Under the Hood

This was a truly great book, and very underrated. To make this short and sweet, all Batman fans should buy this. :)

Under the Hood Vol 2 explains everything. i was worried that it wouldn't explain how jason returned from the grave. basically, the new red hood is jason and is planning revenge upon the madman who killed him, the Joker. it also reveals some insight on Batman and how is dealing with his new 'enemy.' I totally recommend this story, especially if you have or want to read Battle for the Cowl.

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.

Judd Winick concludes the Under The Hood saga with a cataclysmic ending. Jason's desire for vengeance drives him to kidnap his murderer. Now Batman has a choice, kill Joker, or let Jason kill him. An expertly written graphic novel. Had me on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next. Spectacular dialogue and intense action sequences build the tension leading up to the stunning climax. Now unlike the fans who despise Jason Todd and his resurrection, I enjoy the fact that he's come back. It makes the book interesting and I like Jason's character. He's very different from Batman, and seeing the world through the eyes of somone who will cross the line Batman never will is a nice change that I like, I think it's always interesting when good guys go bad. For fans of Jason, this is a must read.

This is the second volume in the Under the Hood saga which returns Jason Todd alive and well into Batman continuity. This book collects Batman #645-650 which wraps up the Hood story-line and collects Batman Annual #1 which is where the hows and the why of Jason's return is revealed. This book picks up right after volume one. Batman is still coming to grips with Jason's return and is analyzing everything (even the coffin where he was buried) to confirm his return. We also get a glimpse into how Batman met Jason and the gradual change that Jason undergoes. Meanwhile, Jason continues his fight against Black Mask and does everything from blwoing up his shipments to launching a missile through Black Mask's office. Black Mask is then drafted into Luthor's secret society with Deathstroke serving as the liaison. The Society dispatches Captain Nazi and Hyena and Count Vertigo to take down Jason. They almost succeed until Batman interferes. The fight scene with Batman and Jason is worth the price of the book alone. Mahnke does an excellent job of showing well...pretty much everything. But as usual, Jason crosses the line and Batman has to take him in. I don't want to spoil the story any further other than that this is possibly one of my favorite Batman stories in the recent years. The story itself has a lot of heart and portrays the estraanged but at the same time very profound and intricate that Bruce and Jason share, the bond between a father and a son. The internal monologue is very well written for both Batman and Alfred. I love the way Winnick flashbacks into more happier times in Bruce's life and told by Alfred. It also shows the depth of Batman and Alfred's relationship. And as for Jason's return, I like how Winick ties it into the larger infinite crisis. His return is not cheapened by being restircted to Batman's Rogue's gallery. It is bigger than Batman and his villains and is part of the bigger events happening in the DC Universe. That's just the way it should me. The art chore is split between Doug Mahnke, Eric Battle and Shane Davis. Dough Mahnke is hands down my favorite but Shane Davis is a close second. Shane does great pencils and is very detailed. This guy is going to be one of the more popular artists soon. If you are still reading this, then stop and go out and buy the book. You get a hefty helping of good comics under $8.00. It's a great story for a very reasonable price. Highly recommended.