Batmanshould never and will never kill theJoker- but Red Hood might deserve to. No one expects Batman to kill the Joker, but if there was ever a villain who readers and characters would say Batman would be justified in killing, it’s the Clown Prince of Crime. He has tormented Batman and his Bat-Family for decades, but Bruce Wayne, still, is no killer, and that won’t change anytime soon - unlike Red Hood.
One member of Batman’s family who has a higher likelihood of killing the Joker, though, ishis former Robin, Jason Todd, who uses the Red Hood codename. In fact, Jason once, technically, did kill the Joker inThree Jokersby Geoff Johns and Jason Fabok. The moment does not count because the miniseries exists outside of DC canon, but it makes an argument for why Jason should officially kill the Joker, if only for its plot potential.
The Jokerand Batman have been interlocked in a feud since the former’s first appearance, but even their rivalry isn’t as personal as the one between Jason Todd and the Joker.
Jason Todd’s Red Hood Is More Likely to Kill the Joker Than Batman
Their History Is Even More Personal
Jason Todd has been battling the Joker ever since he replaced Dick Grayson as Robin, buttheir fight became personalwhen the Joker killed Jason inBatman: Death in the Family.Upon Jason’s return to the DC Universe inBatman: Under the Hood, Batman directly addresses why he never killed the Joker to avenge Jason. While the story never directly addressesRed Hood’s true motivationsas a vigilante and anti-hero, it establishes how Jason has held a grudge because Batman let Joker live.
Though Red Hood is not currently starring in his own series at the time of writing, fans can check out a recent appearance inBatman and Robin#18, available now from DC Comics.
The tragedy that befell Jason as Robin is a key reason why he hasa looser moral code compared to Batman’s. Knowing firsthand the consequences of letting the Joker and other criminals loose on the city, Jason becomes more willing to kill, particularly by using guns. He once tried to adopt the Bat-Family’s no-kill code, but he seems to havereverted to being a killerin the time since. While the Joker and Batman refuse to kill each other, the Joker and Jason don’t have that same dynamic. If left in a room with his murderer, Jason is more likely to pull the trigger.
Jason Todd Did Once Kill the Joker, But How Did It Affect Him?
In fact, when given the opportunity,Jason did literally pull the triggerwhen left to his own devices in a room with the Joker. Released under DC’s Black Label,Batman: Three Jokerstakes place in an alternate canonin the vein of Elseworlds. The story explores the consequences of the revelation that three Jokers have existed for years this whole time: the Comedian, the Criminal, and the Clown. Upon capturing the Clown at the Gotham Aquarium, Batman orders Red Hood and Batgirl - two infamous victims of the Joker - to watch him until Gotham Transport arrives to take him in.
However, after enduring the Joker’s taunts and the confirmation that this is the same Joker who bashed him with a crowbar inDeath in the Family, Red Hood killstThe Joker, shooting him in the head at point-blank range. On paper, Jason should feel vindicated and, arguably, should be justified in killing the Joker, but the moment further complicates his character. He does exactly what the Joker wanted him to do, which is to continue the cycle of murder. It doesn’t give Jason the closure he wanted, but it doesforce Jason to look inwardfor the first time on the page.
Jason never truly understood the importance of Batman’s no-kill rule until he took the life of the one man he thought Batman would be justified in killing.
InUnder the Hood, Jason argues that killing the one maniac who took his surrogate son away from Batman wouldn’t be enough to make him a killer, but Jason’s worldview is challenged inThree Jokers. By the final issue of the miniseries, Jason is openly willing to change, even willing to give up being Red Hood after being confronted about how adopting the Joker’s former moniker prevents him from truly moving on from his trauma. Jason never truly understoodthe importance of Batman’s no-kill ruleuntil he took the life of the one man he thought Batman would be justified in killing.
Red Hood Would Become a Better Hero If He Killed the Joker, Even Temporarily
DC Would Be Justified in Letting Jason Todd Kill the Joker
Three Jokersis the most significant character development that Jason Todd has experienced since coming back from the grave, but because it’s a non-canon tale, it doesn’t affect Red Hood’s journey in the main DC Universe. The miniseries received a mixed reaction from critics, but denying its place in the grand scheme of the DCU hasdeprived Jason of his growth,specifically as a hero. Jason has frequently flipped between hero, villain, and anti-hero, but theThree Jokersending hints at a true hero turn unlike none canonically seen before.
Joker Would Have Been Killed Off if the Second Robin Jason Todd Had Lived, DC Confirms
DC Comics takes a look at a world where Jason Todd survived Joker’s attack and reveals this timeline would have led to the killer clown’s death.
It’s sometimes hard to say whether Jason would be justified in killing the Joker - and whether DC would be justified in letting Jason kill the Joker. But considering the character development that was left on the table forThree Jokers, the answer is a resounding yes. DC has alreadyloosely adapted theThree Jokersconceptinto canon, and the publisher should do the same for Jason’sThree Jokerscharacter arc. The strength of theJokeras a character ensures that he’ll never permanently die, so DC should letBatman’ssidekick get a temporary win over him before an inevitable resurrection, if only to propel Jason as a hero in the aftermath.
The Joker
The Joker is a psychopathic criminal mastermind with a warped sense of humor. Initially introduced as a remorseless serial killer, the character evolved over time, often oscillating between a prankster and a homicidal maniac. His relationship with Batman is one of the most complex in comic book history, defined by their mutual obsession. Over the decades, the Joker has become an enduring icon of chaos and madness, embodying the antithesis of Batman’s order and justice.
