It's alright. And if you think it's bullshit the Joker could sabotage Jason's helmet and a cave full of the world's greatest detectives didn't subject that particular piece of equipment to the most punctilious scrutiny ever before letting Jason slap it back on, I'm right there with you. Lobdell is leaving Red Hood and the Outlaws with next month's issue #18 (to be replaced by James Tynion IV), though, so let's see effectively he can wrap things up.

If you're wondering why I haven't mentioned Red Hood's actions at all besides his brief mention in the issue's beginning, it's not because I've forgotten the guy: it's because he's barely in it. We get some more dream world action with Roy and Starfire as they discover the Acres of All and an appearance by Jason towards the end, but not much more than that. Gopez is better at drawing this sort of stuff at least, what with the sprawling fantasy landscapes and gruesome looking monstrosities:

Her power to cast any spell once (but only once or the spell will backfire the second time) brings a much needed element of capriciousness to the "murder island" premise and I'm interested to see what else Hopeless can do with it. I'm still apathetic towards the other characters however, although with the following panel, it's almost as if Hopeless, in all his hipness, had read my mind!

Other than Penguin serving as a pot-bellied punching bag and the reveal of Zsasz, not much transpires. I know we're probably being set up for some interesting turn of events but given the lack of action throughout this issue is ostensibly just the stepping stone on the path to something (hopefully) more interesting.

Despite all this, one female peer in particular has taken a special interest in Thanos. The foreshadowing isn't exactly subtle with her role, so something tells me a monkey wrench will get tossed in as soon as next issue, but she is the catalyst for some actual progression and action within this issue so for that she has my gratitude.

It's refreshing to see a Deadpool that is deranged yet gifted with a commensurate sense of proficiency. This Deadpool gets shit done and doesn't waste panel after panel with egregious and excessive internal monologues.

Although the book's funniest moment comes when Deadpool takes out the Little Mermaid from Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale and divulges the corresponding Marvel character:

Although the issue is essentially one big fight scene, it's a solid one. (But damn is that conclusion a bit unimaginative. I don't want to ruin too much, but forgetting you have an important ability so many times at this point just seems like pandering.)

Closing in on issue #6 now, the Deadpool vs. Zombie Ghost Presidents premise is getting a little tiresome, but the fight scenes with their solid blend of bat-shit craziness, stylistic flair, and exciting mechanics suit the Regeneratin' Degenerate perfectly and Tony Moore adroitly brings it to life with his artwork.

This issue continues with the motif of Deadpool as Marvel's pariah. He's not quite good enough to be an anti-hero and not quite bad enough to be a villain, but somewhere in between and the speculation over which direction he'll take is always fascinating. We've seen this done best with writers Joe Kelly and Fabian Nicieza in the past, so hopefully Posehn and Duggan can continue elucidating Pool's inner turmoil while throwing some exciting new elements into the mix. The conclusion of this issue sees the introduction of a huge plot twist that will shake up Deadpool's comfort zone in a way we haven't seen before, so things are looking up for the future.

The exchanges that take place between Stark and Wilson are top notch. Tony's wallowing in booze-laden self pity and Deadpool's there… to convince him to drink those worries away.

My inner Batman-fanboy found it disappointing that a guy who can bully Superman and commit deicide didn't exhibit any signs of lucid dreaming but I suppose Alfred more than makes up for it with his dream sequence. I don't want to spoil the surprise so I'll just say it ends with Alfred looking like this:

This is what we needed. Not some brief scene of characters sobbing near a tombstone but real emotion. Real pathos. This issue was depressing, gratifying, and cathartic all in one.

Let's get this out of the way right now: This is going to be a deeply polarizing issue. You're going to see some folk express their pleasant surprise and others their most vehement opposition.

Great art. Great setting. A serviceable plot thus far. I went into Helheim #1 without knowing a damn thing about it and came away very pleasantly surprised. Hopefully issue #2 continues with the quality that this one brought about. I also can't wait to see what else Bunn conjures up for Joelle Jones to illustrate.

Although DC divulging the issue's conclusion is a bit of a letdown and screams "desperate marketing plea," Morrison continues to craft a story that is worthy of celebration.

If that's the case, Batman sure has received plenty of “gifts” in his lifetime. Time will tell if these latest events truly make him stronger or carry him to his breaking point.

A commendable blend of humor, action, and an engaging storyline that is moving along at a respectable pace. The characters are well-written and the art is top-notch as well. If you haven't bought this issue yet, consider this your green light.