WARNING: Contains Spoilers for Absolute Batman #2In a surprising twist, DC's new Absolute Batman series has teased the debut of Robin into its bold, new universe. But fans of Jason Todd have even more to be excited about, as the first mention of this re-imagined 'Red Hood' suggests Jason Todd won't just be a doomed sidekick, but could potentially be Batman's first ally in the war to reclaim Gotham City.
Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, Frank Martin, and Clayton Cowles’s Absolute Batman #2 picks up where the inaugural issue left off, with hitman Alfred Pennyworth continuing his invasive surveillance of the Dark Knight. The previous issue saw Alfred uncovering every detail of Bruce’s past, and now the hitman has turned his attention to Batman's routine and his war against Black Mask’s Party Animals gang.
As part of his data gathering, Alfred observes that when Bruce isn't working his civilian job as an engineer for the city, he vanishes into the shadows of Gotham, with rumors circulating that he "meets with the Red Hood." However, this Red Hood is markedly different from the one fans know from Earth-Prime.
It feels like Absolute Batman may be echoing the past—specifically, Judd Winick’s Batman: Under the Red Hood (2005).
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Before delving into the major change the Absolute Universe has introduced to Red Hood, it's important to first understand the evolution of this iconic moniker. The Red Hood moniker made its first appearance in Detective Comics #168, "The Man Behind the Red Hood" (1951). In this issue, the Joker reveals that his original criminal alias was “Red Hood,” and it was under this identity that he first crossed paths with Batman–an encounter that took place at the ACE Chemicals plant, where the Red Hood fell into a vat of chemicals, leading to the birth of the Joker.
Fast forward a few decades to 1988, when the Joker kills Batman’s second Robin, Jason Todd, in the Death in the Family storyline. In 2005, Jason Todd was resurrected in the Under the Hood arc, where he assumed the Red Hood mantle, claiming the title of his killer. This choice to adopt the Red Hood was driven by Jason’s emotional turmoil and his twisted form of revenge against Batman, as well as a grim tribute to the villain who “remade” him. Since then, the Red Hood identity has been strongly associated with Jason, accompanying him on his journey from villain to anti-hero to hero.
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How DC's Absolute Universe is Changing The 'Red Hood' Legacy
“...the Red Hood, a Suspected Resistance Group.” – Alfred Pennyworth in Absolute Batman #2
The Absolute Universe reintroduces the Red Hood moniker, but with a significant twist: instead of being associated with a villain or anti-hero, the implication is that the Red Hood represents a group of heroes. Alfred’s narration describes the Red Hood as “a suspected resistance group” that Batman is rumored to be meeting with. The use of the word “resistance” and Batman’s apparent connection to the group suggests that, in the Absolute Universe lore, the Red Hood is aligned with heroism. However, this brief mention of the resistance raises more questions than it answers.
The most pressing question is: if this is a resistance group, what exactly are they resisting? In the Absolute Batman narrative, Black Mask and his Party Animals gang are the main antagonists, plunging Gotham into chaos with their attacks. Yet, it seems that Batman and the GD are the only ones actively fighting against them. So, what role does the Red Hood resistance play? One possibility is that the group provides intelligence, especially considering Alfred’s suggestion that Batman meets with them regularly. However, this potential alliance between Batman and the Red Hood feels off, as Bruce has never indicated that he is working with anyone other than himself.
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Could Fans Be Seeing a Repeat of Batman: Under the Red Hood in Absolute Batman?
The mention of Red Hood in Absolute Batman #2 might initially seem like a minor detail, especially with everything else happening in the narrative. However, there may be more significance to this mention than first meets the eye. While Snyder’s choice of Black Mask as Absolute Batman’s primary antagonist was a curious, albeit intriguing, decision, the introduction of Red Hood now seems to steer this seemingly random villain choice into a deeper, more meaningful direction. It feels like Absolute Batman may be echoing the past—specifically, Judd Winick’s Batman: Under the Red Hood (2005).
Batman: Under the Red Hood is one of the most iconic Batman stories, well-known for bringing together Batman, Black Mask, and Red Hood. While it could be mere coincidence that Absolute Batman is aligning these exact same three players, there’s a strong possibility that Snyder and Dragotta are paying tribute to Winick’s work—or perhaps teasing future narrative developments. What strengthens this theory is the eerie similarity between two key scenes: in Absolute Batman, Black Mask calls Batman just before one of the Party Animals fires a bazooka at the building Batman is in, causing it to explode—an event reminiscent of a scene from Under the Red Hood involving Black Mask and Red Hood.
Will Jason Todd Still Be The Red Hood of the Absolute Universe?
Scott Snyder Teases the Debuts of Absolute Robin, Nightwing, & Red Hood
If Snyder is maintaining the same age gaps between characters as in Earth-Prime, it’s highly unlikely that Jason is currently a part of the Red Hood resistance, as he would be just a child. And for now, it does appear that Snyder is sticking to the original age dynamics. Some might argue otherwise, pointing to the fact that Barbara Gordon and Bruce Wayne are around the same age in this universe, but it’s important to that the original Barbara Gordon was closer in age to Bruce than to Dick Grayson.
While it's improbable that Jason Todd is currently part of the Red Hood resistance in the Absolute Universe, this doesn’t mean that all hope is lost for his eventual appearance—especially with Snyder confirming that there will be an Absolute Robin. Although it's unclear who that Robin will be, or if there will be more than one, as in Earth-Prime, this confirmation offers hope to Jason Todd fans. One intriguing theory is that Jason could still take on the Red Hood mantle if one of his parents is part of the resistance, with Jason later claiming the name as his own to carry on his parents’ legacy.
Absolute Batman #2 is available now from DC Comics.
Jason Todd is a complex figure known for his tumultuous journey as Batman's second Robin. Initially impulsive and rebellious, he's resurrected after a tragic death, becoming the vigilante Red Hood. Armed with intense combat skills and a moral ambiguity, he challenges Batman's methods, navigating a path between heroism and anti-heroism in Gotham's unforgiving streets.
