Red Hood: The Hill returns to its exploration of the eponymous neighborhood and the daily struggles of its people. Demetrius Korlee Jr. and the mysterious Grand Imperial gang's uneasy alliance threatens the lives of everyone in their way. At the same time, the hero group "The Watch" try and decide whether stopping them is worth the costs of being vigilantes. It's a story focused on the relationship between common people and those who look to exploit them. However, despite now being two issues (plus a prologue) into a six issue miniseries, the story seems content with just laying groundwork.
Korlee continues to operate in the background, maintaining his "magnanimous businessman" routine for the public while working with criminals in the shadows. This mostly consists of hidden sneers and evil undertones to everything he says. The meetings with his criminal contacts give some insight into how he's maintaining both sides of his façade, but he rarely takes direct action himself. This can make it hard to get a good idea of his motivations or driving force. We know from the prologue issue that he wants revenge on Batman for taking down his dad, but it feels like we need more than that by now.
The key to his plans is the enigmatic Grand Imperial gang. Like groups such as the Black Glove or Court of Owls, they seem to be ever-present, controlling the underground of The Hill through unseen means. However, unlike those groups, they seem focused on only controlling The Hill specifically. At times it almost makes it feel like an entirely separate city were it not for the regular mentions of Joker War. I guess it's like a minor league villain team; once they get good enough they can shoot for the rest of Gotham.
More than anything else, they keep talking about "order" winning over "chaos". It makes sense as a villainous motivation, but more so if they were some sort of authoritarian government. For instance, I could see Failsafe over in Batman making that sort of argument. However these guys seem like any other street gang trying to empower themselves. On the other hand, the heroes talk about finding "balance" between the two concepts, and I have even less of an idea of what that's supposed to mean. In a vacuum these can all be worthwhile themes to explore, but it's unclear how it relates to this story. Hopefully things will be more clear as time goes on.
The series' strengths continue to lie in the close-knit comradery of "The Watch". The Hill being what it is, there's a common theme of needing to rely on community policing to keep one's self safe. Their ties to the neighborhood around them keep them meaningfully part of the overall conflict, and invests the reader in their struggle. The back and forth between Strike and the rest of The Watch on the merits of vigilantism, and whether it's worth putting their lives on the line is the highlight of the issue. They feel like real people who are doing their best to keep their home safe under terrible circumstances.
These themes are reinforced by the art, which once again leans into the scratchy linework and warm colors Greene and Herms established in the first issue. In combination, the effect is a dynamic style that evokes the same spirit as you might see in city street murals. The warm, inviting tones create the sense of family during the slow scenes, while the chaotic energy of the pencils themselves keep things exciting.
What's awkward about The Watch is Jason, or rather the lack thereof. That poignant conversation I mentioned? Jason isn't even there until the very end when it's time to shoot stuff. He has one scene with Dana that could be dropped without affecting the plot in any way. I would probably prefer a version of this story that didn't have him at all. I get that the game is the game and you need someone with a bat on their chest to sell copies, but whenever he does show up it ends up feeling inorganic. He has none of their connection to the plot or setting, and is just sort of there. The fight on the cover is pure bait that never actually happens in any form, but if it did then at least it would give him something to do.
Recommended If
- You're ambivalent about Jason's inclusion in this story
- Underdog stories are something you like
- You don't mind a slow paced story
Overall
Red Hood: The Hill #2 is more of the same from last issue. The focus remains on the local vigilante group The Watch's ability to protect their community from the criminal gangs that threaten it. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, and their ties to their home is the title's biggest appeal, but it can create the sense that it's still waiting for something to happen. Fans of Jason hoping he'll play a larger role in the comic with his name on the cover will need to wait for future issues.
Score: 6/10
DISCLAIMER: DC Comics provided Batman News with a copy of this comic for the purpose of this review.
