Reviews

Red Hood/Arsenal, Volume 1: Open for Business by Denis Medri, Paolo Pantalena, Scott Lobdell

gzanokina's review against another edition

5.0

I LOVE THEM

blackbird9805's review against another edition

adventurous funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

19lindsey89's review against another edition

2.0

2.5 Stars

I really love Red Hood and Arsenal in most of their incarnations, but this comic fell flat for me. After the Outlaws falls apart, Roy and Jason form their own partnership to look out for one another. Generally, all of their interactions are full of banter that felt a little too stiff. Any moments for character growth are rushed or glossed over too quickly. I think this happened because several spreads of every issue retread the same ground. It went over the fact that Jason Todd was a formerly dead Robin and Arsenal is some form of stupid genius who broke away from Green Arrow at the start of every issue. Then we got a summary of sorts of the events of the last issue. It didn't leave much time at all for new story.

Also, what is up with that art in the first issue? Why did Jason look more like Bluebird than himself? Why did Roy have crazy Joker face?

P.S. When your characters start pointing out that death has no stakes and it's no reason to get upset over, you know you have problems.

geewhizabbygee's review against another edition

adventurous funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

disniq's review against another edition

2.5

• 'it's not like we're married' he says, then spends the next four pages bickering like a married couple. I'm not necessarily complaining 
• The end of this one doesn't mesh with Jason's intro in Robin War, but what else is new with DC continuity
• Lobdell's dialogue continues to be awkward and uncomfortable, but at least this story arc isn't boring 

shannonleighd's review against another edition

3.0

3.5

all_hail_grimlock's review against another edition

4.0

Scott Lobdell's run on the Rebirth Red Hood is some of my favorite Red Hood and the Outlaws writing, but this the New 52 run has been decent, although I preferred the previous Red Hood and the Outlaws run more than Red Hood/Arsenal - at least so far.

I knocked a star off because Jason in particular makes some choices I don't see, like taking in Joker's Daughter: this is a woman who idolizes the man who murdered him. But I'm willing to see where it goes and this was only, what, the last issue. Overall, I enjoyed this graphic novel.

ohallows's review against another edition

3.0

stop giving Jason's helmet a mouth oh my god

ausfangirlreads's review against another edition

4.0

I really enjoyed this comic, as the first of a series (which I will definitely be continuing to read) it gave you as much information as you need to get to know some back story to the characters. As a lover of both Arsenal & Red Hood I know there back stories but as someone new coming in I think it would give the right details at the right time.

The story itself is very catching and full of sass, fighting and bro moments, and the bro moments were my favourite! I love how Jason and Roy are together, they are sassy and yet they care.

I would definitely recommend this comic and am really excited to continue on in this series!

birdmanseven's review against another edition

3.0

I was pretty in to this until the focus started to shift. Nothing interests me less than Joker's Daughter.

For more (much, much more) on Jason Todd, tune in to a special spotlight over on the All the Books Show: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/episode-241-holy-robin-spotlight-batman