Review: Red Hood Outlaw: #40
[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]
Writer: Scott Lobdell
Artist: David Messina
Colors:Â Rex Lokus
Letters: ALW’s Troy Peteri
Reviewer: Tony Farina
Summary
Red Hood: Outlaw #40 finds our titular hero and his band of new Outlaws, who have been called Generation Outlaw for the year of the villain, a bit confused. They are teleported to a closet in Dr. Veritas’ lair which was not the plan. It turns out that maybe they are not in their own lair after all and that things look strikingly like the original Outlaws’ hideout that Bizarro made when he was a genius. The team splits up because that always works. Trouble ensues.
Positives
New colorist Rex Lokus is on point in this issue. He really has fun with this cast of malcontents. They pop off the pages and bring new artists David Messina’s work to life. They have their hands full as this new band of Outlaws is quite large. Red Hood: Outlaw #40 takes place at night or in the dark tunnels of a lair, so Lokus really has to make sure that he conveys that without it feeling claustrophobic. The rooms feel and look small while the characters seem to each have their own inner light. It is remarkable.
Scott Lobdell is really funny when he puts words in Jason Todd’s mouth. Jokes by or about Red Hood are always spectacularly funny. There is a joke about a crowbar in here that ends with “That was oddly specific.” Painfully funny.
Negatives
The cast of Generation Outlaw is wearing thin. I don’t really care too much about the rest of these kids. I know we are supposed to, because Jason cares, but I just don’t. The fact that each of the past four issues has featured Bizarro and Artemis just a little serves as a reminder that the book is better when they are together. Granted, it sure seems as thought that is where this is headed, but for now, it is off putting.
While I do enjoy Messina’s take on Jason, I do not care for his Artemis. I can’t really put my finger on it, but there is something about the way she looks that just feels wrong. If he was not following Kenneth Rockafort who followed Dexter Soy on this book, I could like it fine.
Verdict
I really do like the work Lobdell does with Jason Todd. I think the book is always better when he is there. However, I am not really digging this year of the villain story. The kids in Generation Outlaw may eventually spin off to their own book and that would be great for them. It would be interesting to have a “Dark Titans” book. Having them here is cumbersome and messy. The last page makes me feel good about the future though.
