ROBYN HOOD: NIGHT OF THE HUNTER – Review

In ROBYN HOOD: NIGHT OF THE HUNTER, available from Zenescope Entertainment on September 29th, 2021, Robyn’s vacation is interrupted when a deadly hunter comes to fulfill a legacy of revenge.

The Details

• Written By: Joe Brusha
• Art By: Rodrigo Xavier
• Colors By: Juan Manuel Rodriguez
• Letters By: Taylor Esposito
• Cover Art By: Al Barrionuevo, Ivan Nunes (cover A)
• Cover Price: $5.99
• Release Date: September 29, 2021

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Was It Good?

File this one under the “Robyn Hood levels up” category, and Whoo Boy does she level up.

Robyn’s had a rough go of it lately in NYC with attacks from evil doppelgangers, spider monsters, snake gods, and scorpion queens. Through it all, she’s largely relied on her physical prowess and skills with weaponry to get her out of every tight jam. However, her enigmatic weapons master, Smitty, has been pushing her to not rely on just bow skills but to dig deep to use all the tools at her disposal. In this issue, Robyn’s forced to find an inner strength (helped with the power behind her glowy eye) to survive against all odds.

There’s something so satisfying about a hero overcoming a superior foe to not only survive and win but become something greater.

The plot is fairly simple. Smitty arranges a getaway for some much-needed R&R, but the vacation doesn’t last long. The minor down point of the issue is the over simplicity of the story. To be fair, there aren’t any plot holes or too-convenient contrivances to bring the combatants together, but the whole conflict comes together so quick and easy, not much attention is given to building tension. The hunter never acts as if she’s worried about winning and neither does Robyn.

In other words, the story lacks dramatic punch. Perhaps if Smitty or a couple of wayward hikers were taken hostage as bait, it would have given the story tension. That said, the ending does end with a bang, so the story could be accurately described as mixed.

The art is generally good, but the standout is Rodriguez’s coloring. The shading and textures look phenomenal and kick the, otherwise standard, art up several levels.

What’s It About?

[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]

We begin with two figures, obscured by shadows in a darkened room, discussing how best to hunt and kill Robyn Hood. The older gentleman is surrounded by wall-mounted heads of previous hunts and it’s clear from the talk that Robyn was the prey that got away. The second figure is his daughter, and she’s sworn to uphold her father’s honor by using years of training to bring Robyn’s head to him.

Cut to a secret training facility outside NYC. Smitty is working with Robyn to reach her peak and beyond with weapons practice. After a particularly grueling session, Smitty explains he’s arranged for a getaway in the isolated mountains of Montana for a needed break.

When they arrive in Montana, Robyn barely gets a day of rest when nearby explosions alert her to trouble in the nearby woods. There she finds Scarlet Viper, the daughter of the elder hunter from the prologue. Viper warns Robyn to prepare herself to be hunted at dawn.

Of course, Robyn doesn’t wait until dawn to suit up and confront Viper. We conclude the issue with a condensed version of The Most Dangerous Game ending with Robyn calling on powers she never knew she had.

Final Thoughts

ROBYN HOOD: NIGHT OF THE HUNTER is a solid cat and mouse story about an old grudge coming to collect on Robyn when she least suspects it. The writing is strong and clear but it lacks dramatic tension. The art is excellent with standout coloring work.

Score: 8/10