1 Detail of This Iconic Red Hood Costume Defined Jason Todd’s Adult Characterization

Summary

• Jason Todd’s first Red Hood costume in
  Batman: UtRH
  is iconic and defined his character.
• Red Hood’s exploding helmet showcased Jason’s wild, dramatic, and unafraid personality, making him an icon in the eyes of fans.
• Despite mainstream continuity dropping Jason Todd’s exploding helmet and passion-filled personality, Winick’s version of the character lives on in transformative works.

Jason Todd has cycled through multiple Red Hood costumes over the past 19 years, sparking a range of opinions among fans, especially concerning some of the newer designs. However, if there’s one thing most fans agree on it’s that Jason’s debut costume as the Red Hood will always be one of his best looks. Its enduring appeal lies in its aesthetic appeal and its major role in defining Jason Todd’s adult characterization.

Mainstream continuity may have forgotten about Jason’s iconic explosive-riddled, helmet-wearing era, but the Red Hood fandom has not.

Judd Winick and Doug Mahnke’s Batman: Under the Red Hood is renowned for the narrative resurrection of the Dark Knight’s second Robin, Jason Todd. However, Jason didn’t return as the passionate, hard-hitting Boy Wonder but emerged as the Red Hood, complete with a new costume.

Although Jason has been the Red Hood for over 19 years now, Winick and Mahnke’s original costume design remains a classic and has significantly influenced subsequent interpretations of the character. In fact, this initial Red Hood design played a crucial role in defining Jason Todd’s adult persona in the minds of fans, particularly with his iconic bomb-riddled, exploding helmet.

Batman UtRH: Red Hood’s Exploding Helmet Defined His Character In the Eyes of Fans

The first instance of Jason blowing up his Red Hood helmet occurred in Batman #641 (2005), Family Reunion, Conclusion: Face to Face, after his intense fight and dramatic identity reveal to Batman. In true Jason Todd fashion, he bids Bruce farewell by detonating his helmet with a hand-held trigger, creating a massive explosion that is a perfect distraction for his escape. Fans were initially stunned by this scene, as it was both shocking and insane to realize that Jason literally kept a functional bomb strapped to his head. However, it was this insanity and flair for drama that ultimately endeared Red Hood to fans.

The revelation that Jason walked around nightly with a bomb strapped to his head played a significant role in defining his adult characterization. From that point on, he was seen as mercurial, wild, dramatic, and unafraid of death. While more recent interpretations have softened these traits or shown Red Hood evolving past them, Winick’s portrayal of a raging, angry, wild, and cocky Jason Todd remains a fan favorite. Many fans still long for the days of Winick’s version of the character. However, this brash, passion-fueled personality is still a main trait fans associate with Jason, showcasing the lasting impact of Winick’s portrayal.

Jason Todd’s Exploding Helmet Lives On Beyond Comics and Finds a Home in Transformative Works

It’s been quite some time since fans have seen Red Hood use his helmet as an explosive, as he has since traded the helm for a mask. However, despite mainstream continuity seemingly forgetting about Jason’s iconic bomb-wearing era, the Red Hood fandom has not. Jason’s explosive helmet remains a staple in fan creations, from posts to fan-made comics, and especially in fanfics. In these transformative works, the raging, wild, emotion-filled, and bomb-wearing Jason Todd lives on. While this iconic Red Hood costume feature and complementary personality have faded from canon, fans are more than happy to keep it alive in their own creations.

Batman: Under the Red Hood TP is available now from DC Comics!