| "Under the Hood" | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Cover ofBatman #638 (March 2005), art by Matt Wagner and Todd Klein. | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| Publication date | February 2005 – April 2006 |
| Genre | |
| Title(s) | Batman #635–641, 645–650, Annual #25 |
| Main character(s) | Batman Red Hood Nightwing Black Mask Joker |
| Creative team | |
| Writer | Judd Winick |
| Artist(s) | Doug Mahnke Eric Battle Shane Davis |
"Batman: Under the Hood" (also known as "Batman: Under the Red Hood") is acomic bookstory arc published by the comic book publishing companyDC Comics, written byJudd Winick and primarily illustrated byDoug Mahnke. FeaturingBatman in themonthly title of the same name, it ran from February to August 2005, before going on a short hiatus and returning from November 2005 to April 2006. The story arc is also a part of the crossoverInfinite Crisis.
The story was notable for bringing long-dead Batman allyJason Todd, the second Robin, back to life, and reimagining him as a brutally violent and vengefulantihero known as theRed Hood.[1] WriterJeph Loeb suggested in his Batman story "Hush" that Jason may, in fact, be alive, and Winick attached his return story to Jason's appearance in "Hush", before building an entire story around it. In the summer of 2010, Winick penned the six-issue arc, "Red Hood: The Lost Days", further detailing Jason's return and his training across the globe before his eventual collaboration with his former mentor's foe,Hush.[2] The same year, the arc was adapted as aDC Universe Animated Original Movie entitledBatman: Under the Red Hood, earning widespread acclaim from critics and audiences.[3]
In 1988, writerJim Starlin wrote theBatman story "A Death in the Family", that featuredJason Todd's death at the hands of theJoker.[4] The story of Jason Todd remained virtually untouched for the better part of 15 years, until the character appeared to have been active in the "Batman: Hush" storyline. Although it was later revealed thatClayface had posed as Jason, the end of "Hush" raised questions about the whereabouts of Jason's body, as it was not in its grave.
A flashback to Batman's early years (postDick Grayson's retirement asRobin) shows a young Jason Todd attempting to steal the wheels of theBatmobile. He becomes the new Robin. Years later, after being resurrected from his murder by the Joker due to an overlap ofHypertime-lines, Jason is institutionalized, escapes, and begins living on the streets.Ra's al Ghul and his daughterTalia kidnap Jason and hold him in care for a year. Ra's takes the trip to his Lazarus Pit. Talia pushes Jason into the pit, empowering and unleashing a new, stronger, more violent creature. Talia smuggles him out of the estate, giving him a bag containing money, a computer and memories of Batman, the Joker, and Red Hood. Jason attempts to reconnect with Batman but his former mentor fights and defeats him. Jason reveals the empire he has built for himself as he dons an initial costume identity of the Joker: the "Red Hood".
Shortly after, the gangsterBlack Mask controls most ofGotham City's criminal underworld but is being countered by theRed Hood, who then destroys the top floor of Black Mask's fortress with a long-range explosive. Black Mask teams up with theSecret Society of Super Villains (Deathstroke,Captain Nazi,Hyena, andCount Vertigo) to combat Red Hood. Batman and Red Hood defeat Black Mask's villains but end on bad terms due to Red Hood's deadly tactics.
Alfred receives a package with a lock of green hair and a note from Jason asking for Batman to meet him. Black Mask calls a meeting of his top associates and murders them under the eye of Red Hood. Black Mask and Red Hood fight and Batman arrives just as Red Hood is stabbed in the heart. Removing Red Hood's helmet, Black Mask sees that it is not Jason Todd. Batman traps Black Mask and goes to meet Jason.
Jason has kidnapped and savagely beats the Joker, who laughs maniacally until falling silent when Jason says he sees through his crazy act. Batman enters and their brief fight is interrupted when a bomb is dropped onBlüdhaven by the Society, where Dick Grayson now fights crime asNightwing. Jason tosses a gun to Batman and points his own gun at the Joker's head, saying that Batman must either kill Jason, or let Jason kill the Joker on a count of three. At the last half-second, Batman throws abatarang at Jason. The Joker triggers explosives throughout the building. Batman and the Joker survive the blast, and Jason escapes.
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