A cool concept and lots of potential doesn’t always equal good results. “Red Hood and the Outlaws” #1 is a glaring example of that. Writer Scott Lobdell’s first issue does nothing to create an engaging story nor introduce characters that I even remotely cared about.

Lobdell introduces his cast via a prison breakout scene and an afternoon on the beach at some tropical hideaway. Neither scenario is that effective mainly due to the uninspiring characters and some silly, heavy-handed dialogue. Lobdell makes both Jason Todd and Roy Harper resemble simple-minded frat boys while Starfire is nothing more than some formulaic sex object. I never bought into them being much more than that. Later one, Jason does show a little depth and there are some hints of mystery along the way which shows Lobdell has bigger things in mind. But these things are swallowed up by the book’s lifeless direction and ridiculously awkward and forced attempts at sexuality.

Kenneth Rocafort has an amazing eye for creative page layouts. This issue has his own unique stamp on it as every page has something cool or unique about it. He has so many creative ways of laying out and seperating his panels and that’s this book’s strongest point. Unfortunately I’m not as big a fan of his overall style, particularly his character depictions. His scratchy style renders some good environments but it doesn’t translate into a consistent character design. As a whole, I liked the art but there were areas where a different style would have worked better for me.

Even with Rocafort’s serviceable artwork, this book fails to deliver the fun and energetic experience I was hoping for. Lobdell’s characters are flat and boring and his injection of a weird three-way sexual triangle is as goofy as it is contrived. This issue falls pretty flat and there’s just nothing here that will bring me back for another issue.