What You Talking About Willis Todd?
Written By: Scott Lobdell
Art By: Trevor Hairsine, Ryan Winn, Rain Beredo, Taylor Esposito
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: June 13, 2018
Release Date: June 13, 2018
Even though we still have the Smarty-Pants Bizarro story going on, it seems that Scotty Lobdell wanted to take a break with that and give us the story about the letters from Jason's father Willis, that Ma Gunn kept from Jason for all these years. Yeah, I don't exactly know why Bizarro would have let these letters out and about since he seemed so adamant that Ma Gunn keep them to herself and not tell Jason about them, but Jason's got them now and with that, he has to face his past and what he thought he knew about his father. Let's jump into this issue and see what's going on with Red Hood and the Outlaws this month. Let's check it out.
While I can't get into what the letters said that Willis Todd sent his son Jason because I'm trying to be all-new, all-different Eric Shea: comics reviewer, who doesn't give out spoilers. What I can tell you is that this issue for the most part spends the entire issue with flashback scenes depicting the life and times of Jason's parents from when they met to when they would have died.
These letters though are a really cool story telling device because not everyone knows the backstory to Jason Todd's parents and this is a pretty good crash course to get you knowledgeable, but it also serves a way to flip the script and let Jason know that things aren't exactly the way he's believed them to be for all these years.
With that story, which is pretty emotional and makes you feel for Jason the whole way though, we also have the continuation of Red Hood and Penguin's feud and added to the emotional ride we just took with the letters, this aspect of the story works really well to bookend what we're given here. Yeah, we have a fill in artist this issue, but overall, the art in this issue is pretty decent and doesn't take away from the story we're dealing with.
Bits and Pieces:
I find it odd that we've moved on to a new story while Smarty-Pants Bizarro still looms in the background, but we get an emotional tale that lets you in on Jason Todd's past and flips the script about what you thought you knew about his parents and for the most part it all works pretty well. The art was half decent, I just wish we would have gotten a little more out of this issue by the end.
6.8/10
I gotta disagree Eric, I think this was not only a heart warming issue, but also a important issue to the plot. We now have a good idea that Willis Todd might be Solitary due to the experiments he signed up for, that Willis might be the person we think Artemis let go free from Lex Luthers experiments in the past last issue, and that Solitary has some sorta of mental ability to not be seen so well that only someone as smart as "Smarty Pants Bizzaro" can even find him. This explains in the first issue why someone had a room full of evidence about Jason because he's probably his father. He probably even put Jason in the path of Peguin to take him out because of being the fall guy for cobblepot.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I can't piece together is why solitary released Solomon Grundy?
But this was Amazing issue, I wish Dexter Soys art was here but this was serviceable.
8/10
You bring up some really good points that I never thought of, but even with that I feel that the progression of the story has been a bit off and while I'd love this issue to be the glue that puts all the pieces together, I would have much preferred something that actually felt like it was planned out...... all together. I mean, Bizarro was getting off the smack, then had a cabinet full of it, then was off it all together and now he's not even here, while poor Ma Gunn still sits in a bottle and I have no idea how Bizarro didn't make sure he had those letters that she was telling him about. Even with that though, I'd probably go up to a 7.3/10 for everything that you brought up.
DeleteYeah bizzaros condition is a downside, but I imagine kicking a bad habit or addiction to something is not something done right away. It's only been a day later since last issue.
DeleteAnthony connected dots in front of my face I missed as well Eric don't feel shame . I loved the issue but I hope after wanting to be good again Willis isn't just fucking w Jason here, especially when it looks like he's struggling w forgiveness here.
ReplyDeleteI actually really enjoyed this issue but Anthony just blew my mind! I really hope that is what going to happen now!
ReplyDelete