Summary

• Red Hood points out a humorous difference between Dick and Bruce's Batman that involves Alfred Pennyworth.
• Jason's remarks subtly poke at Dick's Batman-related insecurities, suggesting that he may not measure up to Bruce's standards.
• Red Hood believes Dick has the potential to sur Bruce as Batman due to his untapped anger, highlighting intriguing differences between the two.

In classic Batman. Although it's a trivial discrepancy that has little effect on Dick’s performance as Batman, Jason, like a true little brother, adeptly prods at one of the elder’s biggest insecurities since assuming The Dark Knight’s cowl and cape.

Batman and Robin #25 by Judd Winick, Greg Tocchini, and Andy Smith features Dick and Damian reluctantly teaming up with Jason to rescue Red Hood's former sidekick, Scarlet, who has been abducted by a group seeking leverage over Jason. As the trio travels in the flying Batmobile en route to save Scarlet, Red Hood initiates some unwelcome conversation with the Dynamic Duo.

This prompts Jason to point out that Dick allows Alfred Pennyworth to do something to the Batmobile that Bruce had always forbidden the butler from doing, thus highlighting a humorous difference between their respective incarnations of Batman.

Dick Grayson Lets Alfred Pennyworth Do 1 Thing Bruce Wayne Forbade

Sitting in the flying Batmobile, Jason remarks that the interior smells like “pine,” then incredulously questions Dick, “You actually let Alfred clean the vehicles’ interiors with scented cleaners?” Without waiting for a response, Jason points out that Bruce never permitted Alfred to use scented products during his tenure as Batman to avoid muddling his olfactory senses with artificial scents. Met with silence from both Dick and Damian, Jason continues his monologue, suggesting that Bruce's real reason for banning scented products was because he didn’t want the Batmobile to smell "nice."

This line of reasoning prompts Red Hood to start prodding at Dick’s Batman-related insecurities. He leads into it by suggesting that Batman and "nice" aren't supposed to go together, thus validating Bruce’s decision not to have the Batmobile "stinking like Christmas." However, he follows up that statement by labeling Dick as the "nice" Batman. This juxtaposition, right after emphasizing that Batman shouldn't be nice, ultimately serves as an insult to Dick, implying that he isn’t living up to what Batman should be. Hence, Red Hood’s remarks poke at Dick’s insecurity that he doesn't measure up to Bruce's Batman.

Red Hood Thinks Dick COULD Be a Better Batman Than Bruce For 1 Reason

Jason’s internal monologue later reveals that, despite Dick not currently suring Batman, he believes that Dick has the potential to become an even better Batman than Bruce. However, Red Hood’s reasoning is convoluted, as he suggests that Dick's anger is what could elevate him beyond Bruce. Jason also acknowledges that Dick will never fully release the restraint he holds over his anger, always striving to adhere to Bruce’s standards rather than embracing the "best" version of himself. Hence, Red Hood adeptly highlights two differences between Dick and Bruce’s Batman, one seemingly trivial and the other more profound, yet both insightful.

Batman and Robin #25 is available now from DC Comics.