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Review: Red Hood and the Outlaws Annual #2

By Philip Schweier
September 5, 2018 - 12:54

The Red Hood and the Outlaws Annual #2 is bro-mance between Jason Todd and Roy Harper. It opens with the claim they are besties, but somehow, I always thought Roy’s best bud was Dick Grayson. Both wards of millionaire-playboys-turned-crime-fighters, it makes sense. But, then again, so do the character flaws between Roy and Jason.

The story is also a bit of a call back to the previous Outlaws team, as Roy takes Jason back to their old super-secret headquarters, and a holographic image of Koriand’r makes it clear Jason is always welcome. Meanwhile, Roy touches base with his sponsor, a suprising figure within the DCU (though DC whitewashes his substance abuse issue).

But what of the other Outlaws, Artemis and Bizarro? They’ve stepped through a nether-dimensional doorway and are seemingly lost to Jason’s ability to scan for them. I don’t think I’m spoiling anything by saying they’re definitely alive, but odds are it won’t be for long if they aren’t located soon.

In all, this issue reads like a deus ex machine for last issue; a means for Jason to escape Batman without any real plot development or narrative expansion. Next issue, Jason’s original Outlaws may still be broken up, and the new version of the team still separated by the Multiverse. I do hope I am wrong.

Rating: 4/10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12