for me. This was the most exciting comic I've read in a while. I know some will complain that Lobdell will "ruin" Jason (ignoring all the other writers who never get Jason's character right) and say that it makes no sense for Willis to motivate him. Or get mad at Jason referring to Willis as his father. I don't see it that way, as I said above this has been building for awhile. Jason is emotionally vulnerable and just found out he lost a possibly life that would have completely changed his life. He feels guilty for hating Willis when he just read about much he was loved. I trust Lobdell and will buy two physical copies to support this series.



(BTW I was called away during Jason's reveal to Penguin. While I buy both digital and physical I usually read an issue RHATO in digital form first. It's much more intense but I decided to play music when I got back to the issue. I chose a track from Batman Returns--due to the Penguin connection--and it definitely made it more intense.)





Questions Asked?: Did Bizarro meet Kori or Roy before? It's possible although it would have been fun to see it.

What is Bizarro' s deal with wanting Creeper to be part of their team? His subconscious even wants it to become a reality. I guess he doesn't know what to think of the costume since he changes it and Starfire' s. At least Starfire' s looks different to me.

How much of the Outlaws dream team was a nod to what could have been? There have been A LOT of rumors lately about arcs that could have happened and something bad possibly happening. This makes me more worried about one character.

Bizarro has had croissants?

Why did Bizarro stop taking kryptonite if he knew his HQ would self destruct? Or why did he set up everything to only work as long as he's smart?

Penguin knew that Red Hood was connected to Batman? I mean I can buy it but I think it's the first time a rogue that didn't already know their IDs has done that. I didn't think he'd come off as one of the closer links to Barman. Sure Oz could mean the Jason Todd adopted son of Bruce Wayne connection too but he's not surprised Jason is alive.

Did anyone else see Jason without his helmet on?

Bat brat. Does that mean he knows or suspects Jason was a Robin?

Was the live broadcast on a second delay or do they show people being shot on Gotham tv?

What about Ma Gunn?




Say What?: The captions on the Outlaws:

• "Bizarro an improvement on the original Superman!"
• "Red Hood a Robin reborn with a second chance !"
• "Starfire Rebel. Royalty. Really Awesome !"
• "Arsenal everyone's best friend !"
• "Pup Pup kind of hard to explain."
• "Artemis future queen of the United Amazons!"
• "Creeper just kinda creepy."

These are Bizarro' s thoughts on everyone. Except for Jason everyone else is kind of vague or have wrong descriptions. Unless Artemis is actually royalty, etc. It's mostly stuff he seems to know second hand.

Even in your narration you're cruel Artemis.

Penguin is brutal when he calls Willis less than no body.

Jason's "fanned Prince of Gotham" comes back.

I may be stretching it but there are more lines that remind me of UTH. The "secret" mention which seems similar to Jason telling Joker that before claiming he knew Joker wasn't as crazy as he appeared. Then the "I'm my father's son" which seems to be a twist on the "I'm no one's son." 

Did You Notice?: The Outlaws symbol on their uniforms in the "show." It's a circle (or "O") inside a triangle.