Pre crisis Jason Todd’s often forgotten or disregarded as simply a Dick Grayson in favor of his later post crisis version and his Red Hood persona; however, I disagree. Pre crisis Jason Todd is a masterpiece in character development and destiny. Pre crisis Jason Todd does seem at first like a Dick Grayson clone, both are in circus groups called the flying Todds/Graysons, having their parents killed by a criminal, and then being adopted by Batman. This, however, is just a surface level analysis. The original Todds have a fate intertwined with Batman and Robin being killed by their lack of caution. Being fed to alligators due to Robin’s negligence and having the blame put on him by Jim Gordon.
The night Jason’s parents where killed he had just found the Batcave after being left in Wayne manner by himself. He then tries on a robin costume but not just any costume but, the outfit Dick wore on the night his parents died symbolizing his sealing with Robin. On that night Jason would become an orphan. In the usual story Batman would then adopt this child providing a fatherly figure for this lost young child. However, on this story Dick Grayson is the one who tries. At this point Dick is a grown man having grown and developed throughout his years as Robin, it just so happens that Bruce was able to swoop in before him. Even after this adoption Jason would still not become Robin have to dye his hair black and train for around a year until becoming Robin. During his time as Robin his story would show the reader true and hard problems in his life. Jason has run away, being taken by CPS and adopted by a different person who he viewed as his mom. His story shows deep stories not shown in Dick Graysons story run even at one point having his new mother die next to him.
Jason as a character both pre and post crisis is a deep and complex character. Pone had 4 years to prove himself as Robin and different in the eyes of the public, having a much less aggressive personality and his future intertwined with the mantel of Robin from the moment he met Dick and Bruce. The new Jason however is more aggressive being able to do anything for the greater good, no cost too great. He often takes off to irrational decisions. Jason post crisis is amazing, especially his Red Hood era but, pre crisis Jason has his values. His story is sprinkled with tragedy, loss, and real-world challenges.
Jason Todd has always been an amazing character, a broken boy who needed support being thrown into the world of vigilantism. Instead of being shielded from more trauma he witnessed more horrors that should never have been shown to. Jason is one of the best Robins and his pre-crisis version deserved more praise, a story riddled with emotional hits and devastating moments must be shown more love. Pre crisis Jason is hard to find but if possible you should pick up one comic and dive into the dark world of Jason Todd.
