Description
Batman confronts various foes while the Red Hood tears apart Gotham's underworld and plans revenge on the man who killed him.
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2006-06-07
Publication
DC Comics (2006), Paperback, 192 pages
ISBN
1401209017 / 9781401209018
Local notes
Collects the conclusion to the "Under the Hood" arc from Batman #645 through 650, plus the origin story of the Red Hood from Batman Annual #25 and how it tied in with the Infinite Crisis event.
Notes on continuity: This second half of the story picks up after the events of "The O.M.A.C. Project", with Batman having gone days without sleep as a result from those events, as well as "War Crimes", in which the Joker had recuperated from his wounds and gone to Arkham, where Hood is implied to have kidnapped him. The penultimate issue is concurrent with "Infinite Crisis"' destruction of Blüdhaven in the opening pages of issue #4 of that series. And at the end of the "Under the Hood" story, the universe-altering crisis from "Infinite Crisis" reaches them.
Notes on continuity: This second half of the story picks up after the events of "The O.M.A.C. Project", with Batman having gone days without sleep as a result from those events, as well as "War Crimes", in which the Joker had recuperated from his wounds and gone to Arkham, where Hood is implied to have kidnapped him. The penultimate issue is concurrent with "Infinite Crisis"' destruction of Blüdhaven in the opening pages of issue #4 of that series. And at the end of the "Under the Hood" story, the universe-altering crisis from "Infinite Crisis" reaches them.
Library's review
The character work in the confrontation in this conclusion is pretty great, but the story itself is a bit of a let down. The Joker having been nursed back to health after his beating in part 1, left to his own devices for an extended period of time (as seen in "War Crimes") and then re-attacked and
I also personally think the issue detailing the Red Hood's origin should have come before the final chapter, rather than after, as it now feels like a compulsory continuity clean-up, rather than chilling set-up for the final confrontation if placed slightly earlier in the paperback.
But on an emotional level, Batman's confrontations with Hood are solid, the dialogue memorable and the Joker's delighted cackling as events unfold adds a great layer to the storytelling, as it is obvious to the reader the only person winning here, ironically, is the supposed victim. "Under the Hood" remains a great Batman story with lasting consequences for the mythos and character, but it deserved a better conclusion.
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kidnapped by the Hood is stupid and convoluted, making both Joker and Hood look foolish and incompetent (the former for not being prepared for a second attack once his new enemy showed his hand by beating him, the latter for letting him go when he could just have kept him captive until needed). Hood's fake fight with Black Mask is unnecessary and poorly explained, and takes up a whole issue. And then Infinity Crisis happens and overtakes and overshadows the ending that should have been enough in its own right.I also personally think the issue detailing the Red Hood's origin should have come before the final chapter, rather than after, as it now feels like a compulsory continuity clean-up, rather than chilling set-up for the final confrontation if placed slightly earlier in the paperback.
But on an emotional level, Batman's confrontations with Hood are solid, the dialogue memorable and the Joker's delighted cackling as events unfold adds a great layer to the storytelling, as it is obvious to the reader the only person winning here, ironically, is the supposed victim. "Under the Hood" remains a great Batman story with lasting consequences for the mythos and character, but it deserved a better conclusion.
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User reviews
LibraryThing member wheresmynoose
I really, really wanted to like this. The first volume was fun, its mystery surprisingly intriguing. This final volume starts off well enough, till you arrive at the final chapter. The payoff is virtually nonexistent, mainly because there is no ending whatsoever. Extremely frustrating, and
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ultimately disappointing. Show Less