Whether from boredom or danger … Robyn always finds a way to fight.
Creative Staff:
Writer: Chuck Dixon
Artwork: Babisu Kourtis
Colors: Juan Manuel Rodriguez
Letters: Taylor Esposito
What They Say:
Robyn, still an outlaw vigilante, and being hunted by all forms of law enforcement, now knows who is responsible for systematically picking apart her life. Still unable to show her face in public, or rely on her closest friends, she must find a way to set things right and clear her name once and for all. With her world constantly crashing down around her and hew threats popping up, will Robyn have what it takes to keep going and survive this new set of problems and punish those who did this to her?
Content (please note that portions of review may contain spoilers):
It has been thirty-one days since the Underground was destroyed, and now Robyn and Emmett find themselves trapped within an even fouler prison of their own making – a cheap hotel room which has become ever more disgusting thanks to its inhabitants’ laziness and boredom. Even as the vigilante mournfully stares out the window for something to do, her concerned roommate warns the constant watchfulness may bring trouble, to which she amicably remarks that it would at least break the tedium. However as the teenager flips through the channels, a spiteful yet familiar face appears on the glowing screen, the lone woman who began her ruthless crusade to capture Locksley at any cost: Mayor Lisette Nyguen. Her televised news conference is being broadcast from the latest factory for her newly improved mechanical monstrosities, the Vigilante Robots, emotionless enforcers which are the key to ridding New York City of the supernatural forces which plague her city. Showing off their impressive facial recognition features to the reporters, this cold hearted official implies this addition is just a taste of what these artificial menaces can do, and if anyone dares to challenge their authority, they will learn about the rest of their unpleasant upgrades – the hard way.
After dismissing the tiresome journalists, the pompous mayor tours this new factory of horrors with Gengrich and a subordinate, chiding her enthralled servant Julia when she asks if it was wise to show off the newly upgraded Vigilante Robots. Although she coolly stated it was to keep the public on her side, the commissioner was not convinced as to the verity of the declaration, especially when one of the units automatically activated and asks for permission to pursue an infraction. The startled police commander was surprised by this unwarranted action, all due to the fact these machines were still supposed to be in beta, but the overly enthusiastic Nyguen granted permission with her reasoning being they would never find any glitches without some field testing. But as the mechanical enforcer began to wreck havoc while fulfilling its duties, Robyn finally had enough of their self-imposed isolation, screaming in frustration she had to get out of the suffocating room. Although Emmett tried to warn her of the danger due to the new facial recognition, Locksley would not listen and headed out to find a decent slice of pizza, and yet her rewarding search was soon interrupted by the frantic cries of a mugging. Not one to stand idly by and ignore pitiful pleas for help, our heroic vigilante did not hesitate to change her mind, opting to ignore a hunger for Ray’s and instead satisfy her building anger by venting it upon some useless human garbage.
In Summary:
After a well deserved break following the destruction of the Underground within Robyn Hood: Vigilante, it is rewarding to see Robyn has returned with her signature brusque behavior, made all the more biting due to isolation and writer Chuck Dixon’s formidable understanding of the character. While we may be reluctant to see a continuation of this epic story line concerning the aforementioned group, it was made noteworthy once Mayor Nyguen became obsessed in trying to destroy Locksley, allowing her to turn the entirety of the New York City police force upon our favorite archer, made all the more intensely menacing once the robotic enforcers of the Vigilante Hunter Squad were released. Although the battle seems one sided due to these mechanical menaces’ overwhelming power, we cannot but hope for the best as we know Robyn will always find a way out, but due to the manner in which the prior title ended and leads into the current, the future seems doubtful. It is with this somber undertone in which Dixon relentlessly builds upon the growing disaster, permitting fans of this narrative trend to anticipate what may be in store, but at the same time for those who have not read the previous series, this premier is contradictory since it is tagged as a Launch title, and yet prior knowledge of earlier events are required to fully appreciate the nuances of this underlying story of hatred. However even if readers do grasp the tentative basis for Lisette’s compulsion to eliminate Robyn, this shaky foundation is reliant on the audience to suspend a thorough comprehension as to what drives Nyguen, which is made ever harder as she introduces upgraded versions of artificial guardians. As such this initial issue further muddies the literary waters thanks to facts which were never fully elaborated in the previous title: the full extent of the mayor’s true powers and her relationship with the Seamstress, which in turn concerns as to how their partnership is equitable to both parties. To introduce a new ability for Lisette is troublesome, and it is made all the more puzzling after watching Julia have no reaction after watching her fellow police officer die before her eyes, all while we as readers have no idea as to how she gained this power or why it was never elaborated prior to this intentional usage. As such, this leaves us with more questions as to what happened while we were gone, and while we may have an inkling as to an explanation, it is worrisome these suspicions were never hinted until now, all within a fresh tale which only raises more questions than it answers.
And yet even amid all of these narrative inconsistencies, one cannot but sincerely admire the visual presentation displayed so prominently thanks to Babisu Kourtis’ distinct lines and clean environments which create settings that promote the somberness of the opening scene, but it is these same fascinating techniques which prompt the reader to relentlessly pursue the story, and wantonly enter each meaningful transition to see what happens next. The manner by which he crafts each panel is provoking, drawing us into the spectacular details of each image, making us want to delineate each nuanced element until we have essentially memorized every graphic component, and that obsession becomes all the more fulfilling once the actors appear on stage, with either an immense hatred for Nyguen or sincere awe for our venerated Robyn. However a majority of these sensational moments would visually fall flat if not for the tonal elegance which Juan Manuel Rodriguez presents to the audience, with a practiced hand to delicately apply stunning gradations from a pastel palette, serving to additionally lure the helpless audience into the tempestuous shadows and subdued tones of this emotional melodrama. One cannot but be enthralled by this alluring synergistic collaboration, with the pessimism of some magnified and the optimism of others turned inward as we witness the opening somber display while it forcefully unfolds before us, with a stern yet seductive Robyn as she stands by the window and the melancholy Emmett being withdrawn with Tatter’s old cloak, all to mold an almost smothering depression to create the essential ambiance which will most likely prevail for the rest of the series. And it is with this intention that we are re-introduced to the cold hearted woman we came to know as Lisette, with her personable gaze hiding underneath the true face of evil within the city – a manipulative double-faced politician who seeks control over all, even as she hides no qualms when she is away from the public. It is within a singular panel which personifies her lack of morality which still leaves chills within myself: after callously snapping her fingers to settle a disagreement, this brilliant artistic team summarizes Nyguen through a striking eclipse of horror – while Kourtis may have captured her captivating side via pronounced curves within a business suit, it is Rodriguez’s under lit approach to emphasize those same forms that has the added benefit of covering this sinister woman within a haunting shroud of shadow, her cold eyes staring out from the darkness with ebony camouflage paint swallowing the rest of her face, aside from a sly grin. Her formidable presence is felt from this terrifying still, signaling this mayor is ready to take her war with Robyn to another level and she will win … no matter the cost.
Robyn Hood: Justice may begin with some old questions still unanswered, and yet the narrative continues to fascinate due to the exciting foundation which prior titles have established, allowing for the current to continue the story with exuberance. And yet it is the outstanding illustrations and formidable colors with allowing this premier issue to be so memorable, re-igniting our admiration for Robyn’s struggle and Nyguen’s earnest desire to destroy our valiant protector. Thanks to this amazing combination of word and image, readers are in for another amazing title, and yet one has to wonder if this epic saga will ever end.
Grade: A-
Rating: T (Teen)
Released By: Zenescope
Release Date: July 29, 2020
MSRP: $3.99
