Red Hood (and the) Outlaw(s) #39 Vol. 2

Jason does his best to teach his class while his teammates finally return home.

SPOILERS AHEAD

This was a really fun issue, a rare thing in the current dark and gloomy DC comics. I was still a little confused with the Artemis and Bizarro section. Again with the idea that Ma Gunn seems to be surprised with her forced confinement. She seemed like she was in the know with her situation before (she asked if "Willis" could free her and he told her that she was travelling outside his range.) Then there's Pup Pup who's somehow Chairzarrio inside of a plushie. (Didn't Artemis "kill" him in her rage?) Even Pup Pup appears to be guessing what happened and seems to see it's self more as Pup Pup than Chairzarrio.

That's a little bit of a strain for my suspension of disbelief but pushing that aside...where has he been all this time? No one has seen Pup Pup for months until Artemis recently "found" him. Then the building that Bizarro created that I assumed had been destroyed until recently is destroyed but their all fine? And back on the right world? How? Why? I feel like I missed a section or something.

Back with Jason the kids mostly take the center stage but Jason still has his moments. I think the monster doctors are supposed to be ridiculous, hence a name like "Monster Arm." They do point out something I thought one of the students would have said, and that's the fact Red Hood isn't a meta like the rest of them. It hasn't really been a factor like I thought it would but I like the touch that the doctors think a human shouldn't be giving orders.

There's been jokes about villains monologuing but for Jason to just shoot the guy in the arm to impart a lesson? That was really funny, in digital via the guided view it was especially well done since it's more of a surprise.

The teaching angle with Jason is a nice parallel to Ma Gunn. At the start of this run we get a flashback with Jason during Batman's confrontation with Gunn where Batman berates her teaching methods. I've thought about that scene ever since and how it related to Bruce and Faye. Especially in regards to their treatment of Jason. Now we have Jason in the teacher role because he wants them to survive. He may have doubts about his abilties but Jason is really trying hard to balance the need of gaining their respect with being a good teacher.

After all his loss and loneliness this is the first time Jason seems to be happy in a long time. I keep thinking this is going to go south, that one or more of the kids will turn against him but he seems fond of them. Don't think I didn't notice him take a team picture. Jason isn't attempting to be Bruce when he teaches, he isn't attempting to mold the students into heroes per se. He is trying to set a good example by asking them what to do then not letting them kill the scientists. But he hasn't lectured them or told them that their way of thinking is wrong. He's teaching them how to be a team.

Jason knows from experience how a team functions after learning from his time working with Kori, Roy then Artemis and Bizarro. He allows them time to work together, doesn't let any of the villains harm them and tells them what to do when their confused. Although they might want to ensure Babe in Arms is safer in the future, maybe by giving her an Oracle like role?

I didn't see much discussion on this issue after I read it. I did see someone saying Cloud Nine's power/mental slippage came out of no where. Which I don't really agree with, she did go from trying to flirt with Jason to being okay with killing him when they fought for the first class test. It is meant to be a surprise for the team, Jason just figured it out quicker. I think Cloud Nine, as a name, kind of implies her head is in the clouds anyway.



Overall: I like the implications we get of Bizarro and Artemis' mistakes coming back. Both actually connect in a strange way. The mystery of how Ma Gunn became trapped is asked and I think Pup Pup actually knows about Bizarro's involvement. It was done in a misguided way to protect Jason from the letters Willis wrote him. The implication I got from Artemis' goodbye to Jason was that she knew his dad was supposed to be at the prison she slaughtered. I'm guessing Lex figured it out and told her for his own amusement. Judging from solicits I think that will drive a wedge between them because she believes she ruined his life. Artemis doesn't know Willis is alive and Lobdell purposely left it vague if Jason realised it.

The students are a lot of fun in this issue and it's really remarkable when you think about it. A team of students trying to become villains that wanted to kill the villains are all far more likable than the current Teen Titans.

I like Jason as a teacher, the picture taking did remind me of the flashback when Jason (as Robin) took a picture with Batman. I guess this further confirms that Jason is sentimental. The team seems to gel better although I'm wondering if we got a hint that Clara might be working with Lex.

I don't know how to feel about Pup Pup yet, it does make me wonder how much the comic Ma Gunn read foreshadowed events. Is Creeper ever going to join the team? What did it mean when it said Artemis was the future Queen of the Amazon nation?





Say What?: While I do appreciate Jason second guessing himself with his word choices I think it was only needed once. Twice came off like Jason himself wasn't educated. Sure he never graduated due to dying but he clearly learned a lot while Robin and after his rebirth.

"White hair" is Bizarro's name for Gunn? It's a little disappointing given some of his more amusing nicknames.

"Evil Headmistress"? Is she either of those things anymore?

Pup Pup started to say "Don't look at..." when Artemis asked if he knew how Ma Gunn got trapped in a bottle. Was he about to point the finger at Bizarro?

Why is Artemis certain their home? Because she knows their not far from the prison she killed inmates at?