Review: Red Hood: The Hill #5

“Grand Opening”
Writer: Shawn Martinbrough
Artists: Tony Akins
Color Artist: Matt Herms
Letterer: Troy Peteri
Review by Adam Ray

Red Hood The Hill #6 has brought all the animosity and strife between the bold characters all to a head. We get to see Red Hood handle things in a human, diplomatic way, whilst Batman takes the proactive approach. We get all the action we’ve come to expect to be handled swiftly, leaving us to remain thoughtful after the issue’s dramatic end, and leaving the way open for even more stories.

The previous issue ended with multiple, literal bangs. The forces of our unlikely antagonist struck hard, and we saw exactly what motivates this twisted individual. Korlee has quickly become a threat that I would be eager to see more, and to see figures of a similar ilk. The themes of family and legacy have been rampant throughout this run, and it’s exemplified by this character sinking to truly villainous lows in this issue.

Family matters go deeper still in this issue. Seeing Jason, the previously brash vigilante as a protector and one to hazard restraint in Dana is a rewarding sight to see, especially when paired with the equally contemplative Batman. For the most part, this title’s biggest theme is the growth between the two sisters which gave us the poignant ending this title needed.

Another thing which adds to the heritage nature of the issue is how well it has been coloured. Herms has used a lot of flatter, earth tones which really add to the retro appeal. It feels very 80s. Almost dot matrix to the eye, which perfectly lines up with the time period that Korlee Senior worked best in.

Conclusion

Red Hood: The Hill #6 brings us the open ended but dramatic finish that it deserves. Truly anything can come from the cast of characters shown and the stakes left over from this battle across generations. I’d be eager to see how things progress for Red Hood in future  installments of this stirring story.

Images Courtesy of DC Entertainment

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