RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #27

[ BUY OR DIE ] 

Hey fellers, come gather round, because this is what I think we need to do to create this high kicking comic book. You, James Tynion IV, will draw the pictures. You, Noel Rodriguez and Julius Gopez, will write the words. And you, DC Comics, will rectify all of my mistakes, and then sell the f*ck out of this mother in February, 2014.

To QUOTE Julius Caesar: 'It is easier to find men who will volunteer to die, than to find those who are willing to endure pain with patience'.

THE STORY:

This is the one, folks. This is the grand finale, entitled 'Demons', were we get to witness Jay, Kori, and Roy, fight against Ra's Al Ghul and his League of the assassins, to see who'll finally hold the power exhumed within the 'Well of Eternal'.

Furthermore, we'll also take a glimpse back into the recent past, and hear one Durca's secret prophesies ultimately come true.

Jay, mate. You've sure got you're hands full in the future, pal. Hint-Hint!

THE GOOD:

By in large I thought this was another fairly decent issue of 'Red Hood and The Outlaws'.

Granted, it wasn't anything outstanding. Mainly because the overall narrative kind of plodded along on its usual merry way, dodging and weaving between action-scene and plot-point like a youthful boxer coming down with arthritis.

Saying that, though, I did like the fact that most of what Jay has been through over the last couple of month was a premeditated plan instigated by Durca. And in addition to this, I was somewhat relieved that this was the last chapter of a tale I was dying to see the end of.

Hey! Please don't take what I've just said the wrong way, dear reader. Of course I do mean this with all due respect. This was a fairly decent conclusion to a rather broad tale. Where the Jay and the gang had to but heads with a number of overt  characters that are uncommonly placed in a comic book such as this one.

But come off it, wasn't it nice to finally see this tale eventually resolved? What with the gang getting back together again, and with a promise that we'll see either Ben, Jade, Essence, or numerous magical characters, in the not so forgotten future

Fingers crossed.

THE BAD:

Although I did enjoy reading the majority of this adventure, in the same breath it's pretty safe to say there were two aspects about it I wasn't very keen on.

Now my first slight nag would have to be its artwork. It wasn't very consistent, and in places I found some of Julius' / Noels' illustrations to be rather un-detailed on the page. And secondly, the story in itself was slightly too action-driven and slightly less plot-driven, directly giving the overall premise that hollow consistency you normally find with all-action-adventures.

THE MUSIC:

On an aesthetic level this escapade is about a handful of 'underdogs' fighting against a 'master manipulator', and ultimately, coming out on top. Therefore, after a modicum of think, think, think, I'd surmise that it could easily be paired-up with the following 'underdog' song.

What? Not what you expected?

THE COMPARISON:

Whilst reading this comic book a strange notion suddenly popped into my mind. 'What?' I said to myself. 'Could it possibly be true?' I then continued, 'Is it possible that Ra's Al Ghuls own actions in this tale, mirrors that of the one-time Emperor of Rome, Julius Caesar?'.

Yeah. Straight up, folks! Except for Jules, can you think of another tyrant who wanted to possess all of the power in his kingdom for himself?

Well. Maybe Hitler I suppose.

THE CONCLUSION:

When 'Red Hood and the Outlaws' was first released, I wasn't going to pick it up because in my mind it had three things going against it.

Firstly, Roy and Kori were always going to be 'Titans' in my book, and would never be accepted as members of another team. Secondly, at the time I wasn't a huge Jason Todd fan, and just presumed he was going to be too flaccid a 'bad-boy' to be taken very seriously. And thirdly, with all the controversy surrounding the 'New 52' and Scott's initial depiction of Starfire, in all honestly, I didn't think this series was going to last for very long.

But I was wrong, folks. Very-very wrong. Two years later and I now think this is one of the best comic books out on the ranks. Literally turning me around on all of the three factors I've previously mentioned, and now -- now -- I can't wait to see what the future will bring.

Oh! And, before I forget, I best mention why I picked up this book all those years ago.

Curiosity. Nuff said.