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Batman: White Knight Presents: Red Hood #1
- Writer:
- Sean Murphy, Clay McCormack
- Artist:
- Simone Di Meo
- Letterer:
- AndWorld Design
- Cover Artist:
- Sean Murphy, Dave Stewart
- Publisher:
- DC
- Price:
- $4.99
- Release Date:
- 2022-08-02
- Colorist:
- Dave Stewart
In 1988, Jim Starlin's shocking Batman storyline, A Death in the Family, courted massive controversy when DC left the fate of the second Robin, Jason Todd, in the hands of the fans. Fifteen years later, Jason returned from the dead as the gun-wielding, violent vigilante Red Hood, looking to take revenge on his former mentor and his killer, the Joker. Sean Murphy's Batman: White Knight universe retells Jason's journey differently, taking him from being the first Robin to a crimefighter in his own right. Written by Sean Murphy and Clay McCormack, drawn by Simone Di Meo, colored by Dave Stewart, and lettered by AndWorld Design, Batman: White Knight Presents: Red Hood #1 reignites Jason's fighting spirit as the student becomes a teacher.
Batman: White Knight Presents: Red Hood #1 shows a glimpse into the past when Joker caught Jason Todd and mercilessly tortured him to divulge Batman's identity. Since that day, Jason has lived in shame, carrying the guilt and anger of betraying his benefactor. He's tried to make amends by making one dangerous decision after another. With his job at Stonegate Prison now up in the air, Jason answers an advertisement looking for a trainer at a local dojo where an old accomplice brings back memories. Years ago, a drunk Jason Todd beat up some ruffians in front of a girl named Gan, masquerading as Robin. Gan wants to protect her neighbors but lacks the means. Finally, she has found a teacher who will show her the ropes.
Since the fateful day he left Gotham, Jason Todd has tried his hand at a number of jobs. He has fought in underground fights, worked as a collector for unscrupulous people, and even joined the army. Nothing has ever stuck except for the time he took an apprentice under his wings. He's cautious not to make the same mistakes that Bruce did with him. Batman: White Knight Presents: Red Hood #1 uses non-linear storytelling to paint a thorough picture of the past. Each narrative opens in medias res, with writer Clay McCormack gradually providing exposition as the story goes on, using first-person narration boxes to express Jason's hopes and fears. The writers deliberately make the lively and driven Gan an antithesis to Jason's dispirited and disillusioned self. As Jason observes Gan's heroic acts, he grows fond of Gan, deciding to help her become the best version of herself.
Simone Di Meo's stylized artwork frames the characters in low-angle shots, sometimes in what filmmakers call 'a dutch angle'. These dynamic perspectives emphasize the dramatic moments of the book, especially in the opening scene when Joker interrogates a teenage Jason with a razor. His coloring in this flashback indulges the panels in an overabundance of reddish hue that douses the pages in an unsettling yet glowing aura. Dave Stewart colors the remainder of the book with equal verve, using much darker tones in the backgrounds but highlighting the vibrant bits and pieces on the costumes. Despite all the dynamic energy in the art, Di Meo's style often overshadows the character movements, making the action look incohesive at times.
Batman: White Knight Presents: Red Hood #1 is a different kind of Red Hood story, devoid of the usual angst associated with the character. There is an underlying mood of sadness in the tale arising out of festering guilt that eats Jason whole. Gan's carefree, lighthearted introduction balances the matured, morose take on the titular character, gradually uplifting Jason out of his miserable self, with the latter taking a more proactive role as the issue progresses. Batman: White Knight Presents: Red Hood #1 is not only the start of a new Dynamic Duo but also a new lease on life for Jason Todd.