Jason Todd and Bruce Wayne’s relationship has come a long way since Jason’s return as the vengeful Joker. However, DC appears to be teasing the resurgence of Jason’s deep-seated daddy issues with Bruce—and this time, they’re deadlier than ever. These tensions also echo a pivotal scene from Judd Winick’s Batman: Under the Red Hood, but with a significant twist that promises to shake their dynamic.
...it may be hinting at the return of Judd Winick’s version of Jason Todd if Red Hood is truly picking up guns and resuming his vendetta.
DC’s April solicitations have officially been revealed, spotlighting the highly anticipated release of Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee’s Batman #159, set to hit shelves on April 23, 2025. As the second issue in the sequel to the critically acclaimed Batman: Hush, the issue promises high-stakes drama, with a synopsis teasing: “After the shocking events of the last issue, Batman must make the hardest decision of his life! Guest-starring Nightwing, Batgirl, and Red Hood!”
While the synopsis alone sets the stage for an intense narrative, it’s Jim Lee’s striking main cover that truly grabs attention. The artwork features Red Hood standing triumphantly over the shattered and brutally beaten forms of both the Joker and Batman.
Jim Lee’s Batman Cover Art Teases the Return of Red Hood’s Daddy Issues
Main Cover by Jim Lee for Batman #159 (2025)
Recently, DC has portrayed Bruce and his second-oldest son, Jason Todd, as having a fairly amicable relationship. This has been evident in Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Miguel Mendonça’s Batman and Robin run, as well as Chip Zdarsky’s Batman series, where the duo’s bond appeared relatively healthy and healed. However, Jim Lee’s cover for Batman #159 suggests that their relationship is about to take a dramatic turn. The image depicts Red Hood standing over a bloodied Batman and Joker, armed with literal smoking guns, hinting at a violent confrontation that could unravel their hard-won reconciliation.
While the exact scene depicted on Lee’s cover may not unfold verbatim in the narrative, it undeniably hints at a pivotal confrontation between Batman, Red Hood, and the Joker. The imagery, with Jason potentially responsible for Bruce’s brutal injuries, strongly suggests a resurgence of Red Hood’s infamous "daddy issues," a recurring theme in his tumultuous history. What remains uncertain is the catalyst behind this renewed conflict and how it will reshape Jason’s role as a hero and his place within the Bat-Family.
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Jim Lee Cover Art Echoes Scene in Judd Winick’s Batman: UtRH (But With Revenge-Filled Twist)
Comic Page Comes From Batman: Under the Red Hood TP (2011) – Art by Eric Battle
Fans of Batman: Under the Red Hood may experience a sense of déjà vu when viewing Jim Lee’s cover art, as it strikingly echoes a pivotal scene illustrated by Eric Battle in the UtRH storyline—albeit with a major twist. Both pieces feature a grim portrayal of Batman, Joker, and Red Hood, marked by a brutal beating and blood-soaked floors. However, whereas Battle’s depiction shows Jason bleeding out after having his throat slashed by a batarang thrown by Batman, Lee’s cover flips this, with Bruce and the Joker on the floor, wounded and bleeding.
While Lee’s cover art undeniably shares similarities with Battle’s UtRH scene, particularly in the blood-spattered imagery, there’s a clear role reversal between the two. Hence, these unmistakable parallels strongly suggest that Lee may be teasing a new, character-defining moment between Batman, Red Hood, and the Joker—one where Red Hood might finally succeed in exacting his revenge. However, the true intention behind this echo of Under the Red Hood won’t be revealed until April 23, when we’ll find out if it’s a deliberate homage or simply an uncanny coincidence.
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Main Cover by Jock for Batman: Under the Red Hood Deluxe Edition HC (2023)
Another notable comparison between the scene in UtRH and Lee’s artwork is the use of weapons. In UtRH, Jason bleeds out from a neck wound caused by Batman’s signature weapon, a Batarang. In contrast, Lee’s cover art depicts Red Hood wielding his own signature weapons—guns. This is particularly interesting because Jason hasn’t used guns in quite some time, instead opting for a sword and crowbar. Therefore, not only does this cover tease the return of the bad blood between Batman and Red Hood, but it may also be hinting at the return of Judd Winick’s version of Jason Todd if Red Hood is truly picking up guns and resuming his vendetta.
Batman #159 is available on April 23, 2025, from DC Comics!
