DC Confirms Red Hood is More Brutal Than a Classic Batman Villain

Warning: contains preview pages for Task Force Z #4!

DC has confirmed that Red Hood is too brutal for one of Batman’s greatest foes: Two-Face. In a preview for Task Force Z #4, Red Hood learns Two-Face is bankrolling Task Force Z, a special black ops team consisting of zombified villains. And a misunderstanding between the two shows readers just how brutal Red Hood can be. The issue goes on sale January 25 in print and digital.

Before Jason Todd became Red Hood, he was the second Robin. Todd’s tenure was cut short when he was murdered at the hands of the Joker; he would return many years later, taking the name Red Hood, waging a violent war against Gotham’s underworld. His methods, which once included lethal force, put him at odds with his former mentor, although relations between the two have thawed. Recently, Red Hood was recruited to oversee Task Force Z, a team consisting of formerly dead villains revived thanks to the Lazarus Resin; among the team’s ranks include the Arkham Knight and Bane. Red Hood’s expertise on death and resurrection makes him the ideal candidate to lead the team, and in the previous issue, he learned the team was being funded by none other than Two-Face, and now in Task Force Z #4, he wants answers. The issue is written by Matthew Rosenberg, illustrated by Eddy Barrows and Keiran McKeown, inked by Eber Ferreira and Dexter Vines, colored by Adriano Lucas, and lettered by Rob Leigh.

As the preview opens, Red Hood confronts Two-Face about his role in Task Force Z. Dent brings up Red Hood’s previous use of firearms and lethal force, but says he is not afraid of Red Hood killing him, because Red Hood doesn’t “do that anymore.” Red Hood confides this was a big gamble on Two-Face’s part. Two-Face then reaches into his desk, opening a drawer. Assuming he is going for a gun, Red Hood shocks Two-Face. As he picks himself up off the ground, Two-Face reveals he was simply going to offer Red Hood a drink. Angered, he calls Red Hood a “@#$?!& maniac!” Two-Face then tells Red Hood he wants to help him, but Red Hood is skeptical.

Despite turning over a new leaf recently, a fact Two-Face notes, Red Hood still has a reputation for being a violent vigilante, one who defied his former mentor by using guns as well as killing people. He has taken steps to change his ways, but his reputation precedes him. Two-Face had no doubt heard stories of Red Hood’s ways, but not even he could believe it. For a hardened criminal like Two-Face to call Red Hood a maniac speaks volumes to Red Hood’s brutality. Does Two-Face have Red Hood’s best interests at heart? Or is there a deeper game being played?

Two-Face is one of Batman’s greatest villains, who has killed many people in his career, but now DC has confirmed Red Hood is way too brutal for him in a preview for Task Force Z #4.

About The Author

Shaun Corley
(1384 Articles Published)

Shaun Corley is a pop culture enthusiast living in the Pacific Northwest. After stints in both customer service and academia, he’s turned his attention to writing about comic books–his lifelong passion. He is a graduate of Radford University, with a degree in English. When not reading comics, he enjoys spending time with his fiance and their dog.

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