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Entry tags:
History
Character
Name: Jason Todd
Age: 19
Height: 6'0
Weight: 225 lbs
Eye color: Aquamarine
Note: It's confirmed that Dick is 21 in New 52 from Batman #37 and Jason is supposed to be 1-2 years younger than him. Hence the headcanon for his age.
Canon: DC Comics
Canon point: New 52 continuity. The end of Red Hood and the Outlaws (Rebirth). Issue #25.
Comic References:
Red Hood and the Outlaws (Rebirth). Issue #25.
Red Hood and Arsenal (New 52)
Under the Red Hood
*Note: These are the only comics I've read and where I get Jason's personality from which is heavily influenced by Red Hood and the Outlaws (Rebirth).
Jason is taken specifically from the New 52 continuity which is a reboot of the universe and therefore the character. Rebirth is part of the New 52 continuity. In Rebirth, writers changed Jason's first meeting with Batman from his original New 52 introduction which is the one that will be used for this character.
Quick Summary:
His dad was a henchman for hire, got himself locked up after a job went south, and ended up dying in prison. Mom was a drug addict he tried to protect but ended up dying of an overdose anyway. He was on the streets after that fast talking his way out of deadly encounters and learning to take a punch from someone a lot bigger than him. He kept himself fed sometimes by stealing car parts. It's how he first met Batman. He caught him stealing the wheels off the batmobile. Batman takes him to a school for at-risk youths, but it turns out the school is just a front for criminal activity, and the two of them end up taking it down. Batman then takes him in and makes him his new Robin, but he's a little too violent for the boy wonder persona. You can take the kid out of Crime Alley, but you can't take Crime Alley out of the kid.
He ends up getting benched, then comes to find out his biological mother is still alive while the one he'd known was just a woman his dad shacked up with after his mother left. He chases the clues until he finds her. It's all sunshine and rainbows until she sells him out to the Joker, who beats him with a crowbar within an inch of his life and kills him in an explosion for Batman to find. He ends up dead and buried 6 feet under, then 6 months later, some multi-dimensional bullshit brings him back to life. Kid had to dig himself out of his own grave with his bare hands. He comes out the other end, practically a zombie. I guess Joker bashed his head in with that crowbar a little too good. The League of Assassins later finds him, and he gets thrown into the Lazarus Pit, which heals his mind. Now that he's back in body and mind, he's told he's already been replaced and shown pictures of the new Robin hanging out with Batman. This eats at him, and he ends up tracking Tim down, makes sure all of the Titans except Tim are away for the night before breaking into the tower wearing a version of his old Robin uniform and beating Tim until he's unconsciousness. He feels a little guilty about that now, not his best moment. Later, he goes around the world learning how to be a better assassin before returning to Gotham City. He takes up the Joker's first persona, the Red Hood, and makes it his own.
He comes back to Gotham to influence crime and take vengeance. He kills the top drug dealers and takes control of the drug trade in Gotham while making moves to get the attention of the major crime lords, becoming just enough of a nuisance to their bottom line to get them to use their resources to do what he can't. During this crime spree, he ends up facing off with Batman, and the two end up unmasked before each other. Now that his identity is out, Red Hood puts more pressure on the crime lords before Batman tracks him down and Black Mask takes the bait. He springs the Joker from prison to kill him exactly as Jason planned from the start. With Joker out of Arkham Asylum, he easily tracks and captures him while in police transport, outsmarting Batman when he tries to stop him. Once he has Joker in his custody, Jason beats him with a crowbar within an inch of his life for old times sake. An eye for an eye. Later, he rigs a building to explode and has a final showdown with Batman, the Joker, and him. He gives Batman an ultimatum. Kill the Joker or kill him. Sadly, no one gets killed, even after the bombs go off. Jason ends up escaping, becoming an outlaw.
History Summary: Before the start of Rebirth
Link: Full History of Jason Todd
Origin
Raised in the slums of the poor side of Gotham City known as Crime Alley, Jason Todd was the son of a petty criminal named Willis Todd. Willis was a henchman for hire and was eventually sent to prison and died there. This left Jason with Catherine Todd, a drug addicted woman he did not know was not truly his biological mother. In order to survive and for his so-called mother's habit, Jason turned to crime, ripping off car parts for money. Catherine soon died from a drug overdose leaving him an orphan. Jason was left alone on the streets barely surviving, still stealing parts of cars for cash. This led to Batman discovering Jason in an alley stealing the tires off the Batmobile.
Bruce Wayne tried to put Jason in Ma Gunn's school for troubled youths but Jason ran away from the school when he realized it was actually a front for criminal activity. Ma Gunn was using the school as a cover to recruit young delinquents into her own criminal gang. When Batman discovers this, he takes down Ma Gunn, with help from Jason.
With that option off the table, Bruce took him in as his own and began training him to replace Dick Grayson as Robin. He did not have Dick's cheerful enthusiasm or natural acrobatic skill, but life had made him tough and full of sarcastic wit which made Jason motivated. Secretly, Bruce believed that had he not taken Jason into his home then in a few years time he would be taking Jason in to the police as Batman. So instead, Jason became the new Robin.
Batman realizes early on that Jason has a violent streak and benches him when he goes too far during one of their run in's with the bad guys. While inactive, Jason spends his time on the Bat computer where he discovers that his birth mother is alive. He tracks her down and eventually finds her in Qurac. She sells him out to the Joker who beats him with a crowbar within an inch of his life. Jason is left alone with one of Joker's bombs and is killed when it goes off. Batman later finds his remains among the rubble. Batman buries Jason back in Gotham and memorializes his Robin costume behind a glass casing in the batcave.
Six months after his death, Superboy-Prime alters reality from the paradise dimension he's trapped in and Jason is restored to life. He breaks out of his coffin (with his bare hands and fingers) and walks away from the graveyard (approximately 12 miles) before he collapses and is hospitalized, as the injuries inflicted by the Joker have not fully healed including the brain damage inflicted by the crowbar. Later, he is found by Talia Al-Ghul who resurrects him with the Lazarus Pit. The pit heals his injuries and restores his mind. After he's resurrected, Jason learns that Batman did nothing to avenge his death and easily replaced him with a new Robin, Tim Drake, after his death. Anguished and seeking vengeance, he initially turns against his mentor and takes on the Joker's former identity: the Red Hood. Eventually coming back to the Bat-Family and assembling a team of anti-heroes known as the Outlaws (New 52 and Rebirth).
Post-Flashpoint: Earth-0
In the revamped post- Flashpoint DC Universe, Jason Todd maintained his Red Hood identity and got his own ongoing series entitled Red Hood and the Outlaws. He was one of the characters left relatively unchanged by the revamp, getting a new costume reminiscent of his original Red Hood costume as well as a redesigned Robin costume for his time as Batman's partner. Unlike his post- Flashpoint counterpart, Earth-0 Jason Todd is less tempered and hostile towards the Bat-Family. As of late, he has worked with them as a unit on multiple occasions, without aggression or direct violence towards them. Jason fought with the Bat-family in court of owls and is shown to be some what friends with Tim Drake. Damian Wayne does not like Jason for his time as Robin as shown in Batman and Robin.
Red Hood and the Outlaws (New 52)
After the timeline was approximately restored after Flashpoint, Jason Todd had a loose friendship with Roy Harper whom ironically shares a similar past as Jason since both were 'failure' sidekicks that went to the bad side. It is revealed that Jason stopped an attempted smuggling of a nuclear submarine into Miami and it exploded but he escaped and was injured. Starfire fished him out and nursed him back to health where they quickly became friends after realizing they have a lot in common after talking about their pasts. Jason came to Roy's aid, along with Starfire, to break Roy out of a prison in Qurac. After the successful jailbreak, he was contacted by Essence of the All Caste, one of the groups he had learned from during his lost years. The All Caste, which he had turned his back on to pursue his own path, had been brutally eliminated. Jason immediately ditched Roy and Starfire to look into this on his own. Roy joins Jason on a flight to the Himalayas while Starfire flew ahead and secured a limo. Jason leaves them once again to gear up where he shoots down Suzie Su and her partner who try to sneak attack him. Jason now fully geared with Roy and Starfire and he travels a bit ahead of them where he finds the villagers massacred and he pays his respects to Ducra. The villagers reanimate and attack Jason, he turns and throws away his guns to fight them honorably but Roy and Starfire catch up and they start killing the zombies. Jason fights along side them defeating the horde and with the villagers defeated, Jason sits and prays for them.
Jason and the team meet S'aru, the protector. They all give up their most cherished memories as a collateral to get into the Chamber of All to find the object the Untitled wanted. The group ventures through the chamber and they get attacked by a giant monster. Jason and Roy do their best to defend themselves while Starfire gets eaten. Jason finds the object in the midst of the fight and retrieves it. The object turns out to be a snow globe of Colorado, meanwhile Starfire blasts the creature from the inside, killing it and then she grabs Jason and Roy and flies out of the chamber. Jason questions S'aru what the significance of the object is or why the Untitled left it behind but receives no helpful answer. They collect their memories all except for Jason who tells S'aru to keep it. The memory turns out to be a night as Robin when he had the flu and Bruce stayed home to be with the ill Jason.
The Outlaws make their way to Middleton Colorado due to the clue they found in the Chamber of All to find the Untitled. Jason gets into a quick scrap in the bar and a cop comes to take he and Roy to the station. Jason manages to restrain the cop while he looks for some records that could help him find the Untitled. The cop turns out to be one of the Untitled but not the one he's looking for. The cop is about to rip out Jason's liver when Roy saves him. Jason and Roy head outside where they see a huge explosion that matches Starfire's energy signature. Roy leaves Jason to go save Stafire while Jason stays to battle the Untitled.
Jason continues his battle with the Untitled where he ends up falling into the frozen water beneath. Jason recalls a flashback to his training with the Untitled and remembers what Ducra told him about being special and that he is just beginning a new journey. Jason leaps from the ice hole vowing that his trifles with Batman and his goal about killing Joker don't matter anymore. He cuts himself to get blood on the Blades of All to feed them. Jason manages to kill the Untitled setting a new goal that he will kill all of them one by one. It is revealed the Untitled used her powers to keep the people away but upon her death returns to her normal appearance as a mob appears. They think Jason just outright murdered the sheriff so he runs off and gets Kori and Roy telling them they need to leave.
Jason drops Crux off at Arkham Asylum. The team steals one of Crux's ships when Essence appears. Jason stabs her with the All blade and claims she is the one responsible for killing the All Caste. She reveals Ducra is her mother and was linked to the Untitled so she is on her own mission trying to kill all of the Untitled herself. A fight ensues when Jason grabs a molecular dispersal gun or teleportation gun causing Essence to disappear. Jason decides to try and contact the stewardess he met earlier, but decides she is better off not having him in her life.
The Outlaws head to Gotham where an enraged Suzie Su has awakened from a coma after getting shot by Jason. It was revealed that Jason took money from the seven crime families of Hong Kong to supply his resources. Jason killed an entire clan and this allowed new clans to rise up and take its place and eventually one of those familes was the Familia De Flores and Su. Jason had everything he needed so he killed Suzie's entire gang except her and her father as a way to pay retribution for the trouble he caused.While Roy and Starfire rescued the hostages, Jason fought Suzie and ended up killing her by putting a bullet through her skull. When leaving, they intercept a message from Alfred claiming they need all Batman related allies to help since the Court of the Owls have multiple Talons set up around the city ready to kill forty people who have shaped Gotham. Jason gets a request from Tim Drake to stay and help. It was also revealed that about a month or two ago, Jason got intel for Tim and apologized to Tim and Tim forgave him for his past actions. They decide to stay and cover a person of interest, Mr. Freeze.
Jason and the Outlaws are looking over a frozen covered part of Gotham going over the mission. Jason leaps down reminiscing about Gotham and arrives to help Mr. Freeze where he gets caught in the midst of a battle between a Talon and Freeze. He halts Freeze but gets his hand frozen as the Talon runs away. Jason chases the Talon down and has a brief fight with it before it runs again. Eventually he catches up to the Talon who has a heart-to-heart conversation with Jason and begs him to kill him in which Jason does. Jason ends up meeting Batgirl and throws Mr. Freeze on the rooftop for her and tells her that if she sees Batman tell him "you're welcome." as they leave Gotham.
Jason spent the whole night on a date talking with Isabel, the stewardess from the plane. He gets attacked by an alien, so to protect Isabel, he dons his helmet and begins to fight it. Eventually, Starfire comes out from her hotel room and the alien is introduced as Orn, one of Starfire's old friends from Tamaran. Orn tells Starfire a black shadow has fallen upon her old planet. He teleports the Outlaws and Isabel, to Starfire's ship as Roy, Jason and Isabel watch Kori take charge of the ship and prepare to attack the aliens. Jason made sure Isabel was safe when they started the fight. With the alien squadron defeated, Starfire wishes to talk with Roy and Jason. She explains her origin to them and asks because of being traded with no one helping her, should she fight for Tamaran? Jason tells her she has every right to be mad and not help. He even compares it to his former Batman and Joker situation but shows support when Roy tells her she should and he apologizes to Isabel about the whole matter. Jason is seen happy with Isabel, but the Blight attack. So the team defends the ship. After Roy teleports back with a now freed Blackfire, Jason, Roy and the rest of the crew watch as Starfire and Blackfire leave to go save Tamaran.
Jason helps Starfire and Blackfire fight the Blight off on Tamaran. He gets caught by a Blight but is saved by Orn. After the battle, Isabel mentions she wishes she could fill out uniforms like Starfire but Jason remarks she does just fine. Jason and the Outlaws leave Tamaran in a new ship named after Depalo after his brave sacrifice of taking the Starfire ship into the Blight mothership and self-destructing it from the inside out, and head back to Earth, but unbeknownst to them, the Joker sneaks into a hideout and grabs one of the Red Hood masks.
The Outlaws head back towards but are encountered by Superman. Jason tells the Outlaws he is one of the only beings he fears. They teleport back to Earth but Superman is already there waiting. The Outlaws begin an assault on Superman but fail miserably as the Kryptonian is just too powerful. He incapacitates them easily and they finally decide to talk as Superman originally requested. He asks Starfire about any Daemonites which she lies and tells him no. Superman tells them to contact him if anything comes up. The Outlaws drop Jason and Isabel off at her apartment where they get intimate and while Jason goes and takes a shower he comes back in realizes Isabel has been assaulted as she lies on the floor with needles everywhere. The Joker appears on the TV under the guise of a weather man and tells Jason that she is still alive and he has called the EMT's but also the authorities as the authorities head into the room.
Jason fights off the authorities and gets a key to a vehicle where he is attacked by the Joker and taken to an unknown location where through the Joker's prep, Jason is defeated and falls into a room with an unconscious Tim Drake.
After the events of Death of The Family, Jason goes back to Wayne Manor to say goodbye. After talking to: Nightwing, Robin, Alfred and Batman, Jason puts on his helmet and it tightens. The helmet reveals a hologram of The Joker who modified the helmet to do so. The Joker talks about how Jason "played a joke" on him and that he wasn't laughing. The mask starts to give out gas and Jason starts laughing maniacally. Batman and the others rush to help, but it's too late, and Jason falls to the ground with a burnt face. The one that heard the Joker voice was Batman and Robin-Damian. Alfred, Arsenal, Starfire and Batman hold on to him and were shocked to see what happened to Jason Todd just before he left the Wayne Manor with his team.
The Joker planted an acid bomb in the mask, leaving Jason in critical condition. Jason is met by Ducra in a dream world where he must make the choice of living in the past or letting go and going for the future. Jason finally admits he loves his friends and lets go of the past where he finally wakes up and attempts to apologize to Bruce, but Bruce cuts him off and hugs him instead. Bruce brings Jason on a mission where they stop some mercenaries in Ethiopia. It was revealed to be a ruse by Bruce to bring Jason to where he died to try and reawaken a memory so Bruce could bring Damian back to life. Jason and Bruce fight, but Jason eventually stops and takes the car, leaving Bruce to remain by himself.
Roy and Kori make it into the Acres of All in search of Jason. They fight off some creatures, but when a big one shows up, Jason saves them and he has no memory of them. It is revealed that Jason flied to the All-Caste hideaway to find S'aru and have him remove his memories that the darkness has gotten the better of him in his life and S'aru just takes them all. His recent fight with Bruce drove him to do this.
Jason watches as Roy and Kori are taken through Jason's memories by S'aru to understand what he went through and a new revelation came about where Jason saved Roy the day before he left to track his mother. Jason wishes for Roy to just start over but Roy tranqs him and the group is teleported away by S'aru back into mountains with Ducra, Essence, and S'aru watching over them.
The group returns to their island base and Jason accesses the files of himself and finds what he has done in the past as a killer. He gets angry at the team and feels like they have been lying, but the group is assaulted by Cheshire, but are helped out by Green Arrow. Cheshire manages to escape, but in the midst of everything Jason ends up secretly leaving as well, stowing himself away on Green Arrow's ship. Jason is soon chased by the League of Assassins and he ends up getting captured and to his surprise is treated kindly. They do end up telling him it is his destiny to lead the League of Assassins against the Untitled; the same group responsible for destroying his prior mentors the All-Caste. Jason is skeptical due to his amnesia, but the League assures him he won't have to worry as the defences around the sacred city are impenetrable, as the technology needed to breach it isn't readily available on Earth. Unbeknownst to them, the Untitled have deceived Roy 'Arsenal' Harper into helping them, playing on Arsenal's loyalty to his friends and his desire to protect the amnesiac Jason. Using his prodigious engineering skills, he designs a weapon to help breach the sacred city and 'rescue' his friend.
Red Hood and the Outlaws (Rebirth)
As of DC Rebirth, Jason Todd's backstory reverts to his original meeting with Batman occurring while trying to steal tires from the Batmobile. Instead of fleeing at the sight of him, Jason attacks him with his tire iron. Impressed, Batman takes him out for food, then later takes him in and raises him as the new Robin. On a mission to capture Two-Face, he realizes that Jason has a violent streak. Later, he is captured, tortured, and killed by the Joker. After being revived by the Lazarus Pit, he returns to Gotham, but the problems between them put a strain on their relationship.
In the present, Jason is flying over a group of policemen on a motorcycle. Landing right in front of the Mayor as he is giving a speech. Though the mayor tries to bargain, Jason dismissively aims his gun at him. Before he can shoot, a Batarang lodges itself on his armor. Jason realizes what's coming right before the Batarang explodes, knocking him flat on his back. As Batman towers over him, Jason recognizes that after all these years, the sight of his mentor still intimidates him. He considers fleeing for a moment, then decides to shoot Batman's feet, Bruce easily dodges while Jason asks for asks him to let him explain later. He refuses, so Jason initiates a close-quarters brawl. He gets a shot in, but Batman easily gets the upper hand and puts Jason in bear-hug. Knowing he was outmatched, Jason took precautions, one which was a taser built into the Bat-symbol on his armor, which he uses to send Batman flying. With Batman out of the way, he decks the Mayor then, despite Batman's plea, shoots him.
Later, Jason is at a bar frequented by criminals, watching the news coverage of his assassination attempt. Penguin congratulates him on making his mark in the Gotham underworld. The bartend hands Jason a drink and warns him about the history and danger of the name Red Hood, and advises to be cautious, lest his namesake come for him. He is then approached by a member of Black Mask's gang. He leaves a card with Jason and an offer to join his operation.
Jason returns to his base underneath One Police Plaza to find that Batman has found him. He compliments his choice of location then reveals the truth about the attack on the mayor: Jason shot him with an antidote to a techno-organic virus inside of him and the cops in his way with sedatives. Bruce wants to know why he didn't tell him the truth, and he responds with a question; why Bruce didn't trust him. Bruce he does trust him, which is why he asked him to investigate connection between the city hall and a new international crime cartel, which is how Jason found out about the virus in the mayor. Jason wants to even deeper undercover, but Bruce won't allow it. He claims he won't support him because he's not Dick, but it's actually because of his history of crossing the line. Jason reminds him of what he said to Jason when they first met about giving people a chance, and asks for a chance to show why Red Hood is so valuable. Bruce relents, but with the stipulation that he will pull Jason out if he goes too far. As he leaves, warns that if Jason kills one person for any reason, he will come for him.
Jason reminisces about his early days as Robin. As he comments on Batman's trophy gallery, Alfred arrives to take a photo. While Jason tries to pose, Batman remains as serious as ever. Before heading out Jason ponders his choices and who he's become while looking at that same photo, where Bruce is seen actually smiling. Though he's not the person Bruce wanted him to be, he believes that he'll come to understand that he is who Batman needs.
Dark Trinity
In the past, Ma Gunn is shoots Batman for interfering with her plan, while Jason is hiding behind a desk. While she complains about the injuries Batman inflicted on her charges, while Batman condemns her using those charges as weapons. Meanwhile, Jason is thinking about how Bruce sent him there to help straighten him out. However, they discoverd they were teaching the boys there to become career criminals. As she is about to kill Batman, Jason breaks cover. Even though Batman could have taken her himself, Jason decides to spice things up himself. Shocking everyone, he charges Ma Gunn and tackles her out of a window.
In the present, Red Hood jumps out of Gunn's old school, carrying her in his arms as the building explodes. Even though Hood is fine, Gunn was not breathing. When he manages to revive her, she recognizes him as Jason. When the two are settled and Red Hood convinces her that he is not Jason Todd, asks if she knows who was responsible for the bombing. Unaware that he already knew about her past, she recaps. Starting from her ambitions to use children to help build her criminal empire to her run-in with Batman. Having recently been released from prison, she intended to start over until she was invited to dinner by an old affiliate; Roman Sionis a.k.a. Black Mask. He wanted her to surrender her operation as part of his plan to consolidate the criminals in Gotham under his banner. She refused, which led to the bombing. Ironically, she was unable to reopen her school on time, which prevented any youths from being caught in the bombing. Even though the thought of young boys dying made Jason want to kill Roman, he adheres to his promise to Bruce.
Returning to his base, he spends several days gathering intel on Black Mask. While he searches, he remembers a mission from his Robin days where he and Bruce were tracking Riddler. Jason wanted to charge in and take him, until Bruce reveals the escape route in the building he's hiding in, after which Bruce reminds him about being prepared. Remembering similar words of advice about knowing you enemy, Jason looks over everything he has on Roman, from his birth to his current expansion of his operations and elimination of competition. Having what he needs to know, he resolves to rest, and talk to Roman the next day.
However, by talking, he meant breaking into his car. Pinning his men down and putting a gun to Roman's chin, he states that he's there to talk about the offer given to him. Unfazed, Roman congratulates him for meeting his expectations. The two head up to a skyscraper, where he talks about his ambitions to rule Gotham how he feels is the right way, unlike other criminals in town. while Roman talks, Jason remembers Bruce's speech about not killing his enemies. Back in the present, Roman reveals that he is looking for a second-in-command, and thinks Red Hood is a fitting heir. He then takes Jason to an "audition," where he is ordered to kill the men who failed to kill Ma Gunn. Jason refuses claiming they have more value alive. Even though he respects Jason's morals, he presses a button that causes all of the men's heads to explode despite their pleas for mercy.
Red Hood vs. Artemis
Later that night, Jason and two henchmen are sent to grab Black Mask's "game-changer." As the train is private and abandoned, he feels that this will be simple. despite not knowing what this game-changing weapon is. Setting off a charge that derails the train, he instructs the henchmen to quickly get their quarry. However a voice calls out that they won't get what they're looking for. This person then tosses debris a the group, taking down the gangsters. Jason dodges and draws his pistol while the figure commands him to disarm. Jason replies by asking for a name, and she reveals herself to be Artemis, who vows to be the last woman he sees if he does not get his guns out of her face.
He explains he is only searching for a weapon, but Artemis is surprised that he doesn't understand that he is handing over a world destroying power. Not intimidated, he tries to shoot her, hoping to take advantage of the fact that she doesn't possess traditional Amazon Bracelets. However, she uses her axe to deflect the shots. Deciding the use of a weapon was unnecessary, she decides to use her hands instead. She then proceeds to pummel him after he calls her "princess," a nickname that strikes a nerve.
Before she delivers a killing blow, Jason asks her about the weapon she is searching for. while she explains the nature of this weapon, Jason uses up the charge is his taser to knock her out. Suddenly, he realizes Black Mask has com personally to claim his weapon. When Jason asks about Artemis' presence, he states that what she is looking for is not the weapon he has. Her quarry is an ancient weapon, while his relies on state-of-the-art genetic science. While they talk, Artemis quickly recovers and calls Mistress back to her and renews her attack. Jason tries to explain that they are after two separate things, but more of Black Mask's lackey's lackeys shoot at her. Red Hood helps her get to cover and, while out of view, Artemis realizes Jason is hiding his true intentions. After explaining his mission, the two call a truce, which she considers a surrender. When they break cover, they find out that Black Mask has called in a helicopter to take the train car containing his prize. When the lackeys begin shooting at Artemis again, Jason tackles her into an abandoned train car for cover. Black Mask leaves Jason behind, and Artemis cannot fly, leaving the duo stuck. However, Artemis' uses her strength to catch the chopper. She tosses Jason up to to the train car before leaping up there herself. Once inside, they realize two things: Artemis' weapon isn't there. and Black Mask's weapon is a Superman clone.
Jason is again lost in his memories, remembering his first time going out as Robin without Batman. After the fact, he returns to the Batcave, bloodied and beaten, and stares at the display case containing the original Robin costume. Artemis' voice stirs him from his daydreaming. She scolds him for his lack of focus, reminding him of how dangerous a Superman clone in Black Mask's hands can be. To their surprise, Black Mask is in the train car with them. Before anyone can react, knockout gas fills covers the room. Because Artemis damaged his mask, Jason passes out from the gas.
Jason wakes up in Roman's base. At first he is glad to still be on Roman's good side, but he then notices one of his helmets on the desk next to the bed. Recognizing Roman's ability to think ahead, he wonders if helmet is a copy or a spare from Jason's bunker. As he changes, he wonders if he is really fooling Black Mask. Heading upstairs to meet with the boss, Roman congratulates him besting an Amazon and apologizes for knocking him out along with her. After forgiving him, Jason inquires about Artemis, but he dodges the inquiry to show Jason where the clone is being kept. Entering a lab more advanced than anything the Justice League can even afford, Roman explains how he heard about clone through scientists that he hired. After hearing the clone belonged to Lex Luthor, once he confirmed its existence and found out Luthor ordered it destroyed, he instead had it delivered to Gotham. He also reveals that he wanted Jason to try to steal it in order to trip the chamber's defenses so it could be grabbed with little risk. As the scientists open the chamber, Jason remembers his rebirth in the Lazarus Pit. Roman then realizes the clone is having trouble breathing. The clone panics and breaks out of the chamber and begins to mutate. Jason sees the fear in his eyes, and comforts him as he becomes a full blown Bizarro clone.
Later, Bizarro is restrained and shown videos of Superman constantly, while his eyelids are forced open to keep him watching. Seeing as it's not working, Jason wants to use words to get to Bizarro, and Roman trusts him enough to let him try. Before he goes in, Artemis, trapped the opposite cell, tries to talk him out of it, believing him to be an empty shell. Even though Jason promises to get her out as soon as possible, she states that she can break out any time she wants and is only staying put for two reasons; to observe Bizarro, and to see if Black Mask has any leads on the location of the Bow of Ra. Irritated at all the deception going on, Red Hood considers killing everyone until Bizarro shows signs of intelligence. Sneaking off to his base, Jason hacks into LexCorp to find information. remembering the last time a Superman clone appeared, he discover the previous Bizarro.
Jason then heads to a nearby toy store. Feeling out of his element a store clerk offers him help as he picks out a stuffed Superman doll. Later, he eats dinner alongisde Roman, who reveals he scanned Jason's eyes the previous night to gather information on Red Hood, but found nothing on Jason Todd. Jason plays it off, so Roman asks his next question; why he has a Bat-symbol on his suit. Jason replies that he does it to annoy Batman.
Later, he goes to present the doll to Bizarro. Artemis advises against treating a weapon of mass destruction as an infant. After learning from his investigation into LexCorp that Bizarro will only live for a few weeks combined with the fact that both he and Artemis have been written off in the past, Jason resolves to try to reach him anyway. He goes into the cell and gives him the doll. He initially thinks it is Superman, but realizes otherwise. Jason tells him that he is not the real Superman and that he should try to be himself, officially giving him the name Bizarro. Artemis claims that he is a monster incapable of understanding him, but the statement causes him to go berserk.
Bizarro grabs Jason and slams him against Artemis' cell door, where he sarcastically claims he has everything under control. While Artemis refuses to help, Jason correctly assumes it's so she can maintain her cover. Bizarro then slams him into the ground for acting like he's not there. However, Jason tells Bizarro to stop, and it works long enough for him to see a way to get to him. Deciding to take the risk, he tells Bizarro to talk to the Superman doll about his problems. It works, and Jason is able to calm him down and get him to see himself and Artemis as friends. He then tells Bizarro to direct his super-hearing to the entirety of Gotham, which puts him to sleep.
The next day, Jason eats another meal with Roman. After seeing Jason risk his life to protect Artemis and Bizarro, he considers him a kindred spirit and a true friend, and takes him to show him something. Along the way, Roman tells him about his childhood and how he murdered his parents for not putting their criminal enterprises ahead of him. They then reach their destination; the basement, where all of his curios are stored. Jason asks is his plan to take Gotham over one block at a time. He replies that his true plan is to acquire enough power to deter everyone from challenging him. Jason then inquires about the Bow of Ra, which he explains he no longer has to Jason and Artemis, who broke out of her cell and followed them. Apparently aware she was there, silently wishes her luck in her quest.
Roman then goes on about his dream to rid the city of psychotics, reminding Jason of how he made the same argument to Bruce, but was shut down. While he continues his speech, he reveals the reason they came; the same techno-organic virus that infected the mayor. He then mentions Jason's failed attack on the mayor. Jason, realizing he was made, asks how long he knew the truth. Roman reveals he knew all along. While he knew Jason was planning to betray him, he truly though of Jason as a friend and again invited him to join him in his crusade. Jason immediately refuses, so Romans injects his head with the tech virus, which allows him to summon and control the superweapon Jason helped him create, Bizarro, now infected with the tech virus.
Red Hood vs. Bizarro
Using rounds strong enough to take down a tank on Bizarro, they have no effect on Bizarro as he attacks. Jason barely dodges and tries to stop him by grabbing Bizarro's cape, but his clumsiness causes him to crash through the wall, sending them both out of the building. Bizarro tries to fly, but flies downward, crashing into a fountain. When Jason rises, he realizes the crash knocked Bizarro out, and focuses on Black Mask, who hasn't achieved full control of Bizarro. Realizing that killing Roman before that happens, he lines up a shot, then remembers his promise to Bruce, and hesitates. This gives Bizarro enough time to recover and resume his attack. Bizarro then tosses Jason into a tree. He tries to convince Bizarro to resist, but he prepares to finish him off anyway.
Before he delivers the killing blow. Artemis tosses Mistress into Bizarro's chest, confusing everyone. When Jason asks why she didn't leave town, she claims it was because she heard him losing. As Bizarro tries to remove the asks, Artemis tells Red Hood to leave while she fights, but he refuses. Their argument gives Bizarro enough time to remove Mistress from his chest, damaging it in the process. Seeing Artemis double over in pain, Jason checks on her, but she rebuffs him, mistaking his concern for sarcasm over a joke she made earlier. As Bizarro removes the broken axe shard from his chest, Jason sees that Bizarro still recognizes them and forms a plan. He tries to get Artemis to help him, but she refuses and leaps into battle. Shen she decks Bizarro, Jason notices that Black Mask is in pain as well. She doesn't, only worried about killing Bizarro, but Jason tells her that she knows that despite her attitude, she worries about who might suffer if Black Mask isn't stopped and that's why she stayed in the city. He also tells her that killing Bizarro isn't the only pressing matter. She then agrees to try not to kill him, but not very hard.
Satisfied, Jason leaves Artemis to fight while he goes to implement his plan. While he knows Artemis will be able to survive, he notices two things about Black Mask. One is the damage the virus is doing to his body. The second is that he refuses to let Jason out of his sight. Jason decides to put as much strain on Roman as he can. He tries to enter his bunker, but has some trouble because One Police Plaza is being evacuated. He succeeds, and remember that even though he's used to total improvisation, he still has solid resources. He then remembers getting his ace-in-the-hole, and antidote to the techno-virus and dispersal gun designed by Crux. he prepares to load the gun. However, there is only a small amount left that may not be enough for what he has planned. Black Mask then arrives before he can load the antidote. However, Hood already knew he was there thanks to the proximity alarms. The two trade shots, Mask reveals he was five steps ahead from the start. When he peeks from behind his cover, Jason kicks him in the face before he can get a shot off.
Preparing to execute him, Roman claims he won't end him because of his connection to Batman, and that the reason he wears the Bat-Symbol is so he can stay connected to Batman. Jason prepares a witty response, but Roman turns around at that moment and shoots him. However, Jason's armor saves him. But Roman, going in for the kill, decides to remove his mask so Jason can see the face of death.
Enemies Turned Allies
Because Jason can't reach the antidote for the tech virus, Black Mask prepares to kill him, as he has no use for him anymore. Before Roman can fire, Artemis and Bizarro crash through the ceiling, buying Jason a moment to take the gun. As he disarms him, Jason calls Roman out on hypocrisy for claiming to love Gotham only to send Bizarro on a rampage. Jason takes a moment to check on Artemis, who is still fending off Bizarro. He retorts that Bizarro is only meant to get rid of the deplorables. Mask then orders Bizarro to attack and he tosses Artemis into Jason, knocking them down. Jason realizes that his control over Bizarro hasn't weakened enough, and comes up with a new plan. While the two recover, Jason fills Artemis on his new plan. Artemis is skeptical that it will work until he explains; the techno-virus is damaging Roman's brain, and if they keep fighting he will eventually burn him out.
With the two in agreement, they renew their attack. As they fight, Jason claims that Roman was wrong to believe they were alike, and the he has as much in common with him as he does with Batman; nothing at all. As he makes a retort, Roman collapses as a result of the virus. He then begins speaking in binary code, then Kryptonian, then manages to beg for the cure in english. As the virus further ravages his mind, Jason mocks Roman for thinking he could connect his mind to Bizarro and be fine. Roman asks again for the cure, but Jason refuses. Even without all of the crimes Jason knows he commited, he has so many crimes under his belt that Jason is compelled to leave him to his fate. Even though he vowed not to kill him, Jason refuses to help him. As he slips into a coma, Jason tells him not to blame anyone but himself for his condition.
When Jason checks on Artemis and Bizarro, she asks him about Black Mask, and he replies that he's no longer a problem. Artemis then prepares to leave to continue her quest for the Bow of Ra. However, Jason, feeling he owes her for her help, offers to help her. She refuses, claiming her quest is too personal for her to involve them, but Bizarro claims they're already involved. Artemis decides to let them help on the condition that they disband once her quest is complete, and they all agree.
Several days later, Jason meets up with Batman. Having heard that Black Mask has gone off the grid, he asks Jason what happened. Jason reveals that he didn't kill him, but copied Batman's style and did nothing. He then says that he will never do things his way again. Batman is confused, and when Jason calls his way "the law and order crap," Bruce laughs. He claims his way has nothing to do with law and order. Jason then asks why he gives him such a hard time. In response, Batman reminds him of what he told him the first time he suited up.
Flashing back to that time, Jason is seen sitting on a gargoyle alone until Batman arrives, Jason asks how he knew where to look, and he replies that he was only kid he knew who had a "favorite gargoyle." Jason reveals that he is afraid that he and Alfred were wrong and that he woulds screw up. Batman replies that he is sure that he will make mistakes and fail, but he doesn't want a perfect Robin, but someone who will do their best and make him a better person at the same time. He asks Jason if he is that person, and replies that he's Robin and Batman says it's an honor to have him.
In he present, Jason asks if he's okay with him not being like him, and replies that there's already a Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman. Jason asks if he's okay with him running with Artemis and Bizarro, which he is. Jason asks him one last question; if he is hungry. As they eat Bruce says that there are enough heroes in the world, and that having Outlaws wouldn't hurt. When Bruce asks, what happened to Roman, it turns out he left him the care of Ma Gunn.
How Do You Solve a Problem Like Bizarro?
With Black Mask out of the picture, his men have been trying to fill the power vacuum. Setting up a meeting with some of his old flunkies who sold drugs to the homeless, Jason offers them a chance to get out of the business and leave Gotham. They respond by training all their weapons on him, and they ask him how he plans to deal with them. He tells them he won't do anything, but his friend will. Bizarro then leaps into action and the two begin beating up the gangsters. When Bizarro comes close to killing one of them, Jason has to remind Bizarro to be more gentle, reminding him of how Batman got on him when he was too violent. Once they finish everyone off, their boss calls in backup in the form of Killer Croc. Jason is confused, knowing that Croc was drafted into the Suicide Squad. That moment of confusion gives Croc time to send Jason flying. Bizarro catches him, but in a fit of rage that his friend was hurt, Bizarro freezes Croc's head solid knock his head clean off before Jason can tell him not to. However, it was an android and not the real Croc. With no one left to fight, the two leave, but before they do, Jason stops Bizarro and asks him if he knew Croc wasn't alive. He tells him he did, but Jason isn't entirely convinced.
When the get back to Ma Gunn's old orphanage, now the Outlaws base, Jason talks to Artemis about what happened. Jason feels guilty for reprimanding Bizarro, and he asks if it's crazy for him to fell that way. Artemis tells him that anyone other than him would be crazy. Jason thinks that Artemis doesn't really care about Bizarro, having been searching for a lead on the Bow of Ra, but she is being serious. She then shows him videos she found while hacking into LexCorp using a program created by someone in the Bat-Family. Jason is offended that she doesn't think he created it, even though he didn't create it. Getting back on topic, Artemis shows him several videos of the scientists responsible for creating Bizarro, revealing that Bizarro is only one of many Bizarro clones, leaving a warning as to how dangerous Bizarro truly is, and capturing Lex Luthor ordering the clones' destruction. After seeing a video of a Bizarro clone killing a scientist, Jason wonders if it's too risky to trust Bizarro, but Artemis tells him that the question he needs to worry about is whether he can do the right thing if he becomes to dangerous; kill Bizarro before he kills us. Jason is reluctant, but Artemis reminds him that while their lives are just as important as Bizarro's, they have an obligation to the innocents who can't protect themselves from someone like Bizarro.
Pondering Artemis's words, Jason heads to the Batcave. Alfred comments that he always visits right after Bruce heads out, which is exactly how he likes it. Jason then asks Alfred if Bruce ever regretted taking him on as Robin. Alfred tells him that everyone always believed in him, no matter how bad things got. Jason asks Alfred to leave the cave and not tell Bruce he was here. Now alone, he gets what he came for; a shard of Kryptonite with which to kill Bizarro.
Killing Bizarro?
Later, he and Bizarro head out into the country an sit on a lakefront Jason occasionally visits. Jason talks about his first time there, and how seeing it reminded him what a small part of the world he was. Bizarro tells him that he liked the world, even before he was freed from his container. He talks, with his back turned to Jason, about having Superman's memories implanted in his mind, and the real memories he has of Jason and Artemis. As he talks, Jason loads the Kryptonite, forged into a bullet, into a gun. As Jason aims the gun, Bizarro tells him that even though he isn't perfect, Jason showed him the path to being better, and promises to try to be the best version of himself. Moved by his speech, Jason holsters the gun and tells Bizarro it's time to go, but he asks to stay and enjoy the scenery a little while longer.
Who is Artemis?
Artemis and Jason are tracking a metahuman criminal and the two head into a bar their quarry frequents to find a lead. When the bartender refuses to talk about a patron, Artemis breaks a mug over another patron’s head, instigating a bar fight. As she and Jason fend off everyone, Artemis hears someone address her as “sister.” Artemis turns to see fellow Bana Amazon Akila aiming a bow and arrow at her. Shocked to see her dead friend, she freezes. Jason notices and knocks Akila out, revealing that it was their target using his power to take the form of someone from her memories. Concerned at how she reacted to their quarry’s powers, Jason asks about what she saw. Pouring a drink for herself, she dismisses him. When he insists, she relents and tell him about the origin of the Bana and her story.
A Man and an Amazon walk into a bar...
While she tells her story, Jason asks about the rumors that all Amazons live on Themyscira, and that they will die if a man sets foot there. She corrects him, explaining that no one would die if they did, and that her ancestors left the island after a falling out with Hippolyta. They eventually reached the Middle East and asked the Egyptian Gods for sanctuary. Under some difficult terms, they traveled to the site where they would build Bana-Mighdall. She continues her story about her friend Akila, who would become the Shim'Tar, how she was driven mad by the power of the Bow, and how she met Wonder Woman when she arrived to stop. Jason asks about the outcome, Artemis gives a vague answer. However, he already knows what happened; the two were forced to kill Akila and Artemis holds herself responsible for everything that happened. The Bow of Ra was lost, so they assumed the gods took it. However, she found out that the Bow is still on Earth, and she has dedicated herself to finding it. As the two leave the bar with their quarry, Jason compliments her eyes. Unflattered, she responds by threatening to punch him in his face.
Using information that Jason got from Black Mask, the Outlaws head to the place where the buyer of the Bow of Ra resides and the one place on Earth Jason never wanted to see again: Qurac. Stealing a decrepit cargo plane, Jason has Bizarro fly it into Quraci airspace while he and Artemis watch a news-feed. According to the news, Quraci General Ahmed Hienle had just leveled the city where his political rivals where stationed. Though no one knows what weapon he used in the attack. Artemis recognizes the destruction as the work of the Bow of Ra. However, she can't understand how a man like Heinle could have harnessed its power when only Shim'Tar can wield it. Jason theorizes that he found a way, but she feels that no man can be trusted with such power, and that if the Bow really is in use, she failed her best friend.
When Jason makes a move to console her, the aforementioned General hails their plane and demands that they turn back. Jason boldly refuses, and vows that that Red Hood and the Outlaws will shut him down. When the general scrambles fighters to shoot them, down, they manage to hit Bizarro. Unharmed, Bizarro lets go of the plane to take the jets down, leaving Jason and Artemis to fall out of the sky. As they fall, Artemis complains about using a plane that can't fly. Jason retorts that he needed to make Bizarro feel like a part of the team. He also noted that Bizarro sparing the pilot proves they are making him a better person. Before they can crash, Bizarro catches the plane, but a light bright enough to obscure the night sky then shines, obscuring everything.
Of All the Places...
When he comes to Jason, he finds that he is in the frozen wreckage of the plane. He then realizes two things; that Bizarro saved them all, and that the Outlaws have been separated. He internally debates searching for his friends or finding the bow, only to realize that he actually considers his teammates friends. Before he can get moving, armed soldiers train their rifles on him.
Jason is stripped of his weapons and taken to a prison. Wen they try to get him to talk, he says he will only speak to the General. When they demand details in order to get the General's attention. He tells the soldiers that he died in their country and flashes back to his death. However, when he looks out the window, he sees that he is standing a few hundred feet from the remains of the building he died in. When Jason starts ranting about the fact that he wound up in that exact place, the guards write him off as a head case and leave. While he muses over his current situation, his younger self appears next to him and tells him that he would have been better off staying dead.
Moving On
While sitting in a cell, Jason watches his younger self get beaten by the Joker, calling out for help. Joker then turns his attention to his older self, hoping to get a rise. In response, older Jason shoots Joker to death. Even though it is imaginary, he takes some satisfaction in changing the past. Later, the Joker appears again, and rather than fight again, Jason decides to untether himself from his past. He tells his younger self that while he was alone as a kid, he now has surrounded himself with good friends. He also admits his death was his own fault, he then walks away as the warehouse explodes.
At that moment, he comes to, the whole thing having been a dream he had after he blacked out by being tortured by General Hienle himself. At that moment, the General decides that Jason has no information about the Bow of Ra. He order his men to kill Jason. Having a problem with that, Jason waits until they untie him and attacks. Hienle draws a gun and demands Jason stop. However, in the time it took him to draw Jason has already knocked out his guards, picked a gun, and aimed it at his face point blank. Jason realizes that he doesn't have the Bow of Ra, and Hienle comes clean: he bought the Bow, but couldn't control it. In searching for a way to control it, he unleashed a powerful evil: and he claims there is no stopping her. Jason realizes that since a Shim'Tar can wield the Bow, he realizes who the evil is.
The All-Blades Strikes Again
Eventually, the Amazons of Bana-Mighdall attack Hienle's compound. Jason, realizing that he is the lesser of two evils, he prepares to battle the Amazons. Before he can jump into the fray, Artemis stops him, upset that he is siding with the enemy. As they get caught in the melee, Jason tries to explain why he is fighting the Amazons: Akila lied about having the Bow of Ra. Artemis refuses to accept the truth...until a flaming arrow kills Hienle. With some convincing from Jason, she prepares to engage Akila with him. At the same time, Bizarro arrives with survivors from the ruined city, accidentally burying Akila under a mountain in the process. When Akila recovers, she attacks Bizarro, then fires another arrow at the refugees. While Artemis stops the blast, she is left defenseless.
While Akila is distracted, Jason summons the All-Blades and fights Akila. However, she is still too powerful for him to stop. As she prepares a kill blow, Bizarro returns to the fray and the tow fight her together. Though they fail to stop her, they buy time for Artemis to take up the Bow of Ra herself and uses it to defeat Akile. However, she loses control of the power she absorbed from the bow and begins to explode. As Bizarro carries her into space to explode safely, Everyone present looks on.
After the fighting ends, Jason and Artemis talk about everything that happened. Jason asks if she is going to leave the Outlaws, but she decides to stay and let Amazons and refugees live build a new life there. She also reveals that she plans to keep the Bow of Ra for herself., which worries Jason a little. The two the hear someone cry and out, and find that Bizarro is apparently dead.
The Loss of Bizarro
Returning to Gotham to try to treat the dying Bizarro, Ma Gunn tells the Outlaws that she is ill equipped to treat an alien clone, and anyone who can will not help them since their adventure in Qurac earned them the the status of international war criminals. Jason tries to give Bizarro some hope of survival, but Artemis argues against lying. The argument is cut short when they see Solomon Grundy rampaging on the news. Artemis tries to go face Grundy alone so Jason can be with Bizarro. As someone experienced with Grundy, Jason accompanies her anyway. The two reach Grundy, but both are quickly defeated. Before they can be killed, Bizarro, having heard their plight with his super-hearing, arrives to defeat Grundy knowing the gesture will end him. Against Jason's objection, Bizarro defeats Grundy, then collapses. With his last breaths, he asks his friends to care for his rag doll before dying. Jason is unwilling to accept that he is gone forever, but Artemis convinces him to simply mourn him and honor his last act. While mourning, the two are knocked out from a blast delivered by Lex Luthor, Bizarro's creator.
Meet the newest outlaw...Nightwing?!
The one-shot story kicks off by showing some men on a cruise ship. Everything seems to be fine, until all of sudden KGBeast "the Beast" shows up and bombs the place to its ashes. Moving on to Gotham City, we see Dick Grayson a.k.a. Nigtwing among the audience watching (at the circus) a spectacular show orchestrated by none other then Jason, Bizarro and Artemis. Jason asks Dick for a favor. He asks whether Dick could help them with the Russians. At first, Dick hesitates a bit, but he realizes that he cannot let his brother alone and says yes. They eventually follow the villain with all the evidence they have. It seems that it is the Beast! It takes the four of them to beat him, but they eventually manage to win. Jason and Dick shake hands and Dick tells him that he is glad that Jason is a good brother to Bizarro. Because frankly, Jason does a better job than Dick
Current events:
Jason once again fights for justice on his own terms before conceding to Batman's rules and stops killing (Rebirth). That is until he finds out that his father actually loved him and the Penguin was the reason for his demise. He shoots the Penguin, point blank, on live TV. In turn, Batman hunts him down and fights him, easily taking the upper hand. Bizzaro rescues him and brings him to their headquarters which is about to self-destruct over the city. Bizzaro takes the headquarters through a portal and Artemis follows after to bring him back but not before she throws Jason out back into Gotham city where Batman is waiting for him. Batman takes him down and bans him from Gotham as he rips off the bat sigil from his costume. While he's dragging him away, presumably to throw him out of Gotham, he's suddenly struck by an electric arrow from Roy Harper who ends up rescuing Jason in a cloud of smoke.
List of known associates
Red hood and Arsenal (New 52): Link
Name: Jason Todd
Age: 19
Height: 6'0
Weight: 225 lbs
Eye color: Aquamarine
Note: It's confirmed that Dick is 21 in New 52 from Batman #37 and Jason is supposed to be 1-2 years younger than him. Hence the headcanon for his age.
Canon: DC Comics
Canon point: New 52 continuity. The end of Red Hood and the Outlaws (Rebirth). Issue #25.
Comic References:
Red Hood and the Outlaws (Rebirth). Issue #25.
Red Hood and Arsenal (New 52)
Under the Red Hood
*Note: These are the only comics I've read and where I get Jason's personality from which is heavily influenced by Red Hood and the Outlaws (Rebirth).
Jason is taken specifically from the New 52 continuity which is a reboot of the universe and therefore the character. Rebirth is part of the New 52 continuity. In Rebirth, writers changed Jason's first meeting with Batman from his original New 52 introduction which is the one that will be used for this character.
Quick Summary:
His dad was a henchman for hire, got himself locked up after a job went south, and ended up dying in prison. Mom was a drug addict he tried to protect but ended up dying of an overdose anyway. He was on the streets after that fast talking his way out of deadly encounters and learning to take a punch from someone a lot bigger than him. He kept himself fed sometimes by stealing car parts. It's how he first met Batman. He caught him stealing the wheels off the batmobile. Batman takes him to a school for at-risk youths, but it turns out the school is just a front for criminal activity, and the two of them end up taking it down. Batman then takes him in and makes him his new Robin, but he's a little too violent for the boy wonder persona. You can take the kid out of Crime Alley, but you can't take Crime Alley out of the kid.
He ends up getting benched, then comes to find out his biological mother is still alive while the one he'd known was just a woman his dad shacked up with after his mother left. He chases the clues until he finds her. It's all sunshine and rainbows until she sells him out to the Joker, who beats him with a crowbar within an inch of his life and kills him in an explosion for Batman to find. He ends up dead and buried 6 feet under, then 6 months later, some multi-dimensional bullshit brings him back to life. Kid had to dig himself out of his own grave with his bare hands. He comes out the other end, practically a zombie. I guess Joker bashed his head in with that crowbar a little too good. The League of Assassins later finds him, and he gets thrown into the Lazarus Pit, which heals his mind. Now that he's back in body and mind, he's told he's already been replaced and shown pictures of the new Robin hanging out with Batman. This eats at him, and he ends up tracking Tim down, makes sure all of the Titans except Tim are away for the night before breaking into the tower wearing a version of his old Robin uniform and beating Tim until he's unconsciousness. He feels a little guilty about that now, not his best moment. Later, he goes around the world learning how to be a better assassin before returning to Gotham City. He takes up the Joker's first persona, the Red Hood, and makes it his own.
He comes back to Gotham to influence crime and take vengeance. He kills the top drug dealers and takes control of the drug trade in Gotham while making moves to get the attention of the major crime lords, becoming just enough of a nuisance to their bottom line to get them to use their resources to do what he can't. During this crime spree, he ends up facing off with Batman, and the two end up unmasked before each other. Now that his identity is out, Red Hood puts more pressure on the crime lords before Batman tracks him down and Black Mask takes the bait. He springs the Joker from prison to kill him exactly as Jason planned from the start. With Joker out of Arkham Asylum, he easily tracks and captures him while in police transport, outsmarting Batman when he tries to stop him. Once he has Joker in his custody, Jason beats him with a crowbar within an inch of his life for old times sake. An eye for an eye. Later, he rigs a building to explode and has a final showdown with Batman, the Joker, and him. He gives Batman an ultimatum. Kill the Joker or kill him. Sadly, no one gets killed, even after the bombs go off. Jason ends up escaping, becoming an outlaw.
History Summary: Before the start of Rebirth
Link: Full History of Jason Todd
Origin
Raised in the slums of the poor side of Gotham City known as Crime Alley, Jason Todd was the son of a petty criminal named Willis Todd. Willis was a henchman for hire and was eventually sent to prison and died there. This left Jason with Catherine Todd, a drug addicted woman he did not know was not truly his biological mother. In order to survive and for his so-called mother's habit, Jason turned to crime, ripping off car parts for money. Catherine soon died from a drug overdose leaving him an orphan. Jason was left alone on the streets barely surviving, still stealing parts of cars for cash. This led to Batman discovering Jason in an alley stealing the tires off the Batmobile.
Bruce Wayne tried to put Jason in Ma Gunn's school for troubled youths but Jason ran away from the school when he realized it was actually a front for criminal activity. Ma Gunn was using the school as a cover to recruit young delinquents into her own criminal gang. When Batman discovers this, he takes down Ma Gunn, with help from Jason.
With that option off the table, Bruce took him in as his own and began training him to replace Dick Grayson as Robin. He did not have Dick's cheerful enthusiasm or natural acrobatic skill, but life had made him tough and full of sarcastic wit which made Jason motivated. Secretly, Bruce believed that had he not taken Jason into his home then in a few years time he would be taking Jason in to the police as Batman. So instead, Jason became the new Robin.
Batman realizes early on that Jason has a violent streak and benches him when he goes too far during one of their run in's with the bad guys. While inactive, Jason spends his time on the Bat computer where he discovers that his birth mother is alive. He tracks her down and eventually finds her in Qurac. She sells him out to the Joker who beats him with a crowbar within an inch of his life. Jason is left alone with one of Joker's bombs and is killed when it goes off. Batman later finds his remains among the rubble. Batman buries Jason back in Gotham and memorializes his Robin costume behind a glass casing in the batcave.
Six months after his death, Superboy-Prime alters reality from the paradise dimension he's trapped in and Jason is restored to life. He breaks out of his coffin (with his bare hands and fingers) and walks away from the graveyard (approximately 12 miles) before he collapses and is hospitalized, as the injuries inflicted by the Joker have not fully healed including the brain damage inflicted by the crowbar. Later, he is found by Talia Al-Ghul who resurrects him with the Lazarus Pit. The pit heals his injuries and restores his mind. After he's resurrected, Jason learns that Batman did nothing to avenge his death and easily replaced him with a new Robin, Tim Drake, after his death. Anguished and seeking vengeance, he initially turns against his mentor and takes on the Joker's former identity: the Red Hood. Eventually coming back to the Bat-Family and assembling a team of anti-heroes known as the Outlaws (New 52 and Rebirth).
Post-Flashpoint: Earth-0
In the revamped post- Flashpoint DC Universe, Jason Todd maintained his Red Hood identity and got his own ongoing series entitled Red Hood and the Outlaws. He was one of the characters left relatively unchanged by the revamp, getting a new costume reminiscent of his original Red Hood costume as well as a redesigned Robin costume for his time as Batman's partner. Unlike his post- Flashpoint counterpart, Earth-0 Jason Todd is less tempered and hostile towards the Bat-Family. As of late, he has worked with them as a unit on multiple occasions, without aggression or direct violence towards them. Jason fought with the Bat-family in court of owls and is shown to be some what friends with Tim Drake. Damian Wayne does not like Jason for his time as Robin as shown in Batman and Robin.
Red Hood and the Outlaws (New 52)
After the timeline was approximately restored after Flashpoint, Jason Todd had a loose friendship with Roy Harper whom ironically shares a similar past as Jason since both were 'failure' sidekicks that went to the bad side. It is revealed that Jason stopped an attempted smuggling of a nuclear submarine into Miami and it exploded but he escaped and was injured. Starfire fished him out and nursed him back to health where they quickly became friends after realizing they have a lot in common after talking about their pasts. Jason came to Roy's aid, along with Starfire, to break Roy out of a prison in Qurac. After the successful jailbreak, he was contacted by Essence of the All Caste, one of the groups he had learned from during his lost years. The All Caste, which he had turned his back on to pursue his own path, had been brutally eliminated. Jason immediately ditched Roy and Starfire to look into this on his own. Roy joins Jason on a flight to the Himalayas while Starfire flew ahead and secured a limo. Jason leaves them once again to gear up where he shoots down Suzie Su and her partner who try to sneak attack him. Jason now fully geared with Roy and Starfire and he travels a bit ahead of them where he finds the villagers massacred and he pays his respects to Ducra. The villagers reanimate and attack Jason, he turns and throws away his guns to fight them honorably but Roy and Starfire catch up and they start killing the zombies. Jason fights along side them defeating the horde and with the villagers defeated, Jason sits and prays for them.
Jason and the team meet S'aru, the protector. They all give up their most cherished memories as a collateral to get into the Chamber of All to find the object the Untitled wanted. The group ventures through the chamber and they get attacked by a giant monster. Jason and Roy do their best to defend themselves while Starfire gets eaten. Jason finds the object in the midst of the fight and retrieves it. The object turns out to be a snow globe of Colorado, meanwhile Starfire blasts the creature from the inside, killing it and then she grabs Jason and Roy and flies out of the chamber. Jason questions S'aru what the significance of the object is or why the Untitled left it behind but receives no helpful answer. They collect their memories all except for Jason who tells S'aru to keep it. The memory turns out to be a night as Robin when he had the flu and Bruce stayed home to be with the ill Jason.
The Outlaws make their way to Middleton Colorado due to the clue they found in the Chamber of All to find the Untitled. Jason gets into a quick scrap in the bar and a cop comes to take he and Roy to the station. Jason manages to restrain the cop while he looks for some records that could help him find the Untitled. The cop turns out to be one of the Untitled but not the one he's looking for. The cop is about to rip out Jason's liver when Roy saves him. Jason and Roy head outside where they see a huge explosion that matches Starfire's energy signature. Roy leaves Jason to go save Stafire while Jason stays to battle the Untitled.
Jason continues his battle with the Untitled where he ends up falling into the frozen water beneath. Jason recalls a flashback to his training with the Untitled and remembers what Ducra told him about being special and that he is just beginning a new journey. Jason leaps from the ice hole vowing that his trifles with Batman and his goal about killing Joker don't matter anymore. He cuts himself to get blood on the Blades of All to feed them. Jason manages to kill the Untitled setting a new goal that he will kill all of them one by one. It is revealed the Untitled used her powers to keep the people away but upon her death returns to her normal appearance as a mob appears. They think Jason just outright murdered the sheriff so he runs off and gets Kori and Roy telling them they need to leave.
Jason drops Crux off at Arkham Asylum. The team steals one of Crux's ships when Essence appears. Jason stabs her with the All blade and claims she is the one responsible for killing the All Caste. She reveals Ducra is her mother and was linked to the Untitled so she is on her own mission trying to kill all of the Untitled herself. A fight ensues when Jason grabs a molecular dispersal gun or teleportation gun causing Essence to disappear. Jason decides to try and contact the stewardess he met earlier, but decides she is better off not having him in her life.
The Outlaws head to Gotham where an enraged Suzie Su has awakened from a coma after getting shot by Jason. It was revealed that Jason took money from the seven crime families of Hong Kong to supply his resources. Jason killed an entire clan and this allowed new clans to rise up and take its place and eventually one of those familes was the Familia De Flores and Su. Jason had everything he needed so he killed Suzie's entire gang except her and her father as a way to pay retribution for the trouble he caused.While Roy and Starfire rescued the hostages, Jason fought Suzie and ended up killing her by putting a bullet through her skull. When leaving, they intercept a message from Alfred claiming they need all Batman related allies to help since the Court of the Owls have multiple Talons set up around the city ready to kill forty people who have shaped Gotham. Jason gets a request from Tim Drake to stay and help. It was also revealed that about a month or two ago, Jason got intel for Tim and apologized to Tim and Tim forgave him for his past actions. They decide to stay and cover a person of interest, Mr. Freeze.
Jason and the Outlaws are looking over a frozen covered part of Gotham going over the mission. Jason leaps down reminiscing about Gotham and arrives to help Mr. Freeze where he gets caught in the midst of a battle between a Talon and Freeze. He halts Freeze but gets his hand frozen as the Talon runs away. Jason chases the Talon down and has a brief fight with it before it runs again. Eventually he catches up to the Talon who has a heart-to-heart conversation with Jason and begs him to kill him in which Jason does. Jason ends up meeting Batgirl and throws Mr. Freeze on the rooftop for her and tells her that if she sees Batman tell him "you're welcome." as they leave Gotham.
Jason spent the whole night on a date talking with Isabel, the stewardess from the plane. He gets attacked by an alien, so to protect Isabel, he dons his helmet and begins to fight it. Eventually, Starfire comes out from her hotel room and the alien is introduced as Orn, one of Starfire's old friends from Tamaran. Orn tells Starfire a black shadow has fallen upon her old planet. He teleports the Outlaws and Isabel, to Starfire's ship as Roy, Jason and Isabel watch Kori take charge of the ship and prepare to attack the aliens. Jason made sure Isabel was safe when they started the fight. With the alien squadron defeated, Starfire wishes to talk with Roy and Jason. She explains her origin to them and asks because of being traded with no one helping her, should she fight for Tamaran? Jason tells her she has every right to be mad and not help. He even compares it to his former Batman and Joker situation but shows support when Roy tells her she should and he apologizes to Isabel about the whole matter. Jason is seen happy with Isabel, but the Blight attack. So the team defends the ship. After Roy teleports back with a now freed Blackfire, Jason, Roy and the rest of the crew watch as Starfire and Blackfire leave to go save Tamaran.
Jason helps Starfire and Blackfire fight the Blight off on Tamaran. He gets caught by a Blight but is saved by Orn. After the battle, Isabel mentions she wishes she could fill out uniforms like Starfire but Jason remarks she does just fine. Jason and the Outlaws leave Tamaran in a new ship named after Depalo after his brave sacrifice of taking the Starfire ship into the Blight mothership and self-destructing it from the inside out, and head back to Earth, but unbeknownst to them, the Joker sneaks into a hideout and grabs one of the Red Hood masks.
The Outlaws head back towards but are encountered by Superman. Jason tells the Outlaws he is one of the only beings he fears. They teleport back to Earth but Superman is already there waiting. The Outlaws begin an assault on Superman but fail miserably as the Kryptonian is just too powerful. He incapacitates them easily and they finally decide to talk as Superman originally requested. He asks Starfire about any Daemonites which she lies and tells him no. Superman tells them to contact him if anything comes up. The Outlaws drop Jason and Isabel off at her apartment where they get intimate and while Jason goes and takes a shower he comes back in realizes Isabel has been assaulted as she lies on the floor with needles everywhere. The Joker appears on the TV under the guise of a weather man and tells Jason that she is still alive and he has called the EMT's but also the authorities as the authorities head into the room.
Jason fights off the authorities and gets a key to a vehicle where he is attacked by the Joker and taken to an unknown location where through the Joker's prep, Jason is defeated and falls into a room with an unconscious Tim Drake.
After the events of Death of The Family, Jason goes back to Wayne Manor to say goodbye. After talking to: Nightwing, Robin, Alfred and Batman, Jason puts on his helmet and it tightens. The helmet reveals a hologram of The Joker who modified the helmet to do so. The Joker talks about how Jason "played a joke" on him and that he wasn't laughing. The mask starts to give out gas and Jason starts laughing maniacally. Batman and the others rush to help, but it's too late, and Jason falls to the ground with a burnt face. The one that heard the Joker voice was Batman and Robin-Damian. Alfred, Arsenal, Starfire and Batman hold on to him and were shocked to see what happened to Jason Todd just before he left the Wayne Manor with his team.
The Joker planted an acid bomb in the mask, leaving Jason in critical condition. Jason is met by Ducra in a dream world where he must make the choice of living in the past or letting go and going for the future. Jason finally admits he loves his friends and lets go of the past where he finally wakes up and attempts to apologize to Bruce, but Bruce cuts him off and hugs him instead. Bruce brings Jason on a mission where they stop some mercenaries in Ethiopia. It was revealed to be a ruse by Bruce to bring Jason to where he died to try and reawaken a memory so Bruce could bring Damian back to life. Jason and Bruce fight, but Jason eventually stops and takes the car, leaving Bruce to remain by himself.
Roy and Kori make it into the Acres of All in search of Jason. They fight off some creatures, but when a big one shows up, Jason saves them and he has no memory of them. It is revealed that Jason flied to the All-Caste hideaway to find S'aru and have him remove his memories that the darkness has gotten the better of him in his life and S'aru just takes them all. His recent fight with Bruce drove him to do this.
Jason watches as Roy and Kori are taken through Jason's memories by S'aru to understand what he went through and a new revelation came about where Jason saved Roy the day before he left to track his mother. Jason wishes for Roy to just start over but Roy tranqs him and the group is teleported away by S'aru back into mountains with Ducra, Essence, and S'aru watching over them.
The group returns to their island base and Jason accesses the files of himself and finds what he has done in the past as a killer. He gets angry at the team and feels like they have been lying, but the group is assaulted by Cheshire, but are helped out by Green Arrow. Cheshire manages to escape, but in the midst of everything Jason ends up secretly leaving as well, stowing himself away on Green Arrow's ship. Jason is soon chased by the League of Assassins and he ends up getting captured and to his surprise is treated kindly. They do end up telling him it is his destiny to lead the League of Assassins against the Untitled; the same group responsible for destroying his prior mentors the All-Caste. Jason is skeptical due to his amnesia, but the League assures him he won't have to worry as the defences around the sacred city are impenetrable, as the technology needed to breach it isn't readily available on Earth. Unbeknownst to them, the Untitled have deceived Roy 'Arsenal' Harper into helping them, playing on Arsenal's loyalty to his friends and his desire to protect the amnesiac Jason. Using his prodigious engineering skills, he designs a weapon to help breach the sacred city and 'rescue' his friend.
Red Hood and the Outlaws (Rebirth)
As of DC Rebirth, Jason Todd's backstory reverts to his original meeting with Batman occurring while trying to steal tires from the Batmobile. Instead of fleeing at the sight of him, Jason attacks him with his tire iron. Impressed, Batman takes him out for food, then later takes him in and raises him as the new Robin. On a mission to capture Two-Face, he realizes that Jason has a violent streak. Later, he is captured, tortured, and killed by the Joker. After being revived by the Lazarus Pit, he returns to Gotham, but the problems between them put a strain on their relationship.
In the present, Jason is flying over a group of policemen on a motorcycle. Landing right in front of the Mayor as he is giving a speech. Though the mayor tries to bargain, Jason dismissively aims his gun at him. Before he can shoot, a Batarang lodges itself on his armor. Jason realizes what's coming right before the Batarang explodes, knocking him flat on his back. As Batman towers over him, Jason recognizes that after all these years, the sight of his mentor still intimidates him. He considers fleeing for a moment, then decides to shoot Batman's feet, Bruce easily dodges while Jason asks for asks him to let him explain later. He refuses, so Jason initiates a close-quarters brawl. He gets a shot in, but Batman easily gets the upper hand and puts Jason in bear-hug. Knowing he was outmatched, Jason took precautions, one which was a taser built into the Bat-symbol on his armor, which he uses to send Batman flying. With Batman out of the way, he decks the Mayor then, despite Batman's plea, shoots him.
Later, Jason is at a bar frequented by criminals, watching the news coverage of his assassination attempt. Penguin congratulates him on making his mark in the Gotham underworld. The bartend hands Jason a drink and warns him about the history and danger of the name Red Hood, and advises to be cautious, lest his namesake come for him. He is then approached by a member of Black Mask's gang. He leaves a card with Jason and an offer to join his operation.
Jason returns to his base underneath One Police Plaza to find that Batman has found him. He compliments his choice of location then reveals the truth about the attack on the mayor: Jason shot him with an antidote to a techno-organic virus inside of him and the cops in his way with sedatives. Bruce wants to know why he didn't tell him the truth, and he responds with a question; why Bruce didn't trust him. Bruce he does trust him, which is why he asked him to investigate connection between the city hall and a new international crime cartel, which is how Jason found out about the virus in the mayor. Jason wants to even deeper undercover, but Bruce won't allow it. He claims he won't support him because he's not Dick, but it's actually because of his history of crossing the line. Jason reminds him of what he said to Jason when they first met about giving people a chance, and asks for a chance to show why Red Hood is so valuable. Bruce relents, but with the stipulation that he will pull Jason out if he goes too far. As he leaves, warns that if Jason kills one person for any reason, he will come for him.
Jason reminisces about his early days as Robin. As he comments on Batman's trophy gallery, Alfred arrives to take a photo. While Jason tries to pose, Batman remains as serious as ever. Before heading out Jason ponders his choices and who he's become while looking at that same photo, where Bruce is seen actually smiling. Though he's not the person Bruce wanted him to be, he believes that he'll come to understand that he is who Batman needs.
Dark Trinity
In the past, Ma Gunn is shoots Batman for interfering with her plan, while Jason is hiding behind a desk. While she complains about the injuries Batman inflicted on her charges, while Batman condemns her using those charges as weapons. Meanwhile, Jason is thinking about how Bruce sent him there to help straighten him out. However, they discoverd they were teaching the boys there to become career criminals. As she is about to kill Batman, Jason breaks cover. Even though Batman could have taken her himself, Jason decides to spice things up himself. Shocking everyone, he charges Ma Gunn and tackles her out of a window.
In the present, Red Hood jumps out of Gunn's old school, carrying her in his arms as the building explodes. Even though Hood is fine, Gunn was not breathing. When he manages to revive her, she recognizes him as Jason. When the two are settled and Red Hood convinces her that he is not Jason Todd, asks if she knows who was responsible for the bombing. Unaware that he already knew about her past, she recaps. Starting from her ambitions to use children to help build her criminal empire to her run-in with Batman. Having recently been released from prison, she intended to start over until she was invited to dinner by an old affiliate; Roman Sionis a.k.a. Black Mask. He wanted her to surrender her operation as part of his plan to consolidate the criminals in Gotham under his banner. She refused, which led to the bombing. Ironically, she was unable to reopen her school on time, which prevented any youths from being caught in the bombing. Even though the thought of young boys dying made Jason want to kill Roman, he adheres to his promise to Bruce.
Returning to his base, he spends several days gathering intel on Black Mask. While he searches, he remembers a mission from his Robin days where he and Bruce were tracking Riddler. Jason wanted to charge in and take him, until Bruce reveals the escape route in the building he's hiding in, after which Bruce reminds him about being prepared. Remembering similar words of advice about knowing you enemy, Jason looks over everything he has on Roman, from his birth to his current expansion of his operations and elimination of competition. Having what he needs to know, he resolves to rest, and talk to Roman the next day.
However, by talking, he meant breaking into his car. Pinning his men down and putting a gun to Roman's chin, he states that he's there to talk about the offer given to him. Unfazed, Roman congratulates him for meeting his expectations. The two head up to a skyscraper, where he talks about his ambitions to rule Gotham how he feels is the right way, unlike other criminals in town. while Roman talks, Jason remembers Bruce's speech about not killing his enemies. Back in the present, Roman reveals that he is looking for a second-in-command, and thinks Red Hood is a fitting heir. He then takes Jason to an "audition," where he is ordered to kill the men who failed to kill Ma Gunn. Jason refuses claiming they have more value alive. Even though he respects Jason's morals, he presses a button that causes all of the men's heads to explode despite their pleas for mercy.
Red Hood vs. Artemis
Later that night, Jason and two henchmen are sent to grab Black Mask's "game-changer." As the train is private and abandoned, he feels that this will be simple. despite not knowing what this game-changing weapon is. Setting off a charge that derails the train, he instructs the henchmen to quickly get their quarry. However a voice calls out that they won't get what they're looking for. This person then tosses debris a the group, taking down the gangsters. Jason dodges and draws his pistol while the figure commands him to disarm. Jason replies by asking for a name, and she reveals herself to be Artemis, who vows to be the last woman he sees if he does not get his guns out of her face.
He explains he is only searching for a weapon, but Artemis is surprised that he doesn't understand that he is handing over a world destroying power. Not intimidated, he tries to shoot her, hoping to take advantage of the fact that she doesn't possess traditional Amazon Bracelets. However, she uses her axe to deflect the shots. Deciding the use of a weapon was unnecessary, she decides to use her hands instead. She then proceeds to pummel him after he calls her "princess," a nickname that strikes a nerve.
Before she delivers a killing blow, Jason asks her about the weapon she is searching for. while she explains the nature of this weapon, Jason uses up the charge is his taser to knock her out. Suddenly, he realizes Black Mask has com personally to claim his weapon. When Jason asks about Artemis' presence, he states that what she is looking for is not the weapon he has. Her quarry is an ancient weapon, while his relies on state-of-the-art genetic science. While they talk, Artemis quickly recovers and calls Mistress back to her and renews her attack. Jason tries to explain that they are after two separate things, but more of Black Mask's lackey's lackeys shoot at her. Red Hood helps her get to cover and, while out of view, Artemis realizes Jason is hiding his true intentions. After explaining his mission, the two call a truce, which she considers a surrender. When they break cover, they find out that Black Mask has called in a helicopter to take the train car containing his prize. When the lackeys begin shooting at Artemis again, Jason tackles her into an abandoned train car for cover. Black Mask leaves Jason behind, and Artemis cannot fly, leaving the duo stuck. However, Artemis' uses her strength to catch the chopper. She tosses Jason up to to the train car before leaping up there herself. Once inside, they realize two things: Artemis' weapon isn't there. and Black Mask's weapon is a Superman clone.
Jason is again lost in his memories, remembering his first time going out as Robin without Batman. After the fact, he returns to the Batcave, bloodied and beaten, and stares at the display case containing the original Robin costume. Artemis' voice stirs him from his daydreaming. She scolds him for his lack of focus, reminding him of how dangerous a Superman clone in Black Mask's hands can be. To their surprise, Black Mask is in the train car with them. Before anyone can react, knockout gas fills covers the room. Because Artemis damaged his mask, Jason passes out from the gas.
Jason wakes up in Roman's base. At first he is glad to still be on Roman's good side, but he then notices one of his helmets on the desk next to the bed. Recognizing Roman's ability to think ahead, he wonders if helmet is a copy or a spare from Jason's bunker. As he changes, he wonders if he is really fooling Black Mask. Heading upstairs to meet with the boss, Roman congratulates him besting an Amazon and apologizes for knocking him out along with her. After forgiving him, Jason inquires about Artemis, but he dodges the inquiry to show Jason where the clone is being kept. Entering a lab more advanced than anything the Justice League can even afford, Roman explains how he heard about clone through scientists that he hired. After hearing the clone belonged to Lex Luthor, once he confirmed its existence and found out Luthor ordered it destroyed, he instead had it delivered to Gotham. He also reveals that he wanted Jason to try to steal it in order to trip the chamber's defenses so it could be grabbed with little risk. As the scientists open the chamber, Jason remembers his rebirth in the Lazarus Pit. Roman then realizes the clone is having trouble breathing. The clone panics and breaks out of the chamber and begins to mutate. Jason sees the fear in his eyes, and comforts him as he becomes a full blown Bizarro clone.
Later, Bizarro is restrained and shown videos of Superman constantly, while his eyelids are forced open to keep him watching. Seeing as it's not working, Jason wants to use words to get to Bizarro, and Roman trusts him enough to let him try. Before he goes in, Artemis, trapped the opposite cell, tries to talk him out of it, believing him to be an empty shell. Even though Jason promises to get her out as soon as possible, she states that she can break out any time she wants and is only staying put for two reasons; to observe Bizarro, and to see if Black Mask has any leads on the location of the Bow of Ra. Irritated at all the deception going on, Red Hood considers killing everyone until Bizarro shows signs of intelligence. Sneaking off to his base, Jason hacks into LexCorp to find information. remembering the last time a Superman clone appeared, he discover the previous Bizarro.
Jason then heads to a nearby toy store. Feeling out of his element a store clerk offers him help as he picks out a stuffed Superman doll. Later, he eats dinner alongisde Roman, who reveals he scanned Jason's eyes the previous night to gather information on Red Hood, but found nothing on Jason Todd. Jason plays it off, so Roman asks his next question; why he has a Bat-symbol on his suit. Jason replies that he does it to annoy Batman.
Later, he goes to present the doll to Bizarro. Artemis advises against treating a weapon of mass destruction as an infant. After learning from his investigation into LexCorp that Bizarro will only live for a few weeks combined with the fact that both he and Artemis have been written off in the past, Jason resolves to try to reach him anyway. He goes into the cell and gives him the doll. He initially thinks it is Superman, but realizes otherwise. Jason tells him that he is not the real Superman and that he should try to be himself, officially giving him the name Bizarro. Artemis claims that he is a monster incapable of understanding him, but the statement causes him to go berserk.
Bizarro grabs Jason and slams him against Artemis' cell door, where he sarcastically claims he has everything under control. While Artemis refuses to help, Jason correctly assumes it's so she can maintain her cover. Bizarro then slams him into the ground for acting like he's not there. However, Jason tells Bizarro to stop, and it works long enough for him to see a way to get to him. Deciding to take the risk, he tells Bizarro to talk to the Superman doll about his problems. It works, and Jason is able to calm him down and get him to see himself and Artemis as friends. He then tells Bizarro to direct his super-hearing to the entirety of Gotham, which puts him to sleep.
The next day, Jason eats another meal with Roman. After seeing Jason risk his life to protect Artemis and Bizarro, he considers him a kindred spirit and a true friend, and takes him to show him something. Along the way, Roman tells him about his childhood and how he murdered his parents for not putting their criminal enterprises ahead of him. They then reach their destination; the basement, where all of his curios are stored. Jason asks is his plan to take Gotham over one block at a time. He replies that his true plan is to acquire enough power to deter everyone from challenging him. Jason then inquires about the Bow of Ra, which he explains he no longer has to Jason and Artemis, who broke out of her cell and followed them. Apparently aware she was there, silently wishes her luck in her quest.
Roman then goes on about his dream to rid the city of psychotics, reminding Jason of how he made the same argument to Bruce, but was shut down. While he continues his speech, he reveals the reason they came; the same techno-organic virus that infected the mayor. He then mentions Jason's failed attack on the mayor. Jason, realizing he was made, asks how long he knew the truth. Roman reveals he knew all along. While he knew Jason was planning to betray him, he truly though of Jason as a friend and again invited him to join him in his crusade. Jason immediately refuses, so Romans injects his head with the tech virus, which allows him to summon and control the superweapon Jason helped him create, Bizarro, now infected with the tech virus.
Red Hood vs. Bizarro
Using rounds strong enough to take down a tank on Bizarro, they have no effect on Bizarro as he attacks. Jason barely dodges and tries to stop him by grabbing Bizarro's cape, but his clumsiness causes him to crash through the wall, sending them both out of the building. Bizarro tries to fly, but flies downward, crashing into a fountain. When Jason rises, he realizes the crash knocked Bizarro out, and focuses on Black Mask, who hasn't achieved full control of Bizarro. Realizing that killing Roman before that happens, he lines up a shot, then remembers his promise to Bruce, and hesitates. This gives Bizarro enough time to recover and resume his attack. Bizarro then tosses Jason into a tree. He tries to convince Bizarro to resist, but he prepares to finish him off anyway.
Before he delivers the killing blow. Artemis tosses Mistress into Bizarro's chest, confusing everyone. When Jason asks why she didn't leave town, she claims it was because she heard him losing. As Bizarro tries to remove the asks, Artemis tells Red Hood to leave while she fights, but he refuses. Their argument gives Bizarro enough time to remove Mistress from his chest, damaging it in the process. Seeing Artemis double over in pain, Jason checks on her, but she rebuffs him, mistaking his concern for sarcasm over a joke she made earlier. As Bizarro removes the broken axe shard from his chest, Jason sees that Bizarro still recognizes them and forms a plan. He tries to get Artemis to help him, but she refuses and leaps into battle. Shen she decks Bizarro, Jason notices that Black Mask is in pain as well. She doesn't, only worried about killing Bizarro, but Jason tells her that she knows that despite her attitude, she worries about who might suffer if Black Mask isn't stopped and that's why she stayed in the city. He also tells her that killing Bizarro isn't the only pressing matter. She then agrees to try not to kill him, but not very hard.
Satisfied, Jason leaves Artemis to fight while he goes to implement his plan. While he knows Artemis will be able to survive, he notices two things about Black Mask. One is the damage the virus is doing to his body. The second is that he refuses to let Jason out of his sight. Jason decides to put as much strain on Roman as he can. He tries to enter his bunker, but has some trouble because One Police Plaza is being evacuated. He succeeds, and remember that even though he's used to total improvisation, he still has solid resources. He then remembers getting his ace-in-the-hole, and antidote to the techno-virus and dispersal gun designed by Crux. he prepares to load the gun. However, there is only a small amount left that may not be enough for what he has planned. Black Mask then arrives before he can load the antidote. However, Hood already knew he was there thanks to the proximity alarms. The two trade shots, Mask reveals he was five steps ahead from the start. When he peeks from behind his cover, Jason kicks him in the face before he can get a shot off.
Preparing to execute him, Roman claims he won't end him because of his connection to Batman, and that the reason he wears the Bat-Symbol is so he can stay connected to Batman. Jason prepares a witty response, but Roman turns around at that moment and shoots him. However, Jason's armor saves him. But Roman, going in for the kill, decides to remove his mask so Jason can see the face of death.
Enemies Turned Allies
Because Jason can't reach the antidote for the tech virus, Black Mask prepares to kill him, as he has no use for him anymore. Before Roman can fire, Artemis and Bizarro crash through the ceiling, buying Jason a moment to take the gun. As he disarms him, Jason calls Roman out on hypocrisy for claiming to love Gotham only to send Bizarro on a rampage. Jason takes a moment to check on Artemis, who is still fending off Bizarro. He retorts that Bizarro is only meant to get rid of the deplorables. Mask then orders Bizarro to attack and he tosses Artemis into Jason, knocking them down. Jason realizes that his control over Bizarro hasn't weakened enough, and comes up with a new plan. While the two recover, Jason fills Artemis on his new plan. Artemis is skeptical that it will work until he explains; the techno-virus is damaging Roman's brain, and if they keep fighting he will eventually burn him out.
With the two in agreement, they renew their attack. As they fight, Jason claims that Roman was wrong to believe they were alike, and the he has as much in common with him as he does with Batman; nothing at all. As he makes a retort, Roman collapses as a result of the virus. He then begins speaking in binary code, then Kryptonian, then manages to beg for the cure in english. As the virus further ravages his mind, Jason mocks Roman for thinking he could connect his mind to Bizarro and be fine. Roman asks again for the cure, but Jason refuses. Even without all of the crimes Jason knows he commited, he has so many crimes under his belt that Jason is compelled to leave him to his fate. Even though he vowed not to kill him, Jason refuses to help him. As he slips into a coma, Jason tells him not to blame anyone but himself for his condition.
When Jason checks on Artemis and Bizarro, she asks him about Black Mask, and he replies that he's no longer a problem. Artemis then prepares to leave to continue her quest for the Bow of Ra. However, Jason, feeling he owes her for her help, offers to help her. She refuses, claiming her quest is too personal for her to involve them, but Bizarro claims they're already involved. Artemis decides to let them help on the condition that they disband once her quest is complete, and they all agree.
Several days later, Jason meets up with Batman. Having heard that Black Mask has gone off the grid, he asks Jason what happened. Jason reveals that he didn't kill him, but copied Batman's style and did nothing. He then says that he will never do things his way again. Batman is confused, and when Jason calls his way "the law and order crap," Bruce laughs. He claims his way has nothing to do with law and order. Jason then asks why he gives him such a hard time. In response, Batman reminds him of what he told him the first time he suited up.
Flashing back to that time, Jason is seen sitting on a gargoyle alone until Batman arrives, Jason asks how he knew where to look, and he replies that he was only kid he knew who had a "favorite gargoyle." Jason reveals that he is afraid that he and Alfred were wrong and that he woulds screw up. Batman replies that he is sure that he will make mistakes and fail, but he doesn't want a perfect Robin, but someone who will do their best and make him a better person at the same time. He asks Jason if he is that person, and replies that he's Robin and Batman says it's an honor to have him.
In he present, Jason asks if he's okay with him not being like him, and replies that there's already a Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman. Jason asks if he's okay with him running with Artemis and Bizarro, which he is. Jason asks him one last question; if he is hungry. As they eat Bruce says that there are enough heroes in the world, and that having Outlaws wouldn't hurt. When Bruce asks, what happened to Roman, it turns out he left him the care of Ma Gunn.
How Do You Solve a Problem Like Bizarro?
With Black Mask out of the picture, his men have been trying to fill the power vacuum. Setting up a meeting with some of his old flunkies who sold drugs to the homeless, Jason offers them a chance to get out of the business and leave Gotham. They respond by training all their weapons on him, and they ask him how he plans to deal with them. He tells them he won't do anything, but his friend will. Bizarro then leaps into action and the two begin beating up the gangsters. When Bizarro comes close to killing one of them, Jason has to remind Bizarro to be more gentle, reminding him of how Batman got on him when he was too violent. Once they finish everyone off, their boss calls in backup in the form of Killer Croc. Jason is confused, knowing that Croc was drafted into the Suicide Squad. That moment of confusion gives Croc time to send Jason flying. Bizarro catches him, but in a fit of rage that his friend was hurt, Bizarro freezes Croc's head solid knock his head clean off before Jason can tell him not to. However, it was an android and not the real Croc. With no one left to fight, the two leave, but before they do, Jason stops Bizarro and asks him if he knew Croc wasn't alive. He tells him he did, but Jason isn't entirely convinced.
When the get back to Ma Gunn's old orphanage, now the Outlaws base, Jason talks to Artemis about what happened. Jason feels guilty for reprimanding Bizarro, and he asks if it's crazy for him to fell that way. Artemis tells him that anyone other than him would be crazy. Jason thinks that Artemis doesn't really care about Bizarro, having been searching for a lead on the Bow of Ra, but she is being serious. She then shows him videos she found while hacking into LexCorp using a program created by someone in the Bat-Family. Jason is offended that she doesn't think he created it, even though he didn't create it. Getting back on topic, Artemis shows him several videos of the scientists responsible for creating Bizarro, revealing that Bizarro is only one of many Bizarro clones, leaving a warning as to how dangerous Bizarro truly is, and capturing Lex Luthor ordering the clones' destruction. After seeing a video of a Bizarro clone killing a scientist, Jason wonders if it's too risky to trust Bizarro, but Artemis tells him that the question he needs to worry about is whether he can do the right thing if he becomes to dangerous; kill Bizarro before he kills us. Jason is reluctant, but Artemis reminds him that while their lives are just as important as Bizarro's, they have an obligation to the innocents who can't protect themselves from someone like Bizarro.
Pondering Artemis's words, Jason heads to the Batcave. Alfred comments that he always visits right after Bruce heads out, which is exactly how he likes it. Jason then asks Alfred if Bruce ever regretted taking him on as Robin. Alfred tells him that everyone always believed in him, no matter how bad things got. Jason asks Alfred to leave the cave and not tell Bruce he was here. Now alone, he gets what he came for; a shard of Kryptonite with which to kill Bizarro.
Killing Bizarro?
Later, he and Bizarro head out into the country an sit on a lakefront Jason occasionally visits. Jason talks about his first time there, and how seeing it reminded him what a small part of the world he was. Bizarro tells him that he liked the world, even before he was freed from his container. He talks, with his back turned to Jason, about having Superman's memories implanted in his mind, and the real memories he has of Jason and Artemis. As he talks, Jason loads the Kryptonite, forged into a bullet, into a gun. As Jason aims the gun, Bizarro tells him that even though he isn't perfect, Jason showed him the path to being better, and promises to try to be the best version of himself. Moved by his speech, Jason holsters the gun and tells Bizarro it's time to go, but he asks to stay and enjoy the scenery a little while longer.
Who is Artemis?
Artemis and Jason are tracking a metahuman criminal and the two head into a bar their quarry frequents to find a lead. When the bartender refuses to talk about a patron, Artemis breaks a mug over another patron’s head, instigating a bar fight. As she and Jason fend off everyone, Artemis hears someone address her as “sister.” Artemis turns to see fellow Bana Amazon Akila aiming a bow and arrow at her. Shocked to see her dead friend, she freezes. Jason notices and knocks Akila out, revealing that it was their target using his power to take the form of someone from her memories. Concerned at how she reacted to their quarry’s powers, Jason asks about what she saw. Pouring a drink for herself, she dismisses him. When he insists, she relents and tell him about the origin of the Bana and her story.
A Man and an Amazon walk into a bar...
While she tells her story, Jason asks about the rumors that all Amazons live on Themyscira, and that they will die if a man sets foot there. She corrects him, explaining that no one would die if they did, and that her ancestors left the island after a falling out with Hippolyta. They eventually reached the Middle East and asked the Egyptian Gods for sanctuary. Under some difficult terms, they traveled to the site where they would build Bana-Mighdall. She continues her story about her friend Akila, who would become the Shim'Tar, how she was driven mad by the power of the Bow, and how she met Wonder Woman when she arrived to stop. Jason asks about the outcome, Artemis gives a vague answer. However, he already knows what happened; the two were forced to kill Akila and Artemis holds herself responsible for everything that happened. The Bow of Ra was lost, so they assumed the gods took it. However, she found out that the Bow is still on Earth, and she has dedicated herself to finding it. As the two leave the bar with their quarry, Jason compliments her eyes. Unflattered, she responds by threatening to punch him in his face.
Using information that Jason got from Black Mask, the Outlaws head to the place where the buyer of the Bow of Ra resides and the one place on Earth Jason never wanted to see again: Qurac. Stealing a decrepit cargo plane, Jason has Bizarro fly it into Quraci airspace while he and Artemis watch a news-feed. According to the news, Quraci General Ahmed Hienle had just leveled the city where his political rivals where stationed. Though no one knows what weapon he used in the attack. Artemis recognizes the destruction as the work of the Bow of Ra. However, she can't understand how a man like Heinle could have harnessed its power when only Shim'Tar can wield it. Jason theorizes that he found a way, but she feels that no man can be trusted with such power, and that if the Bow really is in use, she failed her best friend.
When Jason makes a move to console her, the aforementioned General hails their plane and demands that they turn back. Jason boldly refuses, and vows that that Red Hood and the Outlaws will shut him down. When the general scrambles fighters to shoot them, down, they manage to hit Bizarro. Unharmed, Bizarro lets go of the plane to take the jets down, leaving Jason and Artemis to fall out of the sky. As they fall, Artemis complains about using a plane that can't fly. Jason retorts that he needed to make Bizarro feel like a part of the team. He also noted that Bizarro sparing the pilot proves they are making him a better person. Before they can crash, Bizarro catches the plane, but a light bright enough to obscure the night sky then shines, obscuring everything.
Of All the Places...
When he comes to Jason, he finds that he is in the frozen wreckage of the plane. He then realizes two things; that Bizarro saved them all, and that the Outlaws have been separated. He internally debates searching for his friends or finding the bow, only to realize that he actually considers his teammates friends. Before he can get moving, armed soldiers train their rifles on him.
Jason is stripped of his weapons and taken to a prison. Wen they try to get him to talk, he says he will only speak to the General. When they demand details in order to get the General's attention. He tells the soldiers that he died in their country and flashes back to his death. However, when he looks out the window, he sees that he is standing a few hundred feet from the remains of the building he died in. When Jason starts ranting about the fact that he wound up in that exact place, the guards write him off as a head case and leave. While he muses over his current situation, his younger self appears next to him and tells him that he would have been better off staying dead.
Moving On
While sitting in a cell, Jason watches his younger self get beaten by the Joker, calling out for help. Joker then turns his attention to his older self, hoping to get a rise. In response, older Jason shoots Joker to death. Even though it is imaginary, he takes some satisfaction in changing the past. Later, the Joker appears again, and rather than fight again, Jason decides to untether himself from his past. He tells his younger self that while he was alone as a kid, he now has surrounded himself with good friends. He also admits his death was his own fault, he then walks away as the warehouse explodes.
At that moment, he comes to, the whole thing having been a dream he had after he blacked out by being tortured by General Hienle himself. At that moment, the General decides that Jason has no information about the Bow of Ra. He order his men to kill Jason. Having a problem with that, Jason waits until they untie him and attacks. Hienle draws a gun and demands Jason stop. However, in the time it took him to draw Jason has already knocked out his guards, picked a gun, and aimed it at his face point blank. Jason realizes that he doesn't have the Bow of Ra, and Hienle comes clean: he bought the Bow, but couldn't control it. In searching for a way to control it, he unleashed a powerful evil: and he claims there is no stopping her. Jason realizes that since a Shim'Tar can wield the Bow, he realizes who the evil is.
The All-Blades Strikes Again
Eventually, the Amazons of Bana-Mighdall attack Hienle's compound. Jason, realizing that he is the lesser of two evils, he prepares to battle the Amazons. Before he can jump into the fray, Artemis stops him, upset that he is siding with the enemy. As they get caught in the melee, Jason tries to explain why he is fighting the Amazons: Akila lied about having the Bow of Ra. Artemis refuses to accept the truth...until a flaming arrow kills Hienle. With some convincing from Jason, she prepares to engage Akila with him. At the same time, Bizarro arrives with survivors from the ruined city, accidentally burying Akila under a mountain in the process. When Akila recovers, she attacks Bizarro, then fires another arrow at the refugees. While Artemis stops the blast, she is left defenseless.
While Akila is distracted, Jason summons the All-Blades and fights Akila. However, she is still too powerful for him to stop. As she prepares a kill blow, Bizarro returns to the fray and the tow fight her together. Though they fail to stop her, they buy time for Artemis to take up the Bow of Ra herself and uses it to defeat Akile. However, she loses control of the power she absorbed from the bow and begins to explode. As Bizarro carries her into space to explode safely, Everyone present looks on.
After the fighting ends, Jason and Artemis talk about everything that happened. Jason asks if she is going to leave the Outlaws, but she decides to stay and let Amazons and refugees live build a new life there. She also reveals that she plans to keep the Bow of Ra for herself., which worries Jason a little. The two the hear someone cry and out, and find that Bizarro is apparently dead.
The Loss of Bizarro
Returning to Gotham to try to treat the dying Bizarro, Ma Gunn tells the Outlaws that she is ill equipped to treat an alien clone, and anyone who can will not help them since their adventure in Qurac earned them the the status of international war criminals. Jason tries to give Bizarro some hope of survival, but Artemis argues against lying. The argument is cut short when they see Solomon Grundy rampaging on the news. Artemis tries to go face Grundy alone so Jason can be with Bizarro. As someone experienced with Grundy, Jason accompanies her anyway. The two reach Grundy, but both are quickly defeated. Before they can be killed, Bizarro, having heard their plight with his super-hearing, arrives to defeat Grundy knowing the gesture will end him. Against Jason's objection, Bizarro defeats Grundy, then collapses. With his last breaths, he asks his friends to care for his rag doll before dying. Jason is unwilling to accept that he is gone forever, but Artemis convinces him to simply mourn him and honor his last act. While mourning, the two are knocked out from a blast delivered by Lex Luthor, Bizarro's creator.
Meet the newest outlaw...Nightwing?!
The one-shot story kicks off by showing some men on a cruise ship. Everything seems to be fine, until all of sudden KGBeast "the Beast" shows up and bombs the place to its ashes. Moving on to Gotham City, we see Dick Grayson a.k.a. Nigtwing among the audience watching (at the circus) a spectacular show orchestrated by none other then Jason, Bizarro and Artemis. Jason asks Dick for a favor. He asks whether Dick could help them with the Russians. At first, Dick hesitates a bit, but he realizes that he cannot let his brother alone and says yes. They eventually follow the villain with all the evidence they have. It seems that it is the Beast! It takes the four of them to beat him, but they eventually manage to win. Jason and Dick shake hands and Dick tells him that he is glad that Jason is a good brother to Bizarro. Because frankly, Jason does a better job than Dick
Current events:
Jason once again fights for justice on his own terms before conceding to Batman's rules and stops killing (Rebirth). That is until he finds out that his father actually loved him and the Penguin was the reason for his demise. He shoots the Penguin, point blank, on live TV. In turn, Batman hunts him down and fights him, easily taking the upper hand. Bizzaro rescues him and brings him to their headquarters which is about to self-destruct over the city. Bizzaro takes the headquarters through a portal and Artemis follows after to bring him back but not before she throws Jason out back into Gotham city where Batman is waiting for him. Batman takes him down and bans him from Gotham as he rips off the bat sigil from his costume. While he's dragging him away, presumably to throw him out of Gotham, he's suddenly struck by an electric arrow from Roy Harper who ends up rescuing Jason in a cloud of smoke.
List of known associates
Red hood and Arsenal (New 52): Link