From the DC Vault: Death in the Family: Robin Lives! (From the DC Vault: Death in the Family: Robin Lives!

by J.M. DeMatteis, Jim Aparo (Artist), Rick Leonardi (Artist)

In 1988, the pop culture world was rocked when comics readers were given theopportunity to decide the outcome of one of the medium’s most Should the Boy Wonder die? While history has taught us one answer tothat question, a second answer is now told—What if Robin lived?Jason Todd, the second teenager to wear the mask of Robin, survived a brutalbeating at the hands of maniacal Joker, but his wounds run deeper than flesh.The already volatile Jason is haunted by what happened to him and is unwilling toconfront his demons, so Bruce Wayne brings in a psychiatrist to talk to him. CanJason recover from his ordeal? Is the Batman ultimately to blame? And then there isthe question on everyone’s who killed the Joker?Writer J.M. DeMatteis (Justice League International) and artist Rick Leonardi(Nightwing) spin the story of what would have happened if the fans had chosendifferently. From the DC Death in the Robin Lives! collects the entirefour-issue miniseries along with Batman #426, #427, and #429 and the faux-simileissue Batman #428: Robin Lives! that lead up to this momentous elseworld.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Dc Comics, Batman, Superheroes

Kindle Edition

Published April 1, 2025

About the author

Also Credited As:
DeMatteis, John Marc
Ellis, Michael
Lombego, Wally

Bio:
J.M. DeMatteis was a professional musician/singer and rock music journalist before entering comics in the late 70's.

Credits include Spider-Man, Moonshadow, Brooklyn Dreams, Justice League, Abadazad, Hero Squared, the Life and Times of Savior 28.

Created I, Vampire , Creature Commandos, Moonshadow, Hero Squared (co-creator), Abadazad, Stardust Kid, Savior 28 and more.

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spoiler alert for anyone unfamiliar with "Batman: Death In The Family", "Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker" or Jason Todd in general.

It's worth knowing that half of this book is just the first four issues of "Death in the Family", with the third issue being an unpublished version of the story where Jason lives. This is interesting but confusing because the fourth issue is just the original "Death In The Family" issue we've always known where Jason is dead.

I think it would have worked better with a short introduction before showing the third issue by itself, or having it as a bonus at the end of the more modern "what if Jason lived?" story.

As for the new story, that might have worked better for me if it felt like it was set in 1988 instead of the modern day. The story itself about Jason's rehabilitation is an interesting take, but also feels very much like a retelling of Tim Drake's fate in "Batman Beyond".

There's a new character that worms their way into the Bat family that feels forced, but given there were only a few volumes to develop that relationship I can give it a pass.

It's fine, but I'd hoped for more.

[Molly™☺ · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting 'what if' premise that will leave Jason fans feeling hard done by. It dabbles in deep introspection before playing all of its cards and revealing itself to be a story run purely on shock value. To say this is anything more than okay would probably be overly generous, however, for those who want a new spin on one of comics' most iconic moments, maybe tentatively give this a go.

actual rating: 2.5 stars

[James DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I get the last few pages of the last issue can be jarring and some hate it, but I loved this series.

Basically the story of what if Jason Todd didn't die by the hands of the Joker. We get a look into how mentally Jason deals with it but also Bruce. A great failed father figure state of mind as well as the person nearly beaten to death and watching his mother die. On top of that we get the Joker being fucking insane and wild which leads us to a very dark, and somewhat twisted ending, but makes sense in the context of the story.

Overall really dug a lot of it. Sometimes longwinded but also always entertaining. A 4 out of 5.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay... mostly for Bruce trying (& mostly failing) to understand why he does what he does. It's certainly a must for Jason completists, but that ending was an awful mess.

[Shaun Stanley · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5⭐️ rounded up to 3

Death in the Family: Robin Lives! Collects Batman 426-427, 429, Batman #428: Robin Lives!, and From the DC Vault: Death in the Family: Robin Lives 1-4. It is written by Jim Starlin and J.M. DeMatteis, art by Jim Aparo and Rick Leonardi, and colors by Adrienne Roy and Rico Renzi.

Robin Lives takes a look at one of the biggest moment’s of Batman’s past and asks what if Jason Todd survived the brutal beating by the Joker and being left to die in a warehouse explosion. We see the fallout of Bruce Wayne and his alter ego of Batman dealing with the moral decision of putting a young child in constant danger.

There is absolutely no way this is the direction Batman comics would have taken if Jason Todd had survived. Maybe over the course of decades worth of comics, but not in four issues. The last few pages of the comic are interesting to be sure, but the whole thing feels very disjointed. I think it’s very clear that while DC Comics put Robin’s fate up to the readers, they completely expected him to die and had no concrete plans for long term character growth.

There is also a new psychiatric character that narrates the story that gets the trust of Batman way too soon. Again, it’s a rush of story telling that doesn’t feel natural in the world of Batman. I would have much rather gotten this story from Batman, Robin, Alfred, or even Nightwing’s point of view instead of this new character that I have no attachment to.

[Anna Quilter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Apparently at one time you could ring a line and cast your vote to see Jason Todd die or not die in a story.

it was a close vote despite the hatred felt for Jason Todd at the time.

here's both stories.

[BlueberryMoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG IM SPEECHLESS WHAAAAT

[Leila · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was surprisingly good for being an example of one of my least favorite common takes on batman.

I do not vibe with any comic or movie with the premise of "Is being batman actually needed? Is he actually just as insane as the joker?" This comic leans hard into that line of questioning and it is annoying and stupid for 100% of the time it is doing that.
This also has batman just being stupid and annoying for no reason at times. He obviously isn't a perfect character and is allowed to have flaws, but having someone who is supposed to be intelligent and informed yell at a trauma survivor to "quit moping" does kind of break the logic of the story for me a bit. Like did he think that would work?
These things didn't bother me as much as they normally would have because of the very alternate universe way this is. It feels more like when a fanfic doesn't do characterization the way you want.

Despite complaints this was still a very fun read. I really liked the ending, or at least the parts of it that weren't batman peacefully retiring. It's stupid in the way it should be, and it really works for the reality set up in this comic. I like that this wasn't just the predictable "good ending" of the events.

Gotham should really update their regulations for licensing psychologists.

[Mhorg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember when the original set the comic world on fire. Some thought it just a crass publicity stunt (and since they brought Jason Todd back as Red Hood, it could be seen as such) while others saw it as a welcome way (count me in) to get rid of the least liked Robin ever, Jason Todd. Now, decades later we get an alternate tale where; well the title gives it all. But it doesn't tell the story. I wanted to give this a higher rating, I did. But I found the art lacking in parts. It seemed rushed as if a deadline needed to be met. And in the end... well, I won't spoil it for anyone. That's horrible. Read it and decide for yourself.

[Amber Loptien · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s crazy to think about how the current state of DC comics would have changed so much if they had just let Jason Todd live.

[SzaraReadsComics · Rating 1 out of 5]

So the point of "Robin lives" was for Bruce to finally get the therapy he needs and get the good ending while Jason gets the therapy he needs and gets the worst possible ending? I hate mini-series like that that have no real story to tell besides shock value.

[Nathan Bissett · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm so f*king mad at the ending of this book.

[Derek Santiago · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un buen what if, con una historia que aborda más el tema psicológico de Batman y los robins.

[Batman Collected Editions · Rating 5 out of 5]

What would happen if Jason Todd did not die? From the DC Vault: Death in the Family: Robin Lives! answers that question by presenting an alternate history to A Death in the Family. I skipped the first two issues of this book because it collects the A Death in the Family issues (i.e., Batman (1940) 426–427 and 429). However, in place of Batman (1940) 428, this book collects Batman: Robin Lives! (2023) 428, which is the alternate version of the issue wherein Jason Todd survives his brutal attack at the hands of the Joker. From a marketing standpoint, I understand why they included A Death in the Family, because not everyone has probably read it. I did reread issue 429, though, to check if the transition was seamless, and it was.

The real gem of this collection is From the DC Vault: Death in the Family: Robin Lives! 1–4, written by J. M. DeMatteis and illustrated by Rick Leonardi. I’ve always enjoyed DeMatteis’s work, and this one did not disappoint. I wasn’t sure if I liked Leonardi’s art at first, but I eventually got into it as I kept reading. His art really suits the tone of the story, and he captures faces and emotions exceptionally well.

This book is not action-packed, as it focuses more on Jason’s PTSD and the guilt that Bruce Wayne feels for bringing him into his world. It shows what Batman is willing to give up in order to get Jason the proper help he needs. At the same time, Bruce is indirectly undergoing therapy himself, as he tries to learn how to forgive himself. It’s a very heartfelt story, and I’m here for it. It also has a lot of quotable lines that really capture the emotions of the characters.

However, this story is quite controversial, and it probably didn’t sit well with Jason’s fans. I personally liked the ending. I guess the fact that I’m not too emotionally attached to Jason helps, but for more neutral readers out there, it’s a good story if you treat it like an Elseworlds tale.

Collects From the DC Vault: Death in the Family: Robin Lives (2024) 1-4, Batman (1940) 426-427 and 429, and Batman: Robin Lives (2023) 428.

My Batman Collected Editions Instagram page

[Subham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its fine I guess.

Its an alternate take on what if Robin lived after Joker's beating in the famous "Death in the family" story and its not bad per se but I kinda felt like it was dull in parts and the narration is by Sara, a totally new character and she is a therapist and by the end she takes on a very important role or the comic will have you believe but its not and idk I felt like they could have built her better and explored her on the side meanwhile showing Jason's story.

I like how the comic basically shows what would have happened had Jason lived and the trauma and PTSD and every time he went to battle from there on, how it would have impacted him and it shows here with vs Scarecrow and how Batman feels and he wonders if bringing children was wrong and that convo he has with Nightwing is just amazing and hits the feels.

There is another character called Mother Grimm introduced in one of the issues and I think its a new character and it was fascinating lol, another crazy villain for Batman and then you have the big moment vs Joker and I like JMS writing of the character as he makes Joker so complex and even more insane but not dumb and thats hard to do and what he does to Jason yet again dressing him up and all that and shows you the ridiculousness to which the Joker will go and then the big event of what happens to Joker..

and it makes sense what he does to the Joker and its a common theory that fans have in arguments and its sort of used here to show that even with what Jason did, Bruce didn't care for the rest and what mattered was Jason's well being and thats good and then its a bunch if fast forwards to what happens to his life and all and some of its good and like I said earlier but felt rushed.. but still it rooms open for a sequel.

So its a good one and done read of what if and may have some sequel some day idk, the art was fine but felt muddy in some places maybe it was the rush of the deadline. But still a good one-time read.

[Christian · Rating 2 out of 5]

[2.1]
The idea of this is pretty fun, being a "what if?" story where Robin lives through the abuse Joker dished out that time in the desert. What if the readers of Batman in the 80s were wrong, and they should have voted for Robin to survive? Let's see about that.

So this is about one of my least favorite thing in Batman world - Robin. Behind him in the ranking is all the other helpers. Fortunately we only have to deal with Robin(s) here. While I appreciate the portrayal of emotional struggles, it feels excessive here. Everyone has 'em, and Batman is acting uncharacteristically. To top it off we have a shrink filling every scene with internal monologue about it. Other writers know this can be an effective trope in small parts of a story. This one decides the whole thing should be shrouded in it. It's not that it's terrible or anything, but it doesn't add much either, making it annoying after a while. The story as a whole is also uninteresting, and stuff sometimes just happen. People act or say stuff that just makes me go "What? OK, I guess that happened. Sussspeend disbelief...preteeennd I care again...".

The art is also not up to snuff. Some scenes are expressive, but mostly it is borderline amateurish. It seems rushed as well, and the coloring isn't helping.

[Edgar Allan Noe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not any of the creatives best work.

The first story by Starlin and Aparo was the weakest of their run, but also the most iconic due to how it was done and the outcome. Read 10 Knights of the Beast for a stronger effort. Two issues with the collection are: first, the 4th part / 6th chapter was not updated to the Jason Lives result which makes the finale odd. Second, is the book layout. The opening page should always be on the right, but they don’t do this as they don’t want a blank page on the left. What this does is makes you see pages you shouldn’t see until you turn the page. This is not Starlin or Aparo’s fault, it the publisher.


The second story will probably be forget but is a much stronger story, but not that the creatives teams best either. It’s a little “soapy” as it’s from a Psychiatrist’s point of view and we get to hear their analysis as the story narrative. Having said that, it’s an interesting concept that they would not have done if Robin lived in 1988, which makes the whole story intriguing.

[Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, this is the 'What If?' for the whole death of Jason Todd as Robin...
What if he'd survived?
How would that have affected the Bat-family?

Short answer?
Jason would carry his trauma with him forever. PTSD would be an ongoing battle. Bruce would burn out. He'd have to save the world in a different way. Dick would step up far sooner than we've had in the standard DCU. It'd be curious to see how this version plays out, Elseworlds-wise. It's got bits of story we've seen in other stories.

-Batman Beyond: Return Of Joker
-Batman & Robin
-Red Hood and the Outlaws
======
Bonus: It's very sketchy....the art. Plus and minus, there
Bonus Bonus

[Chad · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this was an interesting idea but poor execution. Jason lives... a very boring life while he tries to cope with the trauma of Joker almost beating him to death. Then there's the last issue where this goes off the rails in the worst way. I mean, come on. You can do better than that DeMatteis. I think we were better off not knowing what would happen if Jason Todd had lived in the 80s. What we got was much cooler.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

this legitimately kicked ass. it easily could've just been a shallow gimmick, but it was a good story and it was told well. i do wish the apparent happy ending that was built up to so well had actually been allowed to come to pass, but that's really my only complaint.

[Daniel Butcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nostalgic look back with an interesting take.

3.75

[Michael Colglazier · Rating 2 out of 5]

Classic example of making a character less complex by trying to make him more complex. A dark corner is more engaging than a beige wall

[the great wizard ella · Rating 2 out of 5]

hated the last few pages
1.) why did bruce marry the therapist???
2.) joker jr jason so weird after years of recovery
3.) loved the batfam hug though
this could’ve been so good

[Mars · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bad ending but helped me cope

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually really enjoyed this a lot but the last page kinda ruined it… they really threw away all the help Jason got at the last second…

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

jason can never be happy💔

[marina · Rating 1 out of 5]

this one should have stayed in the drafts

[cali · Rating 4 out of 5]

wtf

[Juanpe Narro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Menudo final, no me lo esperaba para nada y me ha encantado. 😍👌👌👌

[Federico Kereki · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book comprises two stories: the original DEATH IN THE FAMILY, with a change, and the new ROBIN LIVES! one. There is a big problem, though: they show the (changed) DEATH IN THE FAMILY #3 issue, in which now Robin (Jason) survived -- but the UNCHANGED #4 issue, in which there are several mentions to the DEAD Jason... makes little sense!!