Review: Red Hood and the Outlaws Volume 5 - The Big Picture

After facing off against Ra's al Ghul and his League of Assassins, Red Hood and the Outlaws take a much-needed break. All goes well until a group of alien mercenaries hijack Starfire's ship… with Arsenal still inside. Red Hood and Starfire must then travel into space in order to find their friend. The question is, will he still be alive by the time they get to him?

Red Hood and the Outlaws Volume 5: The Big Pictures collects Red Hood and the Outlaws #27-31, as well as DC Universe Presents #17-18.

The Big Picture picks off where the previous volume left off. Ra's al Ghul has been resurrected and Red Hood is seemingly the only person with the power necessary for defeating them. This singular issue concludes the arc started by James Tynion IV, so it's a little puzzling as to why it wasn't collected in the preceding trade paperback. It disturbs the flow of the trade here, but otherwise it's an excellent issue. Tynion IV bids farewell to the book in the following issue, which sees the dissolution of Red Hood and Isabel's relationship. Though their relationship was never particularly interesting or well-developed, it's a bit bittersweet to see one of the few supporting characters they had go.

The bulk of this collection is a three-part story that sees a group of aliens stealing Starfire's spaceship and venturing off into space with Arsenal in tow. Red Hood and Starfire, who were left behind, must find a way of trailing their friend and rescuing him before he can be killed by his captors. One-time Catwoman writer Will Pfeiffer handles these issues. By and large, the narrative works as a way of bringing together the team after they'd been driven apart in the previous arc. They don't trust one another anymore, but they still obviously care about one another. This is especially evident given the lengths Red Hood is willing to go in order to rescue Arsenal.

While the scope of this three-parter extends into the stars, it does feel a little rushed and doesn't quite reach the epic scope it needs. The use of Lobo as the story's antagonist is a stroke of brilliance, as he compares and contrasts nicely to our protagonists. However, he's not particularly well-developed in these issues and the overall action ends way too quickly. Nevertheless, there are some great moments of humour and it's quite refreshing to see Arsenal save the day with his gadgets, rather than seeing his companions do it with muscle.

Red Hood and the Outlaws has always been one of the most interesting titles from the New 52 initiative. At times, it's exciting and original. At others, it feels rushed and unimportant. The inconsistencies that plague this title are evident here, but that doesn't mean that the reading isn't enjoyable. It is, but it's comparable to a nice fluffy dessert. It's sweet, but it's not exactly going to leave you feeling full.

RATING: B-

Review: Red Hood and the Outlaws Volume 4 - League of Assassins

Having had his memories wiped from his mind, Red Hood is thrown into the middle of a conflict between the League of Assassins and the Untitled. He's told he has the secret to ending the impending war, but has no recollection of what that could be. Meanwhile, Arsenal struggles with his relationship with Starfire and makes a potentially dangerous alliance with the enemy. Can this once great team get their act together in order to prevent the Untitled from gaining supreme control of the Earth?

Red Hood and the Outlaws Volume 4: League of Assassins collects Red Hood and the Outlaws #19-24 and Red Hood and the Outlaws Annual #1 written by James Tynion IV.

After having its plot derailed in Death of the Family, Red Hood and the Outlaws finds its feet again in this collection. An amnesiac Jason Todd is spirited away by the League of Assassins just as Arsenal and Starfire are attempting to help him regain his memories. The League is certain that Jason holds the key to defeating the Untitled, but Jason is weary of allying himself with such a shadowy organization. To make matters worse, Arsenal's relationship with Starfire is crumbling and this is but one of the reasons he decides to help the Untitled in the upcoming battle against the League of Assassins.

Though not nearly as fun as the earlier issues in this series, League of Assassins features the international intrigue and pulse pounding action that made Red Hood and the Outlaws so addictive. There's also a return to focusing on character-driven narratives, as Tynion IV explores Jason's desire to be a good guy and Arsenal's unwavering desire to keep the team together. However, the real stars of this collection are the League of Assassins. Its line-up here consists of fan-favourites like Lady Shiva, Cheshire and Bronze Tiger. Though I'm a huge Lady Shiva fan, even I'll admit that Cheshire is the standout in this collection. She's wild and totally unpredictable. Her design is pretty cool, as it further references her namesake, and she's given the ability of teleportation (again, like her namesake). Her interactions with just about every character are hilarious and totally memorable. That's not to say Bronze Tiger and Lady Shiva aren't deserving of attention. The design for the former is rather nifty and his relationship with Jason Todd provides a much needed emotional reference point within the narrative. Shiva, meanwhile, has a bit of a strange get-up, but she's every bit as dangerous as she's ever been.

League of Assassins is a breath of fresh air, as it returns Red Hood and the Outlaws to form. It's a little grimmer than previous issues, but that's to be expected given how heavy Death of the Family was. The League of Assassins are admittedly a little less intimidating than they usually are, but this makes them much more relatable. Furthermore, Tynion IV takes great care to make this arc into a character study of who Jason Todd is. More often than not, he's portrayed as an emotionless gun-toting anti-hero by other writers, but here we see a more tender side of him. It's also worth mentioning that for those who really hated Starfire's costume in the New 52, this is around the time that artists started experimenting with it and providing more coverage. Tynion IV also gets bonus points for giving us glimpses of Talia. It's just too bad she wasn't involved in the main action of the story.

Rating: B

Review: Red Hood and the Outlaws Volume 3 - Death of the Family

Convinced that having a family has made Batman soft, the Joker plots to eliminate all of Batman's partners once and for all. When he kidnaps Red Hood and Red Robin, Starfire and Arsenal must team up with the Teen Titans to find their missing teammates.

Red Hood and the Outlaws Volume 3: Death of the Family collects issues #0, 14-17 of Red Hood and the Outlaws and issues #15-16 of Teen Titans.

Much like Batgirl and Catwoman, Red Hood and the Outlaws was one of many books that was forced to collide with the Joker-centric "Death of the Family" arc from Scott Snyder's Batman flagship title. Unlike Gail Simone's Batgirl, writer Scott Lobdell struggles with creating an organic way for working the Joker into the overall narrative of his book. The effort comes across as hackneyed and disturbs the overall flow, especially following such an epic space-faring arc in the preceding issues. There's little to no character development, Starfire and Arsenal get very little panel time (largely because they are forced to share it with not only the Joker, but also the Teen Titans). By the end of it all, you're ultimately left feeling cheated by having to read such a disposable story.

That said, there are some moments that stand strong. We get glimpses of Arsenal being a leader, as he becomes the de facto commander for the combined efforts of the Outlaws and the Teen Titans. The continued push to highlight the character as a resourceful and remarkably intelligent character has helped in washing away the frat boy persona that made him so detestable early on, which is further aided by Starfire's confidence in him. Similarly, Wonder Girl's position as the Titans' second-in-command suits her. She's much more confident and sassy than she was in previous incarnations, which is great. She's not the weepy schoolgirl mooning over Superboy that we used to know and loathe. The final two issues collected also show some rather touching moments between Batman and Red Hood.

All in all, Death of the Family marked a shocking drop in quality for a title that had established itself as such a fun and insane book. This paint-by-numbers approach to writing a tie-in feels too unimportant and expected. Truth be told, it'd probably be easy to skip over this volume and immediately go onto the fourth.

Rating: C

Review: Red Hood and the Outlaws Volume 2 - The Starfire

When she and her teammates are spirited off into space, Starfire learns that her home planet is being invaded by a destructive alien race known as the Blight. She reluctantly agrees to help the very people who once turned their back on her, even when it means confronting her own flesh and blood.

Red Hood and the Outlaws Volume 2: The Starfire collects Red Hood and the Outlaws #8-14, written by Scott Lobdell with art by Kenneth Rocafort and Timothy Green II.

As a whole, Red Hood and the Outlaws is a wild and unpredictable ride full of heart stopping action and clever dialogue. The Starfire is definitely not an exception to this. Characterization remains at the top of the list of what makes this series such a joy to read, largely because of how well this rag tag team of anti-heroes play off of each other. 

Through the use of internal dialogue, we see Arsenal's thoughts towards Starfire and it helps to shape not only our perception of him as a character, but his relationship with Starfire as well. This is a surprisingly healthy relationship that seems to be rehabilitating both characters, helping them to become the best versions of themselves. 

Additionally, Arsenal and Red Hood's brotherly teasing continues to delight. It's in these interactions where you see that this isn't just a book with mindless action, it's a book about a makeshift family finding their way in the world.

The meat of this collection is the space-faring adventure that takes the titular heroes to the planet Tamaran as they attempt to overthrow the invading forces of the Blight. While Lobdell borrows elements from Marv Wolfman and George Perez's introduction of Blackfire in the pages of The New Teen Titans, he subverts the narrative by redeeming Starfire's older sister and presenting her as a victim of circumstance. This is arguably the biggest change to Starfire's background and it's difficult to judge whether this decision was good or bad. On the one hand, Blackfire was one of the most devilish villains DC Comics ever had and her dark soul made her the ultimate nemesis for a heroine whose heart was so full of emotion. On the other, it celebrates the power of familial bonds by rejecting the notion that sisters must be in competition with one another. A part of me does feel like the story would have been more thrilling and complex had Blackfire been the villain, but the other feels that the story works more effectively because it doesn't rehash what we've already seen several times before.

Despite all of this, The Starfire should be praised for being a fascinating character study of Starfire as a character and as a hero. Through the eyes of others, she is presented as an incredibly complex woman who is equally as self-serving as she is compassionate and loyal. More than ever before, we also see Starfire as a capable leader. She was once the commander of her own ship, with a crew that trusted and respected her tremendously. This speaks volumes about her and helps to establish her as someone who is not to be underestimated as being merely a pair of giant orange breasts. My one wish, however, would have been to have been able to have Starfire's perspective. Red Hood and Arsenal continue to dominate the narrative, with both providing constant commentary through interior dialogue. Starfire is denied this opportunity, which seems a little unequal.

Aside from the main narrative, The Starfire collects three one-off stories. The first involves the team taking down the grossly overweight gangster Suzie Su, the second sees them involved in a conflict between the Court of Owls and Mr. Freeze, while the third has them duking it out with Superman. The quality remains high across the board with these stories, particularly with the latter. The fight that breaks out between the titular heroes and the Man of Steel is so ridiculous that it takes a civilian to point out just how incredibly immature they're all being. Of the three, the weakest is the tie-in to Night of the Owls. As with most of the other tie-ins for this Bat Family event, it feels forced and interrupts the overall flow of the narrative. The other problem is that it leaves the reader confused if they're unfamiliar with the event. Red Hood may have once been Robin, but there's no reason to be involving this book in Batman crossovers.

The Starfire offers a whole lot of crazy fun. It's fast-paced and funny, which is perfect for a reader who is looking for a story with great action and well-written characters. Its space setting is also great for fans of sci fi. While the jury is still out on the characterization of Blackfire, it's hard to deny that Scott Lobdell delivered an incredible story that doesn't take itself too seriously.

Rating: B+

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-