Batman may have a traumatic descent , but he ’s lucky when compare to how his former partner theRed Hoodoriginally began his life as a superhero . Jason Todd was the second Robin , and everyone remembers how hedied at the hands of the Joker . However , not many bonk that the theatrical role had an entirely different origin story when he first come along .

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compose by Gerry Conway and with art by Dan Jurgens , Dick Giordano , Don Newton , and Alfredo Alcala , Detective Comics # 525 - 526presents the 2d Robin ’s initial origin . This variant of Jason Todd is the son of acrobat Joe and Trina Todd , who are approach by Dick Grayson once he learns thatBatman villain Killer Crocis trying to extort money from their circus . Dick ask for their help , and the Todds decide to go look for the missing Croc on their own . Once he learns the Todds have drop dead after Croc , Dick takes Jason back to Wayne Manor while he and Batgirl go off to find his parents . They chase after them to Croc ’s lair at the Gotham Zoo , but find they are too tardy : the Todds have been slay by Killer Croc and thrown to the crocodiles in his lair .   Readers later learn that Croc ’s pet method of carrying out is to crush his victims in an huge bear hug , suggest the Todds ' net moments were truly horrific .

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In many way , this first origin for Jason would help to explain the character ’s dour nature when hereturned years later as the Red Hood . While it ’s traumatic enough to have your parent killed at a young age , recognize that they were vote down by a tops - villain and then fed to crocodiles is an all different matter altogether . It would certainly explain the constant chip on the character ’s shoulder that would by and by become Jason Todd ’s defining dimension , since the Todds were captured in front of Killer Croc ’s associates , meaning their deaths may even have been a public spectacle .

Jason ’s first descent also connects him to his predecessor , as Dick Grayson feels directly responsible for the deaths of the Todds . This tiesRed Hood and Nightwingcloser together , rather than making Jason a random Kyd who take Dick ’s function , much to his surprisal . The fact that Dick extend to adopt Jason after his parents ' grisly fate - only for Bruce to mistreat in rather - also   append a hatful to his fiber , and would be a riveting crease to explore now that both the former Robins have entered adulthood .

Alas , it was not meant to be . In an effort to clean house up persistence and differentiate the character from Dick Grayson , Jason Todd ’s descent was change to the current version and has been officialBatmancanon ever since . However , while the man now know asRed Hoodhas long had things rough , few experiences could be as traumatic as   the origin story he ultimately managed to avoid .

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