Just Hood do you think you are? (Batman: Under the Hood Vol. 2 - Judd Winick)

Member Name: SWSt

Product:	Batman: Under the Hood Vol. 2 - Judd Winick
Date:	08/07/09 (33 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Builds well on volume one and previous Batman tales

Disadvantages: Slightly variable artwork, unnecessary follow up tale

This is going to be a very tricky review to write. Those of you who read my review of Volume 1 will know that it contains a major revelation which I don't want to spoil if you've not read it. This makes discussing volume 2 difficult. Still, I'll give it my best shot...

Volume 2 kicks off with Gotham in the middle of a conflict between new crime lord Black Mask and mysterious newcomer Red Hood. Red Hood is hunting down criminals and dealing with them violently and ruthlessly. Gotham's regular protector, Batman is in turmoil, having discovered Red Hood's true identity.

As you might expect, there is a strong sense of continuity between volumes 1 and 2. A coherent story arc runs across both volumes, but it also brings in other elements which provide an echo from some truly great Batman tales of the past. Of course, this is a double-edged sword. Batman fans will delight in the many references (both written and visual) to previous adventures, but this runs the risk of shutting casual fans out. Whilst Under the Hood can be read as a standalone adventure, you will definitely get more out of it if you are aware of previous key storylines.

For the most part the narrative in volume 2 is just as strong as part 1. However, the entire plot does rely on the significant revelation at the end of volume 1 and your enjoyment of volume 2 will be influenced by what you thought of that. Some people have accused DC of producing a cheap stunt, an outrageous attempt to re-write the past and sell lots of comics on the back of the controversy. I have some sympathy with this view and it's true the DC Universe could have continued quite happily without this particular tale. On the other hand, it's no more outrageous or audacious than previous comic book storylines and to dismiss it as such sells it a little short. Importantly, this story feels like it belongs in Batman's world; it feels right. And, far from being a cheap one-off stunt, the storyline is still impacting on Batman's world now, three years after publication.

Characters are well-defined, realistic and fit well together. This is particularly true of the interplay between some of the key characters. They behave and react exactly as you would expect them to. Once again, the characters of Alfred and Batman and the relationship between them are very well written. The writers also manage to introduce a fresh element, giving Batman a characteristic rarely associated with him - uncertainty.

The Joker also makes a very welcome return to the fray after a brief hiatus and the writers capture his character superbly. For plot reasons, it is essential that The Joker they use captures the spirit of The Joker which appeared in a previous relevant storyline. At the same time, they bring enough new elements so that he never feels like a pale imitation. There needs to be a feeling of unhinged menace to The Joker, a sense of uncontained madness leading to random death and destruction. This is precisely what the writers achieve. This is The Joker the Batman needs and, in particular, his interaction with Red Hood and Batman is near-perfect.

There's still some room for improvement, though. Black Mask never quite works. He's supposed to be a ruthless crime lord, ruling Gotham City's criminal world with an iron fist, yet comes across as nothing more than a minor bureaucrat. There is no sense of menace or danger and he rather fades into the background compared to the threats posed by The Joker and Red Hood. This is very definitely their book and they're not about to let an upstart spoil it.

Other characters flit in and out. Ra's Al Ghul and his daughter Talia appear briefly and this where you need to have some knowledge of the DC Universe. Their appearance is brief, yet crucial in explaining how the events in Under the Hood are possible. Regular Batman readers will be well aware of these plot elements and simply accept them as part of the Batman canon. Semi-regular readers may be left scratching their heads.

Surprisingly, the artwork in volume 2 is a little more variable and this is due to the use of multiple artists. Volume 1 just had a single artist and it showed, with the whole book having a consistent look and feel which helped immerse you in the dark and sleazy world of Gotham City. Volume 2 never recaptures that. The volume 1 artist returns and it's here that the book is best served: Gotham City is dark, oppressive and grim, as befits the storyline. Characters, too, are well-drawn and convincing, whilst the dialogue and text boxes retain the clean, crisp look that made volume 1 so easy to read.

A couple of the parts, though, are drawn by other artists, and these don't work so well. It's fairly common practice in comics these days to have a number of artists work on a title, but in this instance it works to the detriment of the story. Changing the artist creates a noticeable difference in style and this reminds you that you are just reading a story and breaks the realistic atmosphere. IN a few places the artwork even has a quite cartoony style, which is totally unsuited to this tale. Drawings of characters and places are overly simplistic and don't show the same confident touch of the main artist.

Finally, as a bonus, this volume also includes Batman Annual #25 which expands on and explains some of the plot elements contained in the main story. I found this rather disappointing. Under the Hood is characterized by a down-to-earth realism (at least within the established boundaries of Batman's world). The follow-up tale resorts to other-worldly elements, bringing in some of the less realistic aspects of the DC Universe. I always feel that these sit uneasily with Batman's world and so it proves here. I would have preferred this collection to leave out this tale and for some of the questions to remain unanswered.

How much enjoyment you get out of this will depend on whether you view it as a cynical marketing ploy or a genuine addition to the Batman legend. Personally, I think it is well-written enough to justify its existence. It is one, however, that you should only read if you are aware of the key story arc of the Batman character between the mid-eighties and the late nineties; otherwise there are elements of Under the Hood which will leave you totally bewildered.

Basic Information
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Under the Hood Vol. 2
Judd Winick and Doug Mahnke
Titan Books, 2006
ISBN: 978-1845762773

© Copyright SWSt 2009

Summary: Likely to split opinion over its central revelation