Summary
- DC Comics is releasing a new edition of Batman #428, where Robin survives his encounter with the Joker and lives.
- A phone poll by fans determined the fate of Robin in the original storyline, resulting in his death and shaping Batman's future.
- This alternate ending edition of Batman #428 provides a glimpse into what could have been for Jason Todd, without retconning his history as Red Hood.
The most infamous Robin story of all time is getting a twist with a brand-new release from DC Comics. At New York Comic Con, the publisher revealed plans to release a new edition of Batman #428, the issue in which Jason Todd was brutally killed by the Joker. But in this version, the Boy Wonder will survive his harrowing encounter with the Clown Prince of Crime.
If there's one arc that fans from Jason Todd's remarkably short tenure as Robin, it's the "fans voted for Jason Todd's death and comic book history was made.
The storyline was a game-changer for the Batman line. Not only did it pave the way for the Dark Knight to eventually take on Tim Drake as the third Robin, but it was the first step in Jason's eventual transformation into the lethal, gun-toting vigilante, Red Hood.
Robin Lives in Alternate Ending to Polarizing Batman Story
During DC Comics' Gotham City Confidential at New York Comic Con, the publisher announced plans to release a 'faux-simile' edition of Batman #428, the second-to-last chapter of the iconic storyline. However, this comic won't use reuse the usual content where Robin is killed after being locked in an exploding building. Instead, this new release will feature the alternate ending the story would have used had fans voted for Jason Todd to live. The edition of Batman #428 features material from the original “A Death in the Family” creative team of Jim Starlin, Jim Aparo, Adrienne Roy, Mike DeCarlo, and John Costanza.
Hardcore Batman fans may have already known that an alternate ending to Batman #428 was created, even though it was never officially used. Collected editions of the storyline such as Batman: A Death in the Family - The Deluxe Edition has showed off unfinished pages where Bruce stumbles upon the bleeding, but still alive Robin. However, as a completed story, fans have never been privy to the complete alternate issue to one of the most controversial Batman comics ever published. While it won't change history for Jason Todd, it will certainly be an interesting glimpse into the road less traveled for DC's most unfortunate Robin.
DC Comics Releases the Jason Todd Story Fans Have Wanted For Years
At this point, Jason Todd's been Red Hood for far longer than he was ever the Boy Wonder and his murder at the hands of the Joker is a huge part of his character. However, the storyline that sent Jason down the path he walks today nearly didn't happen, leaving fans wondering just how "Death in the Family" would have resolved had he not died. This 'faux-simile' edition of Batman #428 isn't retconning Jason's past. But it is providing a look at what could have been Robin's fate had fans not sentenced him to die at the Joker's hands. The 'faux-simile' edition of Batman #428 featuring the alternate ending will be available on December 12th.
