RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #26

[ CAPTIVE COUPONS ] 

Did you know that one of the most fool proof ways of getting out of prison, is to not be thrown into prison in the first place? Yeah. Not kidding. This is a very specialist secret. As it was told to me by those thieves who created this amazing comic book: James Tynion IV, Julius Gopez, plus the Publisher: DC Comics, in December, 2013.

Using GENERAL terms, answer the following 4 questions about this STORY entitled 'Remembering'.

• WHAT'S THE MAIN THRUST OF THIS TALE: 'You can do it, Jay!' says Roy Harper to his recently rejuvenated friend. 'I bet my bottom dollar you'll be able to recollect all of your long-lost memories, and then save me and Kori from Ra's and his League of Assassins'.
• ARE THE MAIN OBJECTIVES ACHIEVED: Well, let's just say that Jay does knock his own noggin' back into gear. But apart from that... errr... nah! No comment.
• ANYTHING ELSE HAPPEN: Yes. Two things actually. Whilst Cheshire betrays her master's trust, Bronze Tiger gets his fur tinged by the gang. 
• HOW DOES THIS STORY END: With the ghost of Durca declaring to Essence that the Outsiders are in deep sh*t.

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

In that scene where 'The Outlaws' finally take on the 'League of Assassins', I did like that moment where Jay said to Roy and Kori...

'I got a bucket of water I want to introduce to a certain wicked witch'

... because it's a 'Wizard of Oz' filmic-reference. Well, I am a film-buff, aren't I?

What are the BEST bits about this issue?

(+) By in large this wasn't a bad issue of 'Red Hood and the Outlaws'. It told a fairly straight forward action packed tale. It drove the plot along in the preferred direction. And it also made me want to know what the hell is going to happen after this arc ends. Any idea, dear readers? If so, spill the beans why don't you? I can't wait any longer? Ha!

(+) Now could you tell there were two inkers assigned to this book? Sandu Florea and Warden Wong? I couldn't. And to me that just goes to show how good they are at fitting in with each others styles, as well Julius Gopez's amazing pencil-work. Good job, creators. Please keep up your brilliance.

(+) At the moment I'm sitting on the fence were the Bronze Tiger / Outlaws battle is concerted. I'm not saying that I did like it. And I'm not saying that I didn't like it either. What I'm saying is that I thought Tiger would have been able to attack his opponents in a different way than he ultimately did. Take that comment however you so wish.

(+) In contrast to my 'Bronze Tiger dilemma', I did like that scene where Cheshire swapped sides, because in my eyes this is a very Cheshire-type-thing to do. Hint-Hint!

(+) Oh! While I'm on the topic of 'things-to-do' -- Ra's -- What the hell is going on with him now, eh? On the surface it appears that he wants to take over the world once again. Underneath that, though, well, I'm not really sure. But maybe Durca and Jay have something up their sleeves that'll shed some more light on this tried-and-tested formula? Hint-Hint!

What are the WORST bits about this issue?

(-) I suppose the only aspect about this adventure I wasn't too keen on was the way in which it just doodled around for the first chunk of its telling. OK. I admit. This isn't a major gripe within the scheme of things. But still, a small part of me would've liked it to have kicked off in a much more dynamic and engrossing fashion, instead of waiting for our pal Jay to eventually get his memory back, which he did.

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

'MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS' BYDEAN MARTIN: Yep. That's correct, dear reader. My silly side is playing up again. But having said that though, this particular portion of my brain does have a very valid point comparing this very-jazzy-tale to this very-jazzy-tune!

If this story gave off a scent, what ODOUR would it be and why?

SINGED HAIR: Hey! Don't grown! When I saw that scene where Bronze Tiger got his fur fringed, I couldn't help by compare it to this burning aroma of the more dynamic variety. 

  

What QUOTE would be appropriate to sum-up this story?

'So long as the memory of certain beloved friends lives in my heart, I shall say that life is good' -- Helen Keller

ANYTHING Else?

Now after thinking about it for a short while, I suddenly cottoned on that the central figure to this large-than-life story-line is none other than Jason Todd himself, mainly because of his associations with Ra's Al Ghul, Durca, the League of Assassins, plus of course, the Outlaws. However, whilst I was contemplating this matter, a notion leaped to mind. BOING! A very obvious notion related to happenstance and the way I feel about this overt narrative.

You see, the way I see it, what can make or break this tale is how Jay seems the obvious key to its eventful success or failure. If we can engage with his plight then it will be a success. And if we can't engage with his plight then... well... I'm sure you know where I'm coming from.

But that's the thing, though, isn't it? How can anybody put themselves in Jay's shoes? How can someone understand what it's like to have your mind-wiped, your comrades captured, whilst battling against your old friends and new enemies alike? It isn't very realistic, is it? Then again, I suppose it wasn't meant to be in the first place.

Hey! Wait a sec! Please don't take my mad-rant the wrong way, dear reader. I'm not trying to imply that I don't like this story-line at all. Far from it. What I'm getting at instead, is that in my own personal opinion this book works best when it tackles more realistic and down to earth troubles. Simple as that really. Although a couple of space-adventures thrown here and there won't hurt it much either. Ha!

Nuff said.