After Dick Grayson became Nightwing, his mentor Batman visited Crime Alley, the place where his parents were killed. While there, a boy called Jason Todd stole the Batmobile's wheels, but he was discovered by the caped crusader. Jason was living in a abandoned apartment with Catherine Todd, who he believed was his mother. In bad health, Catherine soon died, and because his father was supposedly in jail, Bruce Wayne adopted him, revealing his secret identity and trained him to become the second Robin. Investigating Jason's father, Batman discovered he was not in jail but was killed by his ex-boss Two-Face. Discovering the truth Jason was determined to bring Two-Face to justice.
Partnered with Batman and occasionally the New Titans, Jason was becoming increasingly unmanageable and started exposing himself to danger in an irrational way, forcing Batman to consider forbidding Jason from being Robin. Discovering Catherine Todd was not his true mother, Jason tracked his mother Dr. Sheila Haywood to Ethiopia. Realizing she was being blackmailed by the Joker, Jason revealed his secret identity to Sheila and offered help to her. Ultimately she betrayed him to the Joker from fear of being jailed for embezzlement.
Brutally beating Robin, the Joker locked him and Sheila in a warehouse with explosives. In the end Jason tried to save his mother, but they were killed by the explosion before Batman could rescue them.
Years later Jason Todd would apparently return from the grave to menace his former mentor as well as the criminals of Gotham City. Employing lethal methods rejected by the Batman, Todd swore that he would become the hero that the Dark Knight refused to be as the merciless vigilante called the Red Hood.
Current Incarnation:
Red Hood
Former Versions:
Robin II
Red Robin
Batman
