Red Hood #1 Review

This week is a special week for comic fans, as Red Hood is getting another series of his own, starting today with Red Hood #1. The series is set to follow Jason Todd as he leaves Gotham, and the Bat family, leaving all behind except an unexpected ally, Huntress. This is the first ever in-continuity Red Hood comic fans have gotten, which means there is, of course, a lot on the line here. So, lets talk all of it, good and bad, in our Red Hood #1 review.

In Nerdy Nook fashion, this review will be relatively spoiler free with some minor plot details discussed. If you wish to enter this comic completely blind, we suggest you read it first before continuing with this article.

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The Review

Image by DC Comics

Following the events (so far) of Hush 2, Jason Todd has set himself up a new life as New Angelique’s latest hero. But he is not alone. In this series we see the two dark horses of the Bat family, Red Hood and Huntress, as they find themselves chasing a supervillain with unearthly powers in a explosive story full of betrayal and violence – in true Red Hood fashion.

If you have read my comic articles on Nerdy Nook before, you will likely be aware of my obsession with Red Hood. Not only is he my favourite DC character, but he is potentially one of the most complex characters in almost any comic, and that makes this a very risky series. Everything must be absolutely perfect to do this character justice, and if it is not? Well this might be the first and last Red Hood comic series we will see of this kind. Since he is my personal favourite, I went into this comic with much scepticism, but I can now say with absolute certainty… it was fantastic! There is of course room for improvements and growth, but this was a really solid pilot issue and an exceptional start for the series.

Lets start with the elephant in the room, which is of course the suit. There is so much to love about this suit. It perfectly encompasses elements the key features of Robin and Nightwing, which is a not-so-subtle nod to how Dick Grayson also went from sidekick to taking on an entire city by himself, while incorporating Red Hood features, but it really does lose something without the first Red Hood mask. That does not in any way mean I do not like this look, it fits quite nicely with the Red Hood we have seen in Hush 2, but that mask is such a staple it is sad to see it replaced with quite literally just a red hood.

Image by DC Comics

The artwork is something that really must be talked about. Red Hood #1 has this dark gritty vibe throughout the entire issue which really fits in with the aesthetic of Under the Red Hood. Often, the sky has this reddish hue to it, which accentuate Red Hoods presence and makes for a very pleasing design. I am not too familiar with Jeffrey Spokes’ work, but after reading this issue I am truly impressed and in awe. As expected, Red Hood #1 is not too action packed, but the fight scenes we do have are so beautifully done and capture the essence of Red Hood perfectly.

This issue might not have been action packed, you cannot expect a pilot issue to be that crazy anyway, but it is a step in the right direction to say the very least. I am sure as the series progresses, we will see what this Red Hood can do – after all Jason Todd is still finding his footing in New Angelique. This issue was honestly so near perfect, but there felt like it had so much more to offer which, unfortunately, is a lot more than 25 pages worth, though I have no doubt the story would have continued on this trajectory and been a fantastic read throughout.

Unfortunately, due to some politics so to speak, Red Hood has officially been cancelled. As a huge fan of this character, I am greatly disappointed but do respect DC’s decisions to withdraw the project and their attempt to stay clear of any backlash said politics might have caused.

Image by DC Comics

Red Hood #1 is undoubtedly the Red Hood comic fans have been waiting for. There is so much room to develop Red Hood as a character, this would have been an exciting opportunity for not only for the series creators, but for us as readers too – let’s hope DC announce a similar project in the future.

What are your thoughts on Red Hood #1? Whatever your thoughts and feelings, share them with us in the comment section of this article. Until next time, thanks for reading!

See also: Must read Batman Comics

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