Continued from Robin II - Jason Todd (Pre-Crisis)
Then, two major events jolted the DC Universe...
The first was Crisis on Infinite Earths (1985-1986), which opened the door for DC to relaunch and redefine all its major franchises.
The second was Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns (1986), the story of a potential future Batman. Among its innovations was a female Robin. Among its allusions to the standard comics was a brief line about Jason Todd being dead; clearly, this was a rougher Batman in a rougher world.
The first was Crisis on Infinite Earths (1985-1986), which opened the door for DC to relaunch and redefine all its major franchises.
The second was Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns (1986), the story of a potential future Batman. Among its innovations was a female Robin. Among its allusions to the standard comics was a brief line about Jason Todd being dead; clearly, this was a rougher Batman in a rougher world.
 Crisis On Infinite Earths (TPB) |
 Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (TPB) |
In late 1986, two new writers took over the Batman stories from Doug Moench: Mike W. Barr on Detective Comics and Max Allan Collins on Batman. Around the same time, Dennis O’Neil returned to DC Comics as editor of the Batman magazines.
Post-Crisis, DC commissioned George Pérez to retell the origin of Wonder Woman, John Byrne to relaunch Superman, and Frank Miller to set a new tone for the regular Batman series. Editors thought that the character’s origin myth still worked, but that readers would appreciate more grit. The audience for superhero comics now consisted of young adults in specialty shops, not kids browsing in drugstores.
In Batman #404-407 (1987), Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli showed the start of Bruce Wayne’s career as Batman. Like Miller’s earlier series, Batman: Year One was stylized, stark, and very successful. Then Max Allan Collins returned and tackled the challenge of Jason Todd, the current Robin.
Post-Crisis, DC commissioned George Pérez to retell the origin of Wonder Woman, John Byrne to relaunch Superman, and Frank Miller to set a new tone for the regular Batman series. Editors thought that the character’s origin myth still worked, but that readers would appreciate more grit. The audience for superhero comics now consisted of young adults in specialty shops, not kids browsing in drugstores.
In Batman #404-407 (1987), Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli showed the start of Bruce Wayne’s career as Batman. Like Miller’s earlier series, Batman: Year One was stylized, stark, and very successful. Then Max Allan Collins returned and tackled the challenge of Jason Todd, the current Robin.
Jason Todd, cheerful former circus acrobat, had come out Crisis On Infinite Earths intact, and appeared in a few more months of stories, but DC’s editors felt that his character didn’t fit the new, grittier Batman’s world. Therefore, in Batman, #408, the Caped Crusader met a new Jason Todd.
Post-Crisis Jason Todd: Origin Revised
Batman (Vol. 1) #408 (June 1987)
In Batman #408 - subtitled ''The New Adventures'', Collins zipped readers into a new continuity for the Dynamic Duo. Dick Grayson’s departure to become Nightwing was no longer a drawn-out but peaceful story of a young man discovering his adult role, and Jason Todd was no longer a second boy trapeze artist with murdered parents who found a new home in Wayne Manor.
Instead, the Joker shoots Dick, Bruce Wayne ''fires'' Dick as Robin out of poorly expressed concern for his safety, and Dick leaves to become Nightwing with the Titans. (The New Teen Titans was still one of DC’s bestselling titles, so that last part was a given.)
This sort of retroactive rewriting of characters' history is known as a ''retcon''.
In this new continuity, Jason Todd is a street orphan who first encounters Batman when Jason attempts to steal tires from the Batmobile.
Instead, the Joker shoots Dick, Bruce Wayne ''fires'' Dick as Robin out of poorly expressed concern for his safety, and Dick leaves to become Nightwing with the Titans. (The New Teen Titans was still one of DC’s bestselling titles, so that last part was a given.)
This sort of retroactive rewriting of characters' history is known as a ''retcon''.
In this new continuity, Jason Todd is a street orphan who first encounters Batman when Jason attempts to steal tires from the Batmobile.
Jason tells Batman that his father is probably in prison, and that his mother has died. Batman sees to it that he is placed in a school for troubled youths.
Jason Todd, arriving at Fay Gunn's School For Boys, discovers that it is a front for a school of crime.
In Batman #409, Batman comes across Jason once more, and is amazed to hear the boy's tale of the worrying curriculum of the school.
He then interrupts Ma Gunn and her boys at an art museum and, with the (unexpected) help of Jason, prevents them from stealing a necklace for the Joker.
Impressed with Jason, Batman decides to take the boy on as the new Robin.
Jason Todd, arriving at Fay Gunn's School For Boys, discovers that it is a front for a school of crime.
In Batman #409, Batman comes across Jason once more, and is amazed to hear the boy's tale of the worrying curriculum of the school.
He then interrupts Ma Gunn and her boys at an art museum and, with the (unexpected) help of Jason, prevents them from stealing a necklace for the Joker.
Impressed with Jason, Batman decides to take the boy on as the new Robin.
And...we have a new Robin!
Batman #409
And so, at the end of Batman #409, after beating some thugs together, Batman takes Jason Todd along with him and immediately starts calling him ''Robin''...
Jason Todd: love him or hate him?
Some irregularities...
Jason Todd's new origin from Batman #408 (June 1987) was actually referenced in Detective Comics #574 (May 1987) two weeks prior to being introduced in Batman #408. Jason Todd appeared in very few Detective Comics issues at this point in time, and when he did, he was written at odds with his new origin (ie. very naive and innocent; such as asking for a glass of milk at a hardcore bar with prostitutes and drug dealers).
Jason Todd had been re-introduced in Batman #408. Meanwhile, at Detective Comics Mike W. Barr was writing a very traditional and fun set of Batman and Robin adventures. Alan Davis drew many of those stories, depicting Jason as a cute, spindly-legged kid in his early teens. This run of issues straddles the period when DC introduced Jason’s new origin, but Detective Comics made almost no reference to the boy’s now-troubled past. Instead, Barr’s Robin acts very much like Dick Grayson from the 1940s through the 1960.
Barr’s scripts did edge into the darker universe that DC was trying to create in the late 1980s. Detective Comics #571 ends with an image of Jason’s tombstone, albeit an imaginary one. In issues #573-574 Jason gets shot, forcing Bruce Wayne to examine the danger he exposes his sidekicks to. Those stories show the dark side of Batman himself. In Detective Comics #570, Batman almost beats up a helpless Joker, but Jason holds him back.
A death in the, o, wait...
In Detective Comics #535 (February 1984 - PRE-Crisis), Robin (Jason Todd) gets injured by Crazy Quilt. He recovers quite quickly, though.
A death in the, Wait, What? Again!?
POST-Crisis (!): Jason Todd again gets seriously injured, this time at the hands of Mad Hatter.
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Again, Jason recovers. It almost seems like Jason Todd just can't die...
I like the first panel; Bruce looks kinda old, but the way he looks at 'Jay', nicely done! This story shows the 'wrong different' Jason from after Crisis On Infinite Earths, when he became somewhat annoying (read 'Some irregularities' above). In this comic, he still resembles Dick Grayson from the 40's-60's. I know, it's confusing... |
***
In another version of Jason's updated origin, from Nightwing: Year One (2005), Batman catches Jason stealing his tyres, but acts a bit different:
Jason's post-Crisis origin is also retold in the 'Under The Hood' story arc, adding one detail:
***
Right, now let's go back to Jason Todd's revised origin (Batman #408-410).
Jason Todd in the Robin costume:
first time post-Crisis
Batman (Vol. 1) #410 (August 1987)
Jason Todd does not wear the Robin costume until months of training (see below).
There isn't that much difference in looks; he looks a lot like Dick Grayson, the previous Robin (obviously for merchandising reasons).
Pre-Crisis, Jason even dyed his hair black (see Batman #366); he was a natural red, back then. From Batman #408 on, he had natural dark hair.
Also in Batman #410 (August 1987), it is revealed that Jason's father, Willis Todd, was indeed a criminal. Jason learns that he was murdered by the villain Two-Face.
There isn't that much difference in looks; he looks a lot like Dick Grayson, the previous Robin (obviously for merchandising reasons).
Pre-Crisis, Jason even dyed his hair black (see Batman #366); he was a natural red, back then. From Batman #408 on, he had natural dark hair.
Also in Batman #410 (August 1987), it is revealed that Jason's father, Willis Todd, was indeed a criminal. Jason learns that he was murdered by the villain Two-Face.
Batman #410 (August 1987)
***
However, in Nightwing: Year One (2005), Jason takes the Robin suit from a display case without permission.
And in Batman #683, Jason is shown as having been given the choice to become Robin, and it’s a choice he wants to honor.
***
Right, now back to Batman #411 (September 1987).
Robin (Jason Todd) confronts Two-Face, but he breaks free and flees. Jason then confronts Batman about his father’s murder at the hands of Two-Face. Batman admits it was wrong not to tell him, but he feared Jason’s thirst for revenge and not justice. Just then, Jason hits on what Two-Face’s next score will be. The next night, the dynamic duo prevents Two-Face from robbing the Lucky Dollar Casino for the second time. Jason even saves Two-Face from serious harm before Two-Face is handed over to the police.
Batman (Vol. 1) #411 (September 1987)
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In Mike W. Barr's last story (in Detective Comics #580-581, November-December 1987) gave Jason another encounter with Two-Face, who killed his father. To his surprise, Jason discovers he can pity the villain. Those two issues, illustrated by Jim Baikie, depict Jason in his late teens, and in addition to growing up physically he’s clearly grown up emotionally.
However, over at the Batman magazine new scripter Jim Starlin moved in the opposite direction, going deeper into the dark side of Jason Todd that Collins had established.
However, over at the Batman magazine new scripter Jim Starlin moved in the opposite direction, going deeper into the dark side of Jason Todd that Collins had established.
Jason Todd: trouble!
In Batman #416, Nightwing (Dick Grayson) returns to Gotham and runs into the new Robin, Jason Todd. Jason's brashness jeopardizes Nightwing's plan to expose some drug dealers. Later, Nightwing returns to the Batcave and confronts Batman. Nightwing learned from the newspapers that there was a new Robin, and was upset that Batman took on a new sidekick after 'firing' him less than a year ago. Nightwing recalls his hero history, detailing his evolution of being 'fired' by Batman, to his brief college career and time with the New Teen Titans and his graduation to Nightwing. Nightwing makes Bruce admit he missed him, although the moment is awkward and Dick leaves. Nightwing meets up with Jason to resume their case and expose the drug dealers. Nightwing gives Jason his old Robin costume and the two heroes proceed on their case, as Batman looks on approvingly. This flashback tale establishes post-Crisis continuity concerning how Dick Grayson abandoned the Robin mantle and became Nightwing.
Paths cross...
Batman #416
Jason Todd meets Nightwing for the first time. At the end of the issue, Dick praises Jason’s potential. But for a lot of readers that tale probably turned them against Jason Todd, because it’s one thing to show Jason sassing Batman, acting cocky, or roughing up criminals. It’s quite another to show Jason disrespecting Nightwing—the leader of DC Comics’s most popular team, the character readers had grown up alongside, the one hero who’s most assuredly not evil. Jason was in serious trouble.
A good listener...
Nightwing (Dick Grayson) gives the second Robin (Jason Todd) his telephone number. What a nice guy!
However, the Batman magazine moved in the opposite direction, going deeper into the dark side of Jason Todd that had been established post-Crisis:
Jason Todd: badass
The most controversial moment prior to Jason's death occurred in Batman #424. It involved a serial rapist named Felipe Garzonas, who escapes prosecution due to his father's diplomatic immunity. One of his victims, a girl named Gloria, hangs herself amid the threat of a third rape from Felipe. Todd discovers her hanging and makes a beeline for Felipe, ahead of Batman, who arrives just in time to see Felipe take a 22 story fall to his death, with Todd as Robin at the edge of the balcony. Todd maintains "I guess I spooked him. He slipped." This highlights an earlier exchange in Batman #422 where he uses excessive force on a pimp about to slash one of his working girls and Todd asks Batman if it "would've been such a big loss if I had (killed him)?" Whether Todd pushed the rapist from the roof is never known.
Jason Todd: loose cannon
Batman #425
In Batman #425, the Dynamic Duo is challenged by Felipe's father when he kidnaps Commissioner Gordon in retaliation for his son's death. Batman is instructed to meet the kidnappers at a city junkyard and to bring Robin. Batman does not wish to involve Todd and keeps this information from him. However, Robin senses something is wrong and hides in the Batmobile's trunk as Batman heads to the junkyard. There, Batman is unable to reach Gordon, surrounded by Garzonas' men, and Todd intervenes, saving Batman from a close call. Machine gunfire breaks out and Gordon is wounded in the arm. All of the henchmen die, and Garzonas is finally crushed by a pile of junk cars. Batman speaks to Todd of consequences to actions while the boy stares at the dead and the wounded Gordon for a moment before walking off.
Batman: A Death In The Family
-> The Death Of Jason Todd
So, although an effective hero, the second Robin became increasingly moody, reckless and even violent. After consulting with Alfred, Batman decided to pull Jason off active duty. While kicking around his old stomping grounds, Jason discovered that Catherine Todd was not his real mother. He went in search of his true heritage and found it in Sheila Haywood.
Using the extensive resources of the Batcave, Jason was able to track his mother to Ethiopia. But shortly after their reunion, he was surprised by and savagely beaten almost to death by Batman's arch-foe the Joker, who had been blackmailing Jason's mother. The Joker then left Jason and his mother bound inside a warehouse filled with explosives.
DC set up two 1-900 number 50-cent hotlines giving callers the ability to vote for or against Jason's death. The call-in period started after publication of the issue in which Jason and his mother are trapped in the warehouse.
Using the extensive resources of the Batcave, Jason was able to track his mother to Ethiopia. But shortly after their reunion, he was surprised by and savagely beaten almost to death by Batman's arch-foe the Joker, who had been blackmailing Jason's mother. The Joker then left Jason and his mother bound inside a warehouse filled with explosives.
DC set up two 1-900 number 50-cent hotlines giving callers the ability to vote for or against Jason's death. The call-in period started after publication of the issue in which Jason and his mother are trapped in the warehouse.
Over 10,000 votes were cast, with the final vote being 5,343 votes for Jason to die over 5,271 for him to live. DC published A Death in the Family to massive media attention, some of it critical. Over a decade later, in a Newsarama interview conducted alongside writer Judd Winick, O'Neil said: "I heard it was one guy, who programmed his computer to dial the thumbs down number every ninety seconds for eight hours, who made the difference." If true, that would have amounted to over 200 votes (and 100 dollars), certainly enough to decide the count. There is no way to confirm that rumor, but it adds uncertainty to the question of whether the poll was an accurate measure of what fans wanted to happen to Jason Todd.
 Batman #428 |
 Batman #428 |
Finding Jason's body, Batman was overcome with grief and thoughts of
vengeance. He was eventually able to get past this with the aid of
Superman, Nightwing, and the newest Robin, Tim Drake.
Robin...dead.
Batman #428
Artist Jim Aparo had prepared two versions of the final panel in Batman, #428. One showed Batman anguishing over Jason’s corpse, the other Batman celebrating that Jason had survived. The panel below is the one that never got colored.
Shocking cover for me as a child, I tell ya...
Shocking cover for me as a child, I tell ya...
Impact
Notable incidents in the story include Batman punching Superman and treating villains a lot more violently than usual. Although the Joker has been responsible for dozens if not hundreds of deaths, it is only now that Batman, for personal reasons, seriously considers crossing the line set by his moral code and killing his nemesis. "His insanity always got him a stay of execution," the character thinks. "But no more. Jason's dead." In a story set shortly after these events, Superman confronts Batman with the fact that he left the Joker to die in the helicopter crash at the conclusion, although Batman pointed out in response that it had already been unlikely that he would survive an escape attempt on his own and trying to save the Joker would have definitely killed them both.
Batman struggles with Jason's death
Batman #441
Who's that kid wearing the Robin costume, talking to Batman about Jason's death and how that changed him?
From 'A Lonely Place Of Dying' (see timeline).
From 'A Lonely Place Of Dying' (see timeline).
Jason Todd: lost days and return
For the next decade's worth of stories, Jason's death haunts Batman, who keeps Jason's costume on display in the Batcave. Batman considers these his greatest failure: not properly training Jason in his role as Robin, and failing to protect him from the Joker.
return from the grave
Years later, while trying to discover the identity of a mysterious figure plotting against him (which turns out to be Hush), Batman discovers that Robin (Tim Drake) has been kidnapped. When he confronts the kidnapper, he discovers much to his surprise that the kidnapper is apparently an adult Jason Todd, standing at his own desecrated grave site. Batman subdues this mystery "Jason" and discovers that it is only Clayface impersonating Todd, concluding that "Jason's" greater physical age was to hide the flaws in Clayface's impersonation by allowing him to partially mimic Nightwing's combat skills; duplicating Drake's movements wouldn't work as his movements were too familiar, but Batman's less regular contact with Nightwing would make him unsure. However, Todd's body is missing from its grave.
It is later revealed that Todd had indeed died at the hands of the Joker. However, when Superboy-Prime alters reality from the paradise dimension in which he is trapped, Todd is restored to life, breaking out of his coffin. He collapses short thereafter and is hospitalized.
After spending a year in a coma and subsequently as an amnesiac vagrant, he is recognized by Talia al Ghul, who restores his health and memory by immersing him in a Lazarus Pit in which her father Ra's al Ghul is also bathing. It is suggested at that time that exposure to the Pit's energies together with Al Ghul might have affected Jason's personality. On Talia's advice, Jason determines his death was never avenged, and prepares to confront Batman by traveling across the globe in the same path of trainings as his mentor.
When Batman expresses no remorse for sparing the Joker's life after Jason was killed, Jason is further angered and takes up the mantle of the Red Hood.
It is later revealed that Todd had indeed died at the hands of the Joker. However, when Superboy-Prime alters reality from the paradise dimension in which he is trapped, Todd is restored to life, breaking out of his coffin. He collapses short thereafter and is hospitalized.
After spending a year in a coma and subsequently as an amnesiac vagrant, he is recognized by Talia al Ghul, who restores his health and memory by immersing him in a Lazarus Pit in which her father Ra's al Ghul is also bathing. It is suggested at that time that exposure to the Pit's energies together with Al Ghul might have affected Jason's personality. On Talia's advice, Jason determines his death was never avenged, and prepares to confront Batman by traveling across the globe in the same path of trainings as his mentor.
When Batman expresses no remorse for sparing the Joker's life after Jason was killed, Jason is further angered and takes up the mantle of the Red Hood.
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During the 'Batman: Battle For The Cowl story arc, Jason briefly wears the Batman costume, living and operating out of an abandoned Gotham subway system, as Batman (Bruce Wayne) seems to have died at the hands of Darkseid.
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