“Batman/Catwoman The Gotham War: Red Hood #1“
Writer: Matthew Rosenberg
Artist: Nikola Čižmešija
Color Artist: Rex Lokus
Letterer: Troy Peteri
Review by Adam Ray
I haven’t caught up with my favorite Anti-Hero in around four years, and Batman/Catwoman The Gotham War: Red Hood #1 shows that he’s still at his rough and aggressive best, as the ongoing drama surrounding the entire Bat Family has brought young Jason to the forefront.
The violence on the streets of Gotham has escalated, so he’s bringing his own take on things to this battle between Batman and Catwoman.
Of course, we’d never expect Jason Todd to be the teacher or instructor we see him being in this issue. However, the style in which he educates is in the spirit of what we actually would expect from him. There’s a difference between tough love and the actual lessons Red Hood gives to Catwoman’s thieves’ guild friends.
The interactions between Catwoman and Red Hood are what drive this issue. There’s a great deal of history between these characters, and I appreciate that Matthew Rosenberg has kept the witty repartee that Tini Howard has been so brilliant at in Catwoman’s own book.
Quick transitions and sharp uses of comic panels perfectly sum up the frantic and violent methods Jason uses. Then there’s a consistent use of earth tones across the issue to really lure us in. All of this provides a welcome contrast that shows us something comforting while Jason Todd does what he does best.
Conclusion
Batman/Catwoman Gotham War: Red Hood #1 brings us another perspective to this already remarkable storyline. This issue works as a welcome reprieve as the tension between Catwoman and Batman reaches boiling point. Jason has been put through the wringer by bringing in these people to deal with Batman’s new direction. I imagine that this lighter issue will have a great many wider implications in the rest of the story.
Images Courtesy of DC Entertainment
