Batman himself was largely untouched by the Crisis on Infinite Earths, but the same thing cannot be said for those around him, notably Jason Todd, Selina Kyle and Leslie Thompkins. Batman didn't even get an officially labeled "Crisis" crossover issue; it was over circa #392. He got a revamped origin a year or so later (#404-407), but his backstory wasn't altered nearly as much as Catwoman's. Jason Todd's origin was revised immediately after Batman's, and Lesluie Thompkins' around the same time in Detective. Issues #408-416 of Batman were designated "The New Adventures," but been more accutately called "The Revised Adventures." Until then, Jason Todd was the the third Robin, but "The New Adventures" makes him "#3b."
- 1. Earth One Robin - Dick Grayson (becomes Nightwing)
- 2. Earth Two Robin - Dick Grayson (dies in the Crisis on Infinite Earths)
- 3a. Pre-Crisis Jason Todd ("circus" origin)
- 3b. Post-Crisis Jason Todd ("street" origin)
That's not to say that that version "#3b" was featured only in Batman #408-429 (when he was killed); certainly the Robin who appeared in #392-403 was, by definition, post-Crisis. Beyond that, I suspect some (if not most) of Jason Todd #3a's stories "happened" in some form. I'll offer a very specific example of what I mean by that in a later post, but right now I'd like to take a closer look at that post-Crisis origin story.
"The New Adventures of Batman" begins with a version of the story of Dick Grayson giving up his "Robin" identity that is somewhat at odds with the one presented in New Teen Titans #39. [ASIDE: Worse still is the "Nightwing: Year One" version from Nightwing #101-106. I still recall the vigorous debate on this board at the time regarding the relative merits of that steaming pile of crap. (If you weren't here then or don't remember, you can guess which side of the debate I was on.)] But I digress...
Batman #408-409 is largely a continuity implant. It opens with Robin (i.e., Dick Grayson) being shot (in the arm) by the Joker and nearly dying (by falling from the roof of a building but landing on a ledge). This situation leads Batman to "fire" Robin, paving the way for Dick Grayson to become Nightwing. The entire incident was caught on tape by a television news crew in a helicopter. Robin "disappeared" after after that, leaving the media to speculate, "Did Robin Die Tonight?" Batman answers that question for Commissioner Gordon ("Literally? No. To all intents and purposes? Yes."), but is not particularly interested in what the press has to say about the matter.
Vicki Vale tries to get Bruce Wayne to contribute to "Ma Gunn's School for Boys" in the heart of "Crime Alley." This is the sixth year Batman has visited Crime Alley on the anniversary of the night his parents were killed. It will soon be established that Dick Grayson became Robin during "Batman: Year Three," so I suppose we can speculate that Bruce Wayne has been Batman for six years at this point, and that Dick Grayson was Robin for three. Batman pays a visit to Ma Gunn and likes her. after leaving her school he discovers that the Batmobile's two front tires have been boosted. He confronts the young thief returning for the other two and follows him back to the abandoned building where he lives.
The boy's name is Jason Todd. His parents are both dead. Batman agrees not to turn the boy over to social services if Jason will agree to attend Ma Gunn's school. He agrees, but soon learns that the school is a front for training young criminals. Meanwhile, Bruce Wayne tracks down Catherine Todd and learns that she died of a drug overdose about six months ago. Batman learns that Willis Todd is believed dead, believed killed by his boss, Two Face, whom he double-crossed. Batman thwarts a mugging, but when he is clipped from behind he realizes how much he has come to rely on Robin watching his flank. Batman returns to the school to find it empty; Ma Gunn and "her boys" are out pulling a job. Nearby, a man's tires have been stolen. Playing a hunch, Batman returns to the building where he initially found Jason.
Jason is there, and admits to having stolen the man's tires. He also tells Batman about the job Ma and her boys are pulling, then follows Batman to the scene. Working together, Batman and Jason round up Ma and her gang, and by the end of the night Batman calls Jason "Robin." As unlikely as that seems, I find I much prefer this revised origin of Jason Todd; his original origin was too similar to that of Dick Grayson.
Replies
BATMAN #410-411:
Batman #410 picks up six months after #409, so we're still dealing with "The New Revised Adventures." Batman has put Jason through an intense training regimen, with one gaping hole: Two Face. Alfred is against endangering another child, but Batman serves up a heapin' helpin' of rationalization. At the end of their most recent traiing session, Batman gives Jason his own Robin costume. (The post-Crisis Jason Todd did not have to jump through nearly as many hoops as his pre-Crisis counterpart to get to this point.) "Someone" sends Commissioner Gordon a poker hand: two pair (kings over jacks) and a duece. The new Robin suggests that it's a message from Two Face. He is, in fact, correct. the two pair represent two sets of criminal twins employed by Two Face: the Dopple brothers from Cleveland (of the "Dopple Gang," get it?) and the Rorrim Boys (which is almost as imaginative). They attempt to rob the Lucky Dollar Casino (across the bi-state bridge in Casino City). They are thwarted by B&R but manage to get away. Later, while perusing Two Face's file in the Batcave, Jason discovers that Two Face killed his father.
The next day, Two Face hits the double-header between the Gotham Mammoths and the Metropolis Twins. Robin tries to strangle Two Face. Later, Jason confronts Batman about withholding the information that Two Face killed Jason's father. That night, Two Face hits the Lucky Dollar Casino again (two nights in a row). He runs onto the giant roulette wheel and is spun into submission.
Giant prop: Roulette wheel.
The "firing" of Dick Grayson took all the character growth that Robin had in New Teen Titans and rendered it moot. He didn't mature and moved away from Batman; he was thrown out of the Bat-Cave, thus making it Batman's decision, not his.
And all of Batman's concerns are pointless, too because Dick is still putting his life in jeopardy as Nightwing instead of as Robin. Batman doesn't try to stop Dick from becoming Nightwing. So as long as Dick is not officially linked to Batman and risks his life, Bruce is in the clear as far as his conscience goes!
Another thing is that by making the "new" Jason Todd a street kid, they're implying that he will be a better Robin because he's tougher than Dick.
But I can't believe that this Jason Todd is the same one who followed Nocturna around, calling her "Mommy"!
The "firing" of Dick Grayson took all the character growth that Robin had in New Teen Titans and rendered it moot.
I don't disagree.
...they're implying that he will be a better Robin because he's tougher than Dick.
I don't know about that, but at one point Batman does tell Alfred, "I intend to channel the skills Jason brought with him." Other than being a sneak thief, I don't know what "skills" Jason brought to the table that would compare to being a trained acrobat. It is mentioned that Jason did not finish the fifth grade. I do think the "street" origin is better than the "circus" one, because I think the latter to too derivative of Dick Grayson's.
I can't believe that this Jason Todd is the same one who followed Nocturna around, calling her "Mommy"!
My point exactly (#3a vs. #3b).
Batman #412-415 are not particularly "Robin-centric." #412 is the latest (unsuccesful) attempt to introduce a new rogue into Batman's gallery, and I just discovered I must have missed #413 and didn't realize it until now. Jason Todd does not appear at all in #414, and #415 is a "Millennium" crossover best forgotten. Ah, but #416... That issue brings "The New Adventures" era to a close with a tale that takes place "one year ago" and bookends #408, except this time told from Dick Grayson's point of view. It was #416 specifically I was referring to when I said that I suspected many if not most of the pre-Crisis Jason Todd's "happened" in some form post-Crisis. First, though, let's look at the pre-Crisis Batman #368 (1984).
I first encountered Jason Todd in an issue of New Teen Titans (of all places). I was intrigued by the concept of someone other than Dick Grayson assaying the role of "Robin" and started buying some backissues. (The cover price of Batman #368 was 75¢ but I bought it for 50¢. Remember when recent backissues were priced less than cover price?) Jason originally had strawberry blond hair, but dyed it to become Batman's partner. After that, his original hair color was never mentioned again (and the post-Crisis Jason's hair was always black). By this point, it has already been decided that Jason will become Batman's partner, but Batman has nixed his assuming the role of "Robin." Other names they considered include "Wonder-Boy," "Flying Ace," "Bluejay," "Cardinal," "Eagle," "Domino," "Kid Dynamite," "Masked Avenger"... even "Tonto" (as a joke).
Suddenly, Dick Grayson appears in the Batcave carrying a box under his arm. Dick and Jason are acquainted at this point, but are not close. Nevertheless, Dick gives him his original costume and officially bequeaths the mantle of Robin to Jason. Dick then moves on and the rest of the issue deals with Jason assuming a reputation established by someone else. The post-Crisis version of this story appears in Batman #416, bringing "The New Adventures" era to a close.
As I mentioned, this story takes place "one year ago," but it has also been 18 months since Dick Grayson has had any contact with Bruce Wayne whatsoever. I'm going to assume that it has been "18 months" (story time) since Batman #408, but a close reading of #416 indicates not only that Dick didn't go to college (for a year) until after the events of #408, but also that his entire career with the Teen Titans, both series, takes place after that. ("Batman & Robin" had been partners for six years, BTW.) But this story also references the crossover between New Teen Titans #37 and Batman and the Outsiders #5, so does Batman #416 take place 18 months after that? Frankly, I keep my head canon intact by ignoring all of those implied continuity revisions and insert Batman #408 somewhere between New Teen Titans #37 and #39 (when he officially gave up his Robin identity). Batman #416, then, must take place sometime shortly after "The Judas Contract," when Dick assumed the "Nightwing" identity.
The story opens with Robin, on a solo mission, blowing a drug bust and being bailed out by Nightwing. they have never met, and Jason has no idea who Dick is. Betond that, though, the post-Crisis Batman #416 serves the same function as the pre-Crisis Batman #368: Dick Grayson officially handing the mantle of "Robin" over to Jason Todd. Dick confronts Bruce about... a lot of things, really, and although the rift between them is not completely healed, great strides toward reconciliation were taken.
I have to say, I disliked these stories when they came out, because I simply couldn't accept the premise. Batman endangering another child was a terrible idea, and not one that would be acceptable to Batman's allies in the mid-1980s, from Commissioner Gordon to the Justice League. If he persisted, they would likely feel the need to stop him, up to and including arrest. DC hand waved this aspect away, but I couldn't.
Plus, it made Batman look pretty bad. Dangerously arrogant for sure, irresponsible in the extreme, and possibly delusional or unbalanced. Again, I think Superman would be very concerned about Batman's mental state.
Dick Grayson was a legacy of the Golden Age, when nobody was taking these stories seriously and they were aimed at children. At some point they allowed him to age into the Teen Wonder, and then into Nightwing, and by then he would have hit the age of majority, where it's his own decision to endanger himself. That worked for me. I preferred to leave "Robin" in the past -- a character mundanes knew about (probably from the TV show) but not one that had to appear in current comics. Post-Crisis, DC could reference "Batman and Robin" as something that happened, but long ago.
Heck, post-Crisis they could have implied a very short shelf life for Robin, a one-off, and then Batman went back to being solo while Dick went back to school. That would have mitigated Batman's reckless crime of dragging a costumed child into dangerous situations. He couldn't hold Dick back from going after Boss Zucco, we'd tell ourselves, and Dick stole an old costume to protect his identity. But after that Batman put his blue boot down and became a responsible parent. Explain away all those Robin stories as happening on Earth-Two, a much nicer place where nobody ever really got hurt. And they've been erased. That's what the Crisis was for, wasn't it? Why erase your past if you're just going to repeat its mistakes?
My thought about Robin post-Crisis is that, if you have to keep the trademark alive, have a LOT of Robins. Like Sherlock's Baker Street Irregulars, all the street kids of Gotham could be "Robins," spies and thieves for Batman, not only aiding him in his crusade but also being directed to the right side of the tracks. So the next generation in Gotham would have fewer criminals. This would make Batman a father figure to Gotham's children, while still a terror for criminal adults, which I think is a good look. But these kids would NOT, I emphasize, aid Batman if combat. Every once in a while (for trademark purposes) one of them would have to do something public facing, and put on the costume. This would not be on Batman's orders, but written as the kid having no choice. But then he'd disappear into the streets by the simple expedient of taking it off. If everybody's a Robin, then nobody's THE Robin. This also has the advantage of Robin being a girl on any given occasion. It's the '80s! Girls can be sidekicks, too! (And some of them read comics.)
So bringing Robin back in his original concept, I thought, was a mistake. And I don't think I was alone. By the mid-1980s, comics had grown up a bit, and were aimed more at teens and young adults. And those readers, unlike the presumed 10-year-olds of the Golden Age, knew that endangering a child wasn't something they wanted their heroes to do. And making one your partner should probably be prosecuted. That was my position, as a late-20s reader.
Then DC compuonded the error by botching the execution: They gave pre-Crisis Jason Todd DIck Grayson's origin. I understand the intent, or at least I think I do. They probably wanted to make Robin II as much like Robin I as possible, so that they are basically interchangeable in any given story and no explanations would be needed. But to me, stealing Dick's origin fell somewhere between lazy and heretical.
But post-Crisis was just as bad, as Jason brought nothing to the table. I gritted my teeth through these stories, and while I voted for Robin 3b to live -- the root of my discontent was child endangerment, after all -- I can't say I was disappointed when more fans voted the other way. I wanted him gone, and he was gone. Sadly, the method of his leaving would haunt the strip forever. "Sadly" not because I felt bad for Batman, whose fault this was, but because it meant we'd never be rid of Jason Todd.
And we're not.
I disliked these stories when they came out, because I simply couldn't accept the premise.
I'm not going to disagree with you. I will, however, for the sake of the discussion, play devil's advocate. I'm not trying to change your mind, because I happen to agree with everythning you said.
Batman endangering another child was a terrible idea, and not one that would be acceptable to Batman's allies in the mid-1980s, from Commissioner Gordon to the Justice League.
In an earlier post, I pointed out that "Batman serves up a heapin' helpin' of rationalization." Let's take a look at that. From #410...
ALFRED: You're protecting the boy... and yet you plan to make him your new partner, after you swore you would not endanger another child.
BATMAN: Alfred, this "child" is already a streetwise adventurer -- who left to his own devices would undoubtedly go down the same criminal road that took his father to an early death. (It is at this point Batman speaks the piece about "chaneling the skills Jason brought with him" I quoted previously.)
Also from #410...
COMMISIONER GORDON: You swore you'd never pair up with a child again.
BATMAN: This child is older than both of us -- not to mention tougher.
Finally, the conclusion in #416 introduces the concept that would be brought back when Tim Drake becomes Robin in "A Lonely Place of Dying"...
NIGHTWING: Tahe man who couldn't handle the responsibility of having a 19-year old partner suddenly decides it's all right to take on a sidekick...
BATMAN: He helped me on a case. He handled himself quite well. That's one of the reasons I took him on. Another reason is because he's so full of misguided anger and frustration. He reminds me of myself, just after my parents were killed. I really believe that if left on his own, the boy would be dead by now. Hard times have given him no great abundance of self-esteem. Training him to be Robin has channeled those self-destructive energies toward a more positive goal. In my own way, I think I may have saved Jason's life.
NIGHTWING: BULL! How about the truth for a change, Bruce.
BATMAN: Okay, I admit it. I recuited Jason because the Batman needs a Robin. Fighting crime in Gotham City is not a one-man job. I couldn't do the job alone.
NIGHTWING: I said I wanted the truth, Bruce.
BATMAN: How dare you talk to me like that...the truth... ALL RIGHT! I admit it. I was lonely. I missed you.
So there you have it. Batman recruited Jason Todd to save his life... and because "Batman needs a Robin."
Speaking of Batman's mental state, as you know, DC would later imply that Batman "needs" a Robin specifically to keep him sane (but that goes beyond the scopr of this discussion).
My thought about Robin post-Crisis is that, if you have to keep the trademark alive, have a LOT of Robins. Like Sherlock's Baker Street Irregulars, all the street kids of Gotham could be "Robins," spies and thieves for Batman, not only aiding him in his crusade but also being directed to the right side of the tracks.
Now that you mention it, that's not unlike what frank Miller did with the street gang "The Mutants" in Dark Knight Returns.
This also has the advantage of Robin being a girl on any given occasion. It's the '80s! Girls can be sidekicks, too!
Carrie Kelly!
They probably wanted to make Robin II as much like Robin I as possible, so that they are basically interchangeable in any given story and no explanations would be needed.
I think that's exactly what they had in mind. I also agree that they "botched it" by being " lazy and heretical"... which is why I prefer the "street" origin (if we have to have one at all, that is).
There is also the original Robin costume which no young person would have worn in the 70s or 80s, especially not a "tough street kid" like Jason Todd. You could maybe accept Dick Grayson wearing it because it was like a circus outfit.
I was so glad that Tim Drake finally became a Robin with long pants and was a little annoyed when they co-opted the look for both Batman Forever and Batman the Animated Series as Dick Grayson's costume.
Nowadays, in the cartoons, the original Robin costume is either a symbol of a more innocent time or to be ridiculed.
I must have been buying Batman on an issue-by-issue basis back then, because I just discovered three other issues I'm missing. I did buy "Ten Nights of the Beast" (#417-420) of course, but I am missing #421-422 & 425. I bought #423, probably for the McFarlane cover. I don't recall the story at all, even after flipping through it. It's possible I bought the issue just for the cover (which is something I used to do when comics wer 60 or 75¢ each); I may not have even read it. Robin doesn't appear in #423 anyway, but he is prominently featured in #424.
BATMAN #424 - "The Diplomat's Son"
Robin tangles with a rapist who has diplomatic immunity. Most of this story is just set-up for the ending. The diplomat's son is also dealing drugs. Batman's plan is to catch him holding so that the State Department will request that he be returned hom in disgrace. That's not much, but it's the best they can hope for under the circumstances. Their plan works, and the diplomat's son is arrested and booked. Before being taken away, however, he makes a threatening phone call the the woman he assaulted twice. She doesn't answer the phone when Robin calls her back. Batman and Robin race over there but arrive too late; she has hanged herself. Before Batman knows it, Robin is gone. He knows that Robin is rushing over to confront the person he holds responsible for the woman's suicide. By the time Batman gets to the highrise apartment, the man has fallen to his death. It is left ambiguous as to whether he slipped... or Robin pushed him.
NEXT: "A Death in the Family"
To me, this issue was DC's way of saying that they were done with Jason Todd and wanted a new Robin. And I'm saying that not only for the Post-Crisis Jason but Jason Todd period. They wanted Marv Wolfman and George Perez to do their take on a new Robin with star power and to keep Dick Grayon strong, thus the Titans connection.
And, yes, that does mean I think Jason was doomed regardless of the phone vote!
I'm looking forward to rereading "The Diplomat's Son" in the next DC Finest Batman volume from the era; I agree with Philip that DC was at least open to the idea of doing away with Robin by the time that story rolled around, and had the vote gone the other way, might have had the character either retire from being Robin, or maybe have his beating give hims some sort of change of heart. But soon, Starlin was made into a sacrificial lamb for the Death of Robin idea, and whatever plans he might have had for Batman and a new Robin changed with the advent of a new creative team.
-
1
-
2
of 2 Next