Red Hood and the Outlaws Annual #1

WARNING THERE BE SPOILERS!!!

Hey there hoodies, here comes our very first annual! I couldn't be more excited for this to come out because it goes to show the creators and fans of this series are rewarded. This is a Roy centered story dealing from the controversial 19 and 20 issues. We finally get to see Roy's past, and how he will interact with the Emerald Archer. Jason Todd is shocked at his past and Starfire tries to not open up to the one person who wants to hear from her. It is all hitting the fan in this issue, but on to the review!!!

THE GOOD:

I have given James the benefit of a doubt for this series and it seems as though others aren't to keen about that. Nevertheless, I give credit where credit is due. What Lobdell never did in his run is go through Roy's shattered past and we finally get in depth with it. The interesting thing is that it isn't the conventional partnership we have seen in the past, Roy was more of a background partner, making him new weapons and feeding him info. He was never Speedy, although there is a nod to the Speedy moniker. This means that Roy trained on his own to become the archer he is today, and that is very impressive. There is also some history with Hugo Strange, and he definitely has some impact on Roy but it is very suspicious. A lot of people have been complaining about Kori, and I don't see why. Kori buried her past and she lives for the here and now, nothing about that has changed, which is why she isn't opening up. The past is always painful and why would she want to relive it if she could forget it. Sorta sounds like what Jason is going through. The true scene stealer of this issue is Cheshire. James really had fun with her and it turned out in his favor. I am really excited to see her involvment in the series. Though I don't like seeing Jason in his current state, it makes sense for him to be reacting the way he is. Overall, Tynion created a nice over-sized issue that focused on several things that needed to be focused on, namely Roy's past, Jason's memory, and how Kori's past affects her relationship with Roy, and that is what it did.

Al Barrionuevo did a nice job on the art details. There were a lot of moments that I liked and a good portion of the coloring was beyond superb. Despite the incosistencies, I actually prefer this artist over Gopez and wouldn't mind if he became the regular artist.

BEST STORY MOMENTS:

• Roy's past with Ollie was something that readers needed to see and is well appreciated.
• Cheshire stole the freaking show!

BEST ART MOMENTS:

• Barrionuevo has probably given us the best looking issue since Rocafort. Issue 18 was amazing but this one featured all the Outlaws in typical Outlaw format.
• Kori taking Cheshire for a joy ride was a spectacle to see.
• One of the final pages with Roy and Ollie duking it out was probably my most favorite page in the book.

THE BAD:

This was a really fun issue, but it felt as though something was missing. In all actuality, an annual is an over-sized issue, that will entail on key points in the ongoing storyline, and in doing so becomes very significant. That being said, this issue just felt like I bought two average issues of RHTO. Together it is a nice annual, but honestly feels as though it is just trying to get the plot moving faster. It was not rushed at all, but didn't carry enough of a punch with it. Nothing made me feel emotional, except for the humorous parts, which James handled nicely. In the end, nothing seemed resolved. Ollie and Roy are still bitter, Kori won't open up, and Jason has gone even further off the deep end. It would have been nice if something actually happened in this issue besides Cheshire coming in and beating everyone's asses. There needs to be conflict, I understand that, but there was almost no development. There was only insight of the Outlaws knowing that Jason was some history with Cheshire, and Jason realizing how much he doesn't like himself. I understand how he feels, the guy is a clean slate who is seeing the negatives of his life and he is reacting normally, but I would rather the good ole Jason Todd around.

Though I really dug the art, it was horribly inconsistent, more so on the colors. There is some great stuff here, but then BAM, freaking brick wall. Why the hellish freaking hell is Jason just running around in his Bat-onesy, which I thought was more like armor? This just reminds me of how much I miss Rocafort, despite him being gone for almost a year. I have my last little shell of anger that I will dedicate a whole freaking bullet to.

WORST STORY MOMENTS:

• I know Roy is a genius, but building freaking robots, come on. Also, Robo-ninja style? James, were you watching cartoons the day you came up with that?
• Clueless Jason Todd is somewhat annoying, I just hope he finds his nads and gets down to business when the going gets tough.
• Despite the ending, this issue didn't feel like an annual should be with the lack of an affirmative lasting feeling.

WORST ART MOMENTS:

• Jason running around in his Bat-onesy was a bit much. The has been known to where pants in this series. It also has no dexterity, because Cheshire peeled through it like foil.
• Multiple colorists really hindered this book along with Al's inconsistencies.
• Who gave Kori pupils again?! Was it Barriomuevo, Mena, or BIT, someone must pay!!!

OVERALL

This was a good issue all around, and was worth the money for the extra pages. James has given us the best issue of his run so far and shown what it is that makes an Outlaws issue. There are still many problems mind you, and I know I have been getting heat for being vocal about it, but I will stay impartial to our new writer until he has a seasoned arc under his belt. I would recommend this issue if you want to buy an annual this week. Til next time hoodies!!!

STORY: 4/5

ART: 3.5/5

SCORE: 4/5