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abrittlebee's review against another edition
3.0
Classically, Red Hood and the Outlaws: REDemption is everything any comic fan could want: it’s bold, has masterful artwork, and is filled to the brim with action. Dig a little deeper though and you might realize that Scott Lobdell’s character development leaves something to be desired.
Red Hood and the Outlaws follows the journey of Jason Todd (a.k.a. Red Hood, a former Robin with abandonment issues). Through a precarious set of events, he finds himself joining forces with Starfire, who was previously of the Teen Titans and whose nuclear powers are now seen as dangerous to mankind, and Arsenal, a former protégé to the Green Arrow.
So what could be the problem, you might ask? When I first read Red Hood and the Outlaws, I was confused: the overt sexual nature of Starfire reeked of misogyny, but despite her promiscuity all sexual encounters were initiated by her, developing a level of agency that is absent in sexist works such as Batman: The Widening Gyre. Then I figured it out. It wasn’t that Starfire is a glorified sexual fantasy, it’s that her sexuality was the only aspect to her personality. So it was bad character development, masquerading as misogyny. Then I realized that both Red Hood and Arsenal had the exact same problem, as they were both one-dimensional. Red Hood with his brooding and Arsenal playing the part of the witty comic relief. It is unfortunate, since conceptually I think this series has a lot of potential.
Artistically, Red Hood and the Outlaws is amazing. Illustrator Kenneth Rocafort does an incredible job, with extreme detail and anatomical perfection.
As much as the character development bothered me, I would have a hard time not recommending this series. Definitely worth picking up if you’re bored, but not something to invest a lot of time in.
Cross posted from The Other Press
Red Hood and the Outlaws follows the journey of Jason Todd (a.k.a. Red Hood, a former Robin with abandonment issues). Through a precarious set of events, he finds himself joining forces with Starfire, who was previously of the Teen Titans and whose nuclear powers are now seen as dangerous to mankind, and Arsenal, a former protégé to the Green Arrow.
So what could be the problem, you might ask? When I first read Red Hood and the Outlaws, I was confused: the overt sexual nature of Starfire reeked of misogyny, but despite her promiscuity all sexual encounters were initiated by her, developing a level of agency that is absent in sexist works such as Batman: The Widening Gyre. Then I figured it out. It wasn’t that Starfire is a glorified sexual fantasy, it’s that her sexuality was the only aspect to her personality. So it was bad character development, masquerading as misogyny. Then I realized that both Red Hood and Arsenal had the exact same problem, as they were both one-dimensional. Red Hood with his brooding and Arsenal playing the part of the witty comic relief. It is unfortunate, since conceptually I think this series has a lot of potential.
Artistically, Red Hood and the Outlaws is amazing. Illustrator Kenneth Rocafort does an incredible job, with extreme detail and anatomical perfection.
As much as the character development bothered me, I would have a hard time not recommending this series. Definitely worth picking up if you’re bored, but not something to invest a lot of time in.
Cross posted from The Other Press
nahaerys's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bramblelegs's review against another edition
4.0
This comic has a special place in my heart because it was the first comic I ever purchased and it was the comic that got me into reading comics in the first place. The Red Hood is my favorite character in all of DC, I love him to pieces. He's been my fave since the beginning of my comic journey over 10 years ago.
This comic book reads like an action packed but kinda strange story about three people who come together that are frankly all traumatized assholes. They're just not great people. But they found each other and there's a few touching moments. It kinda sets the stage for what eventually becomes a found family dynamic. And knowing that this is where they start is kinda funny.
Jason is fresh off his return and terrorizing Bruce as the Red Hood, and kinda just making his way in the world as his own hero. You get to see some flash backs that remind you just how much he loved his time as Robin, and how bittersweet it is to know that he can't have that anymore.
And then of course Roy who's just a mess. I love him.
And Kori, who has been through absolute hell but is still so strong.
The writing in this book is clearly male gaze-y. It had a few moments where it clearly did not age well. But I'm willing to over look that stuff for the nostalgia. Tbh maybe the feeling of a frat boy asshole dynamic never really phased me much because they're kinda all meant to be shit people right now. They need to be bad before they can be better.
Either way, this was a fun book. And it'll always mean a lot to me. Easily a 4/5.
This is a comic that over the years I just keep coming back to because it reminds me how much I love comic books. :)
This comic book reads like an action packed but kinda strange story about three people who come together that are frankly all traumatized assholes. They're just not great people. But they found each other and there's a few touching moments. It kinda sets the stage for what eventually becomes a found family dynamic. And knowing that this is where they start is kinda funny.
Jason is fresh off his return and terrorizing Bruce as the Red Hood, and kinda just making his way in the world as his own hero. You get to see some flash backs that remind you just how much he loved his time as Robin, and how bittersweet it is to know that he can't have that anymore.
And then of course Roy who's just a mess. I love him.
And Kori, who has been through absolute hell but is still so strong.
The writing in this book is clearly male gaze-y. It had a few moments where it clearly did not age well. But I'm willing to over look that stuff for the nostalgia. Tbh maybe the feeling of a frat boy asshole dynamic never really phased me much because they're kinda all meant to be shit people right now. They need to be bad before they can be better.
Either way, this was a fun book. And it'll always mean a lot to me. Easily a 4/5.
This is a comic that over the years I just keep coming back to because it reminds me how much I love comic books. :)
dhariam's review against another edition
2.0
I like the friendship between roy and jason, but kori was definitely destroyed by dc in the new 52.
disconightwing's review against another edition
4.0
Three with a ginormous plus or four with a teeny tiny minus, pick your poison.
keahiinfra's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
fishfish's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
carleeiigh's review against another edition
2.0
Weeelllll......this start of The New 52 is not...great. I don't like it very much so far at all, really.
This obviously focuses on Red Hood and his new 52 backstory, while sort establishing Roy and Kori, just not very well.
While I didn't love Jason in Pre-52 being just a rabid maniac who sometimes shows, tries to kill a few Robins or Batman, then leaves, I'm not really loving him here either. The new story of him being taken by Talia to the "all caste" I just don't vibe with? Maybe if there was a good issue really focusing on him bonding with the people there and healing from his madness, I would get it, but now I'm just not sure why they bothered? He's sort of still angsty about getting beat to death and claims his family abandoned him, but he's not angsty enough to go after them. I guess I need to see how he interacts with the actual batfam in the future. Hopefully.
Roy and Kori are dragged along on Jason' journey to avenge his teachers, just because I guess? Really, I think its because Roy has nothing better to do, and Kori because she apparently lost her memory, and needs somewhere to be an objectified sex woman. I don't really know anything else about them. Everyone complains about Kori, and they're right, she's treated SO grossly so far
There are tiny bits that I'm interested in? But ultimately super disappointed in this one. I'll maybe read vol 2 and 3 to see, but otherwise I'll stick to my original plan and just go to Rebirth
This obviously focuses on Red Hood and his new 52 backstory, while sort establishing Roy and Kori, just not very well.
While I didn't love Jason in Pre-52 being just a rabid maniac who sometimes shows, tries to kill a few Robins or Batman, then leaves, I'm not really loving him here either. The new story of him being taken by Talia to the "all caste" I just don't vibe with? Maybe if there was a good issue really focusing on him bonding with the people there and healing from his madness, I would get it, but now I'm just not sure why they bothered? He's sort of still angsty about getting beat to death and claims his family abandoned him, but he's not angsty enough to go after them. I guess I need to see how he interacts with the actual batfam in the future. Hopefully.
Roy and Kori are dragged along on Jason' journey to avenge his teachers, just because I guess? Really, I think its because Roy has nothing better to do, and Kori because she apparently lost her memory, and needs somewhere to be an objectified sex woman. I don't really know anything else about them. Everyone complains about Kori, and they're right, she's treated SO grossly so far
There are tiny bits that I'm interested in? But ultimately super disappointed in this one. I'll maybe read vol 2 and 3 to see, but otherwise I'll stick to my original plan and just go to Rebirth