Red Hood's Traumatic First Origin Story Makes Batman Seem Lucky
Batman may have a traumatic origin, but he’s lucky when compared to how his former partner the Red Hood originally began his life as a superhero. Jason Todd was the second Robin, and everyone remembers how he died at the hands of the Joker. However, not many know that the character had an entirely different origin story when he first appeared.
Introduced in 1983, Jason Todd was a controversial Robin following Dick Grayson becoming Nightwing. Following the changes to DC continuity made after Crisis on Infinite Earths, Jason was given the origin that most comic fans are familiar with. After catching him attempting to steal the tires from the Batmobile, Batman realizes that Jason is an orphan living on the streets. Not wanting to see the young man fall into a life of crime, Batman takes Jason under his wing and begins training him as the new Robin. Yet this wasn’t the origin Jason Todd had when the character was first introduced.
Related: Joker's Nickname For Red Hood Confirms The Real Way He Broke Jason Todd
Written by Gerry Conway and with art by Dan Jurgens, Dick Giordano, Don Newton, and Alfredo Alcala, Detective Comics #525-526 presents the second Robin’s initial origin. This version of Jason Todd is the son of acrobats Joe and Trina Todd, who are approached by Dick Grayson once he learns that Batman villain Killer Croc is trying to extort money from their circus. Dick asks for their help, and the Todds decide to go looking for the missing Croc on their own. Once he learns the Todds have gone after Croc, Dick takes Jason back to Wayne Manor while he and Batgirl go off to find his parents. They track them to Croc’s lair at the Gotham Zoo, but find they are too late: the Todds have been murdered by Killer Croc and thrown
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