Todd’s Blog

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A new story arc, “Revenge of the Red Hood,”  begins with issue four, and a new artist team. Frank Quitely is still on the covers, while penciller Philip Tan and inker Jonathan Glapion do the interiors.

Immediately the art becomes more conventional, in the style of Jim Lee I’d say; perfectly appropriate for the characters, full of exciting action and dynamic layouts, but…I already miss the quirky originality of Quitely. Morrison’s writing seems also to have lost some of its flavor in these two issues. Still very fine, but perhaps without Quitely to bring it out of him, missing those almost surreal moments seen in the first three issues that really put it over the top for me. Sorry if I sound jaded…still good superhero comics. Oh, and the Red Hood? He’s someone from Batman’s past. I won’t give it away, but it’s a surprising choice. Dick Grayson continues as Robin, doing his best, but out of his element when it comes to filling in for the Bruce Wayne part of the job, and Wayne’s son is a rather snotty young Robin, who I have yet to warm to, though he shows he has the physical skills for the job. I’d call these issues recommended, but quite so much as the first three.