SEEKERS OF THE BAT

After Dick Grayson left the fold to become Nightwing, Batman was left without a partner. That wouldn’t last long, as he soon came across an angry but extremely gifted juvenile delinquent named Jason Todd.

As the second Robin, Jason was violent, unmerciful and allowed people to die. Although Batman tried to reel in his tendencies, Jason soon became a very unpopular character, prompting DC Comics to conduct a nationwide poll on his fate.   The people spoke, and in the infamous ‘A Death in the Family’ story arc,  the Joker bludgeoned Jason Todd to death with a crowbar before Batman could save him.

Much like the obsessive, irrational guilt he holds over being unable to prevent his parents’ death, Batman also punishes himself for Jason Todd’s death. Soon after he took on Tim Drake as the third Robin, he erected the now-familiar glass memorial to Jason’s memory to ensure he never forgot his greatest failure.

The significance of Jason Todd’s glass case would eventually have gone the way of the giant penny and robot dinosaur except that in 2003, Jason was brought back to life by the ridiculous “Superboy-Prime Reality Punch”. In retroactive continuity, Jason now inexplicably clawed his way out of his grave shortly after his death to be nursed back to health by Talia, daughter of Ra’s Al Ghul. He has returned to plague the Bat family in a number of guises, first as an adult Robin, then as an evil Nightwing, then as the murderous Red Robin, then as a gun-toting stand-in for the recently killed (Omega Sanctioned) Batman, and currently as the new Red Hood, the original alter ego of the Joker. In all his versions, he sees himself as a more effective Batman, using lethal force to succeed where his mentor failed.

Update: His return in the comics has coincided with the release of the excellent animated film: Under the Red Hood, which recounts Batman’s reaction to his return:

Here is a Golden Age rendering of the Batcave by 1940s Batman artist Dick Sprang. Some of the classic mainstays: the giant penny, the mechanical T-Rex, array of Batmobiles, Batcomputer (note the ticker tape instead of monitors), crime lab and trophy room.

And below is a more modern take on the cave from All-star Batman and Robin. Note the addition of the the armor museum.

After spending a full day as Bruce Wayne, Batman might need a little late night energy boost once in awhile.

One of the world’s most famous vehicles, the Batmobile has always been a big part of Batman’s arsenal. Much more so than his costume, Batman’s automobile has gone through many notable revisions, forcing the Batcave to double as a glorified parking lot.  Part assault vehicle, part mobile hospital, it’s impossible to imagine Batman without his ultra sleek, ultra fast getaway car.