WARNING : hold Spoilers for Absolute Batman # 2In a surprising wind , DC ’s newAbsolute Batmanseries has badger the launching ofRed Hood , before even fluff the arrival ofRobininto its bold , newfangled population . But rooter of Jason Todd have even more to be excite about , as the first quotation of this re - imagined ' Red Hood ' suggests Jason Todd wo n’t just be a doomed sidekick , but could potentially be Batman ’s first friend in the war to reclaim Gotham City .

Scott Snyder , Nick Dragotta , Frank Martin , and Clayton Cowles’sAbsolute Batman#2picks up where the initiatory issue left off , with hitman Alfred Pennyworth continuing his invasive surveillance of the Dark Knight . The late issue saw Alfred unveil every detail of Bruce ’s past , and now the triggerman has turn his care to Batman ’s procedure and his state of war against Black Mask ’s Party Animals mob .

As part of his data gathering , Alfred observes that when Bruce is n’t work out his civilian job as an railroad engineer for the urban center , he vanishes into the shadows of Gotham , with rumors distribute that he"meets with the Red Hood . “However , this Red Hood is markedly different from the one fans know from Earth - Prime .

Comic book art: Batman holding Joker with a blurred image of Robin Jason Todd behind them.

It feels likeAbsolute Batmanmay be echo the yesteryear — specifically , Judd Winick’sBatman : Under the Red Hood(2005 ) .

Absolute Batman Already Changed The Joker’s Red Hood Origin

The Absolute Joker Has His Own Origin, Disconnected From Jason Todd’s Codename

Before dig into the major change the Absolute Universe has introduced to Red Hood , it ’s crucial to first infer the evolution of this iconic sobriquet . The Red Hood moniker made its first appearance inDetective Comics#168,“The Man Behind the Red Hood”(1951 ) . In this payoff , the Joker reveals that his original criminal alias was“Red Hood,”and it was under this identity that he first crossed path with Batman – an encounter that assume place at the ACE Chemicals plant , where the Red Hood fall into a ad valorem tax of chemicals , lead tothe parentage of the Joker .

tight forward a few decades to 1988 , when the Joker kills Batman ’s second Robin , Jason Todd , in theDeath in the Familystoryline . In 2005,Jason Todd was resurrect in theUnder the Hoodarc , where he adopt the Red Hood curtain , take the title of his grampus . This selection to adopt the Red Hood was driven by Jason ’s emotional upheaval 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 , accompany him on his journey from villain to anti - grinder to hero .

DC rewrite ' A Death in the Family ' lore , proving that Jason Todd go bad at the deal of the Joker in 1988 was really the BEST case scenario .

Absolute Batman  #2 Variant cover feature

How DC’s Absolute Universe is Changing The ‘Red Hood’ Legacy

“…the Red Hood, a Suspected Resistance Group.”– Alfred Pennyworth inAbsolute Batman#2

The Absolute Universe reintroduces the Red Hood soubriquet , but with a significant whirl : instead of being affiliate with a scoundrel or anti - hero , the implication is that the Red Hood represents a group of heroes . Alfred ’s narration report the Red Hood as“a suspect resistance group”that Batman is rumored to be gather with . The use of the word“resistance”and Batman ’s apparent link to the group suggests that , in the Absolute Universe lore , the Red Hood is aligned with valiancy . However , this abbreviated mention of the resistance raises more doubtfulness than it answers .

The most pressing question is : if this is a resistivity radical , what exactly are they resisting ? In theAbsolute Batmannarrative , Black Mask and his Party Animals gang are the chief antagonists , plunging Gotham into topsy-turvyness with their onslaught . Yet , it seems that Batman and the GCPD are the only ones actively fighting against them . So , what role does the Red Hood resistance play ? One possibility is that the mathematical group provide intelligence , specially debate Alfred ’s proposition that Batman gather with them on a regular basis . However , this potential confederation between Batman and the Red Hood feel off , as Bruce has never point that he is working with anyone other than himself .

Absolute Batman ’s official nickname has finally dropped , and it exit no doubt — this is the the Dark Knight in his purest , most unfiltered strain .

peanuts' charlie brown and snoopy

The First Absolute ‘Red Hood’ Namedrop MNeans More Than You Might Think

Could Fans Be Seeing a Repeat ofBatman: Under the Red HoodinAbsolute Batman?

The reference of Red Hood inAbsolute Batman#2 might ab initio seem like a minor detail , particularly with everything else happen in the narrative . However , there may be more significance to this honorable mention than first fill the eye . While Snyder ’s choice of Black Mask as Absolute Batman ’s master adversary was a rum , albeit challenging , decision , the first appearance of Red Hood now seems to guide this seemingly random villain choice into a deep , more meaningful direction . It feels like Absolute Batman may be ring the past — specifically , Judd Winick’sBatman : Under the Red Hood(2005 ) .

Batman : Under the Red Hoodis one of the most iconic Batman stories , well - cognise for bringing together Batman , Black Mask , and Red Hood . While it could be mere coincidence that Absolute Batman is aligning these precise same three players , there ’s a strong opening that Snyder and Dragotta are paying protection to Winick ’s study — or perhaps badger succeeding narrative ontogeny . What tone up this theory is the eerie similarity between two key scenes : inAbsolute Batman , Black Mask call 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 view fromUnder the Red HoodinvolvingBlack 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 long time gaps between role 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 historic period dynamic . Some might argue otherwise , point to the fact that Barbara Gordon and Bruce Wayne are around the same age in this universe , but it ’s of import to remember that the original Barbara Gordon was closer in geezerhood 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 does n’t mean that all Leslie Townes Hope is lost for his eventual appearance — especially with Snyder confirming that there will be an Absolute Robin . Although it ’s ill-defined who that Robin will be , or if there will be more than one , as in Earth - Prime , this check offers hope to Jason Todd devotee . One challenging hypothesis is that Jason could still take on theRed Hoodmantle if one of his parent is part of the resistance , with Jason later claiming the name as his own to take on his parents ’ legacy .

Absolute Batman # 2is usable now from DC Comics .

Red Hood Outlaws variant cover

Jason Todd is a complex digit known for his disruptive journeying as Batman ’s second Robin . ab initio hotheaded and malcontent , he ’s resurrected after a tragical demise , becoming the vigilante Red Hood . arm with vivid combat skills and a moral equivocalness , he challenges Batman ’s methods , navigating a itinerary between heroism and anti - valor in Gotham ’s unforgiving street .

Absolute Batman #2 Introduces Red Hood as New Resistance Group

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.

Red Hood Outlaws variant cover full

Jason Todd as Red Hood in DC Comic Art

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.

Comics

Red Hood