The Red Hood was one of the splashiest Batman villains to appear in the 2000’s, calling back to a legacy of DC Comics history thought forgotten.
Let me note right up front that if you don’t know the secret of the Red Hood, and don’t want it spoiled, you should absolutely jump straight ahead to Judd Winick and Doug Mahnke’s Batman: Under the Red Hood
Through a substantial amount of Batman pop culture, most semi conscious Bat fans likely know the origins of the Red Hood by this point, and you all can check out all Red Hood appearances, as well as the Batman comics that explain the history of the character and the mask.
Enjoy the comics!
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The Red Hood List of DC Comics
A New Robin – Enter Jason Todd (Robin in the 1980’s)
Collects: Batman #402-403, #408-416 And Batman Annual #11
These comics mark the debut of Batman’s second Robin, after Richard Grayson moved on from the role and grew into his own with the New Teen Titans as Nightwing.
Collects: Batman #425 To #429
Jim Starlin and Marv Wolfman’s famous story in which they actually asked readers if Jason Todd, Robin, should live or die at the hands of the Joker!
Batman: A Lonely Place of Dying
Collects: Batman #440-442 & New Titans #61,62
Bruce Wayne copes with the fallout of A Death in the Family.
Who Is The Red Hood? Batman Comics Explaining The Red Hood Origins
Collects: Detective Comics #155 to #171
Most notably, this Batman Archives collection includes Detective Comics #168, a story titled “The Man Behind the Red Hood.”
This is the earliest known reference to the Red Hood and explains the DC history behind the costume and symbol.
Alan Moore and Brian Bolland’s increasingly controversial original graphic novel details the origins of the Joker, including his time as a smalltime criminal involved with a certain red hood.
The early 2000’s graphic novel from Ed Brubaker and Doug Mahnke takes another look at the first meeting between Batman and the Joker.
Enter The New Red Hood (Mid 2000’s)
Collects: Batman #635-641, #645-50 And Batman Annual #25
2004 publication. Judd Winick and Doug Mahnke dive deep into Robin history to create a new villain for Batman. An instant classic that has been made into a DC animated movie, and used as source material for elements of Batman v Superman and the video game Batman: Arkham Knight
Batman: Red Hood – The Lost Days
Collects: Red Hood: The Lost Days #1 To #6
Collects: Nightwing #118 To #122
The Red Hood tracks down Nightwing.
The Red Hood & A New Batman (Late 2000’s)
Collects: Batman: Battle For The Cowl #1-3, Gotham Gazette: Batman Dead? #1 And Gotham Gazette: Batman Alive? #1
In the wake of Grant Morrison and J.G. Jones DC Universe event, Final Crisis
Batman & Robin, Vol. 1: Batman Reborn
Collects: Batman & Robin #1-6
A part of the Grant Morrison Batman reading order, this marks the beginning of Dick Grayson’s time as Batman, and Damian Wayne’s official start as Robin. In the second story arc, the Red Hood serves as the primary antagonist after Professor Pyg.
Collects: Batman Incorporated #1 To #8, Batman Incorporated: Leviathan Strikes #1
Loosely connected to the Red Hood, although he will play a role as Morrison continues his run on the series.
New 52 Red Hood Comics
For a complete view of how all these Robin comic book fit within the DC Universe as a whole, I recommend Comic Book Herald’s complete DC New 52 reading order.
Red Hood and the Outlaws Vol. 1: REDemption
Collects: Red Hood And The Outlaws #1 To #6
Red Hood and the Outlaws Vol. 2: The Starfire
Collects: Red Hood And The Outlaws #7 To #12
Batman Incorporated Vol. 1: Demon Star
Collects: Batman Incorporated #0-6
Morrison’s Batman run continues (and ultimately concludes) in the New 52, with Jason Todd making occasional appearances throughout.
Batman, Vol. 4: Zero Year – Secret City
Batman Vol. 5: Zero Year – Dark City
Collects: Batman #21 to #33
Not a Red Hood story like you’d expect, but the Snyder and Capullo ‘Zero Year’ narrative details the origins of the actual first Red Hood and Red Hood gang in Gotham.
Red Hood and the Outlaws Vol. 3: Death of the Family
Collects: Red Hood And The Outlaws #0, #14 To #17 And Teen Titans #15-16
Batman Incorporated Vol. 2: Gotham’s Most Wanted
Collects: Batman Incorporated #7-13 And Batman Incorporated Special #1
The end of Grant Morrison’s Batman run, and his time creating and writing Damian Wayne!
Red Hood and the Outlaws Vol. 4: League of Assassins
Collects: Red Hood And The Outlaws #19-24 And Annual #1
Red Hood and the Outlaws Vol. 5: The Big Picture
Collects: Red Hood And The Outlaws #27-31 And Dc Universe Presents #17-18
Red Hood and the Outlaws Vol. 6: Lost and Found
Collects: Red Hood And The Outlaws #32-34 And Annual #2
Red Hood and the Outlaws Vol. 7: Last Call
Collects: Red Hood And The Outlaws #35-40
Collects: Red Hood/Arsenal #1-6
Collects: Robin War #1-2, Robin: Son Of Batman #7, Grayson #15, Detective Comics #47, We Are Robin #7, Gotham Academy #13, Red Hood/Arsenal #7 And Teen Titans #15
Robin War Reading Order:
Robin War #1
Grayson #15
Detective Comics #47
We Are Robin #7
Red Hood / Arsenal #7
Robin: Son of Batman #7
Gotham Academy #13
Teen Titans #15
Robin War #2
Robin: Son of Batman #8
Red Hood/Arsenal Vol. 2: Devil’s Daughter
Collects: Red Hood/Arsenal #7 To #13
DC Rebirth Red Hood Comics
For a look at how Red Hood fits into the entire DC Rebirth universe, you can check out Comic Book Herald’s complete DC Rebirth reading order.
Red Hood and the Outlaws Vol. 1: Dark Trinity
Collects: Red Hood & The Outlaws: Rebirth #1, Red Hood & The Outlaws #1 to #6
Red Hood & The Outlaws Vol. 2: Who is Artemis?
Collects: Red Hood & The Outlaws #7 to #11
Red Hood & The Outlaws Vol. 3: Bizarro Reborn
Collects: Red Hood & The Outlaws #12 to #18, Annual #1
Red Hood & The Outlaws Vol. 4: Good Night Gotham
Collects: Red Hood & The Outlaws #19 to #25
Red Hood: Outlaw Vol. 1: Requiem for an Archer
Collects: Red Hood: Outlaw #26 to #31, Red Hood & The Outlaws Annual #2
Red Hood: Outlaw Vol. 2: Prince of Gotham
Collects: Red Hood: Outlaw #32 to #36, Annual #3
Red Hood: Outlaw Vol. 3: Generation Outlaw
Collects: Red Hood: Outlaw #37 to #41
Red Hood: Outlaw Vol. 4: Unspoken Truths
Collects: Red Hood: Outlaw #43 to #50
Batman: Prelude to the Wedding — Red Hood vs. Anarky
Collects: #1
Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War — Red Hood
Collects: #1 to #2
What happens to Jason after Batman: Urban Legends #6?
Pleasey please to an update on some of these DC lists?
Are you gonna update this list?
We got his Rebirth run, Artemis and Bizzaro disappeared. Then we got Red Hood Outlaw. Bizzaro and Artemis come back in Vol 4. Now the series is over. What’s next?
The introduction of Jason Todd ran simultaneously across Detective Comics and Batman. Detective Comics #525 & #526 are key issues.
Beautifully amazing work, once again! But I feel like it would be a BIT better if you put in Batman Eternal volumes 1 and 2 (new 52) Because he did make a lot of appearences in there (especially Volume 2) and Batman and Robin eternal volumes 1 and 2 (new 52) because he makes many appearences in there!