Warning! Contains spoilers for Red Hood: The Hill #6!
Summary
DC has introduced a new villain,Korlee Jr., who I believe is not only a threat to Gotham City but also won’t ever see himself in Arkham Asylum, even thoughBatmanis perfectly aware of him. There have been plenty of dangerous villains in Gotham City — some new, some old — but they’ve all ended up in Arkham Asylum for one reason or another. But now it’s time for a change of pace.
Red Hood just had a major adventure in the Hillneighborhood of Gotham City, butthe over-arching villain of the story, Demitrius Korlee Jr., managed to get away with nearly no consequencesinRed Hood: The Hill#6 by Shawn Martinbrough and Tony Akins. While Batman now has Korlee Jr on his radar, I don’t believe that it’ll make much of a difference. Batman doesn’t have any evidence to use against him, and I doubt that will change anytime soon.
While the series does end with Korlee Jr. — who hasmajor ties to gangs and other violent happenings in and around his Gotham neighborhood, the Hill — beingexposed to Gotham City as a criminal, it’s unlikely that will matter. With his resources and how fond the public seems of him, any rumors of him being malicious aren’t likely to hold water. Korlee Jr.’s father, the most damning source of evidence against him, even admits he might be unreliable due to his old age.
DC Just Gave Red Hood and Batman the Moment They’ve Always Deserved (& I’ve Always Needed)
DC has officially healed my soul by giving me a sob-worthy Jason Todd and Bruce Wayne moment that is as heartbreaking as it is perfect.
Despite His Status as a Villain, Korlee Jr. Is Beloved for His Godmode Fashion Stores
Panels fromRed Hood: The Hill#1 by Shawn Martinbrough, Sanford Greene, Matt Herms, and Troy Peteri
Everyone in Gotham City knows thatGotham’s strange and costumed villainsare true criminals, which makes it easier to pin them for their crimes. No one goes into business with Oswald Cobblepot believing that he is a legitimate businessman, but the same can’t be said for Korlee Jr.Korlee managed to keep his identity as a criminal a true secret, and he was more than willing to use other people to do the dirty work for him, leaving himself completely untouchable. The only thing against him was an interview with his father, which exposed his criminal conduct. But even that is being brushed away by the circumstances of the story.
The fact that Korlee isn’t behind bars yet means he’s still a major threat to Gotham City.
Korlee Jr. wanted to steal from Wayne Enterprises, specifically their weapons development division. WithBruce Wayne no longer in charge of Wayne Enterprises, and Batman often busy in other areas of Gotham,Korlee might attempt to take over Wayne Enterprises completely. He’s already set his sights on the company once, and with his fame and money, it’s not hard to imagine this being possible. While Batman and Korlee have officially declared war on each other, the fact that Korlee isn’t behind bars yet means he’s still a major threat to Gotham City.
Is DC Setting Korlee Jr. Up to Return in Future Stories?
Korlee Jr. Could Be the Next Big Batman Villain
The most dangerous kind of villain is the one who can blend into society and manipulate things from the shadows. Korlee Jr. might very well end up being Gotham City’s very own Lex Luthor. He’s a beloved businessman who gives back to the community, all while manipulating the criminal underworld to give him more power and opportunities. I don’t believe that this is the last time thatBatmanfans will be seeingKorlee Jr., and the next time he appears, he might just be a bigger threat than anyone could imagine.
