42 Years Ago The Most Maligned Robin Suited Up And DC Still Doesn’t Know What to Do With Him Decades Later

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If you ask Batman fans which Robin was the worst, you won’t get one clear answer, but Jason Todd’s name comes up most often. He started as a replacement for the first Robin, Dick Grayson, and also had a sad past that led Bruce Wayne to adopt and train him. However, Jason was more impulsive and reckless than Dick. Ultimately, this led to a controversial decision: fans voted to have his character killed off, a moment that significantly impacted Batman comics forever.

It’s been over forty years since Jason Todd, the second Robin, first appeared in Batman comics (originally published November 1982, with a cover date of March 1983), and donned the Robin costume in December 1983. Despite his long history and potential, DC Comics still seems unsure how to best utilize this complex and fascinating character.

Jason Todd Didn’t Get Off To The Best Start

It’s important to remember Jason Todd didn’t begin with a strong foundation as a character. He first appeared in 1982, before the ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths’ event, and his initial backstory was quite different from the one he’d later receive in ‘Batman’ #408. Jason only spent a few years with an origin similar to Dick Grayson’s before it was altered. This new version portrayed him as a troubled youth who first met Batman while stealing tires from the Batmobile. I believe this change in his background essentially doomed the character. While the pre-‘Crisis’ Jason was somewhat similar to Dick Grayson, he was more optimistic and eager. The post-‘Crisis’ version, however, seemed to struggle from the very beginning.

When Jason Todd is first introduced, Batman doesn’t turn him over to the police after he steals, but instead takes him to a school. Soon after, Jason becomes Robin, receives his first costume, and quickly learns his father was a criminal killed by Two-Face. This is a huge amount for a young person to process, and he starts acting out, which Batman doesn’t handle particularly well. Jason’s behavior worsens, culminating in a controversial moment in Batman #424 – about a year after his revamped origin story – where he’s involved in someone’s death. Ultimately, fans voted to address the situation, leading to Jason’s death in the storyline “A Death in the Family.”

Looking back at Jason Todd’s history after the Crisis, it’s clear he was set up to fail. He was a very different Robin than Dick Grayson, and it seems like the writers weren’t sure how to handle that. While making him distinct from his predecessor was a good idea – it would have allowed for interesting stories – those possibilities weren’t explored. Ultimately, Jason was removed from the story before he could truly develop as a character.

The Various Restarts Haven’t Gone Well Either

Jason Todd’s portrayal in DC Comics has remained inconsistent. While he was resurrected as Red Hood, his character constantly shifts between hero, villain, and antihero. Stories often depict him acting independently and conflicting with Batman, but occasionally show Bruce and Jason working through their past trauma and rebuilding a father-son relationship. However, just when their relationship seems stable, a new story will often revert them to being at odds, ignoring any previous progress or healing.

Beyond that, DC Comics frequently relies on putting Jason Todd through intense suffering simply for shock value. A recent example is the “Hush 2” storyline, which revealed Jason is once again dying – this time due to brain damage – and can only be saved by Hush. While the story isn’t finished yet, it appears DC may be repeating a pattern of using Jason’s pain to affect Batman, which ultimately limits the character’s potential. Even in alternate timelines, Jason doesn’t fare much better. The “Knightfight” miniseries presents a future where Jason becomes Batman, but he’s completely isolated, patrolling an empty Gotham – a fate that feels even worse than death.

DC Needs to Pick a Path for Jason Outside of Batman’s Shadow — and Stick To It

It’s becoming increasingly apparent that Jason Todd would benefit from distancing himself from Batman and the whole Bat Family. Despite a troubled past, Jason had a particularly strong run during his time as Red Hood and the Outlaws, especially in the second series of the DC Rebirth line.

As a critic, I have to say this is the best version of Jason Todd we’ve seen yet. What really works is the chance to delve into his complicated dynamic with Batman and the whole Bat Family, while also letting him forge his own identity. For years, Jason has been defined by his past and his connection to Bruce Wayne, but here, he truly steps out on his own. It’s a fantastic evolution for the character, and frankly, it’s exactly the direction DC needs to take with what has historically been the most misunderstood and unfairly criticized Robin.

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2025-12-16 20:12