100 Greatest Superhero Stories Ever

Image Courtesy of Warner Bros. Animation

#60. Batman: Under the Red Hood

Medium

Animated Feature Film

Release Date

July 27, 2010

Credits

Director: Brandon Vietti

Writer: Judd Winick

Cast: Bruce Greenwood as Bruce Wayne / Batman, Jensen Ackles as Jason Todd / Red Hood, Alexander Martella as young Jason Todd, Vincent Martella as Teen Jason Todd, John DiMaggio as The Joker, Neil Patrick Harris as Dick Grayson / Nightwing, Jason Isaacs as Ra’s al Ghul, Wade Williams as Roman Sionis / Black Mask, Gary Cole as Commissioner James Gordon / Bobo / Shot, Jim Piddock as Alfred Pennyworth, Carlos Alazraqui as Chi Chi / Thug #1, Robert Clotworthy as Leon, Brian George as Ra’s al Ghul’s Assistant, Kelly Hu as Ms. Li, Phil LaMarr as Rick / Bulk, Esteban Matos as Sexy Guy #1, Kevin Michael Richardson as Tyler Bramford, Andrea Romano as Reporter #1, Dwight Schultz as Freddie / Yurp, Fred Tatasciore as Mercenary #1 / Amazo / Guard, Bruce Timm as The Riddler, Keri Tombazian as Reporter #1 / Fearsome Hand Leader, Michael Villani as Reporter #3

The Reason It’s Great

Adaptations usually fail because they bring nothing new to the medium. This was definitely not the case. Batman: Under the Red Hood was a retelling of “A Death in the Family” and the first appearance of the Red Hood. With adept writing and great characterizations, this animated film was a one-two punch of gut-wrenching emotion and superhero action.

The story starts with Batman racing to save Robin who’s held in a warehouse by the Joker. However, Batman’s too late, and he watches the warehouse explode, killing his sidekick. Years later, a new vigilante emerges—the Red Hood. After a couple of initial confrontations with the Red Hood, Batman realizes that he’s dealing with Jason.

Batman visits Ra’s al Ghul and confronts him about Jason. Ra’s al Ghul comes clean and admits that he resurrected Jason in the Lazarus Pit out of guilt. Ra’s al Ghul’s partnership with the Joker, from years ago, never should have involved the death of Jason. When Jason emerged from the Lazarus Pit, he was insane and eventually escaped.

In the climactic battle, Jason tries to force his former mentor to exact revenge by killing the Joker. Batman’s refusal leads to a fight where Jason eventually escapes and disappears. The final minutes of Batman recollecting Jason’s first day as Robin are heart-wrenching. The story’s emotional heft has made this one of the best Batman animated films to-date.