It is with a heavy heart that I have to announce RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #18 will be my last issue of the series.

As much as I love Jason, Roy and Kori, my schedule is such that something had to give and that something was Red Hood.

Despite all the hoopla and tearing at clothing that greeted the launch of the series (or heck, maybe because of it!) I have never been more proud of my association with launching a title as I have with this book. Love it or loath it, RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS has always had a unique voice, tone, pacing and -- thanks for the incomparable Kenneth Rocafort and Blond, its own look.

Am I going to be sad that I don't get to write Jason as he picks up the pieces of his life in the aftermath of Death of the Family? Yes! Do I weep that I didn't get to explore Roy's upbringing on the Navajo reservation and how he eventually wound up with Outlaw status? Absolutely! Do I already regret I won't be around to watch Starfire deal with the arrival of her sister on Earth and what it means to the fate of the mysterious 13? More than words can say!

I'm going to miss Ducra and the All-Caste and Isabel and Essence and DePalo and Orn and K'tten and especially Crux... and, of course, the inevitable return of Suzie Su!

But here are two pieces of good news to help alleviate our mutual sorrow.

First, the last two issues of RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS I've written (issues #17 and #18) are two of my most favorite, most emotional stories I've written not only of the series... but of my entire career! As exits go, I could not have asked for a more grand good-bye! If feels like the perfect place to say my good-bye.

Secondly, I'm leaving you in the more than capable hands of James Tynion! As anyone who has been following his Batman back-ups and his Talon launch knows James is an exciting young writer with talent way beyond his years. I can't wait to pick up RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #19 and see where he is going with the series!

Before I go I want to thank Judd and Mort and George and Denny and Neal and Marv and George for their hands in creating RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS to begin with. And of course Bobbie and Katie and Eddie and Darren in editorial, and Kenneth, Blond, Timothy and Pascal and both Pascals for everything else. To Tumblr, for keeping me honest with all their thoughtful criticism and insight into all that is best in humanity. And finally, to Mike DePalo for his unwavering assistance, expertise and friendship.

Go Hoodies! The best is yet to come!

A friend told me about this yesterday. Man, I'm leaving the book with you. RATHO is one of my favorite books and everything is thanks to you. I'm glad you had the chance to use Batman in your last arc. I can't wait to read it!

Sad to hear that you are leaving the title. I really enjoyed your run. Tynion is killing it on Talon though, so I will definitely be giving his run a shot.

Just gonna say that I always liked Red Hood and the Outlaws, and Teen Titans!

You've done a great job so far Mr. Scott! Hope you keep it up! :)

hmm ill have to check out the new team

hopefully the witty banter that which is one of Lobdell's specialties is still in the book, come on james!! this is bittersweet news...

Hmm wonder where Lobdell will move onto now, since 3 books appear to be the norm for him?

I've never read any of your work but apparently you made Red Hod a tolerable, even likable character and that lone deserves props. I suppose ill have to pick up some of your work to prepare for Tynion's run. I hope you find happiness with future projects.

man this is disappointing....first Kenneth Rocafort and now you....I really hope that Tynion is a good fit on this title since it's one of my favorites of the relaunch

why is anyone gonna leave the book with scott?james has been writing an interesting story with talon and im really looking forward to his run on RHAO!

Maybe somewhere down the road he can come back and write a Jason Todd solo

I might start reading this now once Tynion takes over.

*loathe

Tynion is leagues ahead of Lobdell. This is a good thing.

=_= i actually really enjoyed his run. So we lost the great art from the first arc, now we're losing the writer who was in a good groove with writing their dialogue...not gonna lie I'm a little worried about this title lol

:'(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I didn't pick up his run due to money, I did pick up issues here and there, they were good. But I like Tynion, So i'll have to check it out.

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*sobs,

this is so unfair!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@xtremekidx said:

why is anyone gonna leave the book with scott?james has been writing an interesting story with talon and im really looking forward to his run on RHAO!

because he is going to turn this into a street level book chasing talons and penguins around gotham.

@sethysquare said:

@xtremekidx said:

why is anyone gonna leave the book with scott?james has been writing an interesting story with talon and im really looking forward to his run on RHAO!

because he is going to turn this into a street level book chasing talons and penguins around gotham.

Red Hood and the Zookeepers? :)

I'm sad. I love Lobdell on RH&O

NOOOOOO! DONT't LEAVE SCOTT!!!

Sad to see you go Scott. But James will do terrific on the book!

I would really like it if they upped the stakes with this book. Jason Todd should be able to hang in there with anyone in the DCU. Give him a big story,

Awh no! This is my favorite New 52 book. First Superman steals the amazing art and now the writer to. v.v

@Outside_85 said:

@sethysquare said:

@xtremekidx said:

why is anyone gonna leave the book with scott?james has been writing an interesting story with talon and im really looking forward to his run on RHAO!

because he is going to turn this into a street level book chasing talons and penguins around gotham.

Red Hood and the Zookeepers? :)

I'm sure you're exhilaration about this news

@sethysquare: oh cmon!you have starfire in there and with the new origin of jason,there is no way the boook can be normal street level of talon or batman...

@sethysquare said:

@Outside_85 said:

@sethysquare said:

@xtremekidx said:

why is anyone gonna leave the book with scott?james has been writing an interesting story with talon and im really looking forward to his run on RHAO!

because he is going to turn this into a street level book chasing talons and penguins around gotham.

Red Hood and the Zookeepers? :)

I'm sure you're exhilarated about this news

fixed

@sethysquare said:

@xtremekidx said:

why is anyone gonna leave the book with scott?james has been writing an interesting story with talon and im really looking forward to his run on RHAO!

because he is going to turn this into a street level book chasing talons and penguins around gotham.

That's assuming that James Tynion can only tell one kind of story. I'm sure that he's a more capable writer than that.

@sethysquare: Since I dont read the book, I dont really care, while it does mean I might look into it. I am however more intersted in knowing where he goes now.

I've quite enjoyed all I've read on this book (the first trade and a couple of other issues besides). I really dug the superhero action/adventure aspect of it when all of the other Bat-books are so grim and urban. That tone is fine, it fits those books, but I was glad that Red Hood had a lighter feel.

Tynion's work on Talon and Batman has been solid, and I'm excited to see what he does with this book as well. I read an interview with him on Newsarama and he said he's going to maintain the action/adventure feel of the book, which makes me happy. The new covers the new artist has done are gorgeous, and if he can keep up that level of quality on the interiors, I'll be happy with the new art as well.

I'll be curious to see how much this book ends up tying back into Batman and Green Arrow given his relationship with Snyder and, by extension, Lemire. Whatever may come, I'm on board.

@Outside_85 said:

@sethysquare: Since I dont read the book, I dont really care, while it does mean I might look into it. I am however more intersted in knowing where he goes now.

He's probably leaving so he can focus more on Superman and Teen Titans.

And now the new writer comes in and makes Jason a cooku for coco puff villain for no actual reason, just like it always happens.

@Avenging-X-Bolt said:

@sethysquare said:

@Outside_85 said:

@sethysquare said:

@xtremekidx said:

why is anyone gonna leave the book with scott?james has been writing an interesting story with talon and im really looking forward to his run on RHAO!

because he is going to turn this into a street level book chasing talons and penguins around gotham.

Red Hood and the Zookeepers? :)

I'm sure you're exhilarated about this news

fixed

fixed what?

@Outside_85 said:

@sethysquare: Since I dont read the book, I dont really care, while it does mean I might look into it. I am however more intersted in knowing where he goes now.

we'll see. it might suck from issue 19 onwards.

@xtremekidx said:

@sethysquare: oh cmon!you have starfire in there and with the new origin of jason,there is no way the boook can be normal street level of talon or batman...

well, we will have to see about that.

@sethysquare: It might, but then nothings changed then

I've been looking for a good jumping in point for this series. Maybe this will be it.

@sethysquare said:

@Avenging-X-Bolt said:

@sethysquare said:

@Outside_85 said:

@sethysquare said:

@xtremekidx said:

why is anyone gonna leave the book with scott?james has been writing an interesting story with talon and im really looking forward to his run on RHAO!

because he is going to turn this into a street level book chasing talons and penguins around gotham.

Red Hood and the Zookeepers? :)

I'm sure you're exhilarated about this news

fixed

fixed what?

just a minor grammatical error. You said exhilaration when you many exhilarated.

why is anyone gonna leave the book with scott?james has been writing an interesting story with talon and im really looking forward to his run on RHAO!

I'm happy with their choice of replacement authors, though this series is clicking with me much more than Teen Titans, so if he had to leave one, I would've preferred that.

@Avenging-X-Bolt said:

@sethysquare said:

@Avenging-X-Bolt said:

@sethysquare said:

@Outside_85 said:

@sethysquare said:

@xtremekidx said:

why is anyone gonna leave the book with scott?james has been writing an interesting story with talon and im really looking forward to his run on RHAO!

because he is going to turn this into a street level book chasing talons and penguins around gotham.

Red Hood and the Zookeepers? :)

I'm sure you're exhilarated about this news

fixed

fixed what?

just a minor grammatical error. You said exhilaration when you meant exhilarated.

Fixed.

Red hood has been one of the few dc books I've kept on since new 52. I've really enjoyed the different style of the book and it's outlasted johns/Morrison on my pull list

@cyberchop979 said:

@Avenging-X-Bolt said:

@sethysquare said:

@Avenging-X-Bolt said:

@sethysquare said:

@Outside_85 said:

@sethysquare said:

@xtremekidx said:

why is anyone gonna leave the book with scott?james has been writing an interesting story with talon and im really looking forward to his run on RHAO!

because he is going to turn this into a street level book chasing talons and penguins around gotham.

Red Hood and the Zookeepers? :)

I'm sure you're exhilarated about this news

fixed

fixed what?

just a minor grammatical error. You said exhilaration when you meant exhilarated.

Fixed.

thank you : )

Darn, I was hoping he would leave Superman.

@Avenging-X-Bolt said:

@cyberchop979 said:

@Avenging-X-Bolt said:

@sethysquare said:

@Avenging-X-Bolt said:

@sethysquare said:

@Outside_85 said:

@sethysquare said:

@xtremekidx said:

why is anyone gonna leave the book with scott?james has been writing an interesting story with talon and im really looking forward to his run on RHAO!

because he is going to turn this into a street level book chasing talons and penguins around gotham.

Red Hood and the Zookeepers? :)

I'm sure you're exhilarated about this news

fixed

fixed what?

just a minor grammatical error. You said exhilaration when you meant exhilarated.

Fixed.

thank you : )

Don't mention it. Always willing to help a fellow grammar junkie. ;)

D= Noooooo. Red Hood was my introduction into DC. Prior to that I was reading sparse issues of Batman and Spider-man. This was the firs thing that I have kept up with consistently. It pains me to see such a talented writer leave, but I have hope. I will keep reading.

I've given this series a few tries, but God, I've never been a fan of Lobdell's writing. I'm actually really glad Tynion is taking over.

I enjoyed your work on RHATO, Scott. You took a character who had been floundering and often misused since his resurrection and gave him a direction. I would not have expected a book about killers to have such a comical tone, but despite the odd pairing, it works great with the Outlaws and gives it a unique tone as you mentioned. I love James Tynion, so I will be happy to have him on the book, but your foundational work paved the way for RHATO's success. Good job.

@carnivalofsins00 said:

I've given this series a few tries, but God, I've never been a fan of Lobdell's writing. I'm actually really glad Tynion is taking over.

I dislike Teen Titans, but I quite enjoy RHATO. What didn't work for you?

For more news, reviews, and commentary, check out BatWatch.net

Sad to see Scott leave, but have been hearing some good stuff about James, so i'll keep on reading

RHATO is one of my favorite titles of the New 52 and the news of Scott Lobdell leaving it is bittersweet to me. I love what I've read of James Tynion's work so far but I just hope he dosen't make the series darker. The lighthearted tone of the book is why I love it so much. Hopefully I'm worrying over nothing and would like to say thanks to Scott for all the work he has done on the book and wish him and Kenneth Rocafort nothing but good things on Superman.

@Avenging-X-Bolt said:

@sethysquare said:

@Avenging-X-Bolt said:

@sethysquare said:

@Outside_85 said:

@sethysquare said:

@xtremekidx said:

why is anyone gonna leave the book with scott?james has been writing an interesting story with talon and im really looking forward to his run on RHAO!

because he is going to turn this into a street level book chasing talons and penguins around gotham.

Red Hood and the Zookeepers? :)

I'm sure you're exhilarated about this news

fixed

fixed what?

just a minor grammatical error. You said exhilaration when you many exhilarated.

uhm ok. thanks?