Sometimes the prequel helps to inform readers of complexities that don’t always exist in the character, and this is the case with Robin & Batman: Jason Todd. This week, the third issue series marks the imperfect young Jason trying to become Robin, but it’s a bit too broken to fit in like Dick Grayson. In the finale, Jason is tested together with a murdering vigilante hero. Will Jason be killed for the first time, or will Batman’s biggest experiment fail?
If you enjoyed Jason’s psychological quest in past issues, Robin & Batman: Jason Todd #3 takes it even more. The issue begins with Jason before joining Batman, who tries to keep his heroin-addicted mother alive. When he finds her dead, he admits that something left him forever, as she did. The series is a disastrous start as it leans against Jason as a broken kid who wants to be better.
The latter part removes this issue and is ultimately a series. Jason knows he’ll be a murderer against Batman’s way of doing things, but here we have a young Jason who’s not completely beyond the edge. There’s something about him that Batman is watching. Until the end, we see Batman believe in it and follow it. Heck, even Alfred doesn’t see it.
The use of bats here is very effective.
Credit: DC Comics
Much of this issue follows Jason under Wraith’s guidance to end new drugs that have hit the streets. Jeff Remair and Dustin Nuguen reveal that Jason is not very sure about his methods in a skilled, processed reaction shot. For this reason, I never believed Jason would take his life.
The overall visual is a bat-like nightmare that floats, especially when Jason is at its lowest. The depression and darkness within him are well defined. The shortper scene features everything cast in red after the alarm goes off, creating a chaotic and dangerous atmosphere when Jason fights with smoke. The moment when Wraith and Batman stand on his shoulders is a bit literal when it comes to the impact they have on him, but it certainly scores points. As with previous issues, multiple pages are gorgeously rendered in watercolors worth seeing.
Robin & Batman: Jason Todd #3 closes the series with a beautifully rendered look that appeals to young Robin who doesn’t fit the mold at all. The tensions around his choices don’t land completely, but the problem manages to show Jason’s inner turmoil, his bond with Batman, and ultimately his unforgettable path to defining his legacy.
“Robin & Batman: Jason Todd” #3 is a beautifully rendered finish that shines in your heart.
Robin & Batman: Jason Todd #3
Robin & Batman: Jason Todd #3 closes the series with a beautifully rendered look that appeals to young Robin who doesn’t fit the mold at all. The tensions around his choices don’t land completely, but the problem manages to show Jason’s inner turmoil, his bond with Batman, and ultimately his unforgettable path to defining his legacy.
A raw emotional opening that captures and sets the tone of Jason’s broken past.
Jeff Lemia’s script delves deep into Jason’s psychology and highlights the tension between Batman’s ideals and Wraith’s violent methods.
Dustin Nuguen’s watercolor paintings are impressive. Especially the nightmare sequence and red-soaked battle scenes.
The moral dilemma around Jason is that potentially murder is completely unconvincing and does not limit tension.
The presence of Wraith is thematically useful, but North can feel too much in the foil.
