As a comic book critic, I have to say DC’s been killing it with DC K.O. They really took their time building up to this event over the past year, and it’s largely paid off. While some fans haven’t been thrilled with how the tournament has played out – there’s been some controversy around the Joker’s tactics, specifically using the Atom’s belt – that’s been the biggest issue so far. December’s ‘Fight Month’ has delivered on its promise, using these battles to genuinely move the plot forward and give us some great character moments. And DC K.O.: Red Hood vs. The Joker #1 is packed with cool moments, including one genuinely shocking reveal that I wasn’t expecting.
DC Comics’ history is known for its inconsistencies, largely due to the company’s evolution over the years. In the past, DC aimed at a younger audience, so even when characters or storylines shifted, the changes were usually subtle. Jason Todd, Batman’s former sidekick, illustrates this well. While he’s now commonly depicted as a scrappy, determined kid Batman took under his wing, that wasn’t always his story. His background was significantly altered after the major storyline Crisis on Infinite Earths, but a recent comic, DC K.O.: Red Hood vs. The Joker #1, suggests that revised origin might no longer be considered official.
Jason Todd’s Pre-Crisis Origin Was a Modification on Dick Grayson’s
As a critic, I’ve always felt Dick Grayson’s journey really took off in the ’70s – I think the reintroduction of an older Robin on Earth-Two played a part, though I wasn’t around to see if fans truly embraced that version. Regardless, he eventually moved on to lead the New Teen Titans, and that’s when DC introduced Jason Todd as the new Robin. Now, the original Jason Todd was quite different from the character we remember after the Crisis event. Unlike Dick, Jason came from a family of acrobats, Joe and Tina Todd, who were actually inspired by the Flying Graysons themselves.
It was heartbreaking when the new Robin’s parents were killed, mirroring the tragedy of the Graysons. Bruce then took in their son, Jason, and started training him to get justice for them. I always felt the reason for this shift was pretty straightforward: Dick Grayson was Robin for so long – since 1940! Everyone knew his story. So, while DC wanted to change who was under the mask, they kept Jason’s origin very similar to Dick’s, something fans already understood after 43 years. It was a way to keep the core of Robin recognizable, even with a new face wearing the domino mask.
Looking back, this approach made sense, particularly in 1983. If you revisit early stories featuring Jason Todd, you’ll find he was very similar to Dick Grayson. DC Comics aimed to introduce changes without alienating readers. However, things shifted after the Crisis event. DC started trying to emulate Marvel by adding more maturity and complexity to its heroes. This led to the infamous story of Jason Todd stealing the Batmobile’s tires, and ultimately, his death. While Jason Todd later returned as the Red Hood, his original backstory before the Crisis remained unchanged—until now.
A neat feature of the fights in DC K.O. is that characters can change their form each round. In DC K.O.: Red Hood vs. The Joker #1, Jason Todd is shown considering his options, surrounded by images from his past. One of these images depicts him performing with his family in their acrobatic outfits. This raises questions about what it all signifies, and there are several possibilities, all connected to the current state of the DC Universe.
Everything Old Is New Again
Ever since the 2005 storyline Infinite Crisis, DC Comics has frequently revisited older ideas from its preCrisis* era. Over the past two decades, the publisher has repeatedly introduced and then set aside these concepts, trying to attract readers. The current DC Multiverse embraces everything as official continuity, using concepts like Hypertime to explain how different realities coexist. This recent development likely fits into that framework; Jason’s history as an acrobat happened somewhere within the multiverse, and the Heart of Apokolips—the intelligent being running the tournament—allows access to these alternate pasts. It’s probably just an example of Hypertime at work, and DC isn’t permanently changing Jason’s origin story.
It’s possible this backstory will be officially recognized again when the story universe is refreshed. That would be a welcome change, and it could create a compelling narrative. We could see the Todds as acrobats who tragically died, leading Jason to life on the streets and ultimately, to Batman. While it might just be a temporary storyline from an alternate reality, re-establishing it as canon and blending it with the existing story could be really rewarding for the character’s development.
DC K.O.: Red Hood vs. The Joker #1 is on sale now.
https://comicbook.com/comics/list/the-10-best-batman-stories-in-dc-comics-history/embed/#
Read More
- Ashes of Creation Rogue Guide for Beginners
- Best Controller Settings for ARC Raiders
- ARC Raiders – All NEW Quest Locations & How to Complete Them in Cold Snap
- Meet the cast of Mighty Nein: Every Critical Role character explained
- Netflix’s One Piece Season 2 Will Likely Follow the First Season’s Most Controversial Plot
- Fishing Guide in Where Winds Meet
- Eldegarde, formerly Legacy: Steel & Sorcery, launches January 21, 2026
- 18 Years Later, One Piece Finally Hints At The Mysterious Pirate With an Eye Patch
- Bitcoin’s Wild Ride: Yen’s Surprise Twist 🌪️💰
- Knives Out 3 cast – Full list of confirmed actors for Wake Up Dead Man
2025-12-24 21:14