What if Jason Todd Lived? [Batman & Red Hood]

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Tyler Kowalchuk, Taylor Adams, Bonnie Davies, David Flores, Yosh Flores, Brendan Linebarger, Senita Mahoney, Jonathan & Megan Pierson, S.J.R., Dylan Blass-Svedvik, David Adler, Ralph Braganza, Colton Gebben, Sam Kirkham, Lord of Realms, The Side Quest Gamer, Sondre Hille-Krumsvik, Andrew Shaffer, Vydal
Tags: #RedHood #Batman #Robin

[@alexandercromwell3932]

Dude.. One guy changed DC comics forever with just his phone.

[@dcauwatchtower]

Thanks for including our response! Great video, it’s a pretty fun topic to think about.

[@ComicDrake]

You guys made a great point and have an awesome channel so why not? :P

[@mattiesavannahpahl9934]

😘

[@eyeslayugh]

I love both of your channels so much!

[@ESTComicsEvolutions]

Yeah your here.

[@mr.master2017]

Nice u watch comic drake

[@bruh-ur5vw]

He'd probably still be pissed at batman because he didnt kill Joker

[@svaleu]

I was.

[@noahthompson5010]

well he didn't die

[@kurokun5810]

That thumbnail is disturbing. Batman looks as if he's estatic holding that dead kid.

[@NickthePobrecito]

That thumbnail was going to be the cover art for the comic that later became “A Death In The Family” (Where Jason dies), but it would’ve been for the alternate approach where Jason lives. That’s why Bruce looks happy.

[@yvng.pluto_9337]

He breathed in Batman's arms

[@whytho1534]

Actually sometimes when you're so overcome with grief or sadness you start laughing as a coping mechanism because laughter increases dopamine and serotonin levels aka realises happy feelings or intense euphoria so your mind can stop thinking about the all the sad things

[@noahthompson5010]

@@whytho1534 well that was the art for when Jason was alive

[@jjswervo.o]

@@whytho1534 so thats why joker laughs so much

[@jvstice56]

IMO, Jason's death set in motion a LOT of good comic storylines and the implementation of Tim Drake, whom Batman said could become a far greater detective than him. While Jason living wouldn't have been a bad move, as another comic reviewer said: a lot more stories were written with him dead than alive. It also showed that being a sidekick wasn't all fun and games, not counting Roy Harper's drug use back in the 70s. Ultimately, whether it was true or not that the Jason dies calls were rigged, it has served the DC as a whole, though the repeated Revolving Door Policy regarding death is not something I'm a fan of as it removes the belief that death is permanent in comics.

[@NickthePobrecito]

It is true. A while after the whole Jason Todd death “saga” occurred, it was revealed that a man programmed his computer to dial the number every ninety seconds and he ended up casting in over three hundred-eleven votes. He is the man who killed Jason Todd.

[@Gtxgoldennugget]

@@NickthePobrecito since i am literally batman imma find his house and avenge jason

[@haydenweaver8871]

The person who programmed his computer to dial a number second should be behind bars for hacking his computer

[@L0zza]

How about "What if Batman sacrificed himself to save Jason?" I always thought it was a really fascinating scenario to explore.

[@shaunstorey23]

I can see that as a dark multiverse story

[@joseangelgrijalvalozoya1188]

@@shaunstorey23 it got done actually

[@shaunstorey23]

@@joseangelgrijalvalozoya1188 when

[@joseangelgrijalvalozoya1188]

@@shaunstorey23 like 4 days ago in the batman a death in the family interactive animated movie

[@shaunstorey23]

@@joseangelgrijalvalozoya1188 EH i wouldn't count that. I see the dark multiverse story going like this: batman tries to defuse the bomb but fails and jason blames the justice league and he kills them all and plenty other heroes

[@mysticalmonotreme]

Have you considered making this "What if?" on comic book history a series? There's a genre of fiction called, "alternate history" that explores paths not taken (Amazon's "Man in the High Castle" is an example of this, though Germany winning WWII is cliche at this point.) It would be interesting to speculate on how comic book history would be different. Two such points of divergence could be: -Marvel going bankrupt in in the mid-1970s, as what probably would have happened if Marvel didn't license Star Wars. It wasn't until Jim Shooter that Marvel's fortunes improved and speaking of which... -Shooter himself revealed on his blog that there was a brief window where Warner briefly considered licensing its DC characters to Marvel (they would still have the rights, Marvel would be publishing the comics) in 1984. Imagine how the industry would be different then.

[@JangoFox]

Surprised Batman didn't try to build a time machine and cause Flashpoint himself just to save Jason. :P

[@abemulligantralz8806]

He probably knew the consequences of changing something in past. And i think it’ll be more interesting if he just saved his parents instead of Jason

[@razamirza5841]

That would be a legendary elseworlds story

[@KennAKALeo]

There is a lot of behind the scenes stuff you didn't touch on, and would have influenced the outcome. Jim Starlin took the writing reigns of 'Batman' with issue 414. "A Death in the Family" began with issue 426, a year later. Starlin had been vocal about his hatred of the sidekick concept and of Robin. And he spent 12 issues making Jason Todd an unlikable little asshole. He was, as the saying goes, priming the pump. And notably, he stayed on "Batman" exactly one issue after "A Death in the Family" ended. Mission apparently accomplished. So... If Jason had lived, since Starlin wrote "both versions", Jason would have been hospitalised and crippled. Starlin had a desired outcome: getting there to be a Batman without a Robin. If Jason lived, he would have had to retire, the goal was for Batman to be Robin-less. Now, this was less than a year after "The Killing Joke" came out, so we could depend on Starlin having Batman saying "no more sidekicks" with both Barbara and Jason crippled. I suspect much of the story of Batman chasing down the Joker after the explosion would be unchanged, except for Jason's fate. Jason't fate requires a few extra pages. They wouldn't change the whole story. But, Tim Drake was introduced in "Batman" #436. It was only 9 issues since #427 where Jason died! DC started creating a new Robin basically before Jason's fictional body could have gotten metaphorically cold. You see, there was a factor that Starlin, and the fans hadn't counted on: DC Merchandising. The whole reason Jason Todd existed was because DC wanted the "Titans" to have Dick Grayson and "Batman" to have Robin. The Titans were a hot property, and using "the Protector" in the Titans merchandising wasn't fitting the bill. And "Robin" has been the back half of "Batman and" for a long time. The Batman mechandise licensce included Robin. And Robin had to look a certain way. When Tim Drake got his second costume, the merchandise followed suit, but the change wasn't that big. I suspect that Starlin didn't leave "Batman" because he accomplished his mission. I suspect he left because DC told him "so you killed Jason Todd, start working on creating a new Robin." The Save-Jason/Kill-Jason phone lines were a great stunt. It brought that much more attention to DC, and the coming of Jason Todd. And it made DC sit-up and pay attention to what Batman really needed in a Robin. Pre-Crisis Jason Todd was a Dick Grayson clone. Post-Crisis Jason Todd was a thug who grew into an asshole. Tim Drake was made to be distinct from Dick AND Jason. There's no reason to think Jason survivng as a cripple would have changed any of this. Jason would no longer be Robin, and DC Merchandising would still insist on there being an active Robin who looks like what the general populace thought Robin looked like. We still would have gotten Tim Drake. We would not have gotten Carey Kelly as Robin. She wouldn't work for merchandising. Even today, 30 years later there's still a corporate belief that boys don't buy toys of girl characters. End of the day, DC Merchandising is where the money is made. That's where decisions happen.

[@globesnow6377]

i read this whole thing … it was beautiful

[@emperormegaman3856]

I'd add one caveat, it's very likely that execs would have just told Starlin, or any writer after him, to have Jason goes through rehab (or "magic comic book healing if his state wad too bad for that) and eventually regain his mobility. Especially with Barbara being crippled shortly before as you pointed out (it would have been redundant). He might or might have returned to the Robin identity, or taken a new different identity, but he would have likely not stayed handicapped. Also worth noting, even without DC execs deciding to create a new Robin after Jason's death / retirement, you can be sure an other writer who didn't agree with Starlin dislike of Sidekick would have created one their own, that's just how comic book goes.

[@Justlookin48]

Given the tittle of the story, "A Death in the Family", I think kirbystarwarrior is right in that Batman would fire Jason as Robin to protect him, or he would be permanently disabled like Barbara was later.

[@erikthomsen4768]

That didn’t stop Barbara. In fact she became far more competent and wise over the years. Jason Todd is an interesting case. Back in the day when DC actually used character as Robin, the 'civilized' people of Gotham beat the living crap out of the Boy Wonder. But that incarnation of Jason was just as passionate as Bruce. And he refused to leave Bruce alone on the battlefields of Gotham. Jason Todd knew exactly what kind of hell the people of Gotham City was living in. So it doesn’t surprise me that he would do everything in his power to help. Even with a broken body.

[@NickthePobrecito]

Actually, in the comic “A Death in the Family”, Bruce said that he was thinking about making Jason step down as Robin for a short period of time to really help him come to grasp with the death of his parents. I also think that if Bruce saved Jason then he would’ve made him sit out for a bit to recuperate.

[@rorylumley4727]

I heard the idea was jason would recover quit being robin and leave. Which means killing him made him more prominant.

[@NickthePobrecito]

Well, in “A Death In The Family”, Bruce states that he wants Jason to step down as Robin for a bit to really come to grasp with the death of his parents, so either way, I think that if Bruce saved Jason then he would take a small break as Robin to recuperate.

[@lopresti101]

If Jason Todd had lived and survived to never become Red Hood, the changes would be larger than the comics themselves. See, Jason dying wasn't just the catalyst for Robin, it was Batman too, and how we see him in the popular culture. "The Dark Knight Returns" and "Watchmen" did change the view of comics as a whole, but "A Death In The Family" changed Batman and others throughout the main continuity DC universe (other than Crisis OIE). That darker tone completely overpowered and changed the Adam West like goofy Batman we all know of. Hell, did you know in the following issue after Jason died, Joker became the Iranian Ambassador and had diplomatic immunity so Batman couldn't touch him after he had killed Jason. He then dies in a helicopter crash while Superman was on the scene. Because of this, years later that story was changed and toned down (removing Jason's mother, Superman and the Iranian government) to be a deconstruction of why kids shouldn't be superheroes, with Jason just getting kidnapped and killed on duty. If Jason didn't die, who knows, we'd probably still be humming the Adam West tunes. There'd probably be no "89 Batman" or "The Dark Knight", and the industry would move forward without Batman being the biggest thing on the planet. So is it good that he died? Yes. But I think there needs to be another tone down in the right places. Particularly with how his death is presented in the medium and in what it is in the DCEU. I love Robin as a character, and I love Batman being dark and interesting, but the yin and yang part of it is what made Batman and Robin spectacular. Like Sherlock and Watson, two sides to coin, but one side can be solo every now and then, not all the time. And I don't wanna see a kid get tortured and gang raped in prison by clowns or an R rated Batman movie. Theres nothing edgy or good about that. It's a good dark and cathedral film because it's a good film first and understands that Jason Todd dying and what that means for him and Batman, is more than just Shock Value. At least thats what I would hope a good Batman and Robin film to be not directed by Joel Schumacher.

[@Eagercheetah20]

I wish DC would have released the version of the comic where Jason lives many years after the original where he died so we could have found out

[@andrewquick4176]

I ADORED Jason as Robin. He was soooooo very different to what we had seen before from sidekicks and I found his anger at the world relatable I do think that if he survived they would have had him learn from the experience and become more of a regular sidekick (which would have made him boring) Without his death we wouldn’t have gotten Tim (who was created to be be everything Jason wasn’t due to the perceived unpopularity of Jason). However I have no idea why the hell people think that Jason would have become Batman long term or that he would still become an anti-hero. DC would definitely have changed Jason after his near death. I loved that he was brought back (although the Under The Red Hood film has the best backstory of Ras wanting to make amends with Bruce and by bringing him back. It adds a lot of depth to Ras which some writers seem to miss) However I hate the Red Hood name and don’t think Jason would use it. Jason should have been Hush (as Tommy’s backstory is one of the worst in serious villain history). Jason should have kept his Hugh look and either kept that name or been called Red X And they should have kept that Batman killed a villain (although letting the KGBeast starve to death in the sewers is too far)

[@dcmarvelcomicfans9458]

Yeah it was something new with the time but you keep doing the same thing it gets annoying I didn't think you was that bad of a robin as people making out to be I also felt Tommy Elliott's backstory for why he hates Bruce is a big week so you're mad that you let one of your parents live so you wouldn't inherit the money earlier that's a bit weak but I still like him as a villain yeah I felt he should become Red X because that character is so cool it would be an awesome seem as

[@jsb6975.ah.crapbaskets]

I'm kind of fond of the idea that Jason becomes the Arkham Knight in the timeline he wasn't killed by the Joker.

[@MasterTemplar781]

in the death in the family interactive movie we got something like this showing jason becoming this kinda hush persona killing criminals after just seeing his hatred for bruce grow while he was in a hospital bed

[@Stara1402]

We would never get Tim Drake and Red Hood!Jason Todd and that's why I don't think that killing him was the wrong choice (but still very cruel)

[@benjaminkellog7311]

Shoutout to Watchtower Database for reading my mind. The potential impact of Jason surviving into the era of BTAS is a subject I feel would have radically altered the DCAU and superhero material on TV in general. For instance, would the events of "Robin's Reckoning" have played out differently? I'm picturing essentially Tim Drake's origin episode (which, for his animated incarnation at least, was deliberately cribbed from Jason's post-Crisis origin, go figure), but with Dick hovering in the background slowly growing jealous over this new kid Bruce is doting on and seemingly grooming to be a "backup" Robin. (I assume Bruce would bring Jason into the fold because he sees a bit of himself in the young orphan, perhaps a glimpse of what he might have become had he not dedicated himself to the crusade against crime.) Dick tries to act more impressively in the Robin role, but keeps getting upstaged by the somewhat more competent Jason. In an inverse of their personalities in the comics, Dick flies off the deep end and becomes an insanely brutal Nightwing (well, as brutal as Fox standards and practices would allow, maybe not bones crunching, but certainly indications that this episode's bad guys won't survive the night), and Jason tries to make him see he's going about this all wrong. Ultimately, Dick leaves the family and begins life as a reckless vigilante, and Jason reluctantly takes up the Robin mantle and struggles to reconcile the Bat-Legacy with his own troubled upbringing. Somewhere down the line, I expect a Dick/Jason showdown that takes three or four episodes to resolve, something somewhat like "Return of the Joker" or the Robin/Slade relationship on "Teen Titans" in tone.

[@rarm5899]

Would’ve been nice to hear Drake’s quick thoughts on each of the responses on Twitter instead of just reading them.

[@jadenbryant9283]

Probably didn’t have time

[@DanteYewToob]

3:47 “really an ASSet” I see you Drake… I see you. ;D

[@Kamen536]

DC make a what if story if this happening

[@dcmarvelcomicfans9458]

Yeah

[@NickthePobrecito]

Well, your wish has been granted. Kind of ironic.

[@soundwave1689]

Just imagine hating someone so much you spend 160 just to see them killed.

[@TevyaSmolka]

personally i thought jason todd death was fine because we got tim drake robin out of his death which was really awesome because tim drake was my robin i grew up with and was way more interesting then jason todd robin but that's just my opinion

[@dcmarvelcomicfans9458]

You're not the only one who thinks that lots of people loved tim drake as Robin and when it became Red Robin it was a big deal because we got Damian Wayne which is the second favorite Robin third is Dick Grayson

[@prophet1390]

I’m going to find the hidden Booster Gold Edit: I can’t find it, anyone have any better luck?

[@victor0491]

then he would've become something like oracle and Carrie Kelly was the next ROBIN

[@spacesapphic637]

I remember seeing a post a while back saying that had Jason lived he would have been the most functional child out of all of them and would have finished school. I'm not sure about more functional, but I do think he would have gotten a degree. Maybe he'd be an English teacher by day and vigilante by night. I feel like Tim would still become Robin next, maybe Bruce not avenging Jason would strain their relationship, or being Robin wouldn't be great for him emotionally. Or maybe he'd just grow out of it. But I think if he quit, it would have a negative effect on Bruce and he'd slowly become more violent with nobody to pull him back (to add to the angst, let's say he's still on bad terms with Dick). Tim would pop up and become Robin, there would be side-eyeing from Jason and ideally, character development for all. That all being said, I'm chill with him dying in the main universe. I'm always down for character development and that panel of Jason digging himself out of his grave is like an emotional sucker punch so hell yeah.

[@CitizenCage69]

If Todd didn't die we wouldn't have the red hood we know today

[@dcmarvelcomicfans9458]

Yeah

[@bryantirva6679]

Kombat- Wacky I don’t believe so. The New 52 changed many origins. I feel with how the New 52 went Jason would die and we’d get the Red Hood half way through the New 52 or in Rebirth, but pre-New 52 Red Hood.

[@erikthomsen4768]

True. But perhaps we could have gotten something more interesting than a character that fulfilled every nemesis and jealous apprentice trope. Well we won’t get to see that Since DC has abandoned both the pre and post crisis incantation of the 2nd Robin.

[@theghostofjeffgoldblumdail9613]

I came back to this video after watching the new Batman death in the family trailer, and I must say, I think it’s ironic that back in the day people hated jason and voted for him to die, come October, everyone loves Jason (or they’ve seen under the red hood and they don’t want to just watch that movie again no change, though it would be cool if that was possible if you made the right decisions) and they’ll pick to have him survive

[@frogmouth2]

I really doubt dc would do a telephone poll to decide if Jason dies or not just to kick him out anyways. That would completely destroy the integrity of the vote. People were made that Jason Todd was robin, not that he was alive. He might have taken a break as robin before realizing that it’s his calling or something. Maybe something to do with family cuz I remember the storyline had his mother bribed to bait him out or joker posing as his mother to bait him out. they might have tried to rectify some of the issues people had with him and make him more like a guy Gardner type like you said. And if they absolutely had to get him out of the bat family picture, he’d probably become a vigilante all about street smarts, maybe going undercover to take down crime bosses from the inside or something… actually wait this was the 90s, he would have just shot everyone and everything still.

[@eduardooliveira2890]

I liked this format, don’t worry, you’re great! Great thought exercise.

[@ervin1822]

Would batman have been more or less violent?

[@dcmarvelcomicfans9458]

Most likely less violent

[@thesoundoffear]

I have one arc in mind where Jason surviving might have negligibly affected the future timeline. Jason would definitely need a while for recuperation, considering the seriousness of his injuries. Maybe even be in a coma for a while! Meanwhile, Batman would double his work rate and grow even more secluded. In the meantime, Tim Drake can be introduced as someone keeping tabs on Batman's change in recent activities. Possibly more violent and active than usual. Tim would confront Batman, revealing that he knows his secret identity, as well as why his modus operandi might have changed. He would want to be Robin, like in actual continuity. But would get rejected, time and time again. So much so that he begins to shadow Batman and fight crime by himself, irking Batman in the process. Meanwhile, Jason gets better, still haunted by the events as well as feeling abandoned by Bruce, due to his continued absence. This might negativity stir his psyche, adding to the fact that Batman decides to work alone and the joker still causing mayhem in Gotham. He would eventually cut ties with Batman altogether and would don the red hood mantle after going off radar for a while. Then, when his activities finally causes some concern to Batman, he would want to face him, unwillingly teaming up with Tim in the process, who would by this time, be already hot on the heels of Jason. Then the showdown! Something like this...

[@TheBohobemeister]

As always, wonderful video!

[@TheCreepypro]

never really thought about it so I'm not personally sure but it was fun to hear your and everybody else's speculation

[@kingcyclops4079]

I think Jason would recover and become super vengeful and try to kill the Joker. Either he kills Joker and leaves Batman or Batman stops Jason, they have a fight and Jason leaves becoming his own vigilante and probably leaving Gotham.

[@randomfox7261]

if Jason lived, Tim would have no reason to reveal to Batman & Nightwing that he knows there identities, although as his dad was a Two-Face henchman maybe Tim would become Spoiler or another vigilante name to help.

[@jsb6975.ah.crapbaskets]

Tim's father was only Two-Face's henchman in the DCAU. That Tim was always more Jason Todd than comic Tim Drake.

[@briarinnes2397]

You did a good job on the MrCreepyPasta vid

[@ComicDrake]

Oh, it's finally out?! :O The last time I recorded lines for his channel was like a month and a half ago.

[@leemuleemu7915]

This should be like an elseworld's or like a what if? -like stoyline to read though

[@cheesier5153]

WDB was included in this? Ok that’s cool

[@Lindsay-nx5sv]

Jason Todd had the second longest superhero death after Barry Allen the Flash. 17 years (1988-2005) was a long wait for him to return to comics. However, it gave ample time for fans to fall in love with Tim Drake and watch him come into his own.

[@MrWetty01]

Hey Drake I don't know if it's normal but the logo for the sponsor at the end ( 6:50 ) only stays around for a fraction of a second. Just wanted to let you know in case it wasn't.

[@joeker5208]

More than possible that he would’ve just been put into a Soap Opera coma, and we probably still would’ve gotten Tim Drake. DC/Batman Editorial was trying go back to basics with the third Robin. I think it’s still more than possible that Tim Drake would’ve been Robin, while Jason just slept in the background. Maybe he would’ve woken back up in the 90s. Maybe he would’ve been Hush. Maybe he would’ve gone missing and Under The Hood would’ve still played out. I do think whether he lived or not, he would’ve been shelved regardless

[@jakepalermo9181]

I'd like to think Jason would've been in a coma even if he survived. Would've stayed that way for a long time too, maybe become the Red Hood even.

[@Kobolds_in_a_trenchcoat]

I really wish Tim drake could get an identity more unique than red Robin. It just feels too close to a sidekick to be unique and too unique to let him be a real sidekick either.

[@jomathmaximo3135]

He became The JOKER

[@dcmarvelcomicfans9458]

Well they could give him the Red X identity

[@dcmarvelcomicfans9458]

Or at least redesign the Red Robin costume

[@MadameKasumi]

I think it would’ve been interesting if Jason didn’t die, they still could’ve introduced Tim just way later. Switch Tim and Damien’s introductions to where Jason is in recovery when Talia sends Damien to Bruce (maybe because she thinks Jason is dead?) and then Tim comes in and out of the comics every so often until Bruce “Dies” then Tim does his thing of bringing Bruce back. Do to this he gets to become a member of the batfam after trying for ages. A TON of stuff would have to be changed, I’m aware, but since this is all hypothetical it would work.

[@capitaljbcomics3738]

awesome video buddy !!! new sub here keep up the good work JB

[@jonathanelvey2444]

That one guy is the real guy to birth redhood

[@MatthewPrower]

as of “robin lives” it’s pretty obvious they wanted to write him out asap regardless; but idk if tim drake’d come into form

[@matthewwriter9539]

4:30 He looks like Superman for a moment there.

[@timgersh6787]

i know if Jason lived i dont think id love him as much. Redhood is just the greatest

[@dcmarvelcomicfans9458]

Agreed I must have written this personality again

[@taivitolo4482]

Good video man

[@adamquenano8563]

Batman would learn less and no Tim Drake

[@JoahTheThread5ive]

Well, there is a chance he would have left on his own accord like Tim Drake. Or maybe Batman makes him retired. Tim Drake could still be a Robin.

[@JamesGraham1974]

My understanding, and I have to admit I can't find a source, was that Tim Drake was already being developed to replace Jason and so he'd have ended up as Robin regardless of whether Jason lived or not. But I do wonder if Jason would have effectively replaced Azrael/Jean-Paul Valley in the Knightfall series if he'd lived.

[@Mk-1379]

if dc still has the art and scripts of jason living they should make that a special “what if” issue,, i would buy it 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@ronanthesuperginger]

YES THE WATCHTOWER DATABASE ARE IN THIS VIDEO

[@brigspearman2171]

My question that Ending Batman Arkham knight he said to Jason Todd saying you’re gonna be the Robin neck he did say that

[@PathsUnwritten]

Real question, would he have gotten proper trousers sooner? Bruce dressing his boys in tiny fishscale undies is weird.

[@jhonandrews2674]

For Jason, I think either more or less the same thing would happen, he’d be mad Batman didn’t kill Joker and Dc would dive heavy into that and mature him into the red hood, or, they’d dial it way back and make him way better at temper and impulse control and all that, ultimately tho, I think he’d still get the axe because Jason didn’t add anything in particular, and they coulda just pulled a comics moment and add some new aspect to his character aside from the two I mentioned to attempt to enrich his character but I think they’d ultimately get rid of him because I think no matter what way they cut it they’d still want a Tim Drake-like character/dynamic with Bats, because Tim has more character, and even if they did change Jason, unless they just made him like Tim, Tim’s side of the Dc lore would be untouched, I also think they’d go all in and make Jason Red Hood still

[@alexzamudio9239]

Would superboy prime' s punch effect someone else. I mean by him punching reality so hard it brought Jason back in his original revival.

[@RobinDJoker]

Actually, I think Jason would have eventually become Red Robin after a few more years as Robin. Since Tim Drake likely wouldn't be around, and Jason wouldn't become Red Hood if he had lived, chances are he would have become Red Robin instead of Tim.

[@aersback4496]

And Tim would be batkid instead of Robin

[@mcnugget8927]

Finally someone who is talking about this topic

[@paperplate09]

Cool watchtower database answered

[@Batmanbeyyond]

It would be cool DC to have their own what if comics like marvel like what if Bruce Wayne parents were never murdered or Clark Kent wasn't raised by Jonathan and Martha Kent!

[@triangulous5758]

Elseworld

[@redkomic]

dc really need their own What if? series.

[@soundofmadness595]

The important question is what about his mother would he still be close with her

[@dcmarvelcomicfans9458]

You mean basically sending him to his death and also pulling a gun on him just to keep her secret that she's embezzling money yeah nah feel bad he didn't get to spend any time with her but he may resent her at the same time

[@paulavidal5991]

Personally, I'm not sure if she would have survived, but I do believe that is worth pointing out that Jason die trying to save her, in that moment he didn't care that she had done horrible things to him he die trying to be a hero...so I do believe is a possibility he would have forgiven her, maybe we can even take the act of trying to save her as a prove that he did forgive her....That being said, I'm not sure they would have a good relation if both have survived, and that's because for the little I know from her, she didn't care for jason, she even acts like she doesn't feel any pity for Jason while the Joker is hitting him with the crowbar... there is a possibility that maybe if he manage to save her, she might have a change of heart, and she would have changed how she treated him, but again there is no way knowing this for sure

[@SQGReviewShow]

Oh cool! Watchtower Database's tweet got read. His DCAU centered youtube content is amazing!

[@mattiesavannahpahl9934]

😘

[@eman2863]

Can we all agree it's creepy as hell when they make Batman smile ?

[@dcmarvelcomicfans9458]

Yes

[@Sable-Industries]

My tweet didn't make it in the video :(

[@erikthomsen4768]

Hello. Can you post it here?

[@yashmakesstuff]

jeez that guy really didnt like jason todd🤣

[@Livey_SM]

(Outside of vigilante stuff) he’d grow up get a scholarship to Gotham university and English major and he would help kids from crime alley find scholarships and a way out

[@imincrediblyboredbored8628]

I think jason would become batman instead of azrael during knightfall and he would just possibly use guns

[@jakester877]

That thumbnail man

[@dylanballog1139]

I feel if Jason lived he wouldve became Red Robin

[@unbornking19]

Or Red Robin Hood

[@dylanballog1139]

@@unbornking19 that would make any sense cus the only reason he took up the name red hood was because he died by the hands of the joker the ex redhood and in a multiverse comic were Jason died and traveled to another world it was said that Bruce designed the Red Robin suit for Jason as he got older so he can fight the war against crime but died before he got to war it. Also in the death in the family movie if you pick the options were Jason lives he becomes Red Robin and is willing to kill until he meets Tim who sets him straight

[@unbornking19]

@@dylanballog1139 nah it was a little red riding hood joke

[@akvelo9862]

I would be believe Batman would have treated Jason like he did Tim in Batman Beyond The Joker Returns making him retire and trying to not have as anymore robins by saying "this is my war I shouldn't have brought you in as I believe that I would have lost myself if you were to be killed"

[@ginge641]

Before I watch the video, I think he would have still left Bruce and became a line vigilante employing lethal force. The difference would be that he wouldn't call himself the Red Hood and would be more emotionally stable from the start.

[@nirast2561]

Wait, no one has written an elseworld story about this so far? I fell like that's a missed opportunity. Sidenote, Drake, are you still using the DC app? How do you find it?

[@dcmarvelcomicfans9458]

Agreed just think of the possibilities of him still being around

[@corbinowens2437]

i love Watchtower Database

[@luizneto727]

Same

[@mattiesavannahpahl9934]

We love you guys back!

[@reckszkingzactivitiesrkat.4134]

Everything happened for a reason 💯

[@rancidrylan5460]

He'd keep being a bad Robin till he was fired by batman then he'd try to get revenge and fail.

[@densealloy]

When adjudting for inflation that 1988 $160 is $346 in 2019. That paints a different picture from dedication to obsession.

[@Artista_Frustrado]

considering how unpopular Jason was, chances are he would stop being Robin anyway, but instead of being dead & vengeful it would be because Batman would be even harsher on the whole No-Kill rule, that being said he would be less focused on the Joker so probably it would be closer to The Arkham Knight ... either that or they would just kill him later

[@davincent98]

Then he would be a guitarist in Shinedown

[@asce2crazy]

I wonder If that dude who spent the 160 dollars is pissed they brought jason back or if he thinks Red hoods cool

[@fight8238]

Man so ther is one guy who execute jason Tod in real life

[@youngmaverick8702]

I feel like Batman with fire Jason after he recovered due to the fear of almost losing him to Joker. And after being fired jason would probably be even more angry and go after the Joker giving a semi red hoods in area without actually using Red Hood.

[@moviehoarder8382]

Wait You Live In Dallas Texas Buddy:)

[@josuepf3730]

I think Jason would get mad at Batman for letting the joker alive, Jason abandons Batman and Jason would become a lonely hero, I think Jason would leave robin's cloak and become red hood but in a different way, it would only be a question of time for jason to kill the joker.

[@kacperx5053]

please provide the title of the film in your next shorts

[@fabiangamboa1714]

More whatifs could be cool!

[@dumpsterproductions7465]

Marvel fans: well there is a movie about that it’s interactive right Dc fans: well I’m here to see what will happen if he lived in the comics MF: didn’t they do that Me: bruh

[@Mr587098]

I don't remember where I read this strip and wasn't sure if it was canon but Jason Todd was meant to be in a coma if he did live from Death in the family. I felt like I read it somewhere in a Batman comic but not sure

[@PatrickZysk]

tl;dr I rewrite a lot of Batman continuity starting with Knightfall all the way to New 52; Wall of Text imminent I think the next major divergence in the Batman timeline would have been Knightfall. Unlike Tim Drake, Jason would have leapt at the chance to become Batman. I could see a battle for the cowl type event happening right then and there, as Dick comes to believe that though he didn't initially want it, he sees Jason's Batman and disapproves to such a degree that he feels obligated to relieve Jason of the title. Or maybe Jason does a great job as Batman and Bruce becomes a mission control type character to Jason, instead of needing to take the mantle back from Azrael by force. Tim Drake could still exist as well, but a little later in the timeline. As Jason gets more aggressive and violent (maybe he kills the Joker?), Tim still tracks Dick Greyson down and asks him to be Robin again, not realizing that the mantle has changed hands. Dick isn't comfortable being Robin to Jason, so Tim goes on to fill the role himself. During Infinite Crisis, Superman-prime's infamous continuity punch could resurrect the Joker instead, who (re)takes the name of Red Hood to get revenge on Jason, while also using the Joker persona to play mind games with him. Under the Hood is Joker (as Red Hood) vs. Jason vs. Black Mask, instead of Bruce vs. Jason vs. Black Mask. Bruce gets the Joker's note about Jason (instead of the other way around,) and has to don the cowl once more to save Jason from the Joker. Jason takes the identity of the Red Hood for himself (as a f*ck you to the Joker,) Bruce goes back to being Batman, and continuity continues essentially as normal from there. Alternatively, Jason stays Batman and is the one who dies in Final Crisis, and Bruce and Dick fight over who gets to be Batman. Dick still wins, and Bruce shifts focus to Batman Inc. Jason comes back, cedes Batman to Dick, and becomes Red Hood through plot contrivance involving Joker's Red Hood disguise, which maybe Bruce has kept along with the stuff from when Joker died (instead of Jason's Robin costume?) Of course, then New 52 happens and who knows what they do with that. Jason has been Batman so long at this point in my ramble that they maybe give Batman back to him instead of Bruce. I'm rewriting so many little bits of the Batman mythos in my head right now, and I can't possibly put it all down here, so I'll just thank you for coming this far, and leave you with a what if, since Bruce is essentially Oracle in this version of the story. What if Barbara Gordon isn't crippled by the Joker, doesn't become Oracle, and instead goes on to become Batwoman with her very own Robin, Carrie Kelley?

[@jsb6975.ah.crapbaskets]

I think the events of Knightfall can still go down, but as a battle for the cowl between Jason and Valley. I don't think Dick would be too heavily involved in Bat related events for a while in this timeline since Jason's death was a big part of motivating Dick to reconcile with Bruce. I think the events of the Killing Joke should be the catalyst for Batman Jason killing Joker. Tim Drake would be following him at the time and sees Batman deal out the killing blow to the Joker and that is what causes him to take action and start pushing for the return of Robin, ultimately taking the role himself. The question now is: who becomes Batman's nemesis for the rest of Jason's run as Batman? Personally, I'd like it to be Lincoln March as head of the Court of Owls (or Ra's and the League, either works). With the stuff between Dick and William Cobb being what causes Dick to start reconnecting with the Bats this time around, and Jason and Dick's relationship begins to improve (not exactly brotherly, but on good terms all the same) until Jason gets taken out by Darkseid. Bruce and Tim are hit hardest by the grief and Dick becomes the next Batman with no battle for the cowl needed since Bruce at this point would be helping Tim on his investigation because he'd be desperate for proof that Jason could still somehow be alive. The real question is: what about Damian? He'd be the one most affected by these changes, after all. When Dick becomes Batman he won't be as intent on making Damian Robin here since Bruce is still alive and gave up the cowl a ways back. Jason Todd as Batman would absolutely not put up with Damian's shit either, especially after he tries to kill Tim and would be quick to start humbling him. Damian here wouldn't have a chance at being a superhero until Tim is ready to give up the Robin mantle on his own terms.

[@alanporter4372]

My headcanon if Jason survived, Batman would have forbidden him from being Robin until he was an adult. Jason would have recovered and not only resented Bruce but wanted revenge on the Joker. Nothing but anger and rage in him he killed the joker making it Jason’s one bad day turning him into the new joker because in the end we become what we hate the most

[@bibbyboxx2219]

Jason would’ve been done as Robin even if he did survive. Most of the writers and fans disliked him. Killing him off was an excuse to get rid of him, there’s no way Jim Starlin would go through all that work in setting up a storyline to kill him if he was all fine and dandy and back to being Robin a couple issues later. He probably would’ve just quit being Robin. Hell, maybe Tim would’ve came along regardless.

[@groblivsochbauggr]

then humanity would have one less action to proove that they are sociapthic when anonymos

[@BrownsFan4Life]

Technically he lived somehow cause red hood

[@0127sasuke]

He would still become red hood. He was set on that path long before the crobar hit. He was always aggressive. He always had little faith in the "right" way. Alive or dead, that event would still be a major part of his life growing up and hed still have good reason to be pissed at joker. And if Bruce wouldn't let him do things his way then hed have to find a new identity to do it. Red hood would still have the same impact because hes still pissed at joker. If he didnt die then Bruce would simply fire him. Hed have good reason to because he still could've died and he shouldn't have been in that situation. It would solve the problem without killing a child The only difference would be that he wouldn't go insane like he was at first. No trying to kill Tim drake (if he even exists) or Mia dearden or dick or any hero. Hed be the more punisher like character that made him popular now

[@gaminreasons8941]

As fucked up as it is, it was probably for the best that the guy that spent 160 dollars did what he did. Jason dying set forth very important character development aswell as giving us Red Hood, the unliving proof of Batman's flaws.

[@DylweedWasTaken11]

Do you think superman should be able to break green lantern's constructs? Is Superman's physical strength stronger than GL's willpower?

[@nero_yama6071]

What if Jason Todd became the Red Knight

[@bigfionn8514]

What if, while being beaten, he got the power to be immune to crowbars?

[@dcmarvelcomicfans9458]

that's not a superpower I think me built up immunity to pain yes