Red Hood / Arsenal #7 “All’s Fair in Love and Robin War!”
Written by: Scott Lobdell
Art by: Javier Fernandez
Colors by: Blond
Cat’s TidBits: Woohoo! We’re back to the continuation of Joker’s Daughter joining Red Hood and Arsenal’s shenanigans on the Rent-A-Bat business. This issue has a tie-in with the Robin War, which you do not have to read to follow this storyline, but you should read, because it’s pretty awesome!
As of now, we don’t really know why Jason brought in Joker’s Daughter to tag along when they go fight evil. In my last review, I was pretty lenient and gave a pretty fair score to Lobdell’s work hoping that he could redeem himself. Perhaps I’m just too new of a reviewer that I should’ve been a little harder, because I was disappointed with the way that Jason was expressing himself throughout the entire issue. He is not a touchy-feely type of guy and yet he’s here talking about how much he cares about Arsenal, how he wishes he was not the second robin, and how he needs to protect the sacredness of the Robin name. Jason Todd has always been the serious guy, but he’s being written like he’s a hormonal seventeen-year-old. Oh wait, that’s Joker’s Daughter.
Once again though, the art is amazing like usual. Can’t complain there and if I had to be honest, it’s one of the main reasons why I’m enjoying reading the comic book. The humor in this comic book is pleasing at some points, but sometimes it gets way out of hand. It’s like when you go watch a movie and they’re trying super hard to make you laugh, so they start making jokes around every corner. Yeah. Lobdell. Just no. In example, Joker’s Daughter. I don’t know if he just really wanted for us to like the character, but she came off as an annoying character. Granted that she’s a teenager, but I’m going to tie in the theme of “Robin” into this review. Batman trained his Robin’s to be mature and fight as a skilled person who’s thinking 24/7 when they’re fighting crime. Joker’s Daughter is reckless and immature.
Going back to the Robin War, Jason and Tim have a ‘moment’ where they share their experiences being Batman’s Robin and how they had to compare themselves to Dick Grayson. I actually enjoyed this part. Yes, it was a very intimate moment, but I enjoyed hearing them talk about this experience, because you rarely see this happen. With the Robin War happening around them, it’s pleasing to see that they also had to basically earn the title of Robin. There were many Hallmark moments within this issue and usually always are when Lobdell writes in Red Hood / Arsenal, because later on, Arsenal has a realization with Joker’s Daughter that he was bonding with her. After all, she is a teenager, but I think that particular scene could’ve been used in a different manner that could’ve finished the issue on a better term.
The Good:
Honestly, the mentioning of Robin War. (Ha).
The Bad:
Too many touch-feely moments! It was one after another and I was getting tired of it! This comic book has the potential to be so good. Faces are still cartoony, but the colors played along well with the storyline.
Recommended If:
- You enjoy Lobdell’s writing…
- Joker’s Daughter being a good-girl vibe is interesting for you.
- Anything with Tim Drake makes you happy.
Overall:
I’m content, but I really do have high hopes for Red Hood / Arsenal. I just think about their personalities and they have the potential to flow better within the storylines that they have been through in the past six issues, but I guess I’ll take what I can get. I really don’t mind the bromance, but all these moments that they have gets tiring. I want actual story rather than emotions when it comes to this. The artwork helps at some points throughout the comic book, but really, it’s the colors that make it and not break it.
Score: 4/10
