Red Hood and the Outlaws #18 - Last Dance. Last Chance... for Death!

Beautiful... I think this fit in great with the Requiem idea... How fitting is it to reconnect with a former dead robin after the death of the newest robin.... I am a huge Jason Todd fan I have loved this story form issue one, but this one takes the cake as the best issue of Lobdell's run... On a side note we do not know if he has not suffered permeant damage yet...

My imagination, or was Jason wearing a Red Robin costume during one of the flashbacks? We've seen his Robin costume already, and that wasn't it.

@Outside_85: Look at Jason Todd in the beginning of Lobdell's run. Look at him at the end of issue 18. Look at the events and relationships between those two. Look, too, at the lack of lasting trauma. It has not precluded lasting change. In the wake of worry, as a reader, I got relief. And that was enough of a roller coaster to me. Consequences aren't always bad things, you know.

(as for Babs -- her paralyzing had nothing to do with the story that did it; it contributed to how people remembered TKJ but it didn't actually have any important role in how TKJ itself unfolded -- neither Gordon nor Bruce behaved as they did as a result of the injury's long-term effects)

@akbogert said:

As awesome as Oracle was, it was stupid for Babs to get paralyzed in the first place. I applaud the decision not to maim and traumatize characters permanently, especially ones who are carrying a title, just because it'd temporarily make things "interesting" or make an arc "memorable."

In one way I agree with you, that massive trauma can get boring after a while... see the current Batgirl. But on the other hand I disagree, because it ultimately means nothing is actually dangerous to the character and that there really are no consequences.

@Outside_85 said:

Eh? So he burns off the face in one issue...but it wont have any lasting consequences other than serving as a boot in the rear...I suppose if Barbara broke her spine today she'd be all fixed up the next issue :S

As awesome as Oracle was, it was stupid for Babs to get paralyzed in the first place. I applaud the decision not to maim and traumatize characters permanently, especially ones who are carrying a title, just because it'd temporarily make things "interesting" or make an arc "memorable."

Eh? So he burns off the face in one issue...but it wont have any lasting consequences other than serving as a boot in the rear...I suppose if Barbara broke her spine today she'd be all fixed up the next issue :S

Why couldn't all of Lobdell's run be this good. Don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed it a lot but this was a whole new level and it was really good. Oh well, it was a great end to a good run. I can't wait to see what Tynion has in store for the gang.

@Fantasgasmic: Ah. Fair enough.

@akbogert: by "Batman-Family books" I meant ones that didn't feature Batman. Nightwing, Red Hood, Teen Titans (sort of), Catwoman, and World's Finest (only because I remember it had the logo). Not bothering to count Birds of Prey or Batwoman since they are even more tangentially related since the reboot.

Batman & Robin, Batman, and even Batman: The Dark Knight, and Detective Comics wouldn't need to all need to feature the same Batman brooding over Damien's grave/stuff scenes to merit a "Requiem" print because his behavior would reflect his emotions. (Although none of my friends nor I are following B:TDK at the moment, and I can't even recall if it's come out since his death).

Thank god they didn't ruin his face. I was so scared Jason was going to get ruined again.

Great issue! I'm gonna miss the days when Jason hated Bruce more than anything, but this is what's best for character development.

On another note, I can't wait for the next couple issues where we get to see Red Arrow's past with Green Arrow. I think I even heard Cheshire is joining the team.

You know, I think there IS a small connection to Damian. Jason says, "There is no place for me there, Bruce. I've tried to be the good soldier -- but even as part of Batman, Inc., I failed you... again!"

What if his failure is Robin dying? I know what you're thinking, how can it be if he was in a coma? The same reason Robin was still alive when his face was burned. A small inconsistency.

I was not nearly as thrilled with it as you mostly because of the handling of Jason's dream sequence. The whole theme of it was that Jason would destroy everyone he loved as long as he held on to the past, but this is a load of crap. Jason has been building good relationships with the Outlaws and he has been restoring relationships with the Bat Family despite still being ticked off about Joker killing him, and really, why shouldn't he be and remain ticked? As such, I felt the entire Jason dream sequence, which made up at least half the issue, to be very light on substance.

On the other hand, Bruce's part of the story was absolutely great, so I agree, it's a must read for Jason fans, but yet, it is more because of what happens to Jason than what Jason himself does.

To see my review, Click Here.

@Fantasgasmic: I think that Batman at least showed Bruce dealing with the rage/pain, even if it didn't explicitly address its source. But in truth I think it was a stupid thing to slap that on so many books and the rule, rather than the exception, has been having nothing to do with Damian.

@jsphsmth said:

I would have rather had him leave the Titans and stay on the Outlaws, but I look forward to Tynion's work.

QFT.

The only Bat-Family book that REALLY deserves the Requiem label so far is Nightwing #18. Batgirl #18 had one tacked on scene, this book had nothing at all. And no other books even deserve to be mentioned in regards to REQUIEM.

@SandMan_ said:

it seems that Jason and Bruce finally made amends... About time.

agree

This was the best series Lobdell has written in the DCnU. I would have rather had him leave the Titans and stay on the Outlaws, but I look forward to Tynion's work.

Jason Todd tells Batman I failed you lol!!! WOW!!He's gone way too soft in the New 52

@TeamUnitedNerds said:

I'm sorry, did Lobdell actually write something good?

Yes, but then that's been the case for over a year now.

I'm sorry, did Lobdell actually write something good?

I almost cried......ok I cried like a baby

Was happy to see Jason and Bruce apparently putting both their pasts behind them (without making these macho fighting machines seem like overly emotional saps).

it seems that Jason and Bruce finally made amends... About time.

I thought this was a fantastic conclusion to Lobdell's tenure on the book (though I was slightly less enraptured than you, but maybe it will grow further on me in subsequent reading). I saw some very negative reviews of this book and I didn't understand that at all; so I was all too happy to write a positive one ^_^

Lobdell may be missed -- or Tynion may eclipse him. Remains to be seen...but Scott didn't make it easy, that's for sure.

Great Issue

My favourite issue by far