Red Hood and the Outlaws #29 Vol. 2

Jason and Kate team up.

SPOILERS AHEAD

Kate is all business at the start and says that they know what their fighting aren't alive now. Jason takes the direct route again to fight them head on much to her alarm. The special agent Jason saved at the start of the arc found the mess Jason left at the diner as well as some tech. She wonders why he left it behind and thinks he's leaving a trail on purpose. Wingman listens in to the whole thing. Back with Jason and Kate he decides to go with her plan and she wants to have a word first. Much to my surprise it's not about any of the issues between them or bat politics but rather condolences for Roys' death. She does finally apologize for sending the Outlaws to Waller but Jason waves it off because Bizarro planned it out.

Jason distracts and takes out pie lady while Kate frees the kids. The android/clones used Solomon Grundy DNA, were made in the same place Willis was sent and Jason gets told Solitary is the one behind it all. He hops in a car with his Bombshells verse moms to go south.



Overall: We got closure on what Kate did to the Outlaws which was a little disappointing given the scale of what she did but appreciated nonetheless. It feels like some characters get a pass while others always get the short end of the stick. When Kate sent them to Waller she did it she because Bizarro bruised her ego. She could have talked to Jason as an adult or even called Bruce. Her solution was extreme and morally wrong given what Waller does. No one ever called her on it. Still I didn't expect her to directly address it or even encourage Jason to mend fences with Bruce. I didn't like her attitude towards Jason in some sections especially since it was unwarranted. I think we're supposed to see them mirroring each other but he's always shown more of a willingness to work together while she's quick to insult or attack.

Jason brushing off her apology isn't surprising considering how quickly he's accepted the one Nightwing gave him for not being a better brother. For someone labeled as the angry Robin he is willing to forgive. He's thoughtful about it, able to think of their side in a reasonable manner. He's even able to provide a better reason for Bruce forgiving Kate than Batman was able to give in #25. The response he gives about there being no walking away from what he's done and what Bruce can do with his forgiveness is some great insight into Jason's current feelings. Even though he didn't kill Penguin he believes he went too far (likely because of the visit from Bruce) and this implies Jason is mad. I'm hoping it's because of what Bruce did to him because I don't want that to be swept under the rug. My number one fear is that we'll only see Jason's faults and not deal with Bruce being in the wrong. That's not really a dig at Lobdell it's just how the bat universe has been for sometime. I worry that the flat out abuse from a parental figure will be normalized again.

As for Jason's faults I see a familiar self destructive spark that I recall seeing in DITF. Remember way back in early RHATO when Jason had killed an Untitled but couldn't explain that to the townspeople? They chased him since he didn't want to hurt innocent people. Last issue he gave up on that and just fought everyone at once. He rushes at the Mondays (which featured some awesome art) which even Kate noted.

At this stage I have no theories on Wingman mostly because I'm more interested in the Solitary plot. I don't think there's a connection since Willis can apparently project himself anywhere without anyone noticing if he wanted information. Jason notes it can't be a coincidence that the Mondays show up some time after he fought the real Grundy. I'm curious if Jason remembers Hierve El Agua from Creeper or if his dad mentioned it in his letters. Is Willis trying to lure Jason to him? Did he make sure Roy found out about his organization? There's a lot to think about with the information we got from this issue.


Questions Raised?: Is Kate there because of Bruce? I only read through these issues once at this point but I don't recall her giving a reason for being there. Sure she found out about the kids before she found Jason but what got her on that trail?

Is Jason trying to lure someone or was that put there by someone else?

Did Jason put the gun down just to fight her hand to hand? Maybe because he wanted answers first?



Say What?: Kate you didn't kick Jason's ass, you never personally fought him and he was taken out when his back was turned and he was worried about Bizarro.