‘Outlaw – Part 1’
Artists: Pete Woods & Yasmine Putri
Jason Todd is embracing the title of outlaw. Since we last saw him in the annual issue with Arsenal, Jason now seems to be roaming from place to place, fighting the criminal organisation known as the Underlife. His travels have made him all the more a vigilante. After the original red hood was damaged in his fight with Batman, he’s begun sporting a literal hood and face guard. Jason is dispensing brutal justice, in front of witnesses and whoever is around.
Jason is still heroic. The injured FBI agent didn’t need his help, then he made the chatty bus driver pull over. It takes a real veteran of the art form, and someone who knows the character, like Scott Lobdell, to show this. Jason Todd has lost his friends and become an outcast, he’s gone off the rails, but only a little bit. He’s still seeking justice, true to his character and being a real outlaw means his violent methods work very well now that he’s alone.
Silent Action
I love the cheeky edits they’ve done to the title on the cover. It makes sense given that the team known as ‘The Outlaws’ has completely disbanded. The scribbled graffiti style of the title is both meta and what you’d expect from the roguish Jason in the current story.
The two distinct action scenes in the issue both show Jason as a silent master, but also as a real intimidating presence. The training he received from Batman shines through when criminals see him too late, or when he’s emerging from the shadows. All the while, he shows the cocky side we all know and love, like plugging his ears over his hood before the big explosion.
Conclusion
Jason is still doing fine work as a morally dubious hero. Many forces are out for his blood, but that isn’t likely to stop him.
