Batman: Under the Red Hood

Batman (1940-2011) #635-641, 645-650

by Judd Winick, James Starlin, Jim Aparo (Illustrator)

A ghost from Batman’s past returns with a vengeance. The mysterious Red Hood is taking Gotham’s underworld by storm—and he knows all of Batman’s secrets.

Batman is confronted with a hidden face from the past—it’s the return of the vigilante Red Hood who appears to be Batman’s one-time partner Jason Todd, the same Jason Todd that died many years ago. But the Red Hood’s violent ways pit him against the Dark Knight in his hunt for the very person responsible for his death: The Joker.

Batman: Under the Red Hood – DC Compact Comics Edition collects the full original Red Hood saga from Batman #635–641, #645–650, and Batman Annual #25.

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

384 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2006

About the author

Judd Winick is an American cartoonist, comic book writer, screenwriter, and former reality television personality known for his diverse contributions to storytelling across multiple media. He first entered the public eye in 1994 as a cast member on The Real World: San Francisco, where he formed a close friendship with AIDS educator Pedro Zamora, an experience that deeply influenced his later work. Winick memorialized their bond in Pedro and Me, a critically acclaimed autobiographical graphic novel that earned several literary awards and became a staple in school curricula.

Winick's career in comics took off with The Adventures of Barry Ween, Boy Genius and continued with major runs at DC Comics, including Green Lantern, Green Arrow, and Batman. His stories often explored socially relevant themes, such as HIV, homophobia, and identity. He was recognized for introducing gay characters and tackling difficult subjects with empathy and clarity. His work on Batman notably included resurrecting the character Jason Todd as the Red Hood, a storyline later adapted into the animated film Batman: Under the Red Hood, for which Winick wrote the screenplay.

Beyond comics, he created The Life and Times of Juniper Lee for Cartoon Network and served as head writer for Hulu's The Awesomes. In 2015, he launched the Hilo series, an all-ages sci-fi adventure inspired by his own children. The bestselling series has been widely praised and is expected to reach its eleventh volume in 2025.

Winick lives in San Francisco with his wife, Pam Ling, also a Real World alum, and their two children. He continues to create heartfelt and imaginative stories for audiences of all ages.

Reviews

[Jayson · Rating 4 out of 5]

(A-) 82% | Very Good
Notes: Full of snark and raw emotion, it's a kind of Coriolanus tale, and plays variations on themes of betrayal and salvation.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is where my obsession with Red Hood and the Outlaws originally started.



I read Volume 1 several years ago, but this is the first time I've had a chance to read the arc in its entirety. Honestly, I was afraid it wouldn't hold up under a second reading, but this story is one that definitely stands the test of time.
In fact, I'm going to have to say this was even better the second time around! Besides, I had forgotten quite a bit of the first half of the story, so a re-read certainly didn't hurt.
And one of the main things I forgot was how fucking funny Black Mask was in this thing! Every time that guy opened his mouth something hilarious came out of it, and I had quite a few lol moments over the interactions between him and Deathstroke, that balanced out the more earnest/angsty parts of the story.



Another thing I noticed was that this is the only book that has ever made me feel disappointed when Batman was winning.
I feel a little blasphemous even typing that...
It's not that I wanted anything bad to happen to Bruce, I just didn't want Jason to lose.
Make sense?



Jason does everything you've secretly wanted Batman to do. Like, instead of turning the bad guys over to the cops, he just shoots them in the head. Brilliant!
Ok, nobody really wants Batman to cross that line, but if someone else were willing to do it?
shrugs



I thought Ed Brubaker did an excellent job bringing Bucky Barnes back from the dead, but I'm tempted to say that Winnick outdid him with this one. I mean, at least everyone already had fond feeling for Barnes, right? Brubaker just had to find a plausible way to get him into present-day comics.
And I'm not saying that was easy.
However, Winick had to totally reinvent a character that readers hated so much they voted to kill him off. How annoying do you have to be for fans to do that?!
Why, yes. I would rather the Joker whack him to death with a crowbar than have to continue reading about him. Kill, please.
I don't care what you think of the reincarnation of this character, you have to admit it would be a monumental task for any writer.
And he pulled it off.
I noticed that I'm not the only reader to feel this way, either.



I would honestly recommend this to anyone who loves comic books. You don't even have to be a fan of Jason Todd to like it because the dialogue and story are enough to keep anyone entertained.

Highly Recommended.

[Mizuki · Rating 5 out of 5]

(1) This is my birthday present to myself, and it had finally arrived! I can finally read this iconic story! ^_^



(2) My goodness...Black Mask and co. are using what looks like a Nokia cell phone!!! It's really so old-schooled. Lol

(3) I think there are too many side-villains in the storyline! Plus for some reason, I don't really like seeing the Joker in this story...well but I'm not complaining here.

(4) Huhh............to be honest the artwork really isn't inspiring (aside from the few cover art done by a certain artist named Jock). But whatever, after enjoying the awesomeness which is Dexter Soy's artwork for the Red Hood and the Outlaws series, nothing can be the same for me...

(5) ARGH but Black Mask and co. just don't look as cool as they do in the anime! LOL

(6) I read to the ending part and I'm like: "What? Are the authors running out of pages or something? How can they just cut the story so abruptly instead of giving it the grand finale as they did in the anime!?

(7) But I do LIKE how the story of Jason getting revived is included at the back of this volume!!!

(8) After I think very hard about it....does the ending of this story means the author, Judd Winick, originally meant for Jason to get killed again at the very end!? *screams* I mean, by the last chapter he had pretty much been written off as a villain already!

(9) Hands down, it is easily one of my most favorite Batman comics!



(10) I'm definitely keeping my eyes on more Judd Winick's creations!

(11) Last but certainly not least, I enjoy seeing Batman being haunted by his past and went all grief-stricken when he suspected Jason had come back from the dead. And the guest-appearance of Nightwing is fine too.

Batman and Robin by Peter Tomasi & Patrick Gleason Omnibus https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review: Batman: Red Hood - The Lost Days https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review: Red Hood: Outlaw vol. 1 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Red Hood and the Outlaws (2016) vol. 3 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review: Batman: Battle For the Cowl: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review: Batman: Life After Death: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review: Batman & Robin: Batman Reborn https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Book Review: Batman: The Long Halloween https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review: The Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told Vol. 1 (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)

Non-fictional: 美國超級英雄漫談 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[sassafrass · Rating 5 out of 5]

you ever been so mad at your dad you drop a nuclear bomb on your elder brother. love the batfamily no one else does interpersonal drama quite like them

[Sam Quixote · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new vigilante is in town and he's shaking things up for Black Mask, the new crime boss of Gotham. But when Batman steps in he finds that this new guy happens to know lots of things about him, things his enemies don't know, couldn't possibly know. But who could know Batman so well, who could be... under the red hood?

I think most people coming to this book will know who it is under the red hood, so much so the subtitle of the book should be "The Resurrection of Jason Todd". Jason, the second Robin, was famously murdered by the Joker in the book "Batman: A Death in the Family" and became Batman's biggest failure. But hey this is comics, it's all middle story, nothing's forever. Superman died, Green Arrow died, and they're both alive, why not Robin too?

The book is actually pretty good. Besides some shaky dialogue characterising Batman as an extremely grumpy and unlikeable man (the back and forth between him and Nightwing was unlike the way their relationship has largely been written), the plot was full of action and intrigue moving forward at a blistering pace and throwing a few curve balls at the reader. I especially liked the final confrontation between Batman and Red Hood, I think what most people expected to hear wasn't what was said and that's always a good thing, that a writer can surprise like that. Think you know what motivates Jason? Think again. And of course Joker is knee deep in it as usual.

But I think the biggest problem most people have with the book is how Jason was brought back from the grave. It's included here at the end and I have to agree it was a bit convoluted. Remember that the means to resurrect the dead exists in the Batman universe, they're called Lazarus Pits, but rather than simply use this device Winick goes for an even more out there explanation that probably turned a lot of people off the story proper.

That said, this is a fine Batman book that I had a blast reading. Winick underwrote Black Mask a bit until the end when we saw his viciousness come through, and as I've said the final showdown between Batman and Red Hood is an instant classic and very moving. If you love Batman then you'll get a lot from this book, I know I did.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

He was not buried in costume. On his person are no keepsakes of his alter ego. No batarangs. No tools. No equipment of any kind that would ever tell you that this boy, in this pine box, was the teenaged hero who fought alongside the dark knight.”

4.5 stars.

I’m not usually a comic reader. I’m not going to repeat what I said in my review of Harleen but basically I keep trying and I’m never quite sure what to read when and not be totally lost (I’m getting better at it, I’ve added a few new books I plan on reading, I bought a few, so here’s hoping). But, comic book reader or not, I think you can really and truly appreciate Batman Under the Red Hood for what it is — a really good story. Jason Todd is one of the most interesting and complicated characters I’ve ever seen, and that’s even more welcome when he’s part of a world that tends to be so full of black and white, good and bad. I will always always have a special place in my heart for Dick Grayson, seeing as he was my first Robin growing up, but Jason just hits different (literally). The image of his back towards us and the little memorial was just … oof so well done I had to show you. I don’t agree with the mean streak by the way. Don’t get me started on that. Jason Todd was so much more than the “angry Robin” and I will fight anyone who says otherwise like oh my god ok spoiler-y rant coming Jason wasn’t some arrogant kid who died angry or because of his anger/arrogance/“mean streak” (looking at you Batman), he was (and is) so much more. Jason Todd died after trying to save his mother – only to find out that it had been a trap that had been set up by the Joker. She had betrayed him and had simply watched as he got beat up to near death (heck she was smoking and casually watching) and then the Joker tied her up and trapped her and Jason in the building with explosives that were set to blow once he got out. Guess what Jason did? He got up (despite being horribly injured) and (wait for it) freaking untied his mother before collapsing. Yes the same mother who had betrayed and gotten him there in the first place. Jason died a HERO, not just some angry arrogant Robin. Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.



I loved the Red Hood. I loved his brand of justice. I loved his sass (my dude literally walks into a scene and someone says “My God.” And he’s all “No, wanna guess again?”), his sarcasm, his overall angry biker TM aesthetic, and the flashes of anger we also see. I loved every single minute he was on the page. He was hilarious, brilliant, and kind of terrifying all wrapped up in a leather jacket. He’s never what you expect him to be and that’s what makes him so fun to watch (read). He’s smart, quick on his feet, and has so many different layers to him and I just … ugh love him. So much. Side note, I highly recommend the 2010 animated movie. It's not the exact same but it's still just as good.



I like what the Red Hood brings to the table. I like that he asks questions and deals with justice differently. I love that he’s messing with the bad guys … and the good ones. I love how much he gets to Batman. (Speaking of good guys, I loved the little Dick Grayson cameo we got. The banter between him and Batman was hilarious. I just love him so much, he literally lights up the few pages he’s in.) The questions he asks are valid ones (but also spoiler-y and heartbreaking so I have them under the cut at the end of this review) and they’re ones I’ve often thought myself and the answers aren’t what I expected. They’re not necessarily satisfying, but they make sense.



Just look at that aesthetic. Which sort of brings me to my next point. The artwork (which, by the way, feel free to click on the images in this review for the high res versions of them). The art in this comic isn’t anything too amazing. There are shining moments where the art is really great but for the most part it’s just … good (I am a little spoiled, having read this comic shortly after Harleen. They’re very different vibes. This is more old school comic booky, if that makes sense.) However, there are some real true pieces of art (like the one below) that truly shine, done by Jock. Those are just absolutely stunning.



Under the Red Hood is a fascinating, fast-paced, interesting story that grips you from the start. There’s bits of humor sprinkled in with all the angst and heaviness that keeps everything from being too boring or singular toned. It’s not just a comic but a really good story with fascinating characters and a mystery beneath it all. It’s a story I wouldn’t just recommend to comic readers, but readers of all kinds, especially those who want to dip their toes into the world of comics because, despite there being so much more to the story it can, for the most part, be read and appreciated on its own. I never wanted it to end and I’m now inspired to try my hand at more comics because of it.

“Is that what you think this is about? You letting me die? I don’t know what clouds your judgement worse. Your guilt or your antiquated sense of morality. Bruce, I forgive you for not saving me. But why… Why on God’s earth is he still alive?”

Just rip my heart why don’t you.

“Ignoring what he’s done in the past. Blindly, stupidly, disregarding the graveyards he’s filled, the thousands who have suffered, the friends he’s crippled.
… I thought… I thought killing me — that I’d be the last person you’d ever let him hurt.
If it had been you that he beat to a bloody mass. If it had been you that he left in agony. If he had taken you from this world…
I would have done nothing but search the planet for this pathetic pile of evil, death-worshipping garbage. And sent him off to hell.”

I’m not okay. This is so true. This really hurt.

“Why?”
“What?”
“Why do all the cub scouts in spandex always say that? ‘If I cross that line, there’s no coming back.’ I’m not talking about killing Cobblepot and Scarecrow or Clayface. Not Riddler or Dent…
I’m talking about him. Just him. And doing it because…
Because he took me away from you.”

That last line? The little faltering? Killed me. I love Jason Peter Todd with my whole heart and because he took me away from you is the most painful thing I’ve ever heard and I have no idea how Batman could hear that with a straight face (even with the mask on). And Jason’s eyes are lowkey tearing up too and just I’m not okay.

Actually you know what? I’m adding the images so you can truly feel my pain (or at least some of it).

[Lashaan Balasingam · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can find my review on my blog by clicking here.

Judd Winick masterfully introduces to the canon Batman stories one of the most iconic characters who has shaken the very foundation of the Dark Knight. Filled with intense and bloody action sequences, Judd Winick does an impeccable job in characterization and brings to life the Red Hood with pure finesse and grace. In Batman: Under the Red Hood, readers will be pleased to see the rise of a new player in the war on crime who doesn’t see justice through the same scope as most superheroes.

Batman: Under the Red Hood is unmistakably one of the greatest story arc to have graced the Gotham lore. It took me a while to finally get my hands on this splendid graphic novel containing both volume 1 and 2, but the wait was well worth it. Like anything that I know I’ll love, I’ve been keeping my distance to not lose that first impression that would surely capture my heart and coat it with a layer of complete praise for the character. Now that I’ve indulged myself in the very story that brought the Red Hood to life, I can humbly say that he is an unbelievable and unforgettable addition to Batman’s universe.

In this truly fantastic story arc, a mysterious new figure meddles with the top dog of Gotham and stirs the hornets’ nest like none other before. Now crime lord Black Mask seeks to rid himself of this pest by using all possible methods, from retaliation to compliance, in order to settle this business before his own plans fall into ruin. In the meantime, Batman attempts to figure out who’s under the red hood while a whole war dipped in dilemmas unravels at the heart of Gotham.

The Red Hood is one of the most beloved character by fans, and there are so many reasons why it is so. His personality is eccentric and completely cocky, and his methods are vicious and mysterious. You’d imagine that there’s no one out there that could actually go head to head with Batman, but this one finds ways to stun him and stay a couple steps ahead of him. While bloodshed comes with his approach, there’s a hint of his knowledge and way of doing that succeeds in impressing Batman, but also rattles his very disbelief of the impossible.

The best part of this storyarc is in understanding the motives behind this antihero. While he does appear out of the blue, the Red Hood rose out of the shows with a plan. The revelation that he is the once dead Robin, Jason Todd—see A Death in the Family by Jim Stalin— only makes things much more intriguing as it brings Batman to visit other superheroes in order to understand what it was like to come back from the dead . The interaction between those heroes and Batman highlights the uncomfortable nature of the subject and the complicated relationship he has with others. Cleverly integrated, this offers us more insight into Batman trying to make sense of everything before the big revelation and how he has dealt with the loss of Jason Todd. It’s nice to see him trying to make sense of the return of the dead in this one too .

The artwork also works very well with the story, even when it changes hands numerous times. It does have a couple of hiccups, but nothing detrimental to the whole experience. For example, Black Mask is sometimes drawn as a normal person with a skull mask on, and at other times, he is drawn as if the mask was literally his face. The colours are vivid and you can only imagine how visually beautiful it gets when it starts raining lead and blood gets spilled. It is definitely a good thing when the artwork remains pretty similar from one chapter to the other and makes the whole experience much more uniform.

The ending, also known as the infamous chapter on where the person under the Red Hood came from, was absolutely off. It’s sad that it went in that direction, but man… Everything else was way too much fun to let that ruin it. The chapter felt rushed and a lot that happened to explain things just makes you wince a little. There’s even an awkward scene between one of Batman’s past lover and the person under the Red Hood that just made me wonder what the hell was the purpose of it. Nonetheless, the Red Hood is one of the best antiheroes out there and this volume proves it. Batman: Under the Red Hood is a classic that should be read, re-read and re-read again. And also watched.

Yours truly,

Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
____________________________

This is truly a fantastic story arc. A mysterious new figure meddles with the top dawgs of Gotham, especially the now-crime-lord Black Mask. Filled with intense and bloody action sequences, Judd Winick does an impeccable job in characterization and brings to life the Red Hood with pure finesse and grace! While Batman tries to figure out who's under the hood and then how that person came to be, the story delivers a whole war with interesting dilemmas.

The artwork works very well with the story, even when it changes to the hands of someone else. It does have a couple hiccups, but nothing detrimental to the whole experience.

The ending, especially the chapter on how the person under the Red Hood came to be was absolutely off. It's sad that it went in that direction, but man... Everything else was way too much fun to let that ruin it.

Full review to come,

Yours truly,

Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/

[Chelsea 🏳️‍🌈 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was pretty damn heartbreaking. Honestly, you can't read anything Batfam without hearing about what happened to Jason Todd these days so I had to read this. Much like the other Batman stories adapted for animated films, there are some pieces missing/changed in the film. This was a really entertaining and engaging comic and I teared up a bit at times.

Jason Todd is not okay. Not only was he severely beaten to death, he had issues with abandonment and low self worth before that that shows here. He didn't see Batman refusing to kill the Joker as just abiding by his moral code, I think part of Jason thought he wasn't worth enough to Bruce for him to break his rule. It's clear that isn't the case for Bruce and it was heartbreaking to see him have to attack Jason to save the Joker of all people.

Anyway, watching Jason destroy the drug trade by shooting and blowing people up was interesting. As screwed up and dark as it is, it served the purpose of making it clear that Jason was not here to be another Batman. It was interesting seeing Onyx take him on and challenge his sense of "morality".

Loved getting to see how Alfred felt about some of this. I love his relationships with all of the Robins. Sad to see him try to get Bruce to take care of himself and helping find out Jason was actually back.

Bruce seemed pretty desperate here and that's not something I'm used to. It was kinda intriguing.

Anyway, it lagged a bit during some of the scenes with the Black Mask but I was really interested and entertained through most of it. 4.5 stars.

[Subham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a great story!

We see the return of Red hood and the way he is taking down Criminals and eliminating Black mask and then Batman on a quest as he suspects its Jason and he meets Ollie and Clark and then also facing off against him and finding that it is him and then the final fight between the mentor and the sidekick with Joker present there, its revenge of the robin who died and its the sins of a father and its such a fascinating read and like has great epic moments throughout.

I love the way the ending played out and like how it involves Jason and Bruce arguing about whether Joker should live and that leads to a great war and then you have Black mask there whose like a perfect antagonist to Jason and well his violent burst and also the origins later on as to how he came back and what happens to Bludhaven ties perfectly into Infinite crisis which makes it a must read. Its amazing how everything is tied together here and its an epic and great event and one of the quintessential DC stories ever!

[Donovan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jason Todd’s return is a riveting tale told brilliantly. Judd Winnick says it was risky and cliché, but if he and Doug Mahnke did it well they would win over the fans. And I think they did just that. Well worth waiting a decade to read in the deluxe hardcover, and it deserves many rereads for its depth and complexity.

[James DeSantis · Rating 5 out of 5]

2025: My review still holds up. This time I read the deluxe edition which includes Lost Days prequel. That part is just decent. Some cool moments but filling in the pieces kind of feels a bit lame, even if it shows how Jason became the Red Hood.

But outside of that I loved the main red hood series. You can feel the tension, the unsureness of Bruce, the anger from Jason, all of it is valid, and all of it works. To me this is a Classic Batman story and one of the best.

2019 Review: The classic storyline of the return of Jason Todd. I watched the movie way back and enjoyed it a lot, but never got around to reading the comic. Now that I did, what is the verdict? It's great!

This is a quickly paced fight of who can outsmart who first. Bruce has been outsmarted before but never by someone so close. To know almost everything he will do in nearly every situation. A nice twist is that Jason Todd is revealed pretty early on in a wonderful beat-down to the one who had killed him in the first place. Then we watch as both Red Hood and Batman butt heads and also team up some, leading up to the final confrontation that you know won't go well.

There's a lot to like here. I love the character of Bruce here. A father unsure of what to do about his son coming back to life. It gives the character a nice depth. I also LOVE Black Mask here. He's funny as hell and also a real asshole, too good. Jason is great and maybe one of the only times I really enjoy the character himself. Joker also brings the lolz while giving a nail biting situation at the very end. The very end of the climax is a little flat and the art can be wonky at times.

Overall though this is fantastic. It is a classic for a reason. A 4.5 out of 5.

[Oscar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mysterious person comes to Gotham to wreak havoc on the drug trade and to Black Mask, the new King of the Gotham underground.
This new player is killing the competition or any one that messes with "the little ones". Batman searches for clues as to who this person truly is!

This series is split in two.
The first part raises all the questions while the second part only answers a few of them. The BIG question is answered in the Batman Annual.
It tells us how this all started and what happened to this mysterious Red Hood!

There are quite a few 'guest' appearances which I always love.
Something major happens in the last comic and I am so excited to read what the heck happens!

This is the last story line before Infinite Crisis!
The last comic and the Annual actually preludes to the event which was exciting.
Overall, a really good story about family reunions and good old fashioned revenge!

[Ariyan Abidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

از بهترين كميك هاييه كه خوندم واقعا تجربه لذت بخشى بود مخصوصا به خاطر اينكه وقتى بچه بودم انيميشنش رو ديده بودم و اون موقع اشكم رو هم دراورده بود
براى من اين سرى تكرار نشدنيه

[Reza Qalandari · Rating 5 out of 5]

بهترین کمیکی که خوندم ، البته بعد از جوک مرگبار، همینه :)
به شدت به همه توصیه میکنم.
نمیدونم چطوری برای یه کمیک ریویو بنویسم، ولی از همه جهت عالی بود.
با یک داستان عالی!
و تصویرگری فوق العاده
از دستش ندین!

[Jonathan Terrington · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a batman graphic novel at near to its finest. And for both fans of the Dark Knight and newcomers this is a must read novel in any form. If you enjoy good versus evil, are interested in the psychology of your characters, like stories with morals or just love graphic novels then you could buy this book from me if I owned it go and read it...

What sets Batman apart from all other superheroes is not simply his lack of any metaphysical powers; the tragic death of his parents; the children he trains as weapons; the gritty nature of his stories; or the various villains he contends with. No rather it has always been his resolve and determination. His spirit to keep fighting the demons of Gotham City and the demons within his own fractured psyche. As a result and in effort to prevent himself slipping to the dark side of the force Batman must prevent himself from killing all the remaining jedi.

And it is this fact that Under the Red Hood portrays so effectively. It brings up elements from batman's past along with twists and turns. You will, as you progress through the story come to see why Batman does not kill and why he is a true hero. But for that you need the perfect adversary. And so the story introduces both a new and an old villain - The Red Hood. Which for anyone who knows their DC history was the suggested identity of the Joker before he became the Joker. So who is this Red Hood? Read the book - I mean graphic novel.

If you're a follower of the series I recommend that you read Batman: Hush as this very much ties into the storyline of Hush. However you don't need to have read any previous novels to understand this storyline as cleverly explained as it is by both the written text and the luscious art.

In short if you're interested in gritty stories with depth then this may be for you. Not to mention there is the art to enjoy alongside. So you get a two for the price of one deal with a graphic novel like this.

[Machiavelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most compelling modern Batman arcs, this story kicks off with a violent shake-up of Gotham’s criminal underworld as the Red Hood takes over—outfighting, outsmarting, and outkilling Batman’s rogues while breaking every rule Bruce holds sacred. Winick crafts a sharp mix of detective work, high-octane action, and gut-wrenching emotional beats as Batman begins to suspect the Red Hood’s true identity, leading to an explosive reveal tied to Jason Todd’s death at the Joker’s hands. Mahnke’s gritty, dynamic art nails both the chaos of gang wars and the intimate pain of Batman confronting a ghost from his past. This is more than a revenge saga—it’s a masterclass in how past trauma can twist heroism into something unrecognizable. A must-read for Bat-fans who want emotional stakes as high as the body count.

[Mia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I will start with isJason is a fave DC character, and if he wants to kill bad guys in Gotham, who is Batman to tell him he can't. But seriously, his relationship with Bruce is just so heartbreaking, and this makes for a complex read of his character and their relationships. The way Robin Jason handled here, I hate.

[The Lion's Share · Rating 3 out of 5]

I watched the animated movie before reading this so I wasn't as impressed by the comic as I should have been, plus the movie was just written better.

[tyrosine · Rating 5 out of 5]

the movie was one of my MOST FAVORITE for so long and the comic did just as much justice to the character 💕 (I’m gonna ignore the weird Talia kiss, okay?)

[Clarissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a new vigilante in town making trouble for the Black Mask and is even more disturbing (and heartbreaking) to Batman. Who is the person under the Red Hood that causes so much turmoil? Why no other than Jason Todd, mysteriously returned from the dead.

This series is solid! Winnick does a great job of creating a world full of grit (a standard for Batman) that is still full of depth for the characters. You sense the history in the relationships between characters without the necessity of having to read past series to learn about them.

Jason's is clearly angry and in pain. His need from revenge seems to stem from his own sense of worth. He has forgiven Bruce for not getting there in time to save him but resents the fact that his death was not enough for Batman to break his moral code. I kind of see his point. I mean I'd be pretty pissed if my killer was still on the lose and hurting others. I just want to hug Jason but know better. He'd probably stab me in the shoulder for trying to comfort him.

On the other hand, I can see what the loss of Jason has done to Bruce. Once you cross the line and kill someone it's pretty hard to come back. I mean if you already killed one person what's one more dead criminal gonna do? Is this how serial killers think? Anyway, poor Bruce has probably replayed the events of that day in his head over and over, torturing himself with what he could have done. Your adoptive father doesn't deserve to have the fact that the Joker is still alive thrown in his face, Jason!

Side note: I love seeing snipbits of Bruce and Alfred's relationship throughout this. You can tell Alfred loves Jason (and all Robins) too when he helps Bruce prove that the Red Hood really is Jason.

Jason Todd and his story has become so prevalent in Batman's story ever since his death so this is a must read for Batman fans.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man it was so good to read some Batman again! I’ve held off from reading this for whatever reason but I’ve really been missing out. Knew who red hood was before going into this and even then this was an amazing story. I just love the red hood as a character, there’s not enough good story’s with him as an anti hero. And seeing him here interact with Batman and their two ideals clash is so good! Wasn’t a fan on the ambiguous ending but the origin of the red hood stuff was cool.

[Hannah Call · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been wanting to read this forever now and am so glad I finally have. One of the best Batman stories I’ve read

[estela ✩ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ☆

jason todd. that's it. that's the review.

[Ryan Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Batman: "No! God Almighty, no! It'd be too damned easy. All I've ever wanted to do is kill him. A day doesn't go by when I don't think about subjecting him to every horrendous torture he's dealt out to others and then... end him."

Joker: "Awwww! So you do think about me."

I remember collecting this in single issues and waiting with bated breath for each successive issue to be released. Honestly, it's aged even better.

After reading this again for the first time in a few years, I have to say it feels less gimmicky and more like true cannon.

The Red Hood has built a somewhat annoying fan following the past few years but this is the very legitimate root cause for it. Yes, this is a TON like Ed Brubaker's Winter Soldier arc in Captain America, but this really does stand on its own as an excellent story that, despite feeling like a money grab, really does honor the history of Batman and spin a hell of a tale.

If you don't know by now, there is a new vigilante in Gotham and he's efficient, brutal and just so happens to know a hell of a lot about Batman. Batman is challenged in every single way to handle this new threat that sheds light on the darkest corners of his past. Also featured: Nightwing, Black Mask and Mista J.

Honestly, this story is incredible. If you can get your hands on the graphic novels, I would recommend them very highly. If not, the DC animated movie is a very quality alternative.

[Sud666 · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Under the Red Hood" was quite a good Batman volume. Good story and good art combine to make a Batman classic.

As most people surely know, Jason Todd was killed by the Joker. But did he really die (does anyone famous really die in comics? Don't think so)? Apparently, he came back as the Red Hood. Drawing on the Joker's original persona, this Red Hood is taking down criminals and setting himself up to rule Gotham. He must contend with the Black Mask and Batman. This is the full collection of the story, as well as the wrap-up to the Hush story. So you will get a good idea of how Jason Todd numbers among the living.

A very enjoyable read. I also did want to add the Red Hood story to my collection and I have done so. If you've not read it-by all means do so..it is quite good. But if you are wondering if it's necessary to read "A Death in the Family" for the sake of context, you may certainly do so.

[John Yelverton · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best graphic novels that I have ever read. It keeps you gripped to it from page to page. The ending falls a little flat, but it is so worth your time.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Under the Red Hood as the third installment in the Saga of Jason Todd, consisting previously of A Death in the Family and A Lonely Place of Dying. In A Death in the Family, we bore witness to the death of Jason Todd, the second Robin, at the hands of the Joker. In A Lonely Place of Dying, we saw Batman struggling to cope with Jason's death as his guilty conscience slowly broke him. In Under the Red Hood, Batman and Jason Todd's story comes to a climactic end, which leaves us with arguably one of the best Batman graphic novels written to date.

Under the Red Hood is written marvelously, offering plenty of mystery, excitement, action, and drama to satiate the desires of the biggest Batman fans. Unfortunately for me, I was well aware of the identity of the Red Hood long before reading this graphic novel, so the reveal did not impact me as greatly as I know it could have. Despite being spoiled to the mystery of this story, I still found the rest of it to be entertaining and deeply engaging. In particular, the action was a vast improvement over the preceding A Death in the Family and A Lonely Place of Dying. Showcased throughout was a blood-dripping, fist-flailing, explosives-laden, bullet-doused adventure that put the earlier entries to shame. There was never a dull moment to slow things down.

Though I must say, as good as the action was, my favorite parts weren't those packed with fight scenes, but rather those that concentrated on story development through the use of dialogue between principal characters. Those tense moments when the Red Hood and Batman shared the page were masterfully written. The emotions that poured out of each character felt authentic and significant; hardly anything felt like filler or fluff. The relationship between Batman and the Red Hood is one of the most intimate and complex dynamics to have ever impacted Batman's career as a crime-fighter, rivaling even his close friendship/rivalry with Superman. These moments of brilliant dialogue serve to enhance the splendor of Batman both as a character and as a comic book series, making everything feel all the more human and relatable. This isn't your average bad guy beat-'em-up story with a happy ending, for what Under the Red Hood offers is far more nuanced and mature to be taken so lightly.

Probably the most impactful moment in Under the Red Hood was the sequence between the Red Hood and Batman that delved into the morality of how Batman operates. Is it a sign of weakness that Batman does not kill his most vile adversaries, or something else entirely? Would it be wrong to cross that harrowing line for just one glaring exception? What event, if any, could be so consequential as to push Batman over the edge? These questions are some of the most haunting inquiries into the psyche of the Batman, and contemplating their answers only strengthens his stature as one of the best superheroes in the world of comics. It says a lot about the strength of a character when they can dress up as a bat and still be so emotionally and mentally complex to the reader!

Along with A Death in the Family and A Lonely Place of Dying, Under the Red Hood firmly establishes Batman as one of the premier comic book franchises in a market saturated with comics that simply pale in comparison. I honestly don't have any complaints about this graphic novel, as I felt that it was executed to near perfection. Not only did it faithfully conclude a story arc decades in the making, but it also gave birth to one of the coolest new anti-heroes of the DC Universe in the Red Hood – a cunning, smart-mouthed badass who is not afraid to spill the blood of evildoers. He is the perfect foil to rival Batman and his virtuous ways. As far as significance goes, Under the Red Hood is high up on that list and is a must-read for any fan of Batman looking to read up on his most significant story arcs.

[Veronika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Batman: Die Daddy Issues!
Nein, Scherz beiseite - ein phantastischer Band.
Jason Todd kommt zurück. Wer ist Jason Todd? Batman's zweiter Robin (sein Rebound-Robin nach dem schmerzhaften break-up mit Dick Grayson), der insgesamt wütender und rebellischer war als Golden Boy Dick und der am Ende ziemlich tragisch vom Joker ermordet wurde. (Siehe "Batman: A Death in the Family") Was Bruce Wayne ein Trauma für die nächsten Jahre beschert hat über das er niemals hinweggekommen ist (weil Bruce halt nicht gut darin ist über irgendwas jemals hinwegzukommen).

Besagter Jason kommt als der geheimnisvolle Red Hood zurück. Und er ist fucking PISSED dass Daddy!Bats den Joker nicht endlich umgebracht hat (um ihn zu rächen). Na ja und auch weil er weiß, dass Batman den Joker definitiv gekilled hätte, wenn der seinem Goldkind (*hust Dick hust*) die Lichter ausgeblasen hätte. Wir wissen doch alle, dass die No-Kill-Rule nicht gilt wenn Dickie-bird involviert ist.

Jason: "Ignoring what he's done in the past. Blindly, stupidly disregarding the entire graveyards he's filled, the thousands who have suffered, the friends he's crippled. You know, I thought... I thought I'd be the last person you'd ever let him hurt. If it had been you that he beat to a bloody pulp, if he had taken you from this world, I would've done nothing but search the planet for this pathetic pile of evil, death-worshiping garbage and then send him off to hell!"

Und dann hat Bruce ihn auch noch mit einem neuen Robin (Tim) ersetzt! Jason ist also in der ultimativen Sandwichkind-Position zwischen dem Goldjungen und dem Nesthäkchen und boy, hat er damit Probleme.
Und da in dieser Familie niemand über seine Gefühle redet oder Therapie macht, zeigt er dieses gebrochene Herz eben damit dass er ein kriminelles Imperium gründet, sämtliche andere Kriminellen in Gotham gegeneinander ausspielt und Bösewichte, die seine Regeln brechen einfach mal um die Ecke bringt UM ENDLICH DADDY'S KOMPLETTE AUFMERKSAMKEIT ZU BEKOMMEN.
Und da Batman nicht tötet, haben er und Red Hood auch direkt einen riesigen, emotionalen Konflikt an der Backe.

Und das ist echt faszinierend, tragisch und spannend, weil Red Hood eben ein unfassbar kompetenter Bösewicht ist. Es ist schwer NICHT für ihn zu rooten, weil seine riesiges Racheaktion einfach so neat und befriedigend ist. Trotzdem tut einem Bruce einfach nur wahnsinnig leid in diesem Band.... er hat wieder ALLE ALLE Gefühle, die man nur als Leser zu sehen bekommt, aber die er hinter seiner stoischen Maske verbirgt. So dass Jason sich bis zum Schluss ungeliebt und ersetzbar fühlt.

Sehr spannend, sehr kurzweilig, intensiv und dramatisch. Die Szene wo jemand Red Hood angreift, Batman ihn widerwillig (aber instinktiv) verteidigt UND sie dann ohne Absprache wie automatisiert eine flawless Batman & Robin Routine durchziehen und Seite an Seite kämpfen, obwohl sie den ganzen Band über hardcore verfeindet waren ist einfach nur HEARTBREAKING.

Batman: "But if I do that, if I allow myself to go down into that place... I'll never come back."
Jason Todd: "Why? I'm not talking about killing Penguin or Scarecrow or Dent. I'm talking about *him*, just him. And doing it because... because he took me away from you."

Episches Werk, dass das Batman-Universum nachhaltig verändert hat und in Jason einen faszinierenden Antihelden / Villain zurückgebracht hat, der für immer eine emotionale Verbindung zu Batman haben wird, die keiner von ihnen je los wird, egal auf welcher Seite sie jetzt stehen.

[Joshua Adam Bain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great bearded baby of sweet Jerusalem that was an absolute epic collection of words and pictures. I thought the movie adaptation was a masterpiece, but as per usual the original content outshines in every aspect!

I'm a little bit speechless of how magnificent this book is. Jason Todd was my least favourite Robin. He was a moody, whiney little bitch and I'm glad they killed him off. But Red Hood on the other hand is one of my favourite anti-heroes. How was I such a fool that it took me this long to read this stunning gem? This may have just taken the place of my most beloved Batman book to date, pushing Batman: Hush to a close second. I can hear you all from here moaning in disgust of my love of Hush, but it is for a reason. It was THE graphic novel that got me into comics, so it's always going to be a favourite of mine no matter how many stinky poop poop comments I get from all the know-it-all comic connoisseurs out there.

Back to the book at hand!

This had it all for me: A great story that was paced brilliantly and full of action and suspense. The support cast was superb and the art was simply breathtaking. Judd Winick is one of those writers that flies under the radar a lot of the time, when he really is a hidden talent worthy of praise. I've read a bunch of his work and it's all really solid, but none seem to come close to this as of yet. Then he had to f&@k me up even more by tying it into the Hush story at the end. And although his "rebirth" was somewhat weird and a little unsatisfying, tying in with the Infinite Crisis event gave it some originality. Although I thought it was a little bit of a cop out if I'm being truly honest. I don't want to say anymore due to spoilers, but those who have read this will understand.

Aside from that little, tiny, seemingly insignificant detail this was a perfect read for me. If you are a Batman fan in any shape or form you NEED this book. I mean that in every sense of the word. You NEED it!