Warning! Contains spoilers for The Boy Wonder #2!
Summary
The Jokerhas been a nightmare for every Gotham citizen, but few characters have had a more traumatic experience with the Clown Prince of Crime thanRed Hood. After being murdered by the Joker, it’s natural for Red Hood to see the Joker in a terrifying way, and that was shown off perfectly in this latest issue ofThe Boy Wonder.
Red Hood’s nightmarish version of the Joker appears in a flashback inThe Boy Wonder#2 by Juni Ba and Chris O’Halloran. After Red Hood is seemingly struck by a spell, he begins to hallucinate seeing the Joker, leading to a flashback ofJason Todd’s death at the Joker’s hands, and his vision of the Joker is truly terrifying.
Jason’s vision showsthe Joker as practically a demonic being, all laughter and smiles with no real face. It’s a pretty disturbing version of the Joker and is clearly what Red Hood remembers, however warped, of when he was beaten with a crowbar, causing his vision to swim and leaving him with memories of laughter and shifting flashes of the Joker’s smile.
Red Hood’s Darkest Costume Brings His Tragic Origin Full Circle
The future brings a new look to Red Hood, but unfortunately, this costume highlights the worst tragedies ever experienced by Jason Todd.
Red Hood Is Rightfully Terrified Of The Joker
Jason Todd was infamously beaten and killed by the Joker during the events ofBatman: Death in the Familyby Jim Starlin and Jim Aparo. In this story, Jason — as Robin — was trying to find his mother, and while he ultimately succeeded, she was working with the Joker. Not wanting to incur the Joker’s wrath, his mother hands Jason over to him. Unfortunately, the Joker responds by killing both of them — but not before hebrutally beats Jason with a crowbarandblows up both Jason and his mother with a bomb. This confrontation is obviously the worst moment of Jason’s life, and it’s continued to haunt him for decades, even after his return.
Red Hood’s return to Gotham and Batman’s life is depicted inBatman: Under the Red Hoodby Judd Winick and Doug Mahnke, available now from DC Comics.
The Joker is a truly horrifying figure: he stinks of death, he has pale green skin, he’s far too tall and lanky, and he has bright green hair with a disturbing smile plastered over his face. He kills people in horrific ways with his Joker Venom, and he often causes mass death when he appears. It wouldn’t be out of the question for thousands of Gotham citizens to havenightmares about the Joker. It makes perfect sense that Jason, someone who saw the Joker firsthand and was brutally killed by him, wouldview the Joker as something far scarier than just a human.
The Joker Is Jason Todd’s Biggest Nightmare
Jason Is Still Haunted by His Death at the Joker’s Hands
One of the hardest things Jason has had to do is get over his fear of the Joker, and he’s mostly managed that by channeling it into anger. Instead of fearing the Joker, Jason wants nothing more than revenge and to kill the Joker for what he did. But that rage is still motivated by fear. While under the influence of fear toxin or this new villain’s magic, it’s the Joker that Jason always sees: not as the man that he is, but as the terrifying monster he was left alone with as a child. That’s why this version ofthe Jokeris so terrifying — not because he’s scary to look at, but because he’s exactly whatRed Hoodremembers.
The Joker
The Joker is a psychopathic criminal mastermind with a warped sense of humor. Initially introduced as a remorseless serial killer, the character evolved over time, often oscillating between a prankster and a homicidal maniac. His relationship with Batman is one of the most complex in comic book history, defined by their mutual obsession. Over the decades, the Joker has become an enduring icon of chaos and madness, embodying the antithesis of Batman’s order and justice.
Red Hood
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.
