Red Hood's Court of Owls Connection Redefines His Forgotten Origin Story
While Red Hood's first origin in DC Comics is generally seen as far inferior to his modern-day story, the second Robin's childhood takes on a totally different meaning once Batman's Court of Owls are brought into the mix. Jason's origin was originally a carbon copy of Dick Grayson's, with the future Red Hood coming from a family of trapeze artists and spending his young years training with the circus. This origin was later changed to a hardscrabble life on the streets, differentiating Jason as his own character, and yet once the Court of Owls' influence is considered, his similarities to Grayson take on a shocking new context.
The Court of Owls’ entry into Batman canon happened a little over a decade ago, in Batman Vol. 2 #2 by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo, long after Jason Todd had been introduced, retconned, and murdered by Joker - and also before Red Hood's unwilling return to life. Given their stature as a shadowy behind-the-scenes organization, the notion that they had been there long before an audience met them remained perfectly believable. This group, which has cult-like elements, engineers superpowered assassins called Talons to do its bidding, taking out anyone who threatens their vision for Gotham City.
Related: Red Hood's Logo Is A Huge Tactical Mistake (With A Hidden Meaning)
When examining the Talons’ origins, this is where the Court’s connection to Haly’s Circus and the Grayson and Todd families crystallizes. It is confirmed in Nightwing #8 by Kyle Higgins and Eddy Barrows that Haly’s Circus has long been a training ground for Talons, with the Court of Owls orchestrating it so that their young candidates are trained in the skills necessary to become assassins. In Grayson's case, Nightwing has the
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