In Red Hood: The Hill #2, Strike may be getting in over her head. The Watch wants to hang up their helmets, but Demitrius has other plans. He goes to Killer Croc for help.
Title: Red Hood: The Hill #2: “Heavy is the Head”
Writer: Shawn Martinborough
Artist: Sanford Greene
Colors: Matt Herms
Main Cover: Riley Rossmo
Variant Cover: Dave Wielgosz & Ben Mears
Release Date: March 12, 2024
This comic book review contains spoilers.
Heavy is the Head
The fight between Strike and the rival faction led by Dana’s former cook Omar continues. Battle is severely injured, and Strike is losing because of numbers. Block and Edge get there just in time to save Strike and force the Grand Imperial forces away. They are tired and want to call a meeting. When can this fight be finished and they can return to normal lives?
At the God Mode, Demitrius and Ms. Ford discuss Omar’s latest failure. Demitrius has an interview with another small-town reporter.
At Dana Harlowe’s apartment, The three Watch members continue their discussion disbanding the Watch. Dana insists that they have more work to do, they cannot rest yet. At the diner, Jason and Dana have coffee. Jason thanks her for giving him time to think, but he is now worried about Dana. He is afraid she might be in too deep and cannot get out.
Demitrius holds a ceremony for the Youth Center opening. Later, he has his interview with Desmond Bell, the local reporter. Bell presses him about the vigilante war in the Hill. Omar tails Dana to the hospital, but he receives a message from the imperial dragon to meet now. Omar gets screamed at by Demitrius for his actions and insists that he will fix the problem his way.
At the hospital, Dana and her sister check on Captain Battle’s condition, it is not good. Jason overhears when the conversation turns to Demitrius Korlee Jr. At the Watch meeting, Dana is not yet there. They discuss changing leadership when Red Hood steps in. Their conversation is interrupted by the imperial dragons taking photographs of them.
Ms. Ford and Demitrius are on their way to meet Demitrius’ plan, Killer Croc.
This issue has very little action in it. It shifts from one scene to another rapidly in an attempt to get everyone’s perspective. In ordinary storytelling, this is can be effective, but in this I think it just shows how convoluted this plot is becoming. It is more than a gang violence situation where innocent bystanders are getting caught in the crossfire. This is a convoluted plot possibly involving corporate espionage with thug violence mixed in. Red Hood is suited for the thug violence, but the character really does not have the nuances to handle this type of story. The writing continues to use the harming of the innocent as the catalyst, but I am not sure if the writers really have an idea of where this story is going to go.
Page from Red Hood: The Hill #2 (All images courtesy of DC Comics)
Just as I question the use of Red Hood, I also question the use of Waylon Jones (Killer Croc) in this story. He is most effectively used as brute force, not a kingpin in a dinner jacket.
With that said, the art here is also off. Dana in particular does not look like her previous appearances in prior issues. Her hair seems to have more body, and starting in the last panel of the previous issue, she is wearing her hair out of her helmet, not tucked into the back of her costume. I am not sure what the purpose of this change is, but it is another case of not sure where the story is going to go including the visuals. I do have a question, when did Red Hood get a Red Hood Mobile?
Continuity-wise, I am not sure what the purpose of this story is. It takes place between the Joker War and Gotham War, and it depicts another smaller war in Gotham, a war between vigilante gangs… but this is not in Batman’s turf? What exactly is the Hill? It is depicted as a district of Gotham removed from downtown, but it seems unlikely that Batman would not have a presence here as well.
Final Thoughts
This story is hard to follow, and the ultimate point or plot is really hard to pin down. My best guess is that Dana is a character that Jason can see himself as, and as a result, he wants to save her from becoming just like him. Interesting thought as Jason has fought to not become Batman.
Editor’s Note: DC Comics provided TBU with an advance copy of this comic for review purposes. You can find this comic and help support TBU in the process by purchasing this issue digitally on Amazon or a physical copy of the title through Things From Another World.
