Review: Red Hood and the Outlaws Volume 1 - Redemption

When the ancient mystics known as the All Caste are struck down, it's up to Red Hood to find the assassins responsible for murdering his former mentors. With the alien princess Starfire and the down-and-out archer Arsenal by his side, he must travel the globe piecing together the mystery of the fall of the All Caste.

Red Hood and the Outlaws Volume 1: Redemption collects Red Hood and the Outlaws #1-7, written by Scott Lobdell with art by Kenneth Rocafort.

As one of the launch titles for DC Comics' The New 52 initiative, Red Hood and the Outlaws was a brash and ambitious series that birthed one of the most unusual trios in the world of comic books. The chemistry between Red Hood, Arsenal and Starfire is electric, which makes them very familial in their interactions. The sibling-like in-fighting between Red Hood and Arsenal is hilarious, while Starfire's teasing of Arsenal is sure to make quite a few readers snicker. Beyond the humour, there's also a heart to this team. They're loyal to one another and are so close since they're all each other has.

Scott Lobdell does a great job writing this book. It's fast-paced, features plenty of character development and offers a 007-esque globe-trotting adventure. In fact, it's quite reminiscent of Gail Simone's first run on Birds of Prey. The exposition is minimal, but essential. We're thrown into this series without much explanation of who these characters are and why they're here. Lobdell fills in the holes as best he can, often through flashbacks or references in dialogue. This helps in keeping the focus on the primary story, which is actually really interesting. Lobdell offers us a world of ancient mystics, assassins and aliens, which blends the world of science fiction and fantasy together in one brilliant package. It's a testament to the writing that by the end of this first arc, I wanted to know more about the All Caste and the Untitled.

Kenneth Rocafort is quite possibly the superstar of this book. His art is so vibrant and full of colour, with expressive characters and intense action. He really knows how to compose all kinds of scenes and conveys body language impeccably well. I'm also particularly obsessed with this take on Starfire. Rocafort captures her essence in a way many other artists have not. He knows how to style her out of costume and draws her hair so magnificently that you're left staring at it long after you've finished reading the dialogue.

While on the subject of Starfire, it's nearly impossible to review this collection without acknowledging the controversy surrounding this series and the apparent sexist treatment of the character. In the first issue, there is a spread where she steps onto the beach wearing a minuscule bikini and the art lingers a little too much on her breasts and behind. Moments later she has sex with Arsenal, just hours after meeting him. Starfire's appearance and actions sparked a firestorm of controversy, with many calling her a "slut" and shaming Lobdell for treating her in such a way. 

For longtime readers, this treatment of Starfire was nothing new. She'd been dressed in scantily-clad costumes for decades and had been sexualized so heavily that there were occasional post-coital scenes involving Starfire and Nightwing. Yes, the bikini shots were admittedly gratuitous, but the scene does take place on the beach and she's a character who sustains herself by absorbing solar energy. Is she supposed to wear a nun's habit? 

The controversy points towards people's tendency to "slut shame" women who defy the accepted norms of sexual propriety. After all, no one was making a stink over the fact that Arsenal slept with her after just meeting her. Why is it okay for a man to have sex with a woman hours after meeting her, but it's not okay for a woman to do the same? These ridiculous double-standards are exactly why Starfire is such an important, but divisive, character. She is an alien to this world and does not adhere to the societal rules that have been placed on humans. We see this not only with her sexuality, but also with her aggressiveness and desire to kill enemies instead of locking them up in jail.

Thankfully, Lobdell addresses all of these concerns and redeems himself in issue #6, which recounts the first meeting of Red Hood and Starfire. When Red Hood becomes agitated over seeing Nightwing's costumes in Starfire's ship, she makes a very profound statement that proves just how far she's come as a character. She says, "I'm aware that if I ever needed anything beyond myself to validate my existence, then I would already be giving away my power to be self-defining. […] I do not define myself by the men I have known… or by their clothes." This is a brilliant piece of dialogue, as it takes aim at the previous depictions of Starfire and at the critics of Lobdell's writing. For decades, Starfire was defined by her relationship with Nightwing and it became the sole focus of her character, even when it veered into emotional abusive territory. Many also judged her solely based on what she wore (or what she didn't). Here we have her saying that she does not define herself by her relationships or by what she wears, to do so would take away her power and sense of self. That's deep.

(As a side note, for all the bitching regarding Starfire's sexualization, it's worth mentioning that Red Hood spends much of issue #6 wearing nothing but leaves covering his crotch.)

Redemption is a brilliant start to one of the most memorable team books in recent comic book history. This is a trio that works well together and has a family dynamic that makes them easy to relate to. The book is fun, quick-witted and is brimming with pulse-pounding action. It also helps that it has some of the most stunning artwork around. As far as the New 52 is concerned, this was truly one of the best launch titles and continues to stand as one of my personal favourites.

Rating: A-