Batman Confronts Red Hood Over Arsenal's Death in Heroes In Crisis

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Batman Confronts Red Hood Over a Heroes In Crisis Death

By Tim Adams

Published Oct 16, 2018

Batman pays his former protege a visit to deliver the news of a major Heroes In Crisis death in Red Hood: Outlaw #27.

WARNING: This article contains spoilers for Red Hood: Outlaw #27 by Scott Lobdell, Pete Woods and ALW's Troy Peteri, on sale now.

DC teased some shocking deaths in Tom King and Clay Mann's Heroes In Crisis, and the release of the first issue certainly delivered on that promise. The two heroes with the highest profiles to be killed in the comic were The Flash (Wally West) and Arsenal (Roy Harper), and their deaths are already starting to be addressed across the DC Universe.

Green Arrow #45 saw Oliver Queen, Roy's mentor, confront the Justice League at his protege's funeral. Of course, Arsenal has other superhero connections besides the Green Arrow, with his best friend currently starring in the retitled Red Hood: Outlaw, where Issue #27 dropped the Heroes In Crisis bombshell on Jason Todd. The way Jason learned of Roy's almost led to another life-or-death situation, however, because Batman was the person to deliver the devastating news to the Red Hood, and the two former partners aren't exactly on the best of speaking terms at the moment.

The Dark Knight And The Red Hood Put Their Differences Aside

Bruce Wayne finds Jason in a small town diner, right as the Red Hood is nearing the end of a scuffle with some Underlife runners. Jason is understandably surprised to see Bruce standing in front of him, especially when you consider the last time they were together in Red Hood and the Outlaws #25, Batman was beating Red Hood unconscious for shooting the Penguin in the face.

Red Hood's actions crossed the lines, according to Batman, and the Dark Knight felt he was left with no choice but to disavow Jason, thereby denying him a place in the Bat Family and Gotham altogether. Bruce does confirm Oswald Cobblepot survived the attack, so Jason didn't break his "no killing" rule, though it wasn't for a lack of trying. No, Bruce didn't come for a fight -- he came to let Jason know what happened to Roy at the superhero support center, Sanctuary.

In an issue full of surprises, Red Hood remained pretty level-headed after finding out his best friend was murdered and the killer is still on the loose. Red Hood recognizes there's probably enough superheroes already on the case, and volunteers to sit this one out. Furthermore, he's not going to mope around feeling sorry for himself. As Jason puts it, ".... everyone who has ever put on a mask is living on borrowed time." He then goes on to list himself, Batman and Damian as examples of superheroes who died and came back to life.

The two men who were in a knock-down-drag-out fight only a few issues ago part ways with a hug, reminding readers that no matter how strained Red Hood and Batman's relationship may be, they are still a family that loves and cares for one another. The image of Jason and Bruce in each other's arms in the rain is juxtaposed with a puddle on the ground featuring Red Hood and Batman in the same embrace.

It's great to see Red Hood: Outlaw address what happened to Arsenal in Heroes In Crisis, but the calm, retrospective Red Hood runs counter to what DC promoted with the series' rebranding. The Red Hood is a one-man army looking to bring down the Underlife, with no Outlaws to have his back. Yes, it's nice to see Red Hood and Batman make peace, but it's way too soon in this new direction for it to be happening. How will the comic build suspense if we already know Red Hood is on good terms with Batman? But hey, at least we know where Jason stands on superhero deaths and resurrections.