The last time I looked at a figure based on Jason Todd it was from the DC Signature Collection by Mattel and I was none too pleased. It was a pretty uninspired figure based on what I always thought to be a terrible character design. This time, I’m checking out DCC’s new figure based on Red Hood’s ongoing New 52 book, Red Hood and the Outlaws, a comic that has managed to keep me entertained in the TPB format. As with their Suicide Squad series, DCC is paying respects to the Red Hood book by releasing a three figure sub-series. Unlike Suicide Squad, we actually get the whole team here: Red Hood, Arsenal, and Starfire. I’m pretty excited to finally get these in hand, so let’s kick off this trio with Red Hood himself.

DCC seems to have settled on these mostly white window boxes for their action figure packaging. It’s got an extended card back so it can sit on the shelves or hang on the pegs and it’s very, very bland and boring. On the plus side, it does have a big window that lets the figure speak for itself and the box is collector friendly. Although if you’re as strapped for space as I am, I don’t know why you would want to save these generic packages. Once I had my in-package shot, the box went in the bin!

Oh, yeah! This is why I love the figures that DCC is turning out these days. Granted, I dig Red Hood’s current look quite a bit, so straightaway that gives this figure a great advantage over the last Jason Todd I looked at. His current costume is a bit of a hodge-podge of his glory days as a hero sidekick and his latest role as an Outlaw. You get his tactical vest with a beautifully chiseled sculpt and a crimson bat to pay homage to his old mentor and ally. Over that he wears a brown leather jacket because… he’s a rebel and an outlaw! I love the way they did his jacket. It’s the usual vest with sculpted sleeves on the arms that all the figure companies are doing these days, but this guy pulls off the illusion quite well. I also dig the way the jacket bellows up around the waist.

Red Hood’s belt features two functional holsters with loose retaining straps and his gauntlets are bristling with some ferocious looking blades. The crisp paintwork and attention to detail in the sculpt is really first rate for a figure in this price range. The outfit may have the composition of an adolescent’s fever dream, but I still think it looks totally bad ass. Hey, don’t knock the ensemble.. these groovy duds got him the sex with Starfire. Oh wait, pretty much anyone can have sex with Starfire. ZING!

The portrait doesn’t disappoint either. The features sculpted into the mask may be a bit more pronounced, but then it really depends on what panel art you’re comparing it to. Sometimes it looks spot on, sometimes the art makes the mask look a little softer. Either way, I like what we got. He looks like a crimson version of Destro and it works so much better for me than the old “pill head” look. Todd is sporting a stern expression, pupiless eyes, and some panel lines, because… hey, it’s the New 52 and everything has to have panel lines, and I’m Ok with that.

Articulation is fairly serviceable, but not outrageous. The arms feature rotating hinges in the shoulders and elbows, and swivels in the wrists. The legs are ball jointed at the hips and have hinges in the knees and ankles. The neck is also ball jointed. There appears to be a swivel in the waist, but mine is stuck tight and I’m not about to force it. As a matter of fact, all the joints on this figure are rather stiff, so he’s definitely going to need a workout in order to limber up. I’ll also note here that each of the blades on his arms are hinged at the base. That was something I did not expect!

On the downside, this figure is very, very fragile and I could tell that from the moment I opened the box and spent about five minutes easing him out of his tray. For starters, the holsters are glued onto the thin rubbery strips of belt, rather than directly onto his thighs. I like the way that looks better, but it raises the possibility of them pulling off. Either way, I put extra care into removing and replacing the guns, so I don’t have another incident like I did with my Game of Thrones figures’ scabbards. Also very fragile are the arm blades. Those hinges are really cool, but damn, I’m almost afraid to even put this guy into a drawer with my other DC Collectibles figures. I’m scared that the next time I open it, he’ll be surrounded by a pile of knives. Maybe I shouldn’t have thrown away that box!

Red Hood comes with two accessories, and as you may have guessed… they’re guns! You get a pair of metallic silver automatic pistols with painted grips. The guns look great and he can hold them in both hands. He even has trigger fingers! What he doesn’t have, unfortunately is a stand. Coincidentally, DC Collectibles will be selling packs of figure stands later this year for anyone stupid enough to reward this practice and buy stands separately. I bought two packs.

I don’t know what made DC Collectibles step up their game, but since their re-branding from DC Direct, they’ve been turning out some quality figures, and Red Hood here is another great example of that. Yes, he’s got some fragility concerns, but those are clearly sacrifices that were made to deliver a better looking figure and I approve. Besides, nothing has broken off of mine yet, so it just goes to show you that a little care is all that’s needed. But if that fails… you may want to have the Gorilla Grodd Glue handy. Red Hood set me back an Andy Jackson and he was well worth it. Next time we revisit The Outlaws, we’ll take a look at everyone’s favorite ex-slave alien princess, Starfire!