Batman Just Did The Unthinkable To Jason Todd/Red Hood In DC Comics' "Gotham War" Storyline - SPOILERS

Batman Just Did The Unthinkable To Jason Todd/Red Hood In DC Comics' "Gotham War" Storyline - SPOILERS

Preview pages for today's Batman #138 see the Dark Knight do the unthinkable by putting a permanent end to Jason Todd's tenure as Red Hood. Find out exactly what happens in this comic after the jump...

By JoshWilding - Oct 03, 2023 08:10 AM EST
Filed Under: DC Comics

The ongoing "Gotham War" storyline has pushed Batman to his limits, but the Caped Crusader may have gone a step too far by putting a seemingly permanent end to Jason Todd's tenure as the Punisher-like vigilante, Red Hood. 

In preview pages released for today's Batman #138, we learn that after Bruce Wayne knocked the former Robin out in Batman Catwoman: The Gotham War - Red Hood #1, he planted a hypnotic suggested in Jason's head. Now, when his body generates adrenaline, Red Hood will become overwhelmed by fear. 

As a result, he can no longer protect Gotham City with his lethal form of justice, though Batman seems convinced he's given the ex-sidekick "a gift" rather than a punishment. He's even arranged a new life for Jason in Metropolis but there's something about this which just feels...wrong. 

Batman clearly believes Jason is beyond redemption at this stage but to quite literally alter his mind, the rest of the Bat-Family is sure to have something to say about it.

Of course, we're talking about a character who has frequently pushed the limits in this way; once upon a time, the Dark Knight even left the entire Justice League vulnerable after creating weapons capable of stopping each of them which were later stolen. 

As for Red Hood, seeing where his story goes from here should be very interesting indeed. In terms of live-action plans for the anti-hero in the DCU, we don't know what's in store for him and whether Jason is a character who will be part of the wider Bat-Family in The Brave and the Bold a few years from now. Titans didn't really do him justice, anyway, so here's hoping.

Batman #138 is now available in comic book stores. 

Batman-138-The-Gotham-War-part-four-4-copy


Batman-138-The-Gotham-War-part-four-5-copy

BATMAN #138
Written by Chip Zdarsky
Art & Cover by Jorge Jimenez

THE GOTHAM WAR CONTINUES! Batman is on the ropes as the Gotham War heats up following a shocking betrayal! It's father versus son, teacher versus student in the knockout fourth chapter of this brutal war. But who is really pulling the strings in this explosive event? Thousands of years have led to this moment!

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Forthas
Forthas - 10/3/2023, 8:47 AM
I think it would beg the question if he could do that to Jason Todd could he also do it to some of his traditional villains.
hue66
hue66 - 10/3/2023, 9:29 AM
@Forthas - I don't think he sees his villans in the same way. Doesn't care about them. He's actually cheating the system to help Jason which he would only do for his family I guess
Forthas
Forthas - 10/3/2023, 10:01 AM
@hue66 - interesting delve into Batman's psyche. While I never thought Batman cared about villains, I did always think that Batman thought they could be rehabilitated. I guess this story represents a point where Batman has given up and like you said is cheating to get the result he wants.
DrReedRichards
DrReedRichards - 10/3/2023, 8:53 AM
This is beyond stupid on so many levels...
DrReedRichards
DrReedRichards - 10/3/2023, 9:06 AM
1.: I get this is comics, but adrenaline is not strychnine.
2.: Injecting fear is either Scarecrow tactic or edgelord shit.
3.: Lack of morality makes someone immoral, not morally grey.

Could go on and on, but that would mean giving this dumb shit more thought than its writers clearly did. Awful, just God-awful writing...
Reeds2Much
Reeds2Much - 10/3/2023, 9:12 AM
@DrReedRichards - 4) Let's pretend adrenaline works like that; Jason would still be pretty desensitized at this point so there wouldn't be an adrenaline spike, so there would be no fear reaction. However if a kid started screaming at him angrily he might now pee himself.
DrReedRichards
DrReedRichards - 10/3/2023, 9:15 AM
@Reeds2Much -

Not only that, but let's entertain positive secretion of adrenaline for a moment. Imagine shitting your pants while getting laid, or watching a game or concert live.
FireandBlood
FireandBlood - 10/3/2023, 8:54 AM
So he can do this to Jason, a kid he put in the firing line in the first place, but not his villains? Next level dumb shit 🤦🏽‍♂️
Toonstrack
Toonstrack - 10/3/2023, 3:35 PM
@FireandBlood - his villains he just gets arrested.

Thats his point. He doesn't wanna beat Jason to a pulp and send him to jail. He's already let him off the hook multiple times.

This is the only alternative for Jason to not be in a cell.
HashTagSwagg
HashTagSwagg - 10/3/2023, 8:56 AM
I give it 3 months tops
harryba11zack
harryba11zack - 10/3/2023, 8:59 AM
“It's about family. And that's what's so powerful about it.”
LordHarryLatts
LordHarryLatts - 10/3/2023, 11:10 AM
Just makes me long for Snyder and Capullo.
dracula
dracula - 10/3/2023, 12:41 PM
@LordHarryLatts - or James Tynion
oldnoname
oldnoname - 10/3/2023, 12:57 PM
@dracula - Maybe his DC run but most definitely NOT his Batman run
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 10/3/2023, 11:33 AM
Is this the same Batman that got mindwiped after he found the Justice League lobotomizing Dr. Light, because then it's especially unthinkable.

Kinda just expected Batman to outright kill him, which wouldn't have been that unthinkable with how edgy Batman was the last few years. This is way more intriguing though.
Arthorious
Arthorious - 10/3/2023, 2:13 PM
Whelp I'm not a fan of this one. After that Failsafe run, I think I'm done with Batman for a while.
Saga
Saga - 10/3/2023, 3:10 PM
That banner image is just fantastic, looking like a comicbpok Michael Keaton
Toonstrack
Toonstrack - 10/3/2023, 3:35 PM
I could see batman doing this. Hes crossed the line before. Hes not perfect.
NinnesMBC
NinnesMBC - 10/4/2023, 7:18 PM
Sounds like he's stepping over a line here, but taking into consideration the narrative, set and theme of this "war" storyline it fits that he's doing something questionable for the time being. What do the writers do afterwards in how Jason handles this and if Bruce will come around with how this wasn't the right thing to do and makes up for it could be a slow-build up for character growth.
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