DeathHood
Written by: James Bonny
Art by: Paolo Pantalena, Arif Prianto and Dave Sharpe
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: March 23, 2016
Deathstroke is a book that kind of snuck up on me. I was never a huge fan of the character and barely paid attention to the first go around for the him at the start of the New 52. However, when DC brought the book back, I ended up reviewing it by default and I am so glad I did. It's not that I suddenly became a huge Slade fan (though I do love "Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me"), but the book was just knock down, drag out fun with more severed limbs than you could shake another severed limb at. Sure, it's had it's ups and downs like any book does, but at the end of the day, it is one of the handful of books that I would continue reading even if our little site was taken down by One Million Moms or one real big guy with a baseball bat. Let's hope it doesn't come to that and let's get to this month's Deathstroke...
The big thing with this book lately is who will show up and where will it lead and this month it's all about Red Hood. That's fine with me as I am a huge Jason Todd fan and couldn't wait to see what happens when these two bruisers get together. I didn't have to wait long at all.
After a brief flashback showing more of Rose's trip to the dark side and Deathstroke beating the shit out of Victor Ruiz, it was time for the main event and it didn't disappoint. The two go at it pretty good and Bonny uses it to catch the reader up to where we are (mentioning Snakebite!) as well as showing the strengths and weaknesses of both characters. One thing I was glad of was that Jason Todd felt pretty good in this issue. Bonny almost ruined it for me when Jason opened fire of Deathstroke, but he showed that he did his homework when we find out he wasn't hired to kill Deathstroke at all. That's when Victor returns and blows things sky high!
This whole arc has had Slade jumping for here to there and now he's in Montana, but the way things are going for him, if he doesn't find Rose soon and get some medical attention, he's a goner. Of course, the Terminator isn't giving up just yet and rolls into a ghost town and sees a...ghost...kind of...well, actually a couple of them...kind of. It's a great cliffhanger that has an awesome cast of characters that I hope aren't all doing what it looks like. The one thing I want to know is where is Jason Todd and how cool will it be when he saves the day next month?!?!?
I have dealt with a bunch of books that get tangled into the monster, bounty, road trip of the month stories as a way to get different guest stars involved with the main character, but I have to say, James Bonny has come up with a formula that works for me. It's more personal than the average story and seeing Deathstroke actually one step behind is a unique twist for a character like the Terminator. While the story doesn't advance by leaps and bounds, the way it ended made up for it and in a big, big way. I can't wait to see what happens next month.
When I saw the preview for this issue, one thing slapped me in the face right away...no Tyler Kirkham on art. Well, I'd like to thank Paolo Pantalena for having such a cool name as well as for making me look like a jerk for dissing him a sentence ago. The issue looked great and his style fits the story and Kirkham's usual art nicely. If he ended up on the Rebirth Red Hood book, you would hear no complaints from this guy.
Bits and Pieces:
Deathstroke continues being a self contained flurry of fists and explosions and that's why I like it so much. It's funny that such a violent book can be my monthly pallette cleanser, but with so many books trying to go for that deeper meaning, it is nice to sit back and watch a heavily armored guy trying to save his daughter. Don't go and get fancy on us James, you have Deathstroke exactly where he should be.
8.3/10
This was a pretty good issue. I'm glad I gave Deathstroke a try. I really came to see the crossover of DC badasses and well...I got it. Both Deathstroke and Jason kicked ass this issue.
ReplyDeleteMinor not pics. The moment Slades partner said he wanted to give Slade back up. Slade should have thought "It's a Trap" I mean come on it was screaming betrayal that scene.
Haven't read any of the rest of this arc but does anyone else think that this Lawman is some how Jericho(Slades Son). The way he talked to Rose was very telling to me.
Can't wait to see Jason help out Slade next time. But will he? Rose is his Ex Girlfriend so that could play a roll next issue.
good point!
DeleteGood god this was comically stupid. The writing, the dialogue, even the fight itself looked like an unintentional parody. I guess something had up upstage how bad BvS was this week. Do Red Hood fans and Deathstroke fans actually like this stuff? No wonder both series are in the toilet. Maybe Rebirth can get some competent new writers.
ReplyDeletewhat do you want from a Deathstroke book? I thought the weakest part of this run was the beginning when Daniel tried to make it a bit too thought provoking and mysterious...this is Deathstroke for Christ's sake, I want action and explosions which you have told us over and over that you hate, but I love!
Delete...and the book sells better than Batgirl, Aquaman, We are Robin, Sinestro and many others.
DeleteI expect something that's fun and entertaining that doesn't read like a 12 year old's videogame fanfiction. Justice League right now is a good example of great popcorn entertainment that isn't overwhelmingly retarded. And so what if it sells well. Comic fans have shown over and over again that they'll buy anything with a brand name slapped on it, regardless of quality. This is the problem with fanboys. They get defensive over corporate brand names.
DeleteAnonymous, there fight was legit. There where no ass-pulls out of nowhere during there fight, Both where in character, Jason being hired to take on Deathstroke is plausible since Jason & Roy are now heroes for hire now, And Jason also has a past with Ravager(Rose Wilson) which people have known about since Red Hood & The Outlaws.
DeleteWhat did you want from this crossover that you didn't get?
weird you say that when I mentioned that I am not really a Deathstroke fan in my intro
Deleteand pretty much every character from the big two can be considered a "corporate brand names."
DeleteWhat makes this issue seem like a video game fan fiction?
DeleteAnd you mention Justice League like its something worth copying, every story in the DC Roster doesn't need to mirror each other. Not to mention Justice League is to convoluted and still not having any true lasting effects on any continuity. Superman Batman, Flash and Lex won't be gods when this is over, and more than likely they won't reference there times as gods. That whole arc doesn't regard continuity in it own universe just like earth 2. How Many Darkseids, Big Bardas, Mr. Miracles And Stephenwolfs do you need to see before you see what a mess Justice League is.
This Issue is far from a mess. Everything made sense, people are in character, and it doesn't break the mold of DC's Continuity. You mention that anyone who is enjoying a series that doesn't have the coporate brand names like Justice league aren't worth your time. Now that sounds like a "FANBOY". Fuck everything that's not the name Brand. That's your mentality. Mine is, I just want to read good, fun, and Different stories.
Seems you completely misread my post (which reflects rather poorly on the readership of this book). I pointed to Justice League as a book that understands how to deliver an action-packed story without insulting the audience's intelligence. Deathstroke and Red Hood right now are just crappily written books that get by with terrible dialogue and paper thin plots because dedicated fanbases only want to see their Mary Sues spout out awful one-liners like "Douchestroke".
DeleteI'll give you "Douchestroke":) But beyond that one Line there is nothing wrong with this issue.
DeleteThe artwork has been pretty good this series. Looking forward to see how this story will take shape next issue.
ReplyDeleteTony Daniel's art was awesome and Paolo Pantalena did a really good job this issue.
DeleteTruth be told Scat Lobhell has made jesters out of Jason and Roy. Worst comic writer ever alive.
ReplyDeletesomehow I've gotten the idea that you don't like Lobdell
DeleteIn truth, I really don't like lobdells Teen Titans or Superboy. But the one thing he got right was Red Hood & The Outlaws. The book is about walking the path of redemption. And it still is thanks to the introduction of Duela Dent, and Jason's need to try and help her down a different Path. Lobdell really made the only series in the whole New 52, were a character was expanded & build upon pre flashpoint.
DeleteJason was never a Villian. Sometimes he was antagonist of a story, but never a Villian. Anyone who wrote Jason well, did so by not making him a bad guy. And prior to Jason's horrendous treatment by Grant Morrison he was working well with other characters. Ex: Donna Troy, Kyle Rayner, and even Nightwing and the outsiders.
This is how Lobdell has continued to write Jason. As a character who every time you see him is trying to do better. No character is perfect and no writer is perfect but Lobdell did build Jason up in a good way.
But I do love him to bits, him being turned to bits and pieces. His writing brings me to the conclusion he must be the threesome lovechild of Marv Barfman, Ann Noncenti and Dan Didiot. He excels in psychobabbling and narration shitboxing. He is the nazi supremacist of comic industry forcing his twisted thoughts down our throats. First he ran Marvel to the ground in the 90's and then DC.
DeleteJason is depicted by Lobhell as a wimp, cast aside all the badass anti-hero vibe Conway-Newton-Starlin-Winick-Morrison gave him, Roy is a loudmouthed clown tippler, Kori a junky nympho gutterslut, Kon a cloner mess of another douche inhabiting a single body of three individual minds as omni-timedimensional entity all adoptive children to a futuristic doctor Frankenstein-Harvest who may be a future Tim Drake. Tim Drake was made to be a know-it-all angsty teen control freak detective, Cassie a cleptomaniac Trigon-fueled slave, Garfield a comic relief shapeshifter, Solstice a naked insecure statue chick, Barr Torte a futuristic mormon Che Guevara unrelated to Barry, Raven a bipolar sociopath demoness and Rose Wilson a heartless closeted dyke. The only thing I like from all that trainwreck is Brett Booth's new costume for Raven. He also ruined Superman and left a crappy aftertaste that even Johns, Pak, Kuder and Luen Yang couldn't wash away.
He is better off writing his Razer creation in Doomed a rather fitting name for the talent Lobhell sports.
Jason was a solid B+ antagonist that got turned into a D- protagonist. Lobdell is absolutely clueless in how to build up a three-dimensional character. Judging from the Red Hood fanboy comments I see on this site, it seems that people only like RHATO for two reasons: because they jumped on the bandwagon from Starfire controversy, or they care more about Jason being a special snowflake rather than an actual character
DeleteOne thing I've noticed about Red Hood fans is that they really have trouble distinguishing between what's written on page and what's in head canon. Though it might all be the same fan. There's that one Tzitzimine spams Lobdell worship on every freaking forum or throws a tantrum whenever his waifu Jason gets beaten up. He probably has a bunch of alts.
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DeleteHey, I know what's cannon and what's not. Jasons the only character right now in the DC roster that IS CHANGING. Almost Everyone else follows The Status Quo. No innovation, no unique character developments, Same stories written over & over.
DeleteYou definetly hate Lobdell. And that's okay, what doesn't make sense is why you hate Jason because of his slow progression to a better hero. Will he be standing for Truth, Justice and the American way, any time soon. Hell no. But he will try to be a better version of himself. He still has that anti hero vibe Winnick gave us. He just isn't a raving lunitic version the Tony Daniel gave us, or a Campy & Petty version Grant Morrison force fed us.
You remind me of all those batgirl fans that want Barbra to be in a wheelchair when we can have her standing. My problem with her is that I'd like her to have the badassness & skill she had when she was oracle but with the abilities of Batgirl aswell. This is what Lobdell gave readers. Jason the anti hero mixed with the attributes of a hero like Robin. There nothing wrong with character Progression.
As for Roy, if you remember his character right before Flashpoint then you know he was in a fucked place in his life, Again. Starfire even Pre Flashpoint was in fact a slave who was tortured. As for her one time of having a fling with Roy, since issue 2 of RHATO
They where in a relationship, but you define her as a junky Nympho Gutterslut. I'm mean come on Dick Grayson has Probably had 5 fucking one night stands over the course of the New 52 but you focus on Kory the one who try to keep a relationship. "Yeah that seems Fair."
Lobdell made characters who had ruff life's aim to overcome the bullshit in there lives, and Aim for something better. If you can't see that then you are simply a hate monger because you hate stories about Virtues & the pursuit of Happyness.
Hate Lobdell all you want, but know for a fact that he wrote Jason for the better, and theres a good fucking Reason that Jason Still has a Book he can call his own even when Rebirth rears it ugly head.
Anthony don't get bitter on what Anonymous friend said it is true that lobhell is not a talented writer and an unpleasant to add. I remember meeting him in a comic convention in NY and he was so full of himself and cold. This is reflected to his writing plus he doesn't care about the characters he writes. Above I've listed you how many characters he ruined and below Anonymous showed you how he has demoted Jason from B level to D. I pray you wake up and see that rooting for Lobhell is wrong especially for someone clever and opinionated like you.
DeleteAnthony makes some good observations about Jason. In many ways, Jason Todd is indeed on a path of redemption. It will not be easy. There will be many challenges along the way. Thanks for sharing your perspective, Anthony.
ReplyDelete