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Jason Todd Reading Order (Second Robin, Red Hood, Wingman and Arkham Knight)

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Jason Todd / Red Hood Reading Order

When Dick Grayson became Nightwing, Batman found himself without a Robin—until he met Jason Peter Todd in Batman #357 (1983). Created by Gerry Conway and Don Newton, Jason became the second Robin, the new sidekick to the Dark Knight. Initially introduced as a near-copy of Dick with a similar backstory as the son of circus acrobats killed by a criminal, the main difference was his red hair (which he no longer has).

Following Crisis on Infinite Earths, Jason was reimagined by writer Max Allan Collins. This version gave him a new origin: a street-smart kid with a troubled past and a lot of anger, but also a drive to learn. It will lead us to a tragedy and one of Batman’s most famous stories.

It would take more than 15 years (in our time) for Jason to come back—this time as the anti-hero Red Hood. And once again, things weren’t simple for Jason. Reboots and relaunches kept reshaping his backstory, personality, and relationships. Let’s just say it’s not easy being Jason Todd, a character deserving, who, if you ask me, deserves more love and stronger storylines.

From Batman’s sidekick to the anti-hero Red Hood, here’s your complete Jason Todd Reading Guide covering his complex history and all his adventures as a member of the Bat-Family, leader of the Outlaws, and more!

Jason Todd Reading Order: The Menu

Following is a menu to navigate in this reading order to go directly to the era of your choice:

Jason Todd (Red Hood) Reading Order (Icon)

Jason Todd Comics: The Robin Years

I. Pre-Crisis Jason Todd as Robin (1983-1987)

There is no collection dedicated to this version of Robin and the pre-Crisis period is simply under-collected. Following is Jason Todd’s appearances as Robin during that time:

  • Batman #357-#399 (1983-1986)
  • Detective Comics #524-#567 (1983-1986)
  • Batman #400-#403 (1986-1987)

You can find some of these issues in those collected editions:

New! The last Pre-Crisis issues part of Doug Moench’s run will finally be reprinted in the new DC Finest Collection:

Let’s not forget the very popular Superman story released in 1984:

Crisis on Infinite Earths LogoWe can conclude this period with the DC event Crisis on Infinite Earths (crossover event), resulted in the entire DCU being rebooted. It is optional for Jason Todd.

Jason Todd (Red Hood) Reading Order (Icon)

II. Post-Crisis Robin (1987-1989)

Following the reboot due to Crisis on Infinite Earths, Jason Todd’s story is changed and he is now a young street orphan who first encounters Batman while attempting to steal the tires off the Batmobile in Crime Alley. He became the “rebel” Robin, someone who fights authority and is more prone to violence and rage. This part will concludes for Jason with the now classic ‘A Death in the Family’ story.

In parallel to Batman, Jason appears in Detective Comics #568-#582, and you can find a number of those issues in Batman: The Dark Knight Detective Vol. 1:

Jason Todd (Red Hood) Reading Order (Icon)

Jason Todd Comics: Red Hood (With or Without the Outlaws)

III. Jason Todd as Red Hood (2005-2011)

Writer Jeph Loeb hinted in his Batman storyline “Hush” that Jason Todd might still be alive. A few yeats later, Judd Winick explored this idea and built an entire story around it. Jason Todd ultimately came back to life as a brutally violent antihero known as the Red Hood.

Countdown to Final Crisis consists of 51 issues, leading into yet another crisis, Final Crisis. Jason Todd is present in it, but it is also a story ignored by seemingly all of DC Comics afterwards. It’s also goes mostly nowhere for Jason. So consider it more than optional, except if you’re a completist!

Directly after Countdown, the crossover event Final Crisis took place. This storyline involved the alien villain Darkseid’s scheme to overthrow reality, leading to the death and corruption of various DC characters and their universe. Although Jason does not make an appearance in this event, it was written by Grant Morrison and coincided with Batman R.I.P., a story that is more significant for its impact on Batman and his family. Be aware, these stories are divisive among Red Hood fans (Battle for the Cowl is particularly bad).

Jason Todd (Red Hood) Reading Order (Icon)

IV. New 52: Red Hood and the Outlaws (2011-2016)

More than twenty-five years after Crisis on Infinite Earths, the DC Universe was relaunched for a new, darker, and grittier era under the banner New 52. Jason Todd was among the characters affected by this reboot. His origin story, as well as his personality and dynamics with other members of the Bat-Family, were altered.

Most importantly, Jason became the lead in Red Hood and the Outlaws, as the team leader of a group of antiheroes alongside Roy Harper and Starfire. The comic series serves as a way to shift him away from his vengeance-driven persona toward a more anti-hero figure. Writer Scott Lobdell was put in charge of the title and would go on to write  Jason Todd for over a decade—with varying degrees of success.

Batman Icon Reading Order

Death of the Family! With a title that references the classic Death in the Family, you have guessed the Joker is back in town. The Clown Prince goes after each member of the Bat-Family and systematically takes them down. Naturally, Jason is one of them. For an issue-by-issue order, check out Batman: Death of the Family Reading Guide.

Batman Icon Reading Order

The end of Grant Morrison’s Saga on Batman! The third and last part of Morrison’s run on Batman comes to an end with a bang! You’ll find Jason Todd under a mask, as one of the members of Batman Incorporated, and the conclusion of this story has repercussions on the Bat Family. 

Omnibus Edition! Jason Todd, a failed Robin brought back from the dead. Roy Harper, an expert marksman fallen from grace. Princess Koriand’r of Tamaran, an amnesiac alien powerhouse. Separately, these three wayward young heroes may be lost and abandoned, but together they can become something greater than the sum of their broken parts–and maybe the heroes the world needs. This is the First Part of Red Hood and The Outlaws reprinted in Omnibus format.

Robin Letter Icon Reading Order Damian WayneEvent Alert! A legion of teens is putting on the yellow “R” and following in the footsteps of their crime-fighting icons. And when a tragic accident makes the movement illegal, Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake, and Damian Wayne are back in Gotham and are determined to save the kids who have taken up their legacy in Robin War.

 

Jason Todd (Red Hood) Reading Order (Icon)

V. Red Hood Rebirth (2016-2021)

A new launching point for DC with Rebirth! The DC Universe was restored to something closer to its pre-Flashpoint form, while still incorporating key elements and continuity from the New 52 era.  Once again, Red Hood leads the Outlaws—this time teaming up with Artemis and Bizarro. Together, the trio forms a Dark Trinity, a twisted mirror to DC’s iconic trio of Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman. And once again, Scott Lobdell serves as the main writer (with art from Dexter Soy and more).

The Outlaws are no more! With his teammates Artemis and Bizarro missing and his best friend dead, Jason Todd embarks on a new solo mission in Red Hood: Outlaws with Scott Lobdell still in command with artist Pete Woods.

DC Future State Logo

Future State was a two-month event spinning out of the finale of Dark Nights: Death Metal that took us on a journey from the near future to the end of time to witness the destinies of DC’s heroes. It’s a collection of miniseries, Jason Todd being in Future State: Dark Detective.

Jason Todd (Red Hood) Reading Order (Icon)

VI. Red Hood in Infinite Frontier/Dawn of DC (2021-2024)

Just before the conclusion of Red Hood, Jason Todd returned to Gotham. As the Omniverse was restored (making everything that happened part of the continuity), Jason found himself without a clear direction. He starred in a story in Urban Legends, and made some guest appearances before being at the helm of his own Suicide Squad in Task Force Z. Coming from Matthew Rosenberg, Red Hood became the leader of a Black Ops Zombie team, working in the shadows and blurring the lines of what Batman defines as right and wrong

After that, Jason is tracking down the Joker in The Man Who Stopped Laughting, finds himself badly abused in Gotham War, and also appears in other DC Comics events. 

This period concludes with Absolute Power that pits the greatest Super Heroes against DC’s Trinity of Evil—the Brainiac Queen, Failsafe, and Amanda Waller. While this event is completely optional for Jason, it’s a good way to turn the page on the last few years of DC Comics before entering a new era.

Jason Todd (Red Hood) Reading Order (Icon)

VII. Red Hood is DC All In! (2024-)

Similar to Infinite Frontier, Jason starts DC All In without a specific direction and as a supporting player in the Bat-family.

Jason Todd (Red Hood) Reading Order (Icon)

Jason Todd: Arkham Knight and Other Out of Continuity Stories

Like other DC characters, Jason Todd has appeared in other universes. One of his most famous alternate versions comes from the action-adventure game Batman: Arkham Knight, where Jason Todd is also known as Arkham Knight. This is one of the many other versions of the characters and following is a non-exhaustive list of out-of-continuity stories with Jason.

  • Batman: The Arkham Saga Omnibus
    Collects Batman: Arkham Asylum: The Road to Arkham, Batman: Arkham City #1-5, Batman: Arkham City: End Game #1, Batman: Arkham Knight #1-12, Batman: Arkham Knight Annual #1, Batman: Arkham Knight: Batgirl & Harley Quinn #1, Batman: Arkham Knight Genesis #1-6, Batman: Arkham Knight: Robin Special #1, Batman: Arkham Origins and Batman: Arkham Unhinged. Go check out our Arkham Knight reading order for the full experience (Comics and Games.) 
  • Convergence: Batman and Robin #1-2 
    Collected in Convergence: Flashpoint Book 2. With Pre-Flashpoint Jason.
  • DCeased Omnibus new
    Collects DCeased #1-6; DCeased: A Good Day to Die #1; DCeased: Dead Planet #1-7; DCeased: Unkillables #1-3; DCeased: Hope At World’s End #1-15; DCeased: War of the Undead Gods #1-8.
  • Batman: Three Jokers (Black Label)
    Collects Batman: Three Jokers #1-3. Now available in an Absolute Edition.
  • Suicide Squad: Get Joker! (Black Label)
    Collects Suicide Squad: Get Joker #1-3.
  • Titans United
    Collects Titans United #1-7. Titans United is a non-canonical Titans story in the DC Universe that uses the lineup of the HBO Max’s Titans series.
  • From the DC Vault: Death in the Family – Robin Lives! new
    What if one of the darkest hours in Batman’s crime-fighting career never happened? Collects the entire four-issue miniseries along with Batman #426, #427, and #429 and the faux-simile issue Batman #428: Robin Lives! that lead up to this momentous elseworld.
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