Sometimes, prequels can help inform readers of the complexities not always present in a character, and this is the case with Robin & Batman: Jason Todd. The three-issue series wraps up this week, showing us the imperfect young Jason trying to be Robin, but being a bit too broken to fit in like Dick Grayson did. In the finale, Jason is put to the test as he joins forces with a vigilante hero who kills. Will Jason kill for the first time, or will Batman’s greatest experiment fail?
If you enjoyed the psychological exploration of Jason in past issues, Robin & Batman: Jason Todd #3 takes it even further. The issue opens with Jason prior to joining Batman as he tries to keep his heroin addicted mother alive. When he finds her dead, he admits something left him for good just as she did. It’s a harrowing start as the series continues to lean into Jason as a broken kid wanting to be better.
The latter part is what lifts this issue, and ultimately the series. We know Jason goes on to become a killer who disagrees with Batman’s ways of doing things, but here we see a younger Jason who hasn’t gone fully over the edge. There’s something in him that Batman sees has potential, and till the very end, we see Batman follow through, believing it. Heck, even Alfred doesn’t see it, which further cements a close bond between Jason and Batman.
The use of bats here is very effective.
Credit: DC Comics
Much of this issue follows Jason under the tutelage of Wraith, who seeks to end a new drug that has hit the streets. Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen make it evident Jason isn’t so sure about his methods with deftly handled reaction shots. Because of this, I never truly believed Jason would take a life, which curbed the tension when choices needed to be made.
The visuals throughout continue to be striking, especially the bat-like nightmares that float amongst Jason when he’s at his lowest. The depression and darkness inside him are articulated well. A showstopper scene has everything cast in red after an alarm sounds, creating a chaotic and dangerous vibe as Jason fights in the smoke. A moment where Wraith and Batman stand over his shoulders is a bit too literal as far as the influences on him, but it certainly gets the point across. Much like the previous issues, multiple pages are gorgeously rendered in watercolor that are worth a look.
Robin & Batman: Jason Todd #3 closes the series with a poignant and beautifully rendered look at a young Robin who never quite fit the mold. While the tension around his choices doesn’t fully land, the issue succeeds in showing Jason’s inner turmoil, his bond with Batman, and the haunting path that will eventually define his legacy.
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