DC Rebirth is upon us:
- Week One saw the debut of DC Universe Rebirth #1 and its massive reveals (spoilers here)!
- Week Two saw the debut of the critically acclaimed Batman Rebirth #1, Superman Rebirth #1, Green Lanterns Rebirth #1 and Green Arrow #1 (spoilers here).
- Week Three greeted readers with Aquaman Rebirth #1, The Flash Rebirth #1 and Wonder Woman Rebirth #1 (spoilers here).
- Week Four saw Titans Rebirth #1 hit stands anchored by a returning Wally West Flash (spoilers here).
- Week Five was an extra “fifth week” of comics that saw no special DC Rebirth one-shot released.
- Week Six saw Justice League Rebirth #1 had the New 52 Justice League accept the pre-Flashpoint Superman as Rebirth’s Man of Steel (spoilers here).
- Week Seven saw Nightwing Rebirth #1, with a prominent Batman appearance, and Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps Rebirth #1 land on stands (spoilers here).
- Week Eight saw Batgirl and the Birds of Prey Rebirth #1 and The Hellblazer Rebirth #1 one-shots make waves (spoilers here).
Week Nine only has one DC Comics Rebirth one-shot for fandom in the form of the reinvented and quirky Red Hood and the Outlaws Rebirth #1! Red Hood is joined by Bizarro and Artemis as a dark Trinity of Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. This seems like a more compelling “Outlaws” team than the New 52 one that had Red Hood team with Starfire and Arsenal.
Red Hood and the Outlaws Rebirth #1 spoilers and review follow.
The teaser pages for this issue (spoilers here) revealed the new origin of Jason Todd as Red Hood in the Rebirth era, one that is very similar to his pre-New 52 origin, and involves Batman.
The issue switches between modern day and reflecting on Jason Todd’s past.
The modern day piece has Jason Todd as Red Hood battling, yes, battling his mentor Bruce Wayne as Batman. And, Red Hood appears to be a villain having shot both the mayor and GCPD officers!
Red Hood reflects now on his past and we learn that Death In The Family happened and the Joker killed him.
Batman held him in “that” iconic scene.
And then his return to life and the Red Hood: Lost Days mini-series is summarized as in the modern day the Red Hood is offered a spot in villain Black Mask’s organization.
Batman finds the Red Hood and confronts him. He’s realized that Red Hood didn’t kill GCPD cops or the Mayor, but made it seem that way through sedatives, etc.
Jason Todd/ Red Hood wonders why Batman didn’t trust him.
We then pivot back to the past and learn why Batman / Bruce Wayne keeps those trophies and momentos…
…and we see in modern day Jason Todd / Red Hood does the same.
A touching end.
So…
While we do NOT get to see how Red Hood recruits Bizarro and Artemis, forming a twisted dark trinity of outlaws modeled on Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman, we do get a sense of Red Hood’s plan to infiltrate the underworld and have villains and heroes alike think he’s turned.
Great art and solid story with a slow build to Red and the Outlaws #1 of the ongoing series and the alignment with Bizarro and Artemis. I can’t wait!
