Guide to Jason Todd Key Issues

[Marcus]

Hi everyone!
Jason Todd has been my all time favorite. I want to hunt down every key issues of him, or if possible, probably every appearance he has ever been in someday lol. I actually spent a lot of time researching on them and I have listed some that I know of below in order of the DC timeline. Some might not be key issues, but they are a good read in my case. I've also listed the ones which he is on the cover. Please feel free to comment below if I'm missing any & I will edit the list.

Pre Crisis
Batman #357 - Jason Todd 1st appearance.
Detective Comics #526 - Jason Todd 1st ever appearance in a costume, not the Robin costume, and his second cameo appearance. Also, Bruce adopts Jason.
Batman #366 - Jason Todd 1st appearance in a Robin costume. (Not approve by Bruce Wayne yet) Also, he dyes his hair black.
Batman #367 - Jason officially becomes Batman partner for the 1st time. Also features Jason trying to figure a new name for his persona, & his first suggestion was "Ishmael" Lol. However, Batman unknowingly called him Robin and I guessed that's how they decided to stick with it.
Batman #368 - Dick Grayson passes on the mantle of Robin to Jason Todd. Also Jason's 1st official appearance as the new Robin

Post-Crisis
Batman #408 - Jason Todd 1st appearance in Post-Crisis, origin is retold.
Batman #409 - Jason becomes Robin.
Batman #410 - Batman gives Jason his first Robin costume. (Not the original worn by Dick Grayson) Jason learned that his dad was a criminal who was murdered by Two Face.
Batman #411 - 1st sign of Jason having difficulties with his emotions & rage which led to Batman confronting him.
Batman #416 - Nightwing hands over his old Robin costume to Jason.
Batman #422 - The first time Batman notice that Jason was very violent, or more violent than he expected.
Batman #424 - The most controversial moment prior to his death. Apparently he "murdered" someone, or let him fall to his death.
Batman #426-#429 (A Death in a Family Arc) Goodbye Jason. In the issue #427, fans were able to call in & vote for Jason's fate.
Batman #441 - The issue shows how Batman struggles with the death of Jason.
Detective Comics #605 - 1st cameo appearance of Jason Todd after he died but turned out to be Clayface.
Detective Comics #606 - Jason's ghost is on the cover of this issue.
Batman #617 - The return of Jason after years of absence, only to be Clayface in the Hush arc.
Batman #635-641, #645-650, Annual #25 (Under the Hood arc)
Batman #635 - 1st appearance of the Red Hood.
Batman #638 - Red Hood revealed to be Jason.
Batman #683 - Jason is given the choice to become Robin, and it’s a choice he wants to honor.

Battle for the Cowl
Batman: Battle for the Cowl #1 - Jason first appearance as Batman.
Batman: Battle for the Cowl #3 - Jason is on the cover of this issue.

Red Hood: The Lost Days #1-6 - The resurrection of Jason Todd.

Pre New 52
Batman & Robin vol 1 #4-6 - "Revenge of the Red Hood arc." First appearance of Grant Morrison's Red Hood in his new costume.
Batman & Robin vol 1 #23-25 - "The Streets Run Red arc" Jason Todd without costume is on the variant issue in #25.

New 52
Batman & Robin vol 2 #20 - or Batman & Red Hood.
Red Hood & The Outlaws #0 - DC Reboot & the retold origin of Jason Todd.
Red Hood & The Outlaws #1-52 - Finally Jason's first ongoing title & also focus on Jason's redemption.
Red Hood/Arsenal #1-13 - After the Outlaws split, Jason teams up with Arsenal again as heroes for hire.
Robin War #2 - Red Hood is on the variant cover by Lee Bermejo.

Arkham Knight
Batman: Arkham Knight #1-13 - Base of the the video game, & the other awesome alter ego of Jason.
Batman: Arkham Knight Genesis #1-6 - The events leading to how Jason becomes the Arkham Knight.

Rebirth
Red Hood & the Outlaws Rebirth #1- Hell yeah! A new lineup for the outlaws.
Dark Knight: The Last Crusade - The events leading to The Dark Knight Returns, Jason death is retold here.


Notable Mentions
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns - Jason death was briefly mentioned (which might influence the death of Jason), and his death was probably a contributing factor to Batman's retirement in this story.

dcu_jason_todd_evolution_by_dannysmicros-d67dcij.jpg

[kevink31593]

Batman #441 - Batman is holding Jason's Robin costume in this issue cover. The issue also pictures how Batman struggle with the death of Jason.

On the Batman 441 cover that is actually Dick Grayson holding his old Robin costume. That issue was part 3 of the 5 part crossover between Batman and New Titans, "Lonely Place of Dying", which was the storyline that introduced Tim Drake.

Detective Comics #606 - First mention of his passing after 11 months.

The ghost of Jason Todd appeared on the cover of 606, which was part 3 of the 4 part Mud Pack story arc. In 605, there was a cliffhanger ending where Jason showed up. It was just Clayface shenanigans. This was indeed the first mention of Jason's passing in Detective Comics, but in the main Batman title Jason's passing was mentioned pretty regularly after the fact.

[Marcus]

On the Batman 441 cover that is actually Dick Grayson holding his old Robin costume. That issue was part 3 of the 5 part crossover between Batman and New Titans, "Lonely Place of Dying", which was the storyline that introduced Tim Drake.


The ghost of Jason Todd appeared on the cover of 606, which was part 3 of the 4 part Mud Pack story arc. In 605, there was a cliffhanger ending where Jason showed up. It was just Clayface shenanigans. This was indeed the first mention of Jason's passing in Detective Comics, but in the main Batman title Jason's passing was mentioned pretty regularly after the fact.

Thanks for the heads up and for sharing the rest of the information! Wow, I just found out today. I've removed it for Batman #441 & I will also add the rest up there.

[G-Potion]

There's a few that I can think of to add later. For now, there are Winnick's Green Arrow 069 - 072 with Red Hood as an antagonist. He is also on the cover for 070, 071 and 072

[Aahz]

I think that some of these (BftC and Batman and Robin Vol.1) should be buried and forgotten. Count Down has on the other hand some good stuff with Jason, but unfortunately doesn't make much out of it.

Green Arrow was a good one as was Jasons Cameo in Outsiders and his fight against Tim in Teen Titans should also be mentioned.

Batman annual 25 should also be mentioned (the first version of his Origin as the Red Hood) as well as Secret Origin #5 (the second version of his new 52 origin).

I would also put the Batman Annuals 12 and 13, Gotham Knights #36, Nightwing Year One and maybe Legends of the Dark Knight #100 on the list.

Btw. Dark Knight: The Last Crusade is not rebirth it is an else world story.

An other Elseworld you should mention is Arkham Knight Genesis. (Personally I would also put Batman Adventures the Lost Years and Stan Lees Robin on the list, but the Robin in this stories is not really Jason).

[JAG2045]

A few more notable appearances when Jason was dead:

Batman 496 has Batman fighting Joker & Scarecrow and when exposed to Fear Toxin he begins pummeling the Joker for killing Robin while screaming "JASON TODD! JASON TODD!" over and over while flashing back to DOTF

Nightwing 10 (IIRC) has Nightwing being shown an alternative life he could have had and its revealed at the end that his guardian angel is Jason's spirit

Deadman; Dead Again 2 - according to the DC Wiki "In the midst of battle with Deadman, Darius Caldera disappears with the Flash 's spirit. Rama Kushna sends Deadman on another mission. This time, Deadman witnesses the death of Jason Todd. As Deadman is escorting Todd's spirit to the bright light, Todd's spirit is caputured by Darius Caldera."

[Marcus]

A few more notable appearances when Jason was dead:

Batman 496 has Batman fighting Joker & Scarecrow and when exposed to Fear Toxin he begins pummeling the Joker for killing Robin while screaming "JASON TODD! JASON TODD!" over and over while flashing back to DOTF

Nightwing 10 (IIRC) has Nightwing being shown an alternative life he could have had and its revealed at the end that his guardian angel is Jason's spirit

Deadman; Dead Again 2 - according to the DC Wiki "In the midst of battle with Deadman, Darius Caldera disappears with the Flash 's spirit. Rama Kushna sends Deadman on another mission. This time, Deadman witnesses the death of Jason Todd. As Deadman is escorting Todd's spirit to the bright light, Todd's spirit is caputured by Darius Caldera."

Thanks for sharing and keeping the thread alive! I will update the list soon!

[Marcus]

I think that some of these (BftC and Batman and Robin Vol.1) should be buried and forgotten. Count Down has on the other hand some good stuff with Jason, but unfortunately doesn't make much out of it.

Green Arrow was a good one as was Jasons Cameo in Outsiders and his fight against Tim in Teen Titans should also be mentioned.

Batman annual 25 should also be mentioned (the first version of his Origin as the Red Hood) as well as Secret Origin #5 (the second version of his new 52 origin).

I would also put the Batman Annuals 12 and 13, Gotham Knights #36, Nightwing Year One and maybe Legends of the Dark Knight #100 on the list.

Btw. Dark Knight: The Last Crusade is not rebirth it is an else world story.

An other Elseworld you should mention is Arkham Knight Genesis. (Personally I would also put Batman Adventures the Lost Years and Stan Lees Robin on the list, but the Robin in this stories is not really Jason).

I did list Annual 25 though & Arkham Knight Genesis. Anyway this list is not only about key issues of Jason, but I try and list down awesome comic covers that features him as well. Anyway, thanks for sharing as well!

[Marcus]

Does anyone know if I can get a graded copy of RHATO #18 2nd print? Also is there a way to check if there is even a graded copy of that book? Im really new to these, so I would appreciate as much help as I can! I really love this cover of this issue a lot, both the 1st & 2nd print. I know they are not key issues but I'm hunting down awesome covers as well!

842334bd2eb52d8d7bef7db8f2fbd375.jpg

[Dark_Tzitzimine]

As I mentioned in the other thread, you're also missing the entirety of Robin War (awful as it might be), The War of Robin arc that went on issues 9 to 11 from N52's Batman & Robin, RHATO's V1 Annual 1 and 2 (plus the fact it ends with issue 40), Batman/Superman Annual 01 and the few appearances he and the Outlaws had during the Doomed event.

[ngroove]

Jason Todd had appeared throughout all the Killer Croc saga since his first appearance (Batman #357-359, Detective Comics #524-526) alongside his initially publication-given parents, Joseph and Trina Todd, all a circus acrobat family, until Joseph and Trina agreed to Batman to play moles against Croc, whom would then murder them off-panel between Batman #359 and Detective Comics #526. Jason had been in most of the Batman / Detective Comics issues, up through early 1988 Detective Comics, and late 1988 Batman, afterwards, Pre / Post Crisis.


Alongside Batman / Robin-ing against many villains, from Killer Croc, Doctor Fang, Mad Hatter, Magpie, Ma Gunn, Mime, two encounters against Penguin, four encounters against Scarecrow, three encounters against Two-Face, quite a few times against Night Slayer across three lengthy storyarcs, and three encounters against Joker:

Detective Comics #531, Batman #364 - Jason attempted to run away back to the Circus, where Batman rejoined him in clearing their old Circus pal, Waldo the Clown, from the Chimera.

Detective Comics #534 - Faced, threatened to choke out Poison Ivy.

Detective Comics #535 - Assaulted by Dick Grayson Robin's old enemy, Crazy Quilt, under the assumption Jason was the same Robin of his emnity.

Many of Nocturna's appearances (Detective Comics #530, #543, #547, #556-558, Batman #377, #389-391, others) involved her custody battle of the adoption of Jason Todd from Bruce Wayne.

Superman Annual #11 - Jason Todd aided Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman in Mongul's defeat.

Detective Comics #561 - Rena, although she only appeared in only a small handful of issues, due to being extremely late Pre-Crisis, and she was not subsequent Post Crisis and since, but nevertheless, she was Jason Todd's first girlfriend, was first on-page met there.

Batman #395-396, Detective Comics #562 - On the case against Film Freak, while jealous of Batman with Catwoman, Jason found a kindred partner in Harvey Bullock.

Detective Comics #573-574 - Mad Hatter II shot Jason, was healed by Leslie Thompkins, but Bruce Wayne was extremely afraid of the situation of his possible death.

[JAG2045]

IIRC Jason also had some appearances as Wingman in Batman Inc

[adrikito]

Thank you for this Guide.

[Apama]

Okay here's one for the purists. Does anyone know how many issues of Batman, Jason actually appeared in as Robin? And I only mean the main Batman title from 1983 to 1989, without including any flashback issues after his "death". Basically I'm just trying to gauge how long his stint as Robin lasted in terms of quantity of issues rather than the years of publication.

[MajorHoy]

Jason (as Robin) was also in New Teen Titans for a little while in 1986.
(Starting with issue #18?)