Batman: A Death in The Family - Jason Todd's Legacy and Return

Jason Todd's Legacy and Return

The issue of Jason Todd's death was often raised over the years in the mainstream Batman stories, becoming almost as important a factor in his life as the death of his parents. It intensified Batman's feud with the Joker, making it even more personal. In the course of the Batman: Knightfall story arc, Batman is exposed to the Scarecrow's fear toxin, causing him to hallucinate about Jason's death. However, instead of fear, he reacts in rage, and brutally beats the Joker while screaming Jason's name. He often visits Jason's gravesite and raises his death as a factor in his reluctance to take on new sidekicks, such as Tim Drake (the third Robin and current Red Robin), Stephanie Brown (the fourth Robin, and third Batgirl), Cassandra Cain (the second Batgirl), and Damian Wayne (the current Robin). Jason is memorialized in the Batcave; his Robin costume is preserved under glass, along with the epitaph "A Good Soldier."

In the Hush storyline, it was hinted that Todd was really alive, as a young man who strongly resembles him is standing on his desecrated grave. However, in the end, Batman finds that it was Clayface mimicking the role. In the "Under the Hood" arc, it is revealed that it was Todd whom Batman had fought, but Jason then switched places with the shapeshifter in collaboration with the villains Hush, Riddler, and Talia al Ghul. Todd reveals himself to Batman as the murderous vigilante, the Red Hood (though the Dark Knight was secretly aware that it was really his former partner all along since their encounter at the cemetery). Jason cripples Black Mask's criminal organization in Gotham, and kidnaps and tortures the Joker (including beating him to near-death with a crowbar). Jason's also at odds with Batman, Dick, his successor, Tim Drake, and the rest of their allies ever since announcing his return. The details of his return are revealed in Batman Annual #25 and Red Hood: The Lost Years #1-6.