The Return of Jason Todd

[Ammar Al Subahi]

So, what do you guys think of Jason Todd's return so far?

[Blake Petit]

I think that DC made a mistake making us wait until March for an explanation...

[Ammar Al Subahi]

I think that DC made a mistake making us wait until March for an explanation...


what? source please

[Blake Petit]

Look in the back of the October DC comics at the DC In Demand -- they're bringing back the annuals next year and the Batman Annual in March is supposed to be the big reveal about Jason Todd.

Here, I'll quote: "In March, Batman Annual #25 blows the lid off the Red hood saga and answers the question that's been on every Bat-Fan's lips: How can Jason Todd still be alive?"

[Ammar Al Subahi]

ahh okay, thanks Blake!

So what do you think so far? I like how Jason as Red Hood is supposed to show the error in Batman's way, and how he now is the opposite side of the same coin. Red Hood has potential to become a really good arc-villain/anti hero for Batman

[cv_otaku]

I'm praying to God that they make a truly plausible explanation and reason. I usually hate the fanboys that demand every thread of every story to fit. In my opinion, comic books are part-fantasy, and in order to be that, they need a stretch of the imagination at times.

However, I believe that Jason Todd's death defined Batman in the past two decades. There as been a helluva lot of character development regarding all of the characters because of that one story. I believe that to bring him back half-assedly and just for shock value cheapens all of that.

However, if they make me believe that it could have really happened. And they provide some good motive that furthers the bat-mythos, then I'll be fine with it.

(My real desire is for them to have it be the Jason Todd from the crime syndicate universe...that would rock)

[Blake Petit]

I don't think that'd really jive, CV -- they've already exhumed Jason's grave and found an empty coffin.

[Ammar Al Subahi]

IMO this is one of those ressurections that if played out good, actually could serve a cause. By using Jason Todd as a constant reminder of how Batman failed and also build up a Magneto/Xavier like relationship, where fans later discuss who's opinion and actions are right, Bruce's or Jason's.

I give kudos for Winnick and the Bat Editorial for this idea if they make it work and actually count, unlike some other ressurections like Aunt May's

[cv_otaku]

I don't think that'd really jive, CV -- they've already exhumed Jason's grave and found an empty coffin.
Yeah, I read that issue in the book store. I figure if they can skip over years and years of story with him dead, they can skip over that one issue :D

Man, I'm sounding like a raving fanboy when I talk about this.

I'll read the big reveal. I'll make up my mind then. I'm really trying to keep a unbiased opinion of it, but let me explain. A Death in the Family was the first Batman comic I read. It was also the first non-archie comic I read. This story got me into comics. Without it, I would still be stuck at the occasional Archie comic that I'd pick up at the grocery store.

The raw emotion and anger and feelings of defeat that are present in Batman all through that comic turned me on to this totally brilliant art form.

I just don't want them cheapening that. Too be quite honest, I'm not sure if I can truly accept any explanation they give. I guess we'll have to see in March.

[Fanatix]

I still HATE the idea.

DC is just starting to bring people back at a rediculous rate. I liked rebirth, I liked infinite crisis #1, I liked morrisons JLA: earth 2

That being said, I still don't like the consequences of all this. To just bring back a bunch of heroes and plot lines that didn't necessarily need resurrecting.
It seems like DC is trying to hard to return to the silver age, including bringing todd back.

[Blake Petit]

Jason Todd had nothing to do with the Silver Age -- he didn't show up until the 1980s. And who did Infinite Crisis #1 bring back?

I know what you mean, CV. I've been saying I'll wait until they explain why Jason is back to make up my mind on this one, I just think they're stretching this storyline out waaaaay too long by making us wait until March.

[cv_otaku]

Jason Todd had nothing to do with the Silver Age -- he didn't show up until the 1980s. And who did Infinite Crisis #1 bring back?

I know what you mean, CV. I've been saying I'll wait until they explain why Jason is back to make up my mind on this one, I just think they're stretching this storyline out waaaaay too long by making us wait until March.
Agreed. Maybe they want to wait until the fanboy rage quiets down.

[Magnus2k]

I stick with what I said from the start. I dont like the idea. I agree that it defines part of Batman's character. But, I've also said in that same sense, if they can do it, and make a great story out of it, I'm not gonna argue with good reading.

[Fanatix]

Jason Todd had nothing to do with the Silver Age -- he didn't show up until the 1980s. And who did Infinite Crisis #1 bring back?

I know what you mean, CV. I've been saying I'll wait until they explain why Jason is back to make up my mind on this one, I just think they're stretching this storyline out waaaaay too long by making us wait until March.

...umm, ya know, nobody important. Just the original superman, superboy, alexander luthor. They've got nothing to do with the silver age (which the 80's were a part off).

[Blake Petit]

...umm, ya know, nobody important. Just the original superman, superboy, alexander luthor. They've got nothing to do with the silver age (which the 80's were a part off).

None of them were dead.

And the Silver age ended, depending on who you talk to, sometime between the end of the 60s and the early 70s. It was well over by the time the 80s started.

[cv_otaku]

None of them were dead.

And the Silver age ended, depending on who you talk to, sometime between the end of the 60s and the early 70s. It was well over by the time the 80s started.
I thought the silver age ended with the crisis. Because, you know, then the dark age started. That's what I've already been told, but I've been known to be wrong every now and then...occasionally.

[Fanatix]

The way I always looked at it was when the changing of the guard happaned, and when a bunch changed at once that was normally the beginning of a new age.

Golden age - jay garrick as flash, alan scott as green lantern, dick grayson as robin, etc
Silver age - barry allen as flash, hal jordan as green lanetern, jason as robin
Bronze age - wally west as flash, kyle as green lantern, tim drake as robin

And they weren't necessarily dead. But they were removed from storylines for 20 years. So much so that I doubt many on this board or any other thought that they'd ever come back. There are dead characters now that have had more interactions with the dcu than they have over the past 10 years.

Anyway, never liked todd as robin. Thought his death was great. Made the joker more menacing, made batman darker and more broody. Introduced tim drake as robin.
Whereas his return has been sometimes just alluded too, other times flat out said. Its been joked around with and messed around with. Now its even possible he clued tommy elliot into the fact that bruce was batman. Or that elliot brought him back to life to screw with bruce and involve him in the hush storyline.
There have been anti-heroes in dc before, batman or somebodys always taken them down. Jason shouldn't be an exception. It would take either simone or johns working on batman to turn him from punisher wannabe into a deathstorke like bad ***.

[GreenLantern]

IMO this is one of those ressurections that if played out good, actually could serve a cause. By using Jason Todd as a constant reminder of how Batman failed and also build up a Magneto/Xavier like relationship, where fans later discuss who's opinion and actions are right, Bruce's or Jason's.

I give kudos for Winnick and the Bat Editorial for this idea if they make it work and actually count, unlike some other ressurections like Aunt May's

I like that idea. If they execute it like that then it'll be a new (GASP) rogue for someone (or would he be considered a rogue?). And how is the rest of the Bat-Family taking all this? Like Tim Drake for example

[PinchyWearO]

Crisis did away with versions of their Superheroes that existed during the Silver Age, but the Silver Age was well over before the 80s.

[Blake Petit]

Here are the generally-accepted time periods of comics (I say "generally accepted" because there's always SOME debate as to where, exactly, they begin or end).

Golden Age: Began with Action Comics #1, the first appearance of Superman. Ended sometime after World War II and the beginning of Congressional investigations into the comic book industry.

Silver Age: Began with Showcase #4, first appearance of Barry "Flash" Allen. Ended sometime in the later 60s, once Marvel began to grow to prominence.

Bronze Age: Began with the introduction of the "New" X-Men in Giant-Sized X-Men #1, lasted until the mid 80s.

After that, things are more in debate, but I feel there was a period I like to think of as the "Dark Age" that began with Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns and lasted about up to the point where Mark Waid took over Flash and made it FUN again. That began the age that we're currently in, which still doesn't really have a concrete name, but get back to me in 10 years. ;)

[cv_otaku]

Here are the generally-accepted time periods of comics (I say "generally accepted" because there's always SOME debate as to where, exactly, they begin or end).

Golden Age: Began with Action Comics #1, the first appearance of Superman. Ended sometime after World War II and the beginning of Congressional investigations into the comic book industry.

Silver Age: Began with Showcase #4, first appearance of Barry "Flash" Allen. Ended sometime in the later 60s, once Marvel began to grow to prominence.

Bronze Age: Began with the introduction of the "New" X-Men in Giant-Sized X-Men #1, lasted until the mid 80s.

After that, things are more in debate, but I feel there was a period I like to think of as the "Dark Age" that began with Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns and lasted about up to the point where Mark Waid took over Flash and made it FUN again. That began the age that we're currently in, which still doesn't really have a concrete name, but get back to me in 10 years. ;)
Okay, I usually extend the golden age through the fifties and start the silver age with the Stan Lee stuff. (FF, X-Men, Spiderman) Then I extend the silver age through the eighties and do away with the bronze age. I guess your way makes sense, though.

[Blake Petit]

Well, for the record, it's not my way -- it's the way I've always read the ages being divided by comic historians that have been at it a lot longer than I have. ;)

[Templares]

I thought the Silver Age ended with the Death of Gwen Stacy :goblin: .

[Blake Petit]

Like I said, there's always debate about where the ages begin and end. But I've never heard any historian argue that the Silver Age lasted until the 80s. ;) What I said here is how I basically think of it. But I can accept the death of Gwen Stacy (June 1973) as an ending point for the Silver Age and Giant-Sized X-Men #1 (Summer 1975) as a beginning of the Bronze Age, for the sake or argument.

[Ammar Al Subahi]

There are actually comicbook historians??? :eek:

[Blake Petit]

Dude, there are historians for EVERYTHING. :LOL:

[Mark Blicharz]

Here are the generally-accepted time periods of comics (I say "generally accepted" because there's always SOME debate as to where, exactly, they begin or end).

Golden Age: Began with Action Comics #1, the first appearance of Superman. Ended sometime after World War II and the beginning of Congressional investigations into the comic book industry.

Silver Age: Began with Showcase #4, first appearance of Barry "Flash" Allen. Ended sometime in the later 60s, once Marvel began to grow to prominence.

Bronze Age: Began with the introduction of the "New" X-Men in Giant-Sized X-Men #1, lasted until the mid 80s.

After that, things are more in debate, but I feel there was a period I like to think of as the "Dark Age" that began with Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns and lasted about up to the point where Mark Waid took over Flash and made it FUN again. That began the age that we're currently in, which still doesn't really have a concrete name, but get back to me in 10 years. ;)

I call it the "HOLY CRAP DC IS GOOD" era. Oh and keep Jason dead. There's no reason to bring him back.

[Cardiac]

I call it the "HOLY CRAP DC IS GOOD" era. Oh and keep Jason dead. There's no reason to bring him back.

Agreed. I'm sick of these recent revivals. If Barry comes back (apart from for the 'worst days of Wally's life') I'm dropping all DC books altogether.

[Sogolan-Man]

Here are the generally-accepted time periods of comics (I say "generally accepted" because there's always SOME debate as to where, exactly, they begin or end).

Golden Age: Began with Action Comics #1, the first appearance of Superman. Ended sometime after World War II and the beginning of Congressional investigations into the comic book industry.

Silver Age: Began with Showcase #4, first appearance of Barry "Flash" Allen. Ended sometime in the later 60s, once Marvel began to grow to prominence.

Bronze Age: Began with the introduction of the "New" X-Men in Giant-Sized X-Men #1, lasted until the mid 80s.

After that, things are more in debate, but I feel there was a period I like to think of as the "Dark Age" that began with Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns and lasted about up to the point where Mark Waid took over Flash and made it FUN again. That began the age that we're currently in, which still doesn't really have a concrete name, but get back to me in 10 years. ;)


The Age we are in the moment is called:
"THe Lets change everything that we have done in the past which our fams loved and defined an era which rocked"

I mean look what Marvel are doing also. I know they say Originality is dead but come on.
Which one of you would give you Kidney to write a comic book and can think of a million stories which do not ignore the past.

[Jason Alan]

The Age we are in the moment is called:
"THe Lets change everything that we have done in the past which our fams loved and defined an era which rocked"

I mean look what Marvel are doing also. I know they say Originality is dead but come on.
Which one of you would give you Kidney to write a comic book and can think of a million stories which do not ignore the past.

I would, most definitely. Whenever I write a story based on a comic book or tv show, I always make sure to check past continuity first so that I don't make any mistakes. Can't very well say that one thing happened a certain way and get a detail either wrong or leave it out altogether.

But, to get back on topic here, did anyone notice the extreme irony of Jason adopting the Red Hood identity which had been originated by the Joker (whom apparently killed Dick's successor in a bomb explosion)? I sure did, right when I learned he was back.

Either this is merely a coincidence or there is something more to the story. Only time will tell.

[Blake Petit]

I'm sure Jason did it intentionally -- I don't know if that will play into his resurrection story, though.

[Jason Alan]

I keep thinking that it has to be the Lazarus Pit that brught Jason back, or perhaps some form of magic. Those are the only two viable explanations I can think of.

[cv_otaku]

I'm sure Jason did it intentionally.
I agree. The irony is great. Even the part at the end of one of the issues, where Jason beats Joker with a crowbar, stopping short just of death. The only thing about the idea I've enjoyed so far is the irony Winick has worked in.

[ForeverZeroV1]

Never liked Jason Todd i think he deserved to be beaten to death with a crowbar.

[Magnus2k]

Raven mentions something about all the returning characters in the Teen Titans this month. Oh, also in that same book, Jason seems to have gotten better since his death.

[Blake Petit]

Personally, I'm convinced that all the resurrections of late have something to do with the Crisis... not sure what, exactly, but SOMETHING...

[Cardiac]

Personally, I'm convinced that all the resurrections of late have something to do with the Crisis... not sure what, exactly, but SOMETHING...

Me too. Maybe they'll even explain the Doom Patrol stuff that's been happening recently. I'm certain Jaso ties into the crisis though.

[Magnus2k]

Personally, I'm convinced that all the resurrections of late have something to do with the Crisis... not sure what, exactly, but SOMETHING...

I think it has to do with the magic wars maybe. Read what Raven says in the Teen Titans. Only a hint or feeling, but somewhat of an explanation.

[ForeverZeroV1]

it really just seems like they are trying to take the dark out of dc. erasing all the dark moments. Hell even Babs is starting to feel her toes again.

[Dangerman]

For the first time I realized it was Jason as the Red Hood, I don't believe myself.

I don't know how he got resurrected from his death in the hands of the Joker a long time ago. It's beyond me.