🏀Jason Todd's Death Wasn't Batman's Fault, & Red Hood Knows It🏀
0Jason Todd's Death Wasn't Batman's Fault, & Red Hood Knows It
Even nearly two decades later, Judd Winick's unveiling of Jason Todd as the Red Hood in the Batman: Under the Hood storyline remains one of the most remarkable and iconic character reinterpretations. Winick not only resurrected a character but also bestowed upon him an identity that transformed the formerly despised figure into a beloved favorite among fans. Now, Winick further enriches Jason Todd's character arc by revealing the true culprit behind his demise.
In Batman and Robin #23 by Judd Winick, Guillem March, and Andrei Bressan, Jason Todd, the former Boy Wonder turned Red Hood, requests a transfer from Arkham Asylum to Blackgate Penitentiary, arguing that he's not "insane."
Relocated to Blackgate, Red Hood continues his personal war on crime, resulting in the deaths of 82 inmates and the illness of hundreds more due to his poisoning of the cafeteria food. While being transported back to Arkham, Jason, handcuffed, candidly confesses, "I like trouble," and reflects on how this inclination explains his actions and his premature death at the hands of the Joker.
After Jason confesses his fondness for trouble, he proceeds to list off the series of consequences resulting from this inclination, citing his time in juvenile detention, his transition into vigilantism, his transformation into the Red Hood, and, most notably, his premature death. Despite his sardonic tone, this moment represents a rare instance of Jason accepting responsibility for his actions, particularly regarding his demise. While he has often shifted blame to the likes of the Joker (rightfully so) or Bruce Wayne, here Jason takes full ownership for his death, whether that ownership is warranted or not.
This scene is particularly intriguing because it portrays Jason with an exceptionally nonchalant attitude towards his own death. Given that he is still in the early days of his Red Hood persona, one might anticipate his feelings about his demise to be raw and turbulent, preventing him from discussing it in such a devil-may-care manner. This demeanor stands in stark contrast to the emotionally volatile Jason depicted in Batman: Under the Red Hood and is more akin to the Jason seen in more current comics, who has had more time to heal and come to terms with his death.