Red Hood And The Outlaws #2

[whitesycamore]

In my opinion? This issue was quite drastically better than the last one.





There was a lot of cheesy but fun-in-an-eighties-movie-way action, a lot of snark, and a lot of sexual banter - most of it at Jason and Roy's expense this time and some of it about Roy checking out Jason's ass, ha ha. Starfire was also much, much more self-actualised than she appeared last issue, which was good to see. She was still somewhat subdued, but her compassionate nature - and the fact that she doesn't take any shit - was evident. Her memory problem also doesn't seem to be as extreme as the last issue made it sound like it was - she doesn't have any trouble telling her team mates apart here, and she definitely remembers sleeping with Roy, although it doesn't look like she has any immediate plans for a repeat performance.

And this time the main plotline actually seemed, you know, main. The art was gorgeous, with both Roy and Jason drawn beautifully. Unfortunately, although Kory's fanservicey portrayal has been scaled back a lot, it still seems that Kenneth Rocafort draws men much more charmingly, gracefully and *naturally* then he does women.

There were lots of pages that I could name as my favourites, but for the sake of clarity I'll post the last three - which are also the three where the most genuine interactions between the Outlaws take place.


This page picks up where the last issue left off, with Jason finding the body of his former mentor, Ducra - who speaks to him in ghostly form before departing, telling him (fondly) that he''s learned nothing, because he's still all about the vengeance; yep, that's our boy all right.




I wonder if he can't shoot them because they were his friends, or because he feels empathy for anything that died brutally and was brought back damaged?




Interesting that for all he rips on Roy, he doesn't consider it 'his place' to tell him what to do. The person telling him to "see past your past" is part of a flashback to his training with Ducra, by the way.




Hmm. A past he forgot he ever had. Just a throwaway line for sentimentalities' sake, or a hint at the upcoming memory-themed plot in the next issue? And perhaps Kory's lost memories of her past have something to do with all this too.

Comments

[protogarrett]

This all feels very 90's to me. I dunno. I just expect this to turn into X-Force sooner or later (90's version or current; take your pick).

[whitesycamore]

Dude, the 90's was the renaissance of the twentieth century!1!

[mrstatham]

If it turned into something like the current X-Force, how is that a bad thing? It's one of the most well-done books Marvel puts out at the moment. I could understand dreading it turning into a Liefeldian mess, but there's been no indication of that thus far.

[sallymustard]

Oh god, YES. This is exactly how I feel. Not just the cheap fan service, but the EDGY AS FUCKness too.

[shadowpsykie]

okay, this was MILES better than last issue.

yeah i figured Memory was a main story line here.

I am LOVING this portrayal of Jason.

i love the art.... except how Rocafort drawns Star... i mean LOOK AT THOSE BOOTS! I... i mean a woman would NEVER be caught did on those things.... and yeah.. i still hate her top....

[akodo_rokku]

The boots do explain where all the material that might have made up clothes went, though.

[darkknightjrk]

I didn't hate the first issue, but this issue definitely seemed to step things up. :)

[flint_marko]

panels from new issues can't be outside the cut

[whitesycamore]

Thanks for the reminder, fixed.

[leikomgwtfbbq]

I still think Starfire's costume is ridiculous... is she wearing legwarmers, or are her boots just really really weird? No costume should ever have legwarmers.

[darkknightjrk]

I'm thinking weird boots. Way too thick and metallic looking to be legwarmers.

[coldfiredragon]

This issue was such a vast improvement over the first issue! *gasp* could it be that DC actually listened? Or could it be that everybody just jumped the gun and decided to rant and condemn without even thinking of giving issue 2 a chance to fix things?

*grins* Whatever the answer I could care less. I'm glad I stuck with the book. I love this Jason. This is the first time I've actually loved a version of Jason. The point of the reboot was to get people to read new characters and expand their horizons and this book has definitely done that for me.

[whitesycamore]

This issue was such a vast improvement over the first issue! *gasp* could it be that DC actually listened? Or could it be that everybody just jumped the gun and decided to rant and condemn without even thinking of giving issue 2 a chance to fix things?

Um... I get the strong impression that Lobdell saw the backlash and beat a very hasty retreat, actually. Jason in particular seems to have done a personality 180, now being the more private, mature man with Roy as his fratboy-foil.

Not that I'm complaining. Lobdell can't backtrack fast enough imo. :D

[sinisterlink]

There are no words to appropriately describe how much I HATE Starfire's costume. Geeze, and I thought her old one was bad...

[harpers_child]

just noticed that roy doesn't have his tribal tattoos anymore. that makes me a little sad.

[whitesycamore]

I'd tell you that he now has trashy scorpion tattoos instead, but that might make you even sadder. :(

Not me though, I have a weird kink for really trashy guys.

[thefiretonight]

I had actually liked most of the first issue but I definitely loved this issue. I was a little iffy about the idea of the limo conversation [that's actually the spoiler Scott told me about when I met him] before I read it but it worked in the context of it all. This is such a fun book, in my opinion.

I love this version of Jason. Before this, I really only had a passing interest in him because of the fact that he was always either inconsistently written or just too hung up on revenge on the Bats for my own tastes.

[rdfox]

Still not touching this with a twenty-nine and a half foot pole.

[rordulum]

You took the words out of my mouth.

The sooner this shit is canceled, the better.

[mullon]

Meh, I stilll don't see anything that impressive in this comic. And seeing Starfire's ribcage is creepy.

[benicio127]

Definitely a nice Easter egg on the Death in the Family stewardess, right down to the plain ol' coke, no rum :D

This issue was much, much better.

[whitesycamore]

Wow, I completely missed that. Was her name Isabel in ADITF too? At least Jason's suit was better looking this time. :D

And is it just me, or was Roy totally trying to propose a threesome in the limo?

[big_daddy_d]

This issue a much bigger improvement over the last. For that I will give it another chance. Plus my love for Roy Harper tends to deny me sense of reason and even if a book sucks, I continue to punish myself. But I shall remain vigilante and hope Roy gets better. Which speaking of he wasn't bad here. He was more like his old self, joking around and even being badass. Seriously I wish you posted the plane scene. Roy didn't- hold on "Spoilers dear" (skip over)

...


Ok is it safe? Good.

Roy didn't use a chute or anything! He fucking jumped out. Starfire can fly. Jason had some awesome looking tech wings attached to his forearms and Roy just freestyled it! Straight edge!

Spoilers End

Still, I do believe the whole Roy/Starfire sex should be addressed and handled. Properly at that. Judging by the cover for issue 5 and after reading issue 1 and even some of this one..I got a bit of a feeling like..there's some shipping of Roy and Kori on Lobdell's part. Am I the only one who feels like this? As I said, not bothered but I feel like it's a story that should be properly handled if that's where it's going.

Oh and I can't sign off on a Roy post without ending it with "Bring back Lian!" Thank you for your time.

[superfangirl1]

Jason you so adorable in your own way. Starfire's costume still going to have to get use too.

[cypherfdp]

I can never imagine Jason again without seeing the BULGE. THE BULGE.

[big_daddy_d]

Do not deny it's power! O.O

[silverzeo]

Wait, isn't this the issue with the 3 of them fighting their old continuity selves?

[whitesycamore]

No, that'll be in issue three.

[kurenai-tenka.livejournal.com]

I actually really enjoyed this issue, and that fact disturbs me quite a lot.

That said, I was turning every page expecting the next to be the moment that ruined it.

[leorising]

This feels like something Liefeld would draw, if he could, y'know, draw.

[schmevil]

Is this artist allergic to doing actual backgrounds?

[blackruzsa]

You know... I like Starfire's shoulder things.
If only they actually connected to the rest of her. I wouldn't even have minded the exposed torso and cleavage but at least cover up waist down for aesthetic's sake.

[chasesstarlight]

Starfire, what the hell are you wearing? O.o
Seriously, what's holding her bra thing up? Is it connected to her shoulder pads at the back?

[myhovercraftisfullofeels]

YOU KNOW NOTHING, JASON TODD!