The Jason Todd Chronicles: Batman 411

Wow, it's been a long time since I last visited these comics, ahaha.

Part of the reason for the hiatus was that my computer that had the program I use to get pictures for the blog entries broke and it took me several months to have it fixed (living two and a half hours away from the store that it was purchased at made it kind of difficult). The temporary computer I had during that time didn't have the ability to read the comics through that particular program thanks to several broken keys and general old age, so I wasn't able to do much of anything on it.

But with the return of my actual computer, I can start back up where I left off!

Since this is a continuation of a story from the previous issue, you might want to consult the entry on Batman 410 here before reading this one.

This issue tested my patience for a couple of reasons, first and foremost being that we're still in the two-issues-long Two-Face scheme and the word "two" in some form or fashion was said so many times that I wanted to crush the comic in my hands. I mentioned in the previous entry that I'm not a member of the Two-Face fan club and reading anything with him in it is taxing. There are also a handful of goofy puns that kind of feel out of place, especially when they're coming from Batman himself. In general, there's a lot of eye-roll-worthy dialogue and the arc is handled a little haphazardly. The issue also includes a few '66 Batman moments while trying to play the serious card, and it...doesn't really work, as one would expect.

Our story starts with Two-Face robbing another bank, this time in broad daylight because he knows that Batman won't be out to catch him. As that's going on, Bruce Wayne is attending a board meeting for Wayne Enterprises that for some reason Gordon is present at. Gordon gets word from another officer about the robbery. The scene then jumps to Batman entering Gordon's office during the day and, after the initial shock of seeing the Caped Crusader out in sunlight, Gordon and Bats discuss what they think Two-Face is up to. Batman says that, based on the clues that he and Robin received last issue including the two-pair, that it was likely he was planning four robberies in four days.

My problems with the story start here, as it's never explained why Batman thinks that. My understanding is that he means the two-pair could be a "two times two equals four" kind of conclusion, but that seems like a vague suspicion instead of convincing evidence. And how does he know it would be four days? If Two-Face's compulsion can also includes factors of two, couldn't that mean he'd do four robberies in, I don't know, eight days? Spread them out a little? I'm probably over thinking it, but to me the explanation is just sort of tossed at the reader and assumed to be accepted because "Batman said it."

Batman returns to the cave and meets Alfred, explaining to him what he believes Two-Face's plans are and says that he and Robin have "some serious brainstorming to do." He asks where Jason is and Alfred tells him that he's been in bed all day. Bruce, shocked, goes to Jason's room and asks if he's awake. Jason is seen curled in bed, his face angry, but not visible to Bruce. Jason says that he's awake, and Bruce gets him out of bed by telling him that Two-Face is at it again. Seeing that this could be his opportunity to face the killer of his father, Jason puts on his Robin uniform and meets Bruce down in the cave. Bruce and Alfred both notice that Jason isn't himself. Bruce remarks that "he's never been like this...listless...almost pouting."

I'd like to stop for a moment and say, Bruce, I'm not sure what kind of kid you thought you plucked from Crime Alley, because Jason definitely had some pissy, pouting moments when you first met him. Just saying.

Despite his attitude, the Dynamic Duo head off to stop an unrelated crime and discuss what they think Two-Face's next move will be. Jason says that the evidence he gave them with the two-pair wasn't enough to explain why he varied his M.O. and what his plans were--they're missing something.

The next night, a baseball double-header is going on at one of Gotham's stadiums. Alfred and Gordon attend the game in Bruce and Jason's absence. Here is the type of dialogue that I'm referring to when I say that it tries my patience at just how stupid and ridiculous it is:

Gordon: "Tie game, bottom of the second inning, two strikes, two balls, two men on base..."
Alfred: "Too exciting, Sir!"

...I just. Ugh. That is so head-slappingly stupid, not to mention highly improbable.

While Gordon and Alfred enjoy their awful puns, Two-Face attempts to break into the stadium with his goons. Batman shows up and punches one of the cronies, and then kicks the crap out of Two-Face. He tells Robin to watch Two-Face, who is lying on the ground not quite unconscious, without getting too close. Meanwhile, Batman tackles the rest of the goons to the ground and spouts some more terrible sports-related jokes. Seeing as he has Two-Face alone, Jason grabs him by the throat and starts screaming that he'll kill him. Two-Face kicks Jason off and then punches him, managing to escape. Batman runs after him onto the baseball field and the two exchange even MORE horrendous puns until Two-Face escapes via a rope ladder on the centerfield fence.

Robin catches up to Batman and asks if Two-Face got away. Batman says yes, that he had a car waiting. Gordon shows up and actually uses the word "fruitcake" to refer to Two-Face, and Batman says that he figured Two-Face would have a back-up plan. He and Robin drive home in the Batmobile in silence, as it's pretty clear that Jason lost his cool and was a major reason why Two-Face escaped.

Once they're back in the Batcave, Bruce demands that Jason explain himself. Jason, in typical fashion, replies "I answer to nobody but me!" Bruce calls him on his "tough street kid routine" and goes off on a small monologue about how he invested time in training him, took him into his home, and trusted him.

Then the bubble bursts when Jason yells back: "Trust! Don't make me laugh!"

A trait that will become evident the more the stories involving him progress is that Jason puts a heavy amount of value on being able to trust those around him. He spent so many years alone and having to fend for himself that trust wasn't something that came naturally. In Jason's limited experience, adults were not those who could be trusted: His father was a mobster, his mother died of drug overdose. The primary people in his life who should have instilled that in him weren't there. He acted rude and stand-offish to Bruce in the beginning because he didn't trust him. Once he establishes that bond, however, Jason clings to it--so much so that when that trust is broken, it cuts him deeply.

It's also important to remember that Jason's "tough street kid routine" is exactly that--a routine, an act. He may be tough on the outside, but inside that loss of trust in the first adult to give a damn about him is painful. Jason uses his attitude as a barrier to keep people out. He doesn't want to talk about his actions or his feelings because it requires him to open up and become vulnerable. Aside from that, Jason is still a kid, and communication is not something that children are known to be good at. Learning how to communicate takes time, especially for someone like Jason who is so closed-off and guarded. It's only when he's pushed to the limit that he is able to get across what it is that's bothering him.

And to be fair, Jason is justified in his anger. Bruce kept a big secret from him, and though he did it for Jason's protection, his insistence on keeping those close to him in the dark about certain things will be a decision that plagues him for the rest of his comics existence with everyone, not just Jason. Even as recently as the Death of the Family storyline, Bruce keeps information regarding the Joker and his knowledge of the identities of each member of the Batfamily from them and that comes back to bite all of them in the butt later on. To Bruce's credit, he explains himself to Jason here and does apologize for what he did. He says that loss is harder than combat and that he didn't want blind rage to control him when he went out into the field.

Jason asks if he's "washed up as Robin," and Bruce reassures him by saying that Two-Face beat him, too. This exchange is important for two reasons:

1. One of the angles that writers love to take with Jason is that he was arrogant and over-confident in his abilities. He didn't see his skills as lacking in any way and therefore he made plenty of dumb decisions when it came to combat. These few panels alone would be enough to disprove that notion, as this quite blatantly shows that Jason did question himself and wasn't under the impression that he was invulnerable. He knew he made mistakes and felt bad about them.
2. Bruce recognizes Jason's insecurity and instead of discouraging him, he points out that he makes mistakes, too. Bruce never lost his confidence in Jason, even when he messed up. He suspects from the beginning that there's a reason Jason fell apart. He didn't see it as "typical" for him to be so brash and careless.

I will say that the resolution, by modern writing standards, is much too fast. It has a Saturday morning cartoon vibe to it, since everything is great and wonderful again in the span of like, three panels, but the needed explosion of emotions was cathartic enough that I can look past it a little bit.

Jason then says that he thinks he might know what Two-Face will do for his next crime, and the following night they return to the Lucky Dollar casino from the last issue. Lo and behold, Two-Face is repeating his first robbery. Jason says that robbing the casino a second time was the only way it fit into his pattern. Two-Face shoves a money cart at Batman and runs off towards--I kid you not--"The World's Largest Roulette Wheel. In the most 1966 Batman-esque fashion, Two-Face jumps into the roulette wheel and Batman tells the operator to hit the switch and start spinning it. The downside is a giant ball starts barreling towards Two-Face, and in order to prevent him from being crushed, Jason leaps onto the center pole of the wheel and uses it to spin around and kick the ball out of the way. The dizzy Two-Face is apprehended and the comic ends with a terribly campy exchange between Batman and Robin:

Overall, this is a tough issue to get though. Between the dialogue that ranges from solid to laughable, the awkwardly constructed plot, the haphazard resolution of Jason's anger towards Bruce, strange '66 Batman elements, and some lazy-looking artwork, it's not an issue that I hold in too high of a regard. It's not the worst thing I've read, and it does offer some good insight into both Jason's character and his relationship to Bruce, but it isn't one I intended to re-read again and again.

We're still in the early stages of Jason's Post-Crisis time as Robin, but there's already been ample evidence to prove that there was a lot more to Jason than many modern writers give him credit for. The further along the issues move, the more complicated it gets.