Red Hood: Outlaw #35 Preview and discussion thread

[Zaresh]

Really? I think that Jason being immune to the Blood Blade is Lobdell subtly saying Jason is not Leviathan

That's what I though while I was reading it, but... I dunno.

[Arsenal]

After this issue does anybody else get the impression that Isabel is more into Jason than vice versa? It just feels Night & day when you compare his internal monologue about Essence to what we’ve seen so far of his thoughts on Isabel.

[Dark_Tzitzimine]

It didn't come off that way to me, more like Jason is simply holding a grudge towards Essence, something perfectly in character for him. In contrast, Jason is actually confiding his deepest thoughts to Isabel, the only other person he ever did that was Roy.

[Arsenal]

Maybe I’m just reading into it to much.

Surprised there was no Ducra appearance but maybe that’s being saved for next issue.

[lemonpeace]

Man, whata battle sequence! I'm such a sucker for a good fight issue. I feel Jason, while truly caring for and loving Isabel, I think since he last saw her he's not as open to letting her in his head. It comes off like he wants her around but he doesn't have room to accommodate for his feelings for her right now in a way (if that makes any sense)

[Arsenal]

This issue (well the entire arc really) has made me realize I want to see more of Jason's time training with the All Caste or at least some more time embracing aspects of it. If something like it didn't already exist, I honestly wouldn't mind a "Lost Days" type mini that explored it some more.

[Sergard]

Really? I think that Jason being immune to the Blood Blade is Lobdell subtly saying Jason is not Leviathan

I feel like Event Leviathan hints that Leviathan isn't evil. But Leviathan isn't good either since they are fighting heroes. Having Jason say now that he's neither good nor evil looks suspicious.

[Zaresh]

I feel like Event Leviathan hints that Leviathan isn't evil. But Leviathan isn't good either since they are fighting heroes. Having Jason say now that he's neither good nor evil looks suspicious.

Ah, crap. I haven't read Leviathan. I doubt they will be not evil in the end. Like, really, really doubt they won't be evil. But I can see where you come from if they are selling themselves like that at the begining of the story.

Crap.

[G-Potion]

What an issue. I don't know why some critics have been so critical of this run and going so far as to say bring back these old characters is a mistake. They work wonderfully here; I love all the interactions. Leviathan possibility aside, I think it's a great issue for Jason's character. Not good nor evil is fitting how he sees himself. I'd love for the All Caste lore to be further explored as well.

[G-Potion]

I feel like Event Leviathan hints that Leviathan isn't evil. But Leviathan isn't good either since they are fighting heroes. Having Jason say now that he's neither good nor evil looks suspicious.

Yeah having only read interviews about the event, this is my feeling on Leviathan as well.

[RedBird]

Fun issue, I really liked the action in this one.
Jason seems to be breaking the persona a little here, getting absorbed in his own issues and biases, or maybe its evidence that he's just more comfortable sharing his 'true' feelings of the casinos inhabitants to Isabel. Nice to see Jason hold a fundraiser, and, I actually really like the class separation he still feels here. I always thought Jasons overall themes and origin story felt richer for it's depictions of class difference between him and Bruce, I think it helps to shape a better understanding of his reasoning, attitude and morality as well as his connection to Gotham.
Glad to see more of Essence, she was always a character who I wanted to see more fleshed out, the young love between her and Jason is always shown in flashbacks and wistful dialogue, kinda wish we got to see more of 'the good old days' between them though, to really feel the sense of betrayal and hurt that they always seem to experience in each others presence.
Does anyone suspect that Jason already knows Wingmans identity? I swear the constant swerve on that reveal is leaving me antsy. I just wanna know!
and the most important aspect: Dog is still a good pupper.



Moving on, I'm kinda in between on the Leviathan rumor, cause whilst I can get behind Lobdell dismissing that with the whole, I'm not evil or good thing, and having Jason being determined 'innocent' by way of magic. As far as I know, Leviathan isn't described as evil either, and more to the point this writing could just be to save face, that no matter what happens in THAT event, this character REALLY isn't evil guys.
I don't know, felt more like damage control than reassurance at this point.

Speaking of, anyone notice THIS panel in the comic.






That larger background figure looks suspiciously like Leviathan......










Funny enough, the only thing that makes me slightly LESS suspicious that it's Jason, is that variant cover for Leviathan #2.
Feels like Bendis knows who the main suspect is and is placing Jason in the story as a Red Herring. ORRRR equally, he is placing him in the story early so audiences will suspect that Jason is a Red Herring and won't suspect he's Leviathan, aaaaannnd once again, I'm back where I started. Gosh.

[Arsenal]

Yeah I was wondering that too. If they are supposed to tease something, maybe it’s his involvement in Event Leviathan & 3 Jokers?

[Zaresh]

Jason knowing who Wimgman is wouldn't surprise me, honestly. Neither would do if, in the end, he asked Bunker to set that whole scene in the previous issue for getting Cobblepot willingly out of his room. Seems like the writer is writing Jason as a cunning character again (and I love that part, honestly).

[JasonTodd428]

I might be okay with Jason actually being Leviathan so long as he is shown to be a cunning adversary with a solid plan and its not just a return to "villain" Jason. Depends on how its handled although, to be frank, Bendis is still not anyone I want handling Jason or anyone else in this story. He does have a tendency to twist characters to fit his story instead of finding characters that actually fit the story he's telling.

Jason knowing who Wimgman is wouldn't surprise me, honestly. Neither would do if, in the end, he asked Bunker to set that whole scene in the previous issue for getting Cobblepot willingly out of his room. Seems like the writer is writing Jason as a cunning character again (and I love that part, honestly).

Yeah, I also love that Jason is being written as a cunning character. It's refreshing to see him in that light again and it makes me wonder if he has plans within plans here. I believe that he knows who Wingman is and I do think that Jason may have had a hand in Bunker's discovery of Cobblepot last issue. In fact it could be that he's orchestrating this whole thing in order to cause Wingman to tip his hand and reveal himself. I still am of the opinion that Solitary wasn't killed several issues ago and that he might even be biding his time somewhere very close to Jason.

[Zaresh]

Darn. This comic is so fun, I want to draw some fanart. I hate that I already have a monster of a pile of pending work I need to finish before June ends. Grrrrrrrrrrr!