Rating:  -
delve deeper into the mystery and resurrection of JASON TODD (the former robin#2). i recommend reading it first at the bookstore or the library then decide for urself if its worth buying. Not the best of Batman stories, but not the worst..
Rating:  -
I was out of comics for a while, and picked this Graphic Novel, great way to catch up!
Rating: -
The first "Under the Hood" book was actually pretty good. Not the best thing I've read (far from it) but pretty good for mainstream superhero comics. It doesn't try too hard to be revolutionary, but it had a nice twist, a well paced story, and solid art. This second volume starts out with the same artist as the first, but switches after the second issue to a guy I have to say I don't really like. His linework isn't great, the inking is pretty bad, and the characters look really unbalanced, especially in their facial features.
But the art doesn't bring this book down as much as the writing does. The first 3 or 4 issues in this book are pretty easy to read and understand, but the last issue tears everything apart. It tries to explain why Jason Todd is back and fails miserably at it. I just had to put the book down on the last issue because the explanation was so utterly incomprehensable. Also the writer has no idea how to successfully write the Joker. He cheapens the character beyond belief.
If you like Batman stories I recommend something like "Batman: The Long Halloween" or even the FIRST "Batman: Under the Hood". Just don't buy this.
Rating: -
Batman: Under the Hood 2 is overall a good item. It follows the events after the first volume in which it is revealed that the second Robin, Jason Todd, is still alive. This Red Hood is a vigilante who is willing to kill criminals. Batman must confront inner demons of guilt and try to stop Jason.
The art and inking is really good in this work, and the characters are pretty well-written. Jason still thinks that life is a "game" and believes that killing criminals is the only way to save Gotham. Batman, who refuses to kill, sees things differently.
Also, if you were curious how Jason came back to life, there will be some closure for you in this volume. The end came rather abruptly and unexpectedly, and I hope that a third volume shows up. Indeed, the way it was written strongly suggests that possibility. Overall, this is a good graphic novel.
Rating:  -
After a great start to the year long "Under the Hood" Storyline, presented in the first volume, we are subjected here to string of fill-in artists to make up for the departure of outstanding series artist Doug Mahnke. Although Mr. Mahnke stays on for a few parts of this volume, the rest of the book is completed by Shane Davis, who does a great job, and Eric Battle, who makes a complete mess of the last two chapters. Sadly, the end result is a mish-mash of styles that the editors at DC could have avoided by changing artists only once, and at least trying to keep a consistant style throughout the book, which they failed to do.
The reviewer above points out some valid flaws in the storyline, such as the tie-in to the "Infinite Crises" mega-event from DC comics, which undermines the spirit of realism established in last year's outstanding Batman Begins movie as well as many fine Batman comics of the last two decades.
I disagree with the comments above regarding Black Mask, who is one of the better Batman villians of the last ten years. He has some funny one-liners and proves to be quite a menace to Batman, while the Joker is squandered as ussual.
Overall, the saga is worth reading, but your money would be better spent on the outstanding Batman and the Monster Men by Matt Wagner, or the classics like the Killing Joke, Year One, the Cult or Arkham Asylum.
|
