RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #17

[ BLOODY BARGAINS ] 

It's time for Bruce to confront Jay. Don't worry though, please don't dismay. Words will be spoken. Hearts will be open. And a monkey will feed on some hay. Yeah! Honestly. Just ask the motley crew of Writer: Scott Lobdell; Artist: Timothy Green; and Publisher: DC Comics in March 2013. Or don't. See if I care.

Using GENERAL terms, answer the following 4 questions about this STORY entitled 'Don't Let The Door Hit You On The Way Out'.

• WHAT'S THE MAIN THRUST OF THIS TALE: Before the Outlaws pick him up and take him back to HQ, Jason (Red Hood) Todd says his bye-byes to the individual members of 'Batman's Family', one at a time.
• ARE THE MAIN OBJECTIVES ACHIEVED: Ha! This is a Bat-book, buddy. Nothing is ever cut and dry here.
• ANYTHING ELSE HAPPEN: Robin and Arsenal p*ss each other off.
• HOW DOES THIS STORY END: With Jay succumbing to a booby-trap that the Joker had planted in his face-mask. The b*stard.

Overall, what is the most memorable SENTENCE OR CONVERSATION spoken in this issue?

No word of a lie, I found it very difficult to select the best piece of prose in this issue. For a start, I loved reading Jay's conversations with the individual members of the Bat Family.  And I got also a right kick out of his interaction with the Outlaws too. However, at a touch, the stand-out section would have to be...

DAMIEN: That hat looks stupid. Who are you supposed to be? Redneck man?

ARSENAL: Names Arsenal, and what's stupid, is a ten year old boy who thinks I won't kick his ass because he's a ten year old boy.

DAMIEN: Hold that thought, Red. I'll be right back (eye's glare). Just have to change into something more comfortable.

And from then on in, a not so dynamic duo was born, ha!

What are the BEST bits about this issue?

(+) As previously mentioned, I loved reading those scenes where Damien and Roy got on each others nerves. They were funny. They showed development. And they were very refreshing within the confines of this personal tale.
(+) I was on tender-hooks all the way through Jay's tête-à-tête with Bruce; wondering who would say what to whom, plus what their reactions would be thereafter. Granted, as per usual with the 'Bat-Books', only a few words are ever spoken. Yet, whilst saying that, 'a few' in Bat-lore means 'a lot' in others. Hint-Hint!
(+) The intent of this issue was a real treat to follow. In many ways it's the type of adventure I always yearn for in the Bat-Books. Something on a more personal touch than normal.

What are the WORST bits about this issue?

(-) Although I understood perfectly well why it wasn't included into this tale -- because it would have detracted from its initial purpose -- I still would have liked to have seen some sort of confrontation between Kori and Dick. Please DC, stop keeping us hanging, huh? We need some clarification. Even if they don't!

Pick TWO CHARACTERS out of this comic book, and compare them individually to a HONG KONG ACTION STAR.

MARS AS ROY: Jackie Chan's long time collaborator and best pal, Mars, is one of those kung-fu kickers that you can tell has a devilish steak in them, yet are still 'good with the kids'. Right?

BRUCE LEE AS DAMIEN: Did you know that when Bruce was a kid, he played numerous 'unruly' street urchin type characters in many-many Hong Kong productions?

What WORD or PHRASE could you use to sum-up this story?

'My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person. He believed in me' -- Jim Valvano

What SONG, THEME-TUNE, or MELODY, would complement this tale, as well as add and extra dimension to it by default?

'OH SHADDAP YOU FACE' BY JOE DOLCE: Now how can I not compare this song to this comic, huh? Both of them are jovial, revealing, and very charming to follow. Honk-Honk!

ANYTHING Else?

As you might have guessed by now, I really-really-really loved reading this issue of 'Red Hood and The Outlaws'. The story told a story about characters with character, all of them wanting to get along without saying it out loud. Furthermore, the art was on point, the overall narrative flowed very nicely, and by in large I can hardly fault this issue one little bit.

What about you, dear reader? Do you think I'm talking out of my Batarang? Or would you rather the Joker have gassed me instead of Jay at the end of this issue? Please drop us a spam. I promise I'll be nice. 

GIVE IT, IT'S DUES: If This Comic Book Was a Unit of Currency, It Would Be Gold. Priceless, And Very Luminous.