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Batman: Under the Hood
Batman: Under the Hood, Volume 2
Years ago, the Dark Knight suffered his greatest ever defeat...when the Joker killed Jason Todd, the second young man to adopt the identity of Robin. Now Jason has somehow returned from the dead, and taken on a guise once used by the Joker - the Red Hood! As the new Hood's murderous rampage through the Gotham underworld continues, Batman finds himself riddled with doubt and regret and uncertain of how to proceed. Is Jason a lost cause? Can he still be saved? Or will he meet his demise once again at the hands of Gotham crime boss Black Mask? This electrifying tale, the sequel to "Batman: Under the Hood", is one of the most talked-about Batman stories in years!
Collects BATMAN #645-650 and BATMAN ANNUAL #25
Collects BATMAN #645-650 and BATMAN ANNUAL #25
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
4 people are currently reading
1397 people want to read
About the author
Judd Winick
786 books393 followersJudd 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
July 9, 2022
THIS WAS SO GOOD OMG!
So we finally get to see the return of Jason Todd and see what his plans are in particular with Black Mask and Batman is conflicted as he is seeing a lot of killing and all and he has had enough of the self doubts and he takes the war to Jason, there is an epic moment with BM but the finale where its Batman vs Joker vs Red hood and the conversations there gotta be one of the best moments in comics period like the emotional weight of the situation is just incredible and then seeing what happens next is just tearful and shows Batman as he really is!
One of the best written stories and so full of emotions and epic moments and makes Jason one of the most interesting characters ever and I like his weird twisted origin and how its tied to Superboy-prime's "Reality punch" lol and yeah it makes for some great retcons and new origins and his motive is so well defined and also shows Joker as one of the greatest villains ever!
And I just loved those Hush pages and it provides a new context! So yeah amazing read and great art and writing and a definite recommend from me!
So we finally get to see the return of Jason Todd and see what his plans are in particular with Black Mask and Batman is conflicted as he is seeing a lot of killing and all and he has had enough of the self doubts and he takes the war to Jason, there is an epic moment with BM but the finale where its Batman vs Joker vs Red hood and the conversations there gotta be one of the best moments in comics period like the emotional weight of the situation is just incredible and then seeing what happens next is just tearful and shows Batman as he really is!
One of the best written stories and so full of emotions and epic moments and makes Jason one of the most interesting characters ever and I like his weird twisted origin and how its tied to Superboy-prime's "Reality punch" lol and yeah it makes for some great retcons and new origins and his motive is so well defined and also shows Joker as one of the greatest villains ever!
And I just loved those Hush pages and it provides a new context! So yeah amazing read and great art and writing and a definite recommend from me!
March 8, 2015
Yep, you guessed it. It's red. His head...uuurr...helmet...aahhh...hood, I mean.
Winick’s Under the Hood storyline is stupid good. Should be required reading for any serious bat-fan. And while I thought Vol. 2 was not quite as fantastic as Vol. 1, it’s still awesome. Beware of some spoilers for those unfamiliar with the Red Hood or this story.
This book jumps around a bit. Winick fills in the gaps between Jason Todd’s death and resurrection in this collection. Judd also follows up on Vol. 1 and the fall-out from Red Hood’s ongoing war with Black Mask. I always thought of Black Mask as a second stringer at best before this run. Not really original. Been there. But, I actually like the angry fuck now. His back and forths with the Hood were well done and gave him some personality.
Some other great moments include Alfred reminiscing, Batman continuing his search for an explanation as to what happened to Jason after his “death”, and the final showdown between Batman and the Red Hood. Judd’s Joker was pretty sick too. You didn’t think Jason was gonna let him get away with killing him did you? There were a couple of things I should knock off half a star for including issues with the casket investigation, the weak connection to Ra’s Al Ghul, and not using Deathstroke more. (Love Slade.). But I’m not, because Judd’s entertaining and ambitious story is ballsy and he took a real chance bringing back a character most thought of as being better off dead. Jason’s Red Hood remains to this day and I still like the guy more now than I ever did when he was Robin.
DC also brought in some great artists to complement Winick’s epic. Doug Mahnke returns along with new artists Shane Davis and Eric Battle. All three killed it and provided some beautiful work. Easily as good as the first volume in terms of consistency and I loved it. Jock did the covers for the individual issues and this might have been his audition for another Batman classic, the Black Mirror(read it).
Recommended to all my Batman peeps.
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January 26, 2022
I think personally for me, the best part about Red hood vs Batman is that there's always this underlying current of Jason thinking he's not good enough compared to his siblings and obviously annoyed that his death seems not to mean anything. Oh and definitely understood why he's hellbent on killing compared to jailing them.
Sidenote, love his keris.
Sidenote, love his keris.
April 10, 2016
"Why Batman doesn't kill?" and "Who would win between Batman and Superman?" are the two proverbial questions about our Caped Crusader. Answers to which are also in the comics, either through clever dialogue or unforgettable imagery. The first question is answered here in Batman: Under the Hood, Vol. 2.
Continuing both in tone and story, the second volume of Under the Hood ties up all the loose emotional strings between Bataman and Jason Todd, who was earlier revealed as the one called the Red Hood. This is clearly a definitive Red Hood origin story, both a culmination of the Jason Todd Death in the Family and commencement of the anti-hero Red Hood.
Once again, Winick has effectively utilized unknown (at least for me) characters like Captain Nazi and the Hyena in some of the book's action scenes. Count Vertigo was also there, and I have read about him only at Green Arrow. This volume wraps the Black Mask story branch at the middle to give way to the most awkward reunion of all time: Batman, Jason Todd and the Joker.
Then the throwdown of fists and philosophies happened between the Batman and the Red Hood. Specifically, Batman answers the question why he doesn't kill, even if the only one he has to kill is the Joker, THE Joker. The answer earned a respectable nod from me, though it is neither the most logical nor the answer which is the best one. But once I felt the gravity of Batman's answer, hell yeah, that's Batman right there. (Opinion: Now, this may be connected why people hate the killer Batffleck in Batman v Superman, but if you just try to understand what Bruce has gone into, plus other considerations, both the logical and rage-driven choice is to kill the Big Blue.)
Under the Red Hood (which collects both volumes of Under the Hood) is a must-read modern-era Batman story. It is has well-balanced elements which are effectively executed to deliver a definitive origin of the Red Hood and an answer to Batman's no-kill policy.
Continuing both in tone and story, the second volume of Under the Hood ties up all the loose emotional strings between Bataman and Jason Todd, who was earlier revealed as the one called the Red Hood. This is clearly a definitive Red Hood origin story, both a culmination of the Jason Todd Death in the Family and commencement of the anti-hero Red Hood.
Once again, Winick has effectively utilized unknown (at least for me) characters like Captain Nazi and the Hyena in some of the book's action scenes. Count Vertigo was also there, and I have read about him only at Green Arrow. This volume wraps the Black Mask story branch at the middle to give way to the most awkward reunion of all time: Batman, Jason Todd and the Joker.
Then the throwdown of fists and philosophies happened between the Batman and the Red Hood. Specifically, Batman answers the question why he doesn't kill, even if the only one he has to kill is the Joker, THE Joker. The answer earned a respectable nod from me, though it is neither the most logical nor the answer which is the best one. But once I felt the gravity of Batman's answer, hell yeah, that's Batman right there. (Opinion: Now, this may be connected why people hate the killer Batffleck in Batman v Superman, but if you just try to understand what Bruce has gone into, plus other considerations, both the logical and rage-driven choice is to kill the Big Blue.)
Under the Red Hood (which collects both volumes of Under the Hood) is a must-read modern-era Batman story. It is has well-balanced elements which are effectively executed to deliver a definitive origin of the Red Hood and an answer to Batman's no-kill policy.
November 23, 2024
Loved that they added what really happened to him at the end it’s was 🤌🏼
But if I had a nickel for every time I’ve read a DC comic (I’ve read three so far) and a random kiss/sex is placed between panels with any of the women of DC I’d have two nickels. LIKE TAL IS A GROWN ASS WOMEN SHE WOULD NEVER
But if I had a nickel for every time I’ve read a DC comic (I’ve read three so far) and a random kiss/sex is placed between panels with any of the women of DC I’d have two nickels. LIKE TAL IS A GROWN ASS WOMEN SHE WOULD NEVER
January 30, 2015
Continuing from the revelation of the Red Hood's identity in volume 1, this second volume focuses even more on the clash between the Red Hood and Batman. At the heart of the Red Hood's problem with Batman is the fact that Batman continues to allow the Joker to exist and refuses, despite all the death and destruction the Joker has caused, to rid Gotham of him once and for all. Winnick does an incredibly good job making you understand the motivations of all three and making it clear why Batman refuses to kill and why the Red Hood just cannot understand that. And the ending was so perfect and so heartbreaking that it made me love the story even more. Easily one of the best Batman stories out there!
August 25, 2010
A good conclusion (but of course, so sad and depressing). I'm not sure I get the ending, but whatever. It's Batman. Therefore, I enjoyed it. :)
December 29, 2018
Batman: Under the Hood (also known as "Batman: Under the Red Hood") is a comic book story arc published by DC Comics, written by Judd Winick and primarily illustrated by Doug Mahnke. Featuring Batman in the monthly title of the same name, it ran from November 2004 to June 2005, before going on a short hiatus and returning from November 2005 to March 2006. Batman: Under the Hood, Volume 2 collects Batman #645–650 and Batman Annual #25.
Jason Todd has seemingly come back from the dead as Gotham's newest vigilante. His violent ways pit him against Batman, but not before Jason takes hostage the very person responsible for his death – The Joker.
Judd Winick penned the entire trade paperback and for the most part, I rather enjoyed the narrative. It is interesting for Batman to confront his biggest regrets – not preventing the death of Jason Todd as Robin. An understandably angry Jason Todd as the Red Hood returns to show Batman how to cleanse Gotham City of criminals – violently and permanently.
Doug Mahnke, Shane Davis, and Eric Battle are the pencilers for the series. For the most part, their penciling style complements each other rather well, yet remains distinctive, which makes the flow of the trade paperback somewhat smooth – artistically speaking.
All in all, Batman: Under the Hood, Volume 2 is a rather good conclusion to an interesting story arc about the return of Jason Todd.
Jason Todd has seemingly come back from the dead as Gotham's newest vigilante. His violent ways pit him against Batman, but not before Jason takes hostage the very person responsible for his death – The Joker.
Judd Winick penned the entire trade paperback and for the most part, I rather enjoyed the narrative. It is interesting for Batman to confront his biggest regrets – not preventing the death of Jason Todd as Robin. An understandably angry Jason Todd as the Red Hood returns to show Batman how to cleanse Gotham City of criminals – violently and permanently.
Doug Mahnke, Shane Davis, and Eric Battle are the pencilers for the series. For the most part, their penciling style complements each other rather well, yet remains distinctive, which makes the flow of the trade paperback somewhat smooth – artistically speaking.
All in all, Batman: Under the Hood, Volume 2 is a rather good conclusion to an interesting story arc about the return of Jason Todd.
November 14, 2021
Having already seen the animated movie, I was pleasantly surprised to find that much of the dialogue in the climactic final confrontation was carried over from the comic. Then again, the film was written by the same guy, who sought to improve on the story he told here.
I don't really know what to say here that hasn't already been articulated better by others. The whole idea of this comic, y'know - it's brilliant! It's a wonderful use of old characters and concepts to tell a new story, one with a lasting impact and consequences for Batman & co. It's quite moving and really drives home the conflict between Batman's principles of justice and his personal desire for vengeance - and why he must keep the latter in check, or risk losing his sanity. It's told as a story about fathers and sons, which gives it such emotional resonance. It's just plain good stuff.
The art is a little bit grotesque at times, but it doesn't detract from the story. Maybe in some ways it enhances it.
I don't really know what to say here that hasn't already been articulated better by others. The whole idea of this comic, y'know - it's brilliant! It's a wonderful use of old characters and concepts to tell a new story, one with a lasting impact and consequences for Batman & co. It's quite moving and really drives home the conflict between Batman's principles of justice and his personal desire for vengeance - and why he must keep the latter in check, or risk losing his sanity. It's told as a story about fathers and sons, which gives it such emotional resonance. It's just plain good stuff.
The art is a little bit grotesque at times, but it doesn't detract from the story. Maybe in some ways it enhances it.
September 14, 2025
J'ai du mal à comprendre pourquoi ce run de Winick a autant une bonne note sur goodread. J'imagine que c'est uniquement sur cet evenement exceptionnel qui est le retour de Jason, et qu'en tant que tel cela mérite d'être reconnu comme une pierre importante dans la mythologie de Batman.
Mais en soit... Le récit en lui même est correct, dans la continuité du précédent volume. Les dessins sont très bien réalisés - mieux d'ailleurs que le précédent volume.
Malgré tout cela reste assez simple, les réactions des différents protagonistes sont logiques, les évènements qui s'y déroulent n'ont guère de surprises.
Bref, un bon récit, qui marque un moment phare pour Batman et son univers, mais cela reste loin d'être un run exceptionnel en soit.
Mais en soit... Le récit en lui même est correct, dans la continuité du précédent volume. Les dessins sont très bien réalisés - mieux d'ailleurs que le précédent volume.
Malgré tout cela reste assez simple, les réactions des différents protagonistes sont logiques, les évènements qui s'y déroulent n'ont guère de surprises.
Bref, un bon récit, qui marque un moment phare pour Batman et son univers, mais cela reste loin d'être un run exceptionnel en soit.
December 30, 2021
Definitely a step down from Volume 1, this is still a fantastic, integral part of the Batman mythos that I wonder how it took me so long to read. The character conflict between Jason and Bruce is fantastic and I even found the sections revolving around Black Mask to be interesting (Ewan McGregor is excellent casting, I need to see that version of the character on screen again). I think it's such a shame that season three of Titans adapted the story so poorly, and I still need to get around to watching the apparently excellent animated movie around the story.
June 5, 2017
This is a great second, and final, volume of an intriguing and emotional story.
The art starts off looking great, but by the end it kinda looks a bit "morphed".
Overall, this is one of the better Batman storylines and I would recommend it to any comic book fan.
The art starts off looking great, but by the end it kinda looks a bit "morphed".
Overall, this is one of the better Batman storylines and I would recommend it to any comic book fan.
February 1, 2023
This is actually really good, maybe the best Batman Arc
Great origin story for Red Hood without reducing his character to 'villain', but by giving him depth with his morals and complex personality
Also we stan Jason (obviously)
Great origin story for Red Hood without reducing his character to 'villain', but by giving him depth with his morals and complex personality
Also we stan Jason (obviously)
October 13, 2023
I love this story so much. I like how dark it is which is honestly nothing new for Batman stories but it being about a son and a father made it interesting. The art in this is haunting in the best way. I have to say this is defiantly one of the best Batman stories I have ever read.
March 23, 2020
Jediné, co mě nebavilo, byli nadpřirození záporáci, protože je fakt nemám ráda (takové jako na styl Count Vertiga). Jinak to bylo skvělé.
4,5⭐
4,5⭐
July 21, 2021
tremendo todo omg
July 21, 2021
Hands down one of the best story of the caped crusader. Only its not (not really) about him. What an arc. Psycho thriller at its best
May 20, 2023
the stupidest boy in the world <3 but he's right <3 <3
June 2, 2023
Why Robins thighs so thick??
March 16, 2024
7.7/10
Great continuation of the first volume, while less seems to happen here i think the art is better and it really brings a nice close to the arc.
Great continuation of the first volume, while less seems to happen here i think the art is better and it really brings a nice close to the arc.
May 4, 2025
Jason get behind me
January 8, 2019
AWESOME!!!
Continuing from where Vol. 1 left off. Under the Hood finishes on the return of Jason Todd.
Any Batman fan should know that Robin has never been just one boy but several young men and a few young women. Dick Grayson was the first, but even sidekicks grow up to become their own man. So another apprentice was chosen to fulfill his absence for Batman, that apprentice was Jason Todd.
Despite his skill and sense of right and wrong, the boy was impulsive and driven by rage. Because of this, he gained many fans enmity and they missed his predecessor. So much so, that we were granted the power to spare his life... or die at the hands of Batman's most notorious enemy. Like the Emperor in a Roman arena, we turned the thumb and our judgment was carried out swift and hard.
But as it turns out in comic books, nobody truly stays dead. As it turned out the powers that be hoped we weren't that cruel and created another ending in which Jason survived and interestingly enough this ending was showed to another malevolent character in the comics, who decided that no hero should have to die so awful, that in his insanity restored him to life and began in Jason a quest for vengeance not only against the man who murdered him, but also the man he believed had abandoned and let him down.
While still remembering the Black Mask situation in Vol. 1, it eventually diffuses as the master and former apprentice take down Black Mask's new allies and for a brief moment, we get the dynamic duo of the '80s to settle it.
But it all ends as we get probably the greatest confrontation ever written in the same alley that made Bruce Wayne into Batman. From the very beginning, Jason chose to become the Red Hood as a way of sticking it to the Joker and Bruce by becoming the man that the Joker was pretending to be in "The Killing Joke" only making it his own. Bruce, however, continued to beg and plead with Jason not to become what had destroyed his family. But Jason had nothing but rage, pure justifiable rage... even I couldn't help but feel his pain. Yet this was not bloodlust, it was about what was right! He was murdered and the man who performed the deed was always going to get away with it. And what did Bruce do? Stick his costume in a glass case as a reminder of the boy he lost. "Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth." Joker was going to continue to kill and the only way Jason saw to stop it was for the Joker to die.
I just loved seeing Jason do something I had never seen the Joker do. Frown. Because Jason had truly got to know what made him tick.
But as all this came down to it, Bruce also did something very few had been done to him. He confessed that he was always wanted it. To kill Joker, to kill all who continued to kill. But he wouldn't. Why? Read the book. Once you get that, not even the most justifiable rage could be worth it.
The ending is truly an amazing climax. In many ways, it is very much like "The Dark Knight" movie with Harvey Dent.
But it is not truly the end as this collection concludes with the truth to how Jason Todd was resurrected. This was a great story, truly one of the best Batman stories. Definitely holds a candle to "Death in the Family" and deep down even if Jason survived in that tale that he would have been lost in the same way he was in "Under the Hood."
Bit slow at first, but it builds up to an awesome end. A
Continuing from where Vol. 1 left off. Under the Hood finishes on the return of Jason Todd.
Any Batman fan should know that Robin has never been just one boy but several young men and a few young women. Dick Grayson was the first, but even sidekicks grow up to become their own man. So another apprentice was chosen to fulfill his absence for Batman, that apprentice was Jason Todd.
Despite his skill and sense of right and wrong, the boy was impulsive and driven by rage. Because of this, he gained many fans enmity and they missed his predecessor. So much so, that we were granted the power to spare his life... or die at the hands of Batman's most notorious enemy. Like the Emperor in a Roman arena, we turned the thumb and our judgment was carried out swift and hard.
But as it turns out in comic books, nobody truly stays dead. As it turned out the powers that be hoped we weren't that cruel and created another ending in which Jason survived and interestingly enough this ending was showed to another malevolent character in the comics, who decided that no hero should have to die so awful, that in his insanity restored him to life and began in Jason a quest for vengeance not only against the man who murdered him, but also the man he believed had abandoned and let him down.
While still remembering the Black Mask situation in Vol. 1, it eventually diffuses as the master and former apprentice take down Black Mask's new allies and for a brief moment, we get the dynamic duo of the '80s to settle it.
But it all ends as we get probably the greatest confrontation ever written in the same alley that made Bruce Wayne into Batman. From the very beginning, Jason chose to become the Red Hood as a way of sticking it to the Joker and Bruce by becoming the man that the Joker was pretending to be in "The Killing Joke" only making it his own. Bruce, however, continued to beg and plead with Jason not to become what had destroyed his family. But Jason had nothing but rage, pure justifiable rage... even I couldn't help but feel his pain. Yet this was not bloodlust, it was about what was right! He was murdered and the man who performed the deed was always going to get away with it. And what did Bruce do? Stick his costume in a glass case as a reminder of the boy he lost. "Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth." Joker was going to continue to kill and the only way Jason saw to stop it was for the Joker to die.
I just loved seeing Jason do something I had never seen the Joker do. Frown. Because Jason had truly got to know what made him tick.
But as all this came down to it, Bruce also did something very few had been done to him. He confessed that he was always wanted it. To kill Joker, to kill all who continued to kill. But he wouldn't. Why? Read the book. Once you get that, not even the most justifiable rage could be worth it.
The ending is truly an amazing climax. In many ways, it is very much like "The Dark Knight" movie with Harvey Dent.
But it is not truly the end as this collection concludes with the truth to how Jason Todd was resurrected. This was a great story, truly one of the best Batman stories. Definitely holds a candle to "Death in the Family" and deep down even if Jason survived in that tale that he would have been lost in the same way he was in "Under the Hood."
Bit slow at first, but it builds up to an awesome end. A
March 4, 2017
Art 5/5, Story 3/5
June 30, 2016
This second volume of Under the Hood narrows focus, and it's much stronger for it. The rest of this review has spoilers, so stop reading now if you don't want to know who The Red Hood is.
Batman's still on the Red Hood's trail, slowly closing in. Large sections of the narrative are from Alfred's perspective, and those are well done. Despite the focus, there's still some goofiness here. There's a section where Red Hood and Bats end up fighting Hyena, Count Vertigo, and Captain Nazi. I'm not familiar enough with the DC universe to know if these are major characters, minor characters, or if Winick was told to use them. But they're just silly. (And yes, I'm aware that I'm saying this in the midst of a comic book about a character named Batman.) Captain Nazi? Come on...
I did like the Black Mask's role throughout the story. He was frustrated and funny, and I just liked him.
But ultimately this is about Jason Todd confronting his "father," and asking him why Joker--the man who killed Jason--is still alive. Winick did a masterful job of framing the clash between Batman and Jason, and their two philosophies. I felt for Jason, and why he was so angry. In some ways I agreed with him. And I respected Batman's position, and his self-awareness of where that road would lead him.
So let's ignore how Jason was able to come back, and just judge Volume 2 on the great story. Because, unfortunately, the last piece in the book is Batman Annual #25, which tells how Todd came back to life. And it's super dumb. I just assumed it involved a Lazarus Pit. And it does. But first there's some ridiculous new age crap about making the universe right, and involving Superman somehow, and this "force" magically brings Todd back to life. I don't like it when books/movies/shows bring back dead characters, anyway. It robs you of any sense of real danger and emotional investment when people who die aren't necessarily really dead. But on top of bringing him back, it's done in such a hilariously awful way. I'd almost suggest skipping the Annual altogether. Jason's back somehow. The details aren't important. Move on. Otherwise, this solid book ends on a goofy low note.
Batman's still on the Red Hood's trail, slowly closing in. Large sections of the narrative are from Alfred's perspective, and those are well done. Despite the focus, there's still some goofiness here. There's a section where Red Hood and Bats end up fighting Hyena, Count Vertigo, and Captain Nazi. I'm not familiar enough with the DC universe to know if these are major characters, minor characters, or if Winick was told to use them. But they're just silly. (And yes, I'm aware that I'm saying this in the midst of a comic book about a character named Batman.) Captain Nazi? Come on...
I did like the Black Mask's role throughout the story. He was frustrated and funny, and I just liked him.
But ultimately this is about Jason Todd confronting his "father," and asking him why Joker--the man who killed Jason--is still alive. Winick did a masterful job of framing the clash between Batman and Jason, and their two philosophies. I felt for Jason, and why he was so angry. In some ways I agreed with him. And I respected Batman's position, and his self-awareness of where that road would lead him.
So let's ignore how Jason was able to come back, and just judge Volume 2 on the great story. Because, unfortunately, the last piece in the book is Batman Annual #25, which tells how Todd came back to life. And it's super dumb. I just assumed it involved a Lazarus Pit. And it does. But first there's some ridiculous new age crap about making the universe right, and involving Superman somehow, and this "force" magically brings Todd back to life. I don't like it when books/movies/shows bring back dead characters, anyway. It robs you of any sense of real danger and emotional investment when people who die aren't necessarily really dead. But on top of bringing him back, it's done in such a hilariously awful way. I'd almost suggest skipping the Annual altogether. Jason's back somehow. The details aren't important. Move on. Otherwise, this solid book ends on a goofy low note.
October 31, 2010
I found the second volume was much stronger than the first. I wonder how I would rate it if I had read the whole arc together. Regardless, Judd Winick elevates the story to the places I had hoped he would when I read the first volume.
Jason Todd is a beautifully complex anti-hero! Seriously. So many issues and frustrations. The relationship between him and Bruce is pure gold!
Also, this volume is told through the perspective of Alfred for a sizable portion which is always enjoyable!
Talia makes a brief appearance and in the crazy b* vain that I enjoy, so that was nice.
The volume does vary slightly from the film, although it is much closer than I expected to be. The final chapter explains how exactly Jason Todd came back from the dead and there is a big difference here from the movie which is good in one way because the movie didn't really sit well with me. Although fantastical, I accept Jason Todd's true rebirth origin in Under The Hood.
I love Jason Todd!
I am glad that volume two meets my expectations!
Jason Todd is a beautifully complex anti-hero! Seriously. So many issues and frustrations. The relationship between him and Bruce is pure gold!
Also, this volume is told through the perspective of Alfred for a sizable portion which is always enjoyable!
Talia makes a brief appearance and in the crazy b* vain that I enjoy, so that was nice.
The volume does vary slightly from the film, although it is much closer than I expected to be. The final chapter explains how exactly Jason Todd came back from the dead and there is a big difference here from the movie which is good in one way because the movie didn't really sit well with me. Although fantastical, I accept Jason Todd's true rebirth origin in Under The Hood.
I love Jason Todd!
I am glad that volume two meets my expectations!
October 30, 2011
I loved the bulk of this book, the issues taken from the main series, and the continuing story of Jason Todd's quest for answers as to why Batman has allowed the Joker to continue to live. I am slightly conflicted in the bringing back of characters from the dead. I was collecting the Bat-books back when the Death in the Family story line was running and there is a part of me that does not want the emotional investment that was made at that time discarded for a cheap thrill now. The portion of the story taken from the Batman Annual that explains how Jason is still alive is the weakest part of the book – there is a big Deus ex Machina involved and I never like that. I feel they could have come up with something better and, as they had to use a resurrection pit anyway, maybe Talia and Ra's Al Ghul could have hatched some scheme that would have had the same result. Anyway I did enjoy the two books enormously - I just wish that the companies could commit to killing off characters permanently.
April 25, 2016
Very good, but sad, conclusion to Under the red Hood. After we learned that Jason Todd is in fact the Red Hood, Batman does not take this lightly. It is now a battle between Red Hood and Batman. Jason cannot understand why Batman will not kill the one man who keeps terrorizing the city. Of course, we are talking about Joker. The way Jason sees it; If you have the power to stop someone who will kill others, you have to stop them. Batman and Jason have different perspectives on stopping Joker. Jason wants to kill him, while Batman explains why he cannot kill him. This, unfortunately leads to the overall conclusion of this book. As sad as it is, it is the collision course we all knew was going to happen with a personality such as Jason's.
January 26, 2016
The origin of Red Hood is explained, in brief, yet leaves readers wanting more. Unfortunately, I read a few of the Red Hood volumes without sequence, still enjoying them, but I believe I would have enjoyed the other volumes more so if I read them in sequence, but even so, I am glad the DC Universe, in seeking to adjust itself, as it does, managed to create the time-space anomaly that is Red Hood, since he is the Batman we have been afraid Batman could become. With Red Hood, we get both types of Bat. Cheers. :)
August 30, 2010
Más vueltas de tuerca rebuscadas, misterios evidentes y violencia excesiva que ni siquiera tiene mucha belleza estética que digamos. Este comic demuestra que no hay vacas sagradas en el mercado mainstream yanqui y que si no se deja a los muertos en paz, es muy poco probable que después ellos nos dejen en paz a nosotros.
PD: acabo de ver la adaptación animada y emprolija bastante la historia, pero apenas araña las tres estrellitas.
PD: acabo de ver la adaptación animada y emprolija bastante la historia, pero apenas araña las tres estrellitas.
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