Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Jason Todd: The Tragic Robin

Just got my copy of Batman: Under the Red Hood awhile ago.



But before I give my review about the film, let me tackle the story behind it and the most important character in this film’s story…Jason Todd.

Jason Todd is one of the most important figures in Batman comics, because of one fact: he died, being the only Robin to be killed “in the line of duty”. But who really is Jason Todd?



Jason Todd grew up in crime-ridden Gotham City, living off his wits and knowledge of the streets. One day while in Crime Alley, Jason literally ran into the Batman. He was caught in the act of stealing the Batmobile's wheels, which the Caped Crusader found amusing but not beyond reprimand.



Batman had Jason put into what he thought was a school for wayward boys. In reality, the school taught boys how to be criminals. With Jason's help, Batman brought the school’s mastermind to justice.

He was so impressed with Jason's performance that he offered to let Jason move into Wayne Manor and become the new Robin (At that time Dick Grayson the first robin, outgrew the role and moved out to became Nightwing). Jason eagerly accepted. After months of physical and mental training, the second Robin was born.

While Jason soon proved to be one of Batman's most enthusiastic students, he was also the most troubled. Brash and impulsive, Jason's former life on the streets had left him with an ambiguous sense of right and wrong. This often placed Jason in opposition to the values his mentor was trying to teach him and had ALIENATED a lot of readers.

Then DC came up with a solution that changed Batman’s world forever. The year was 1988; the fans were given the chance to influence the outcome of a storyline and voted to kill off a major character. At the end of Batman #427, Robin was caught in an explosion set by the Joker, and the inside back cover displayed a pair of phone numbers that would determine the Boy Wonder's fate, one for “Robin lives” the other one for “Robin dies”.



"Robin will die because the Joker wants revenge, but you can prevent it with a telephone call," the ad read.

All was set.

Then came the storyline “A Death in the Family”.



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 the mother he knew was not his real mother. He went in search of his true heritage and found it.

Using the extensive resources of the Batcave, Jason was able to track his mother to Ethiopia (located in Africa). But shortly after their reunion, he was surprised by and savagely beaten almost to death by Batman's arch-foe the Joker (with the use of a crow bar) who had been blackmailing Jason's mother.



The Joker then left Jason and his mother bound inside a warehouse filled with explosives. Though Jason tried to disable the bomb, mother and son seemingly perished together in the blast.



Jason’s death had many repercussions; for a time, Batman became violent and cruel after his death, until the entry of Tim Drake (Robin III). He also became more cautious about involving Tim in cases that he judged to be too dangerous. He’s actions concerning teaming up with any younger hero has been deeply influenced by the tragedy that befell Jason.



The unpublished alternate ending to "A Death in the Family"


Up to this day, Jason’s suit is still on display in the Batcave, serving as a reminder to all that being a hero is a dangerous calling…and to always remind Batman of his greatest failure.

Years after Jason's death a mysterious figure known as the Red Hood brings havoc on Gotham City alarming the Batman. He knows Batman’s every move before he makes it.

So who do you think is the man under the red hood? Guess who?

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