Batman and Robin # 6 - Revenge of the Red Hood Part 3: Flamingo is Here

Don't let the cover fool you. This issue reeks of bad@#$ness. I respect everyone's right to their own opinion, but was a little taken aback by the rating this issue had when i first checked (a 1.8avg). Well of course I have a bias due to my love for Morrison's writing and the character Batman, but that doesn't mean you the reader should take my word for it. However despite my views i feel that Batman and Robin #6 was a very solid issue. of course the action and art was well done, but it was more than that. the lesson that i think can be summed up from this whole story arc is even when monsters like the red hood are faced with an greater evil like Flamingo, we the viewers can find a strong common ground with tragic characters like Jason Todd and Sasha (Scarlet). For the first time in a long time it's almost heartbreaking to see someone so far gone like Jason stand up to protect his partner Scarlet from a monster like Flamingo. That was one of the parts of this issue that really struck home with me. It is also interesting to see a small brotherhood bond form between Dick and Damien, not in the sense that they are best buds but the slow grind of them towards them living up to what Batman and Robin are. while there are awesome action scenes with Batman and Robin, It seemed that this issue was centered more around Jason and Scarlets character. The last point of this issue that i liked which i wanted to discuss was the talk between Jason and Dick at the end. With respects to Alan Moore's Killing Joke scene with Batman and Joker, I felt the relationship between Bruce and the Joker in the killing joke mirrors that of Dick and Jason.  What further emphisized the tragedy of jason's character was the fact that after he is able to share his thoughts and feelings, he is almost instantly blinded by a fit of madness and rage. I really couldn't have asked more from a Batman Issue Morrison and Tan do a wonderful job. I guess I would like to see the return of Scarlet and some concistence with the artist in the future.

This is an excellent I truely can't say anything without spoiling it, but i'll try. Okay this is the last part in the Revenge of the Red Hood story arc. It starts out, when Dick wakes up and only to find himself and Damien strapped to 2 chairs with a webcame in front of them.  Red Hood streams a contest to the whole of the world saying that he has captured Batman and Robin if 1 million people call in the number on their screen (notice the refrence) they will be able to learn Batman abd Robin's indenty. that is where you you will have to buy the issue to see what happens next. Overall I thought this was a really solid issue the art (unlike most people) I like it and how it looks cartoonish and Realistic @ the same time. and I am interested to see where the story goes next. I give this 4  Pink Flamingos out of 5.

Grant Morrison is a sick bastard. He manages to create villains so messed up that's the books they appear in are hard to read. His Batman and Robin arch has been full of that. He's spawn nightmares such as Professor Pyg, Scarlet, and Flamingo (I mean they're in Batman #66 but hey cut me some slack). I feel this title does the best job at really setting Batman on a positive trajectory. But on to the issue at hand:
 
I think Philip Tan is an amazing talent but when I compare anyone to Fran Quitely they're going to come up short. That isn't to say the art isn't good, it's just not as good. The story for this particular issue isn't the greatest so far but it closes some story threads and shows more of what's to come. Batman and Robin's (or should I say Robin and Batman's) relationship is one of the best things about this issue. I was a big critic of the Dick Grayson/Damian Wayne team up but I'm really coming around. Morrison demonstrates that Dick is starting to doubt Bruce's techniques when he confronts a villain that was designed to be his replacement and Damian is learning that he might not in fact know everything and sometimes his actions have consequences. I've also been a big critic of Jason Todd's return as well but you really start to feel sorry for him despite his extreme methods.
 
A great issue but not for the faint of heart.

I found myself a little disappointed by this chapter although there are some interesting points such as wen jason is being taken away and screams that since he was brought back by the lazarus pit why hasnt the kids mother (talia) done the same for bruce. I did like how morrison ended the issue by leading us down to a tunnel ad showing us a new suit by using the password "zur en arh".  the weakness of this issue is mostly Tan's artwork    as hiswork on #4 was excellent this issue is just not the same but still the story is excellent by grat morrison

I feel like this series is junk and that Grant Morrison, in strict context to this title, is highly overrated. What's worse is that I feel there's a lot of propaganda that people are buying into for this series.

Babs made mention that this is "Grant Morrison's Masterpiece" which had me picking my jaw off the floor. His masterpiece?

What's there to call a masterpiece?

So far the entire series has been a stage for Morrison to parade his fetishes… Again.

These fetishes have taken the form of the new characters he's created: Pyg, Scarlet, and Flamingo…

And in my defense I'm all about weird characters… Remember Sandman Mystery Theater and the serial killer at the World's Fair? That was some weirdness I could understand. But these new characters created by Morrison are just crap laced with whatever rhetoric and style he's barrowing from his underground scene. It's not interesting; it's just pulp shock bullshit.

And speaking of bullshit… Flamingo was easily the biggest let down on this run. Just two weeks ago the buzz around him was building to a crescendo and then when he's finally used… He doesn't say one actual word during the entire issue!!! He just vocalizes some sounds and laughs! With a costume like his the "speak softly and carry a big stick" motto doesn't work and it doesn't make sense, not when your clothes are pink and are practically screaming for you. And by the end of the issue he's buried under tons of rubble… POINTLESS.

But you'd be surprised with my main gripe. My biggest problem was with the art. This is the second story arc that I've read by Philip Tan where he wasn't able to complete the series and needed help… So what happens is that you end up seeing a different art style on every other page as well as a lot of digital painting by the colorist to fill negative space. It's sloppy, it's shitty, and it's bush league amateur crap which should not be happening with a comic of this supposed caliber. I was shocked when I saw it happen during the "Agent Orange" story arc on GL, this time I actually expected it and wasn't let down. Why does DC allow Tan t over-extend himself like this?

If this series does a 180 and starts changing I'll eat my words, but as of now I regret the time and money I've invested in it. If Dick Grayson ends up taking Bruce's corpse to a Lazarus Pit I'm going to shit.