Connect with us
'Batman: Gotham Nights' #11 review: Red Hood is in good hands
DC

Comic Books

‘Batman: Gotham Nights’ #11 review: Red Hood is in good hands

The issue is an excellent example of how good Red Hood can be.

Today is a big day for Red Hood as the character’s longtime writer, Scott Lobdell, announced he will be stepping down with issue #50. On this same day, Batman: Gotham Nights features two stories with the Red Hood by two very different writers. Both stories are valid, good, and a sign that Red Hood has a bright future ahead of him.

The first story reveals who Jason Todd is by showing something that happened to him at Ma Gunn’s School for Boys. Written by Steve Orlando, with art by Priscilla Petraites, colors by Romulo Fajardo Jr. and letters by Ryan Christy, this is a tale that connects Todd to another boy at the school. An assassin has been hired and Todd is on the scene to stop things. Orlando doesn’t let us forget Todd is a highly trained fighter and may choose to wield a gun, but deep down he’s a good person. It’s a reminder Todd has been through a lot, but that didn’t change him much. It ends with a nice sentiment close friends will relate to.

Listen to the latest episode of our weekly comics podcast!

Marc Guggenheim writes the second story that focuses on a team-up between Nightwing and Red Hood as they attempt to prove that a man on death row is innocent. This story is filled with clever moments of observation for both heroes, reminding us they were trained by the best and can spot clues even when time is short. Like any good mystery, the characters find solutions and clues that are believable and generally, these characters are good at what they do. Red Hood certainly gets the most important pieces in the tale, but it still takes teamwork to get it done.

Art in both stories is good, and crucially, economical. There isn’t a wasted panel, and with only nine or so pages each to tell their tales, that’s important. Guggenheim’s story has a lot of scene changes and it’s clear artist Robert Gill, color artist Luis Guerrero, and letterer Marshall Dillon are very good at dropping you into a moment and moving on quickly. The clues they uncover don’t feel cheap due to the art paying close attention to their purpose with key visuals to remind us they were there all along.

Batman: Gotham Nights #11 - Red Hood

The city is rendered beautifully in the first story.
Credit: DC Comics

The art in the first story is a bit moodier, with the city taking on a character role in itself. It’s well done, connecting the flashbacks to Todd today and when he was a child. There’s a well-blocked shootout scene with key panels giving us a closeup on a gun or the hairy stare of the villain, which enhances the tension in the scene, too.

Batman: Gotham Nights #11 is a great example of how no matter who the creative team is, the character of Jason Todd can be written excellently. This is an example of how a great superhero can be grounded in reality, harboring a lifetime of memories being Batman’s sidekick, and yet being an edgier, unique character. Red Hood fans won’t want to miss this great two-story issue.

Batman: Gotham Nights #11 is a digital-first comic which you can purchase on Amazon and ComiXology.

'Batman: Gotham Nights' #11 review: Red Hood is in good hands
‘Batman: Gotham Nights’ #11 review: Red Hood is in good hands
Batman: Gotham Nights #11
Batman: Gotham Nights #11 is a great example of how no matter who the creative team is, the character of Jason Todd can be written excellently. This is an example of how a great superhero can be grounded in reality, harboring a lifetime of memories being Batman's sidekick, and yet being an edgier, unique character. Red Hood fans won't want to miss this great two-story issue.
Reader Rating0 Votes
0
Two solid stories that feature Jason Todd aka Red Hood in interesting ways
The first story is a good example of how Todd may be a darker edgier character, but deep down he's a good person
The second story is a great example of how good of a detective Red Hood can be
Good art throughout
The integration of Nightwing seems a bit underused and off
9
Great

Join the AIPT Patreon

Want to take our relationship to the next level? Become a patron today to gain access to exclusive perks, such as:

  • ❌ Remove all ads on the website
  • 💬 Join our Discord community, where we chat about the latest news and releases from everything we cover on AIPT
  • 📗 Access to our monthly book club
  • 📦 Get a physical trade paperback shipped to you every month
  • 💥 And more!
Sign up today
Comments

In Case You Missed It

WWE SmackDown preview, full card: March 1, 2024 WWE SmackDown preview, full card: March 1, 2024

WWE SmackDown preview, full card: March 1, 2024

Pro Wrestling

AEW Dynamite preview, full card: February 28, 2024 AEW Dynamite preview, full card: February 28, 2024

AEW Dynamite preview, full card: February 28, 2024

Pro Wrestling

AEW Rampage preview, full card: March 1, 2024 AEW Rampage preview, full card: March 1, 2024

AEW Rampage preview, full card: March 1, 2024

Pro Wrestling

Marvel unveils the new villains Bloodcoven appearing in 'Blood Hunt' Marvel unveils the new villains Bloodcoven appearing in 'Blood Hunt'

Marvel unveils the new villains Bloodcoven appearing in ‘Blood Hunt’

Comic Books

Connect
Newsletter Signup