Red Hood: Outlaw #47
DC Comics
Written by: Scott Lobdell
Art by: Paolo Pantalena
Colors by: Arif Prianto
Letters by: Troy Peteri
I am all for callbacks, when they’re appropriate.
Although Scott Lobdell is sort of back on track as he closes in on Red Hood: Outlaw #50 — which will be his last issue on the title —his incorporation of old Red Hood & The Outlaws villains has felt forced. In Red Hood: Outlaw #47, it once again seemed like that was the case initially. (More in spoilers.)
Good issue for Artemis, and I really think Paolo Pantalena has a strong grasp of Red Hood’s current look. The issues are more with the plot and the dialogue. But, there was one art-related issue I had. (Again, more in spoilers.)
All in all, a decent issue — which about as good as we can hope for from Lobdell right now.
(WARNING: Spoilers for Red Hood: Outlaw #47 ahead.)
First, the one art-related issue I had was Pantalena drawing a face on Jason Todd’s old Red Hood mask. Doesn’t matter who’s drawing Red Hood with his New 52/Rebirth look, I have no time for that.
Seriously, who has lips on a hard mask like that? That’s even crazy by Joker’s standards.
Now, normally, I’d be all about a callback to the original Outlaws, Arsenal and Starfire. Don’t get me wrong, seeing them on the first page of Red Hood: Outlaw #47 was cool and all, but with the way the title has been going, it felt like Lobdell was trying to reel us back in with nostalgia.
So it was a pleasant surprise when I found out I was wrong; that was was a purpose to New 52 Red Hood and The Outlaws popping up. Yet, I do wonder how that all works scientifically/magically.
What I mean is: How does Jason have no recollection of this event?
Maybe we get an answer in Red Hood: Outlaw #47. Maybe not. (Probably not.)