Red Hood has had a long and complicated history. As the second Robin after Dick Grayson, it’s likely he would have grown into being an amazing hero. But after his death at the hands of the Joker, Red Hood returned as a brutal villain. While he’s firmly on the side of the angels now, that wasn’t always the case.
Jason Todd has tried his best to make up for his past and do right by the Bat-Family. It’s not unusual to see Jason called in to help fight off a major catastrophe or help the Bat-Family protect Gotham City. But a little more than a decade ago, it was Gotham City and the Bat-Family who needed protection from Jason. These are the top 10 most brutal things Jason has done that show he’s still got a brutal villain streak.
10
Sharing Bruce Wayne’s Identity with Hush
Red Hood: Lost Days #6 by Judd Winick, Jeremy Haun, Brian Reber, and Pat Brosseau
Hush is one of the more dangerous villains in Batman’s history. Tommy Elliot is a childhood friend of Bruce Wayne who eventually grows up to resent the Wayne family. This leads Tommy to become Hush and try to destroy Bruce Wayne with a massive, complicated plan that involves both the Riddler and Jason Todd. While Riddler is the one who masterminds the plan and provides the information that Bruce Wayne is Batman, it’s Jason who confirms it. Jason has his own plans to confront Batman, and he wants to use Hush as a way to see Batman without raising suspicion. While Hush is a major Batman villain, he only achieves that status in part due to Jason’s help.
9
Attacking Tim Drake in Titans Tower
Teen Titans #29 by Geoff Johns, Tony S. Daniel, Marlo Alquiza, Jeromy Cox, and Phil Balsman
After Jason Todd’s death, Tim Drake stepped up as Robin. Naturally, when Jason returns, this leads him to feel that Tim replaced him and that, instead of avenging his death, Batman simply got a new Robin and moved on. Because of this, Jason decides he simply has to meet Tim and what follows is an explosive meeting. Jason sneaks into Titans Tower, disables every Titan, and confronts Robin in a brutal battle. The entire time, Jason questions if Tim truly has what it takes to be Robin, and he ends up beating Tim unconscious and ripping the iconic R off his suit.
8
Stabbing a Bat-Family Member to Prove He’s Not Robin Anymore
Batman: Under the Red Hood by Judd Winick, Doug Mahnke, Shane Davis, Eric Battle, and Paul Lee.
The Bat-Family have used some brutal tactics in the past, but they usually avoid going overboard. While Batman is no stranger to breaking bones, actually stabbing people is usually a line he and his family don’t cross. Jason Todd proves he isn’t playing by these rules anymore when he brutally puts his kris knife through Onyx’s shoulders, pinning her to a box. Up until this point in the story, Red Hood has been using guns or just his hands against generic criminals. This is the first time he demonstrates that he is more than happy to use brutal force against members of the Bat-Family as well.
7
Stealing Nightwing’s Identity and Murdering Criminals
Nightwing #118 by Bruce Jones, Joe Dodd, BIT, Pat Brosseau, and Javier Rodriguez
Red Hood and Nightwing have had a complicated relationship over the years. In most versions of the story, Nightwing is fired from the role of Robin and Jason is brought in as his replacement. This leads to a bit of friction between the two of them, with Jason desperately wanting to live up to Nightwing and Nightwing not being sure about how he feels about Batman having a new Robin. Eventually, the two start to view one another as brothers, but after Jason’s death and return as a villain, he puts that former friendship to the test when he steals Nightwing’s identity and goes on a murder spree across New York. This results in a major confrontation between the two former brothers, and their relationship never heals until the universe reboot of New 52.
6
Brutally Beating Joker with a Crowbar
Batman: Under the Red Hood by Judd Winick, Doug Mahnke, Shane Davis, Eric Battle, and Paul Lee.
One of the most horrific things to ever happen to Jason Todd is when the Joker beats him with a crowbar. This renders him far too weak and wounded to escape the bomb Joker has set, resulting in his death. When Jason Todd returns to the living, one of the very first things he does to Joker is seek him out and repay that vicious moment. Using a crowbar of his own, Red Hood beats Joker half to death, for no reason other than revenge. Over the years since, Red Hood has used crowbars occasionally as a way to “reclaim” them after what happened to him, but this one moment will always be his most brutal use of them.
5
Shooting and Nearly Killing the Penguin
Red Hood and the Outlaws #24 by Scott Lobdell, Dexter Soy, Alisson Borges, Veronica Grandini, and Taylor Esposito
Red Hood has always said that lethal force is the only real solution for dealing with villains who don’t fear Batman. Characters like Two-Face and Joker will never be afraid enough of Batman to reach a point where they don’t commit crime, so taking them out is the only option. While Red Hood has tried to ease up on this for Batman’s sake, he is eventually driven to try and murder Penguin after finding out Penguin was involved in the death of Willis Todd, Red Hood’s father. Infuriated by this, Red Hood confronts Penguin and shoots him point-blank in the face. While Penguin manages to survive, the injury is so horrific, people on the scene initially assume Penguin has been killed.
4
Potentially Murdering a Serial Abuser as Robin
Batman #424 by Jim Starlin, Mark Bright, Steve Mitchell, Adrienne Roy, and John Costanza
The first inkling of Jason’s temper and violent streak is shown in Batman #424 when he is strongly implied to have murdered Felipe, a serial woman abuser. Due to being the son of a diplomat, Felipe is completely immune to the law. Furious at the law’s inability to do anything to help the women Felipe has abused, Jason visits him at his apartment without Batman there. By the time Batman arrives on the scene, Felipe has fallen to his death, with Jason claiming he simply slipped. While it’s intentionally left ambiguous, it’s also fairly clear this is Jason’s first step to becoming a murderer.
3
Successfully Killing the Joker of Another Earth
Countdown #13 by Paul Dini, Tony Bedard, Keith Giffen, Tom Derenick, and Wayne Faucher.
One of Red Hood’s biggest goals since his return, regardless of if he’s a hero or villain, has been to murder the Joker. While Red Hood has certainly tried, several times, he’s yet to actually succeed in the main DC Universe. However, during the multiverse adventures of Countdown, Jason Todd comes across a Joker who is a member of Monarch’s army. After Red Hood witnesses a lethal version of Batman being murdered by Ultraman, he’s left heartbroken. But this sadness turns to rage when the Joker begins mocking Batman’s death. With no one around to stop him, Jason simply drops a large rock on the Joker’s head, killing him.
2
Shooting the Joker Through the Head
Three Jokers #1 by Geoff Johns, Jason Fabok, Brad Anderson, and Rob Leigh.
Jason has always wanted revenge on the Joker for what Joker did to him. While Jason has tried to move on over the years, Red Hood always returns to the idea of killing the Joker. He hasn’t been able to succeed with the main continuity Joker, but he did manage to kill off one of the Clown Princes of Crime in Three Jokers. Whether or not this is the Joker who killed him is left ambiguous, much like whether this story is canon. Still, this marks the first instance of a Joker from the main Earth being murdered by Jason Todd. It’s a huge feat for the character, and one Red Hood has yet to repeat, despite how much he’s tried.
1
Murdering an Entire Prison Full of Criminals
Batman and Robin #23 by Judd Winick, Guillem March, Andrei Bressan, Alex Sinclair, and Patrick Brosseau
When Jason first returns to life, he makes no secret of the fact that he has absolutely no problem using lethal force. While Batman believes criminals can be scared into behaving, Jason knows that some criminals simply deserve to be killed. This puts him at odds with the Bat-Family, and eventually, it ends up with Jason Todd being placed in Arkham Asylum. Since Jason isn’t actually insane, though, he is transferred to Blackgate Prison. This proves to be a deadly mistake, as Jason goes on a killing spree, cutting through the population of criminals before poisoning the prison food. This action results in the death of 82 inmates. This is by far the largest mass murder that Jason Todd has ever committed, and it cements Red Hood’s status as a villain in the Batman books at the time.
