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 Comics: The Robin Years:
- Jason Todd Comics: Red Hood (With or Without the Outlaws):
- Jason Todd: Arkham Knight and Other Out of Continuity Stories
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:
- Tales of the Batman: Gerry Conway Vol. 3
Collects Detective Comics #515-526; Batman #349-359 - Tales of the Batman: Gene Colan Vol. 1
Batman #340, 343-345, 348-351; Detective Comics #510, 512, 517, 523, 528–529 - Tales of the Batman: Gene Colan Vol. 2
Batman #373; Detective Comics #530-538, 540-544; World’s Finest Comics #297, 299
New! The last Pre-Crisis issues part of Doug Moench’s run will finally be reprinted in the new DC Finest Collection:
- DC Finest: Batman – Red Skies
Collects Batman #388-400, Batman Annual #10, Detective Comics #554-567, and stories from Secret Origins #6.
Let’s not forget the very popular Superman story released in 1984:
- Superman Annual #11 (For the Man Who Has Everything)
Collected in The Greatest Superman Stories Ever Told, Superman: A Celebration of 75 Years or Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? Deluxe Edition (and more)
We 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.
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.
- Nightwing: Year One
Collects Nightwing #101-106 - DC Finest: Batman – Year One and Two new
Batman #401 – 412, Batman Annual #11 and Detective Comics #568 – 579.- Reprints the now hard-to-find Second Chances, the first post-Crisis appearances of Jason Todd (in Batman #402-403, #408-416 that revamps his origins)
- Tales of the Teen Titans #86-91
Not collected anywhere to my knowledge - Legends (crossover event)
Collects Legends #1-6.
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:
- Batman: The Dark Knight Detective Vol. 1
Collects Detective Comics #575-578 and Batman: Full Circle. - DC Finest: Batman – The Killing Joke and Other Stories new
Batman: The Killing Joke #1; Batman #413-422; Detective Comics #580-589; and Batman: Son of the Demon #1- Jason appears in Batman #413-422 and Detective Comics #580-582.
- Batman #417-422 are also collected in Batman: The Caped Crusader Vol. 1 (which also reprints #424-425).
- Batman the Cult
Collects Batman: The Cult #1-4 - Batman: A Death in the Family
Collects the original Death in the Family tale from Batman #426-429 plus “A Lonely Place of Dying” from Batman #440-442 and The New Titans #60-61
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.
- Batman: Under the Red Hood (also in Deluxe Edition)
Collects Batman #635-641, #645-650 and Batman Annual #25.- Batman: Red Hood – The Lost Days
Collects Red Hood: Lost Days #1-6. Explore in more depth Jason’s transition from Robin to Red Hood.
- Batman: Red Hood – The Lost Days
- Teen Titans (Vol.3) #29 (optional)
Collected in Teen Titans: Life and Death - Outsiders: Pay as You Go (flashback story, optional)
Collects Outsiders #42-46 and Annual #3 - Nightwing: Brothers in Blood
Collects Nightwing (Vol. 2) #118-124 - Green Arrow (Vol. 3) #69-72
Collected in Green Arrow: Road to Jericho - Outsiders #44-46
Collected in Outsiders Vol. 6: Pay As You Go
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!
- Countdown to Final Crisis, Vol. 1 (Collects Countdown to Final Crisis #51-39)
- Countdown to Final Crisis, Vol. 2 (Collects Countdown to Final Crisis #38-26)
- Countdown to Final Crisis, Vol. 3 (Collects Countdown to Final Crisis #25-13)
- Countdown to Final Crisis, Vol. 4 (Collects Countdown to Final Crisis #12-1)
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).
- Robin: Search for a Hero
Collects Robin (Vol. 2) #175-183 - Batman: Battle for the Cowl
Collects Batman: Battle For The Cowl #1-3, Gotham Gazette: Batman Dead? #1 And Gotham Gazette: Batman Alive? - Batman and Robin #3-6
Collected in Batman by Grant Morrison Book Two - Batman and Robin #23-25
Batman & Robin Vol. 4: Dark Knight Vs. White Knight (a story written by your favorite Red Hood author, Judd Winick)
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.
- Red Hood and the Outlaws Vol. 1: Redemption
Collects Red Hood and the Outlaws #1–7 - Red Hood and the Outlaws Vol. 2: The Starfire
Collects Red Hood and the Outlaws #8–14- Red Hood and the Outlaws #9 ties into Batman: Night of the Owls
- Batman and Robin #10-12 (optional but fun with all the Robins)
Collected in Batman and Robin by Tomasi & Gleason Book One.
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 Vol. 3: Death of the Family (event)
Collects Batman Vol. 2 #13–17 - Red Hood and the Outlaws Vol. 3: Death of the Family
Collects Red Hood and the Outlaws #0, 15–18, Teen Titans Vol. 4 #15–16. Warning! issue #18 is to read a little bit later.
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.
- Batman Incorporated Vol. 1: Demon Star
Collects Batman Incorporated #0-6 - Batman Incorporated Vol. 2: Gotham’s Most Wanted
Collects Batman Incorporated #7-13 and Batman Incorporated Special #1 - Red Hood and the Outlaws #18
Red Hood and the Outlaws #18 is part of Batman: Requiem, a crossover dealing with the aftermath of Batman Incorporated (Volume 2). - Batman and Robin (Vol. 2) #20
Collected in Batman and Robin Vol. 4: Requiem for Damian - Red Hood and the Outlaws Vol. 4: League of Assassins
Collects Red Hood and the Outlaws #19–26, Red Hood and the Outlaws Annual #1
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.
- Red Hood and the Outlaws: The New 52 Omnibus Vol. 1 [2025 edition]
Collects Red Hood and the Outlaws #0-27, Teen Titans #16, Batman #17 and Red Hood and the Outlaws Annual #1.
- Red Hood and the Outlaws Vol. 5: The Big Picture
Collects Red Hood and the Outlaws #27–31, DC Universe Presents #17–18 - Batman/Superman Annual #1 (2014) (optional)
Collected in Batman/Superman: Game Over - Batman and Robin #33–37 (2014 – 2015)
Collected in Batman and Robin Vol. 6: The Hunt for Robin and Batman and Robin Vol. 7: Robin Rises - Batman Eternal Vol. 1
Collects Batman Eternal #1–20 - Batman Eternal Vol. 2
Collects Batman Eternal #22–34 - Batman Eternal Vol. 3
Collects Batman Eternal #35–52, Batman Vol. 2 #28 - Supergirl #35 (2014) (optional)
Collected in Supergirl: Crucible - Grayson #12
Collected in Grayson Vol. 3: Nemesis - Deathstroke (Vol. 3) #16 (optional)
Collected in Deathstroke Vol. 3: Suicide Run - Batman/Superman #25-27 (optional)
Collected in Batman/Superman Vol. 5: Truth Hurts - Red Hood and the Outlaws Vol. 6: Lost and Found
Collects Red Hood and the Outlaws #32–34, stories from Secret Origins Vol. 3 #2 and #5, Red Hood and the Outlaws Annual #2 - Red Hood and the Outlaws Vol. 7: Last Call
Collects Red Hood and the Outlaws #35–40, Red Hood and the Outlaws Futures End #1 - Red Hood/Arsenal Vol. 1: Open for Business
Collects Red Hood/Arsenal #1-6 And Dc Sneak Peek: Red Hood/Arsenal #1.
Event 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.
- Robin War (event)
Collects Robin War #1-2, Robin: Son Of Batman #7, Grayson #15, Detective Comics #47, We Are Robin #7, Gotham Academy #13, Red Hood/Arsenal #7 and Teen Titans #15. - Red Hood/Arsenal Vol. 2: Dancing with the Devil’s Daughter
Collects Red Hood/Arsenal #7-13 And A Special Preview Of Red Hood And The Outlaws: Rebirth #1! - Batman and Robin Eternal Vol. 1
Collects Batman and Robin Eternal #1-13 - Batman and Robin Eternal Vol. 2
Collects Batman and Robin Eternal #14-26
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).
- Red Hood and the Outlaws Vol. 1: Dark Trinity
Collects Red Hood and the Outlaws #1–6, Red Hood and the Outlaws: Rebirth #1 - Batman #16 (optional)
Collected in Batman Vol. 3: I Am Bane - Trinity Vol. 3: Dark Destiny (optional)
Collects Trinity #12-16 and Annual #1! - Red Hood and the Outlaws Vol. 2: Who Is Artemis?
Collects Red Hood and the Outlaws #7–11 - Red Hood and the Outlaws Vol. 3: Bizarro Reborn
Collects Red Hood and the Outlaws #12–18, Annual #1 - Batman #33 (optional)
Collected in Batman Vol. 5: Rules of Engagement - Detective Comics #967-968 & #975 (optional)
Collected in Detective Comics Vol. 5: A Lonely Place of Living & Detective Comics Vol. 7: Batmen Eternal - Batman: Prelude to the Wedding: Red Hood vs. Anarky #1
Collected in Batman: Preludes to the Wedding - Red Hood and the Outlaws Vol. 4: Good Night Gotham
Collects Red Hood and the Outlaws #19–25 - Teen Titans #22 & Teen Titans Annual #1 (optional)
Collected in Teen Titans Volume 1 : Full Throttle & Teen Titans Vol. 2: Turn It Up
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
- Red Hood: Outlaw Vol. 1: Requiem for an Archer
Collects Red Hood: Outlaw #26–31, Annual #2 - Red Hood: Outlaw Vol. 2: Prince of Gotham
Collects Red Hood: Outlaw #32–36, Annual #3 - Event Leviathan happens around here. Jason appears in issues #2 and #3 (this is more than optional.
- Red Hood: Outlaw Vol. 3: Generation Outlaw
Collects Red Hood: Outlaw #37–42 - Red Hood: Outlaw Vol. 4: Unspoken Truths
Collects Red Hood: Outlaw #43–50- Red Hood: Outlaw #49 is a tie-in to Batman: Joker War. Jason appears in a few issues of this event.
- Red Hood: The Hill new
- Collects Red Hood #51-52 and Red Hood: The Hill #0-6. While Red Hood has been published later, it was supposed to be set before Death Metal. A few notes in the book tells us it’s set around here. We Suppose.
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.
- Future State: Dark Detective #1-4
Collected in Future State: Dark Detective (coming on July 6, 2021)
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.
- Batman: Urban Legends Vol. 1
collects stories from Batman: Urban Legends #1-6 - Truth & Justice #4 (optional)
collected in Truth & Justice - Batman Secret Files: Clownhunter #1 (optional)
Uncollected - Robin #5 (optional)
collected in Robin Vol. 1: The Lazarus Tournament - Nightwing Annual #1
Collected in Nightwing Vol. 2: Fear State - Task Force Z Vol. 1: Death’s Door
Collects Task Force Z #1-6, and the Task Force Z short stories from Detective Comics #1041-1043. - Task Force Z Vol. 2: What’s Eating You?
Collects Task Force Z #7-12. - The Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing Vol. 1
Collects The Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #1-6 - Batman: Legends of Gotham #1
Uncollected. - Lazarus Planet: Next Evolution #1 (optional)
Collected in Lazarus Planet. Jason features in the story “The Vigil: See No Evil” - Knight Terrors: Robin #1-2
Part of the Knight Terrors Event. Collected in Knight Terrors: Dark Knightmares - Batman / Catwoman: The Gotham War new
Collects Batman (2016) #137-138, Catwoman (2018) #57-58, Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War: Battle Lines #1, Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War: Scorched Earth #1, And Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War: Red Hood #1-2. - The Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing Vol. 2 new
Collects The Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #7-12. This volume spins out from Knight Terrors through to after Gotham War. - Titans: Beast World Tour: Gotham new
Part of the Beast World Event. Red Hood is the main character for the Scavengers story, collected in Titans: Beast World Tour. - Batman Vol. 4: Dark Prisons new
Collects Batman (vol. 3) #145-152. Jason appears in issues #145 and #148. This story concludes the Zur-En-Arrh’s story from Chip Zdarksy’s run.
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.
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.
- Batman and Robin #17-18 new
Collected in Batman and Robin Vol. 1: Memento, Part One - Batman: H2SH new
Collects Batman #158-163.
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.