DC K.O.: RED HOOD VS. THE JOKER #1 –

Creative Team – Scott Snyder, Joshua Williamson, Dustin Nguyen, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Mark Morales, John Kalisz, Steve Wands

Published by DC Comics

Catch up with DC K.O. Harley Quinn VS Zatanna #1!

This comic is reviewed by both Megan from the Vigilante Vibes Podcast and Matt from the Hops “Geek” News podcast!

The Story

Matt – Wow, this is the rematch we have all been waiting for with much eagerness. Two foes with so much history and so much behind their eyes that remains a mystery to the audience, coming to blows for the fate of the world. What stood out in this story is how Jason grows throughout this story and this issue. It’s as though this issue is about healing himself on the inside as it is about moving on to the next round. Joker is a form of demon and something that has always felt supernatural, and watching him fight and go against Jason, it truly felt that way at moments, too. From the jump, both Williamson and Snyder grab our attention and throttle it to 11 without slowing down until the very end. This may just be the most important story during fight month.

Megan – In the epic event of DC K.O., we’re finally to the fight that I’ve anticipated the most, Red Hood VS. The Joker. Ever since the shocking death of Jason Todd, The Joker has had a good dose of revenge coming his way, and this is how we get to see it. Jason Todd, once Robin, now the Red Hood, get’s to prove that he’s so much more than the crowbar everyone sees when they think his name. The Joker, however, knows the depths of this fight, and plans to toy with Jason every step of the way. In a battle of someone who has nothing to lose and someone who has everything to prove, the winner will be settling the score for once and for all.

Scott Snyder and Joshua Williamson bring what I think was the most impactful battle of DC K.O. so far in Red Hood VS. The Joker #1. With an excellent narration from Jason Todd throughout the comic, we get to see just how much of an impact this battle has on him, not just for title of King Omega, but for his character. There was so much depth on each and every page, along with excellently high energy throughout the comic. Both fighters fought in a way that was so very true to their personalities, it was easy to see the personal factor in their actions. Snyder and Williamson were able to capture your attention by the first page, and not let go of it until the end of the final round.

The Art

Matt – The artwork in this issue is violent and unhinged as it should be. Joker does not fight with method or with style, but rather is a loose cannon to which the art team captures with every slice and stab into Jason that we see. The familiar settings and storylines from the two individuals’ past were laid out in great and immersive detail, whether it was the room in which Jason died or the costumes the two chose.

Megan – The artwork of DC K.O.: Red Hood VS. The Joker #1 is as exciting as the story itself. Expertly matching the high energy of the battles, the artists were able to elevate the story itself. With some downright horrifying looks of The Joker, and Jason fighting as his life depended on it, your eyes will be glued to the pages of the comic.

With each round, there’s a whole new tone of the story that brings new emotions. With the new arena’s, the artists made each scene impactful with their use of darker and gritty colors complementing the drawings excellently. Aside from the fantastic new scenes, the fighter’s looks are what I appreciated the most. Jason Todd dons a look we all know very well that’ll take you back in comic history, and this look only pushes The Joker to kill him even faster. The look of Jason, the unhinged chaos of The Joker, all perfectly illustrated by the artists.

Final Thoughts

Matt – 10/10. This story met and then exceeded my expectations. It is a violent story of healing with a shocking ending that propels the K.O. storyline forward exponentially.

Megan – 10/10. I cannot say enough good things about DC K.O.: Red Hood VS. The Joker #1! I was extremely excited for this story, and my expectations were exceeded in an extraordinary way!

Overall Grade -10/10!

Let us know in the comments below what you thought of DC K.O.: Red Hood VS. The Joker #1!