Jason Todd

Jason Peter Todd made his debut in Batman #357 (1983), introduced as a street-smart orphan who caught Batman's eye after attempting to steal the tires off the Batmobile — a bold entrance that immediately set him apart from his predecessor. DC quickly positioned him as the new Robin, and while his early appearances drew comparisons to Dick Grayson, writers would soon lean into Jason's rougher edges and volatile temperament. His first appearance issue is a prized pickup for Batman Family collectors, and his first appearance as Robin carries strong demand on the back-issue market.

Jason's story reached its most infamous chapter in the landmark 1988 event A Death in the Family, a four-issue arc across Batman #426–429. In a move that stunned the comics world, DC held a reader phone-in vote to decide Jason's fate — and fans chose death at the hands of the Joker. That brutal conclusion made those issues instant collectibles, and they remain among the most significant Batman back issues ever published. For years, Jason's death defined him, casting a long shadow over the Batman mythos and raising the emotional stakes of the entire Batman Family.

His resurrection — explored in Judd Winick and Doug Mahnke's Under the Hood arc beginning in Batman #635 (2004) — rewrote DC history and transformed Jason into one of the publisher's most complex anti-heroes. Returning as the Red Hood, Jason carved out a ruthless, morally ambiguous identity, willing to use lethal force where Batman refused. This revival sparked one of the most acclaimed modern Batman runs and gave collectors a brand-new key issue to hunt. Jason's ongoing series Red Hood and the Outlaws, launched in the New 52 era, further cemented his solo star power and produced several sought-after first-print issues.

For collectors, Jason Todd represents one of the hobby's most extraordinary trajectories — a character literally voted to death by readers who came back stronger than ever. His key issues span four decades, from a 1983 Bronze Age debut to New 52 launches and Rebirth-era runs, offering entry points at every collecting level. The combination of iconic story arcs, a passionate fanbase, and consistent appearances across Batman, team books, and solo titles makes his back-issue library endlessly rewarding to chase.