Red Hood Vs. The Midwest In Red Hood: Outlaw #28
by Josh Davison
[*Mild Spoilers Ahead!]
A mysterious character visits the sheriff that Red Hood put in the hospital, and Jason attends Appleton’s apple festival. It begins seemingly innocent, but the attendants quickly turn on Jason, looking to kill him on behalf of the Underlife. Red Hood holds them off as long as he can, but he is eventually knocked out and strung up by the citizens of Appleton. When he awakens, he finds a massive gray man watching over him.
Red Hood: Outlaw #28 continues Jason’s quest to expose the Underlife to the world through its connections in the town of Appleton. It plays out like an anti-suburbia allegory akin to Pleasantville or, more recently, Suburbicon. Jason is trying apple pie and apple cider one moment, and an elderly man is firing an assault rifle at him the next.
Needless to say, Red Hood: Outlaw isn’t shooting for subtlety when it comes to its indictment of the faux-innocence or simplicity of smalltown America.
Hell, it even opens its comic with the setting labeled as ‘Merica.
That said, I can’t say it’s not a ton of fun watching Jason Todd beat his way through a Middle-American mob like Colin Firth in the first Kingsman movie (of course, those were British villagers).
I’m not sure if the gray hulking man at the end is supposed to be in any way related to Solomon Grundy. I would assume yes, but that’s never directly acknowledged.
Pete Woods’ artwork fits the comic very well, as his style balances the serious and slightly silly enough to make this insane narrative work. The action scenes are very well displayed and laid out for the reader, and the flow of motion looks especially good. Also, the new character’s costume looks damn cool. Rex Lokus’ colors are vibrant and popping but are still contrasted well too.
Red Hood: Outlaw #28 is another fun, fast, and insane trip through the world of Jason Todd and his exploits. The setup and payoff come and go so quickly that it’s hard to sit back and question any of it. Plus, a cool guest star pops up in the final few pages. This one earns a recommendation. Check it out.
Red Hood: Outlaw #28 comes to us from writer Scott Lobdell, artist and cover artist Pete Woods, color artist Rex Lokus, letterer ALW’s Troy Peteri, and cover artist Yasmine Putri.
