Essence confronts Jason.
SPOILERS AHEAD
I'm glad that Jason's at least opening up to Isabel even if he's more hostile about discussing his dad than usual. He also seems more hateful towards Gotham, Jason's passion for the city has been mentioned a few times although he normally notes the good and the bad. Isabel is acting as the voice of reason to remind him of the positives while Jason only sees the negatives. This section is really well done, it gives us his state of mind and shows us what he's not saying. Since we know why he doesn't bring up Bruce the lack of acknowledgement brings home how hurt he actually is.
I do like how Isabel handles his bad mood but it's hard to want him to be with anyone in his current state. Despite living large Jason clearly isn't happy with his life. When Wingman asks him something I've been wondering--how he can trust someone he doesn't know--the answer isn't what you'd expect. Jason says trust is overrated meaning that he doesn't actually trust Wingman. He probably doesn't trust anyone in his life. The Su sisters are working for him because he's paying them. He knows Wingman has his own agenda, Jason hasn't trusted anyone with the knowledge about the safe room.
The "betray me and I'll kill you" and Wingman's "that's fair" responses are just so nonchalant that it's distrubing. It's the little things that really make the mood unsettling. While I'm not normally a fan of how Woods' draws Jason I've always appreciated the body language. I could get so much from Jason's reaction to Wingman telling him that he might be bigger than Gotham. It builds off of the scene with Isabel without saying too much. You can imagine what he's thinking which gives it more of an impact.
Suzie is worried that Jason is going to get her sisters in trouble. He doesn't admit to what he did in Paris but she knows. When she tries to stop him he warns her. Now I think Suzie (and to a lesser extent her sisters) has her own crimes to answer for so it's weird to find them in these opposite roles. The woman that held children in a hospital hostage (Jason was very sure she would in fact kill them all) is trying to advise him on what is acceptable. I like what we are getting since she's saying this for mostly selfish reasons--the sake of her family--not that she's worried about anyone else.
Even still it shows promise and makes her claim to Roy in RHA seem like it was true. That at one point she was friends with Jason. It also makes me worry that this is foreshadowing something going wrong and hurting her sisters since Jason promises their be alright. If you consider the fact the Su sisters were introduced as a parallel to his own family it's even more meaningful.
I like Jason knowing that he has trouble being honest with himself but knows his new "team" are growing on him. He admitted the latter in volume 1 which feels like a nice callback. The acknowledgement of those he lost is also a nice touch highlighting his fears of being left again.
The fact that Jason knows Essence is there to stop him before he sees her makes him feel supernatural. Kind of like Batman in a way. I'm not a fan of Essence and Jason as a pairing. I don't like the idea of teens dating hundred plus immortals even with Buffy. Given Jason's emotional state back then and the fact he didn't know the truth it makes the whole thing uncomfortable. Still, they interact like exes that are usually on good terms. That is written naturally, although there seems to be another retcon. Originally Jason left the All Caste after they exiled Essence. Now she says he broke her heart when he left them.
I really love how Jason tricked Essence into trapping herself in the blade. I especially love this:
Jason Todd: You made the same mistake everyone does when it comes to me. I'm not evil. Or good. Unfortunately for you...I'm just practical as hell.
Damn that's a good response. That is what I wish more writers would understand.
Jason returns home to find a certain bird out of his cage and firing his gun. Excellent issue, I loved this ! This was how you write a character dealing with darkness without making them go overboard. I don't want Jason to become a bad guy/to be Leviathan, etc. But this was a good read showing Jason's smarts, dark side and his mistake.
Say What?: Isabel asks if anyone was there for Jason but doesn't she know who took him in?
"Why do you have to choose?" Even if you are trying to make a joke you are dating Isabel, Jason.
We get further confirmation that Essence was always meant to be the heir to Ducra and that she never wanted it. And that Jason was the first human the All Caste trained. Essence seems to amend this by stating he was the only human to master the art without going insane.
More details are clarified about the All Caste. Essence can take them to the astral plane to fight. Their called the All Caste because you have to see the past, present, and future all at once. Which Jason mentioned Ducra teaching him in volume 1. Ducra apparently already knew Jason's fate and wanted to help him overcome it. Which ties into her statements about him destorying them all if she didn't train him and not all the All Caste being happy that he was trained.
Essence notices that Jason is trying to make her mad to get her to make a mistake. Back in #7 in the first volume Jason noted that might not be a good thing since she has a temper.
Did You Notice?: Yet another first kiss shot where Jason is surprised by the sudden kiss, lol.
Questions Asked?: What does Wingman actually look like? I can't tell his age. At first he had grey hair, then he looked much younger and now he seems older/chubbier.
Can Essence turn into fog too? That doesn't look like black smoke.
Jason thought Ducra--who is dead and a ghost--would come after him? Who's brothers? Ducra's died in the Tynion run. Essence's brothers?
Dog just slept while a villain was about? For shame.
What is Jason planning? Is he seeing into the future?
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