Red Hood: The Hill #1 is in many ways a fresh start for its titular character. Picking up in the wake of the “Joker War” storyline, it finds Jason Todd getting used to life in the neighborhood known as the Hill. But not only does he have to contend with leading another group of vigilantes – particularly the rebellious Strike – he also must battle a group of rising villains that see the Hill as fresh territory.
While the idea of “superhero moving to another city” has been done before, writer Shawn Martinbrough takes a fresh approach by having Jason actually getting to learn his new surroundings, as well as growing more connected with his new team; by extension this also includes their friends and family. The highlight of the book isn’t the opening fight between Red Hood’s team and the malevolent Tricksters; it’s a simple house party. Under Martinbrough’s pen, Jason feels more at ease, more willing to connect with others. He even tells Strike “the angry, reckless vigilante bit is my thing” – something you’d never expect the Red Hood to say. Other elements, including Strike’s desperation to keep the Hill safe and the new villains’ goals, slowly come to the forefront over the course of Red Hood: The Hill #1 and will no doubt power the rest of the miniseries.
DC Comics
The series also gains a new artist in the form of Sanford Greene, who remains one of the best illustrators in the business. The same unique style that permeated Bitter Root and Power Man & Iron Fist can be seen here; characters’ expressions, whether it’s joy or fury, are literally etched in their faces and the action hits like a freight train. Seeing Greene illustrate Red Hood running into the fray, guns blazing, is an image that’s more than worth the cover price. He also gives some unique designs to Red Hood’s new team, as most of them are wearing sports gear instead of the standard vigilante uniforms – fitting perfectly with the more down-to-earth vibes of The Hill.
What really makes the comic feel down to earth is Matt Herms’ color art. The more muted tones are right at home with the vibe of the Hill; it’s not as dark as Gotham, but it isn’t a glittering cityscape like Metropolis either. The only time the brightness gets cranked up is when Red Hood and his team enters the scene, or when there’s scenes taking place in the day. I’d love for more books in the Batman line to utilize color in a way that suits their characters.
Red Hood: The Hill #1 is a slow burn of a start to Jason Todd’s newest adventure, as it prioritizes character building over action beats. It also sows the seeds of a potential new direction for Red Hood – a direction that I’d like to see go forward in the future.
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