Batman: Under the Red Hood

"Batman: Under the Hood, Volume 2" collects the concluding installments of the initial "Red Hood" storyline that originally appeared in the ongoing "Batman" comic book series (Batman #'s 645-650, to be specific), as well as a lengthy "Batman Annual" that reveals in detail how the Red Hood and his supposedly deceased alter ego came to be.

Like the first volume of this storyline, this one contains solid, entertaining superhero storytelling, no more and no less. I will say that it was a little strange to see epic science-fiction type elements from the larger DC universe play a brief but notable role in the Red Hood's origin, but, hey, Batman's gritty Gotham City world does exist in the same universe as Superman, the Justice League, and various alien species and intergalactic conflicts, so fair is fair. And besides, as said, those "out there" elements are fairly brief.

Batman and his dark, shadowy world of gritty crime-fighting lends itself well to intense, involving storylines of both the shorter and longer varieties. The "Under the Hood" epic is a well-crafted, engaging example of the latter.

Under the Red Hood is a great Batman story. The art especially the work by Doug Mahnke is quite good but the story is the best part of it. Winick is skilled at characterization and the story is action packed. The basic plot is that a vigilante calling himself Red Hood is fighting crime in particular disruptingthe organization of Black Mask However, his violent tactics also get Batman's attention for the Batman is not a killer like Red Hood is.We eventually find out that the Hood is Jason Todd, the second Robin who was killed by the Joker. How he was resurrected is really dubious but that story is not part of the main story and I am ignoring fro purposes of this review. Considering the disadvantage Winick gives himselfby doing a Jason Todd story, he does an excellent job of capturing Jason's rage and Batman's dismay and sense of failure as he reacts to the news that Jason is alive. A first rate Batman story go get it if you don't have it

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.

"Under the Red Hood" is a Batman story of both action and drama. Those of you familiar with Batman lore will know that 'the Red Hood' was the original villain name of the Joker before he was transformed into the green-haired supervillain he is today. This story is set in more recent Batman history: someone has taken on the mantle of Red Hood...but it's not the Joker.

Opening with a tense battle that culminates in the unmasking of The Red Hood...we're left to guess as to who it is, as the rest of the story rolls back and moves forward to this point. Tied to the events of the Cataclysm/No Man's Land story arc and the gang wars outlined in "War Games", "Under the Red Hood" takes place immediately following the events of "Hush" (which you might want to read first, as it is also a great graphic novel). Gotham's gangs are rebuilding and The Black Mask appears to be at the head of them. The Red Hood is attempting to insert himself into the power play, but what is his goal? I recommend you read to find out--"Under the Red Hood" is a good story and I'm glad I bought it.

A new vigilante is in town and he's shaking things up for Black Mask, the new crime boss of Gotham. But when Batman steps in he finds that this new guy happens to know lots of things about him, things his enemies don't know, couldn't possibly know. But who could know Batman so well, who could be... under the red hood?

I think most people coming to this book will know who it is under the red hood, so much so the subtitle of the book should be "The Resurrection of Jason Todd". Jason, the second Robin, was famously murdered by the Joker in the book "Batman: A Death in the Family" and became Batman's biggest failure. But hey this is comics, it's all middle story, nothing's forever. Superman died, Green Arrow died, and they're both alive, why not Robin too?

The book is actually pretty good. Besides some shaky dialogue characterising Batman as an extremely grumpy and unlikeable man (the back and forth between him and Nightwing was unlike the way their relationship has largely been written), the plot was full of action and intrigue moving forward at a blistering pace and throwing a few curve balls at the reader. I especially liked the final confrontation between Batman and Red Hood, I think what most people expected to hear wasn't what was said and that's always a good thing, that a writer can surprise like that. Think you know what motivates Jason? Think again. And of course Joker is knee deep in it as usual.

But I think the biggest problem most people have with the book is how Jason was brought back from the grave. It's included here at the end and I have to agree it was a bit convoluted. Remember that the means to resurrect the dead exists in the Batman universe, they're called Lazarus Pits, but rather than simply use this device Winick goes for an even more out there explanation that probably turned a lot of people off the story proper.

That said, this is a fine Batman book that I had a blast reading. Winick underwrote Black Mask a bit until the end when we saw his viciousness come through, and as I've said the final showdown between Batman and Red Hood is an instant classic and very moving. If you love Batman then you'll get a lot from this book, I know I did.

I am a huge fan of "Red Hood" as Jason Todd. Definitely my favorite in the comic world. This book was FANTASTIC. The writing was top notch. I had already seen the animated movie, and read Hush and was definitely surprised to find out what I did!! [I won't spoil it for those who don't know] I couldn't have been more pleased with the writing and artwork. Everything was delivered perfectly. I loved the emotion Jason portrayed, since he rarely does show emotion towards anything. I loved seeing how hurt he was, and I love the "father/son" reference. Judd Winick is an amazing writer, and now probably my favorite!

I bought this book after i saw the movie. I am glad i did because there is much more to read from the graphic novel. I have not finished the book, yet i still watched the movie the second time. Having watched it the second time does not even diminish my eagerness to finish reading the novel. Definitely this is a must read along with Batman The Black Mirror.

Wonderfully written, glad to have a great book introducing Jason back into the Batman universe. Thank God for Judd Winick, one of the only people able to write Jason as a complex character and not just an ball of anger and violence.

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.

I enjoyed every chapter in this book and have read it multiple times. My favorite thing has to be Black Masks' panels filled with angry outbursts that had me laughing till i cried. I love this comic, no doubt about it.

I still am against the idea of Jason Todd (especially), whose death added another tragic layer to the Batman mythos, returning from the grave. The impact and fear of losing one's life in a heroic act - the ultimate sacrifice one could make - is almost nil in modern comic books. Characters die and return from the grave almost constantly, an unfortunate cliche that has hurt the mainstream's view of comics-as-art and rendered death as nothing more than a temporary setback for superheroes.

Aside from the very concept itself, Jason's return is also poorly executed. The new Black Mask, who is woefully out of character, is still present. The Joker is sacrificed to Jason Todd's credibility. And how does Jason come back, you ask? What's the cool creative explanation that isn't a tired IC-related explantion that doesn't fit the Batman universe motif? *Spoilers*: Superboy-Prime punching the walls of a paradise in another dimension is the explanation. Jason wakes up in his coffin and digs his highly battered young body out of his coffin and 6ft of dirt using only his belt buckle. The coffin had sensors that could detect people getting in, but amazingly could not detect people getting out. What kind of crazy silly sensors are those? A new coffin is reburied, and the greatest, I repeat greatest, detective in the world, who forensically examines the coffin in all its minutia, neither notices the reburial or the new coffin. I couldn't make this junk up. A must not read for batfans, in my opinion.

I actually saw the animation movie of this graphic novel first and really liked it. The comic is way better. The art and story are fantastic but the only thing I don't understand is the ending!!! Can somebody tell me what happened and why this book ended with such a cliffhanger?! Where can I read the rest!?

Excellent characterizations, fun, humorous, action-packed, emotional are layered on a compelling story and engaging themes. Mahnke's artwork is awesome too. Must Read!

You might consider reading War Games and A Death in the Family before.