Suddenly Struck With Thoughts About The Devastating Concept Of Jason Todd

suddenly struck with thoughts about the devastating concept of Jason Todd

because he was good. because he had a bleeding heart despite every reason not to. he loved school and was good at it. he was the first to be adopted, with little pretense of guardianship. he did everything he could to be a perfect Robin and live up to an impossible ideal. he only ever wanted Bruce and Dick to like him.

because he met Bruce in the same place and on the same day that Bruce's parents died--the single defining moment of Batman's existence. and he made Batman laugh. he hit the Dark Knight, Terror of Gotham, with a tire iron. he wasn't afraid of the man who turned fear into a weapon.

because he couldn't save his mother from herself, but he tried. because he was too good not to try and save the woman who gave him up. too good to play the Joker's game. the crowbar didn't kill him, the bomb did. he died knowing he wouldn't make it and tried anyway. he died a hero.

because other Robins have died, but none of them put an irrevocable tear in the mythos of Batman. because Jason Todd always dies, in every universe. he dies for the sins of his father. he was put to death by popular vote, sacrificed by the crowd. doomed by the narrative and doomed by the audience. the boy who only ever tried to prove he was good enough--wasn't good enough.

because he has every reason to be angry. because he didn't ask to be murdered, didn't ask to be brought back, and when he did everyone acted like he was better off dead. Bruce tried to kill him and nearly succeeded. he's blamed for his own death and blamed for his resurrection. he can never come home because the house is haunted by his own ghost.

because he's been the hero, the victim, and the villain. because his family and his writers and his universe don't know what to make of him. they don't know how to look his tragedy in the eye. and how can you?

it hurts to look at the hero who cannot be good enough, the victim who will only ever be angry, the villain who can sometimes be right. the audience hates to feel complicit and, in this exceptional case, they are.

outsiders (2003) #21 // the real food, eduardo corral // forever evil (2013) #6 // nightwing (1996) #65 // batman (1940) #600 // about my experience with obsessive compulsive disorder, canis-infernalis // the last days of judas iscariot,  stephen adly guirgis // nightwing (1996) #93 // anti-saviour saviour complex, unknown // kin (episode 6), the last of us // batman/nightwing: bloodborne (2002) // the surrender theory, caitlin conlon // nightwing (2011) #7 // batman (1940) #600 // bloodsport, yves olade // therapy today cover illustration, lucia calfapietra // batman (2011) #11 // new titans (1984) #55 // i dreamed i forgot, leila chatti // me in 20 years, moses sumney // nightwing (1996) #110 // batman (1940) #500 // robin (1993) #13 // for your own good, leah horlick

dick & bruce + devotion

Losing my fucking mind

Jason is an "I'd kill for you" person stuck in a "live for me" family.

Do you ever think about Alfred?

Do you ever think about the way that he's a safe place for almost the entire batfam, almost not everyone because he went along with phycological torture of Tim on his birthday?

Do you ever think about how Tim has no one he knows for certain he can trust, because everyone sides with Bruce?

Do you ever think about how if Alfred had told Jason and/or Damian not to hurt Tim, they probably would have listened?

Do you ever think about how half the reason Tim became Robin was because Alfred agreed, but if he had disagreed, has not given Tim the suit, Batman would have turned Tim away? Do you ever think about how the Robin's are partly Alfred fault, or how if Alfred told Bruce he was going to far, he may well have listened?

Do you ever think about how much control and influence Alfred has, and how much harm he causes with the decisions he makes?

Do you ever think about Alfred, and Tim?

happy kdj appreciation day!!!