Summary
WARNING: Contains Potential Spoilers for The Boy Wonder #2!
The debut of Damian Wayne and Jason Todd’s new team name presents the perfect opportunity to explore the unique relationship betweenRed HoodandRobin. Their bond, exceptionally distinct within the Bat-Family, will be examined through Juni Ba’s ongoing comic run and also highlight some of their most notable interactions across various continuities that have defined their dynamic in the minds of fans.
Among all the Robins (Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake, and Damian Wayne) who share Bruce Wayne as a father, only Damian and Jason share a mother-like figure, as Talia al Ghul is responsible for giving both of them ‘life.’
Juni Ba’sThe Boy Wonder#2 continues the fantasticalretelling of Damian Wayne’s Robin origin storythrough Robin’s child-like perspective. Each issue has focused on Damian’s relationship with one of his brothers, with issue #2 highlighting his dynamic with Jason Todd as they team up to hunt down the “demons” responsible for a series of abductions in Gotham City.
This partnership dives deep into their relationship, revealing how similar and interconnected the two Robins are despite their differences. This interconnectedness is further emphasized by their new team name—the Hounds.
Forget the Dynamic Duo: Red Hood and Robin Become the HOUNDS in Juni Ba’sThe Boy Wonder
It’s important to note that the team name “Hounds” isn’t an official duo branding; rather, it reflects Damian’s internal monologue about how he sees himself and Jason.This perception arises when they encounter one of the demons they’ve been tracking, who introduces himself as “Rok.” However, instead ofRobin and Red Hoodfinding this demon, Rok has found them first, catching them off guard since they were expecting to have the upper hand in the confrontation. This initial encounter is further explored through Damian’s internal narration, revealing the similarities between himself and Jason in their reaction to the demon.
Damian notes that had their shared father, Batman, been present, he would have advised them to assess the situation first, scan the battlefield for advantages, and establish a strategy. He then adds, “But tonight the hounds were unsupervised, so like beasts on the prowl, they pounced…” Referring to himself and Red Hood as hounds not only serves as the perfect team name for the duo but also suggests thatDamian sees himself and Jason similarly as creatures driven by primal instincts and impulses, leading them to react before considering potential consequences. Hence, Robin’s choice of the term reflects their shared impulsiveness.
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Jason Todd and Damian Wayne Understand Each Other Better Than Any Other Bat-Family Duo
In addition to highlighting Robin and Red Hood’s shared fatal flaw,The Boy Wonder#2 also brilliantly demonstrates thatJason and Damian understand each other on a level that surpasses other dynamics within the Bat-Family.The deep understanding they share is underscored when Robin, visiting Red Hood’s apartment, inquires about a closed door leading to a seemingly unused room. This prompts Jason to reveal that the room is where he stores things from his past life, particularly those he prefers not to look at. While this revelation could be interpreted literally, it also functions as a metaphor—one that Damian himself can relate to.
After Red Hood’s confession, the art depicts Damian in the aforementioned room, internally acknowledging that he can relate to Red Hood’s expressed sentiment. However, Robin isn’t alone in the darkened room; he is accompanied by a criminal he had (regrettably) beheaded. Hence,the room likely symbolizes the physical manifestation of past sins, misdeeds, and mistakes that both boys regret and mentally try to lock away.Right after this panel, Robin’s internal monologue reveals that Jason reminds him much of himself, further emphasizing that both understand what it’s like to be plagued with regrets of the past.
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Red Hood and Robin Will Always Be Bound Together Through Their Shared Connection to Talia al Ghul
Ba also brilliantly highlights one of Jason and Damian’s most fascinating connections–Talia al Ghul.Talia al Ghul holds a high-ranking position in the League of Assassins, second only to her father, Ra’s al Ghul. She is also one ofBatman’s primary love interests, their relationship resulting in their shared son, Damian Wayne. Talia is responsible for finding Jason after his impromptu resurrection and bringing him to the League. There, she restores his mental faculties by immersing him in one of her father’s Lazarus pits and then trains him in the ways of the League.
Ba introduces this shared connection into the storyline when Robin tentatively asks Red Hood if he has heard from his mother. When Jason questions why he would have heard from Talia, Damian points out his older brother’s connection to her, “she kindly brought you back to life.” This connection between the two is exceptionally fascinating because, among all the Robins (Dick Grayson, Jason, Tim Drake, and Damian) who share Bruce Wayne as a father,only Damian and Jason share a mother-like figure, as Talia is responsible for giving both of them “life.”
Damian and Jason’s connection with Talia also emphasizes Red Hood and Robin’s ties to the League of Assassins, which heavily shaped their morals and worldviews, including their previous and current stances on violence and killing.
Best Jason Todd and Damian Wayne Moments in Comics That Define Their Relationship
While Ba’sThe Boy Wonder#2 does an exceptional job of portraying Damian and Jason’s relationship, some fans may be curious about how the duo’s dynamic has been depicted across mainstream continuity and other continuities within the realm of comics. InBatman: Battle for the Cowl, Damian and Jason had their first major interaction, finding themselves on opposing sides that culminated in Jason shooting Damian point blank in the chest. Later,inBatman Incorporated, the two notably became their own dynamic duo as Wingman and Redbird, although Damian was distraught upon discovering that Wingman was Jason.
In addition to the mainstream continuity, Elseworlds stories have also provided intriguing insights into their relationship. InDC vs. Vampires,Red Hood sacrifices himself for Robin, despite their relationship being depicted as antagonistic in the first issue of the series (Damian referring to Jason as “the crazy one.“Tom Taylor’sDCeasedalso offers a glimpse into what their relationship could evolve into if given time to mature—a bond characterized by mutual respect and brotherly love. Hence, it’s evident thatRed HoodandRobinpossess one of the most intriguing dynamics, deserving of more stories that explore their relationship.
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.
