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Review: Red Hood, Outlaw #36

By Philip Schweier
July 10, 2019 - 07:20

Jason Todd has taken over the Penguin’s nightclub, aided and abetted by a bevvy of morally dubious souls. But what happens when the Penguin is freed from Jason’s prison, and is eager for a little payback?

The whys and wherefores of Penguin’s escape are morally debatable, and in my opinion, highly unlikely. It boils down to choosing the lesser of two evils, and the self-righteous twerp involved failed miserably, cementing his standings as a Z-list hero wannabe. As for the others, they what they deserve, for better or for worse. Jason’s eventual separation from Wingman is overly daring and dramatic, but perhaps necessarily so. Wingman had all the earmarks of a disposable character designed to be discarded.

Several issues back, the Red Hood seemingly attempted to assassinate the Penguin, but this issue has returned their history to the status quo, which is to say they no longer have one. Like Dick Grayson, Penguin’s injuries has erased portions of his memory, and I find that to be a big ol’ cheat within the bat-office. We need repeated story tropes like a hole in the head.

Where Red Hood heads next is up to him. It’s the Year of the Villain, as DC keeps reminding us, so he may be a recipient of the offer Luthor is extending to various characters in various titles. Or he may have bigger problems to contend with. Stay tuned.

Rating: 5/10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12