RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #31

[ FRAG YOUR BARGAINS, B*TCH ]

Now wait a God on picking minute, here! How on Earth can Lobo be in this comic book, as well as Justice League United at the same freakin' time? Hey! Will Pfeifer! Rafael Sandoval! Rb Silva! You better have an answer for us in June, 2014. Or else I'll come over to DC Comics, and give you a bleeding good pasting, capisce?

To QUOTE a mate of my younger brother: 'What kind of tree would a maths teacher climb? Geometry'.

THE STORY:

Let's face it, Lobo. You haven't got the frickin' guts to create a black hole and destroy the planet Earth. Anyway, even if you did attempt to do such a thing, I'm sure my two pals, Jay and Kori, will zip into action and eventually save the day.

Huh? What's that, you clown? I'm a 'Bastich'? What the f*ck is a 'Bastich' when it's at home? Is it anything like what I'm going to do to your plans if my friends fail to kick ass?

Pop!

Roy Harper, over and out. Peace!

THE GOOD:

Overall I found this installment of 'Red Hood and The Outlaws' a very mixed bag of odds and sods. On the one hand I loved the characterizations, plus the simple way the basic story-line unraveled. Whilst on the other hand I'd say it didn't really have that extra special pizzazz to make it a memorable read.

Well. Let's face it. The only memorable aspects it had were those scenes that revealed a surprise or sudden twist. You know. Like when Roy sneakily managed to overpower the bad-guys, for instance. Or when Lobo turned the tables on our heroes, plus let's not forget that last page reveal either.

Oh! While I'm on that particular subject -- the last page reveal -- Wow! -- Lobo's other half popping up in the way he did was a right shocking development. Still, from the way things were presented, it doesn't look like next months chapter will be picking up from where this one left off. 

Mores the pity.

THE BAD:

Even though Sandoval and Silva's style of artwork gelled together pretty well upon the page, on occasion, I also noticed their efforts felt a bit sparse too. Benign even. As though they were rushing their wares, especially during the more expansive and solemn scenes!

What's more, why did the story keep on presenting us with a number of supporting characters -- like that monster who hitched a ride on Jay and Kori's spaceship, plus that orange faced mercenary I forgotten the name of -- only for them to then get lost, or disposed of, at the very end of the book.

It was hardly worth the effort, eh?

THE MUSIC:

Once again, dear reader, I'm going to go fairly obvious with my story / song comparison. So as this tale is about a black hole, why not pair it up with the Muse melody, 'Supermassive Black Hole'? It works for me. Ha!

THE COMPARISON:

Generally speaking this adventure reminded me of the children's toy, a Jack in a Box, because it's central narrative went around and around on its own merry way, when suddenly -- Pop! -- up came the surprise.

THE CONCLUSION:

As you've most probably gathered by now, I wasn't very keen on this issue of 'Red Hood and the Outlaws'. From my perspective it was one of those tales that was strong on its characterization, yet lacking in everything else.

Honestly, folks. With hand on my heart I would have loved to have praised this issue more than I did. But no. I'm afraid I can't. The way I see it, this whole arc -- entitled 'The Big Picture' -- was nothing more than a stop gap to take our heroes away from the 'Forever Evil' story-line. And if not that, then it was just filler for Scott Lobdell's eventual return.

Yep. He's coming back. Let's hope he has something more pertinent in mind for this series future.

Nuff said.