The Red Hood is a mysterious figure in Gotham City who has caused trouble for Batman on numerous occasions. His true identity has been shrouded in secrecy, with several characters having donned the Red Hood persona over the years. In this article, we will examine the history of the Red Hood and analyze the evidence to determine who the real Red Hood is.
The First Red Hood
The first appearance of the Red Hood came in 1951 in Detective Comics #168. In this story, the Red Hood was a masked criminal who led a gang in Gotham City. He and his gang stole from a chemical plant, battling Batman and Robin along the way. At the end of the story, the Red Hood fell into a vat of chemicals while trying to escape from Batman. It was this accident that transformed him into the Joker, Batman’s arch-nemesis. So in his earliest incarnation, the man under the Red Hood was a criminal who went on to become one of the most notorious villains in Gotham’s history.
Jason Todd
Many years later, the Red Hood mantle was taken up by Jason Todd, the second Robin. Jason had been murdered by the Joker, but was later resurrected by Talia al Ghul using the Lazarus Pit. Upon his return, he adopted the Joker’s original persona and became the new Red Hood. Jason was angry over his death and Batman’s failure to avenge him. As the Red Hood, Jason employed more violent and lethal tactics in his vigilante activities. He even battled against Batman and the rest of the Bat Family. But eventually Jason gave up this identity and reconciled to some degree with the Bat Family. So while Jason Todd was the Red Hood for a time, he later abandoned this role.
The Joker Again?
Interestingly, the Joker has also posed as the Red Hood on occasion even after becoming the Clown Prince of Crime. Most notably, in the “Death in the Family” storyline, the Joker implicated himself as the mastermind behind Jason Todd’s murder. As part of this scheme, he once again donned the Red Hood to taunt Batman. Almost as if to say he had come full circle from that original chemical vat accident. While this makes for a dramatic storyline, the Joker wearing his original Red Hood costume seems mostly a nod to continuity and doesn’t imply that he is actually the true Red Hood.
Other Red Hoods
A few other characters have also briefly operated as the Red Hood. For example:
- The Joker’s original sidekick, who was also believed killed in the chemical vat, turned up later as the Red Hood but was quickly discarded as a pretender.
- Professor Achilles Milo attempted to frame the Joker by wearing a Red Hood costume in the “Batman: Last Laugh” comic.
- A group of criminals worked together as the Red Hood gang in the “All Cats Are Grey” storyline in Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight.
However, these were all short-lived uses of the identity intended for specific schemes.
The Modern Red Hood
In recent years, a new figure has emerged using the Red Hood identity. First appearing in Batman #635, this new Red Hood has been a significant threat to Batman and the rest of Gotham City:
- He has demonstrated extensive training and fighting abilities, capable of battling the likes of Batman, Nightwing, and the Red Robin.
- He possesses expertise with firearms and explosives.
- He has had in depth knowledge of Batman’s history and tactics.
- He has formed criminal alliances with villains like the Black Mask.
- He has displayed a willingness to kill criminals, presenting an ethical challenge for Batman.
This new Red Hood has remained anonymous so far, presenting an intriguing mystery for Batman and readers. He is violent yet focused on crime and corruption in Gotham. His motivations and end goals are still unknown. Although his methods are concerning, he seems to view himself fighting the same battle against injustice as Batman.
Theories on the Modern Red Hood’s Identity
So who could this dangerous yet principled figure under the hood be? Several theories have emerged with different suspects:
Jason Todd again
Some have speculated that Jason Todd may have returned to the Red Hood role. Supporting evidence includes:
- Jason has training as Robin and experience using the Red Hood persona.
- He previously demonstrated a willingness to use lethal force.
- He has had antagonistic relationships with Batman, Nightwing, and the new Robin (Damian Wayne) at times.
However, Jason’s reconciliation with the Bat Family in recent years makes this seem unlikely.
The Joker’s Original Sidekick
The reappearance of the Joker’s first sidekick opened up the possibility that he may have taken over as the Red Hood. But this character quickly vanished again, making this probably just a red herring.
Tim Drake
As the third Robin who later became Red Robin, Tim Drake has expert training in martial arts, detective work, and technology. Disillusionment over Batman’s methods could potentially have driven him to become the new Red Hood. But Tim’s moral character makes this seem implausible.
Damian Wayne
As Batman’s actual son, Damian Wayne’s upbringing with the League of Assassins gave him a troubled moral compass early on. His willingness to kill and antagonistic relationship with the prior Robins raised suspicions that he could turn against his father’s code as the Red Hood. But Damian has evolved considerably after being mentored by Dick Grayson and his father. He has proven himself committed to non-lethal methods as Robin.
An Entirely New Character
With no definitive clues pointing to any of the prime suspects, it’s quite possible the new Red Hood is someone new to the Batman mythos. Perhaps a figure with roots in Batman’s training like Jean-Paul Valley (Azrael) or connections to the League of Assassins like Kirk Langstrom (Man-Bat). Only time will tell if Batman uncovers the true identity lurking under the menacing red mask. For now, the mystery remains.
Conclusion
The Red Hood persona has a long, winding history in Gotham City that remains shrouded in uncertainty to this day. While the Joker was the original man behind the Red Hood, several characters have assumed the mantle over the years for their own ends. The aggressive methods and murky motivations of the latest Red Hood have challenged Batman’s moral codes and detecting skills. Until his identity is finally uncovered, the Red Hood will continue his violent vigilante activities, leaving many questions and theories in his wake. But Batman has faced down many mysteries and dangerous foes over his career. With perseverance and deductive reasoning, he may one day find the solutions that will unmask the real Red Hood.