The Titans, “Jason Todd”, Review!

Jason Todd was introduced at the end of the last episode, “Together”, he is the controversial replacement for Dick Grayson as Robin.  He first appeared in Batman #357 (1983).  Jason has the same origin as Dick, acrobat parents who were killed, trained by Batman.  He wasn’t popular with comics readers and met his fate in “A Death in the Family” storyline.  It starts with the funeral of Dick’s parents in 2002, Gotham City as Dick watches.  Members of the circus troupe place flowers on the grave.  He stays with a member of the troupe, the strongman (Lester Speight) and doesn’t want to get adopted by Bruce Wayne.  It picks up with Dick and Jason dragging the body of Dr. Adamson to a station wagon in a garage.  Dick drives with Jason and asks about the partnership which he answers was for a year.  Jason explains that he found Dick with a tracker in his arm.  He suggests a building owned by Bruce Wayne and they enter with their briefcases.  Dick is surprised Jason is allowed to drive the Batmobile.  He goes to a bathroom to cut the tracker out of his arm. 

THE TITANS -- “Jason Todd” -- Christos Kalohoridis/©2018 Warner Bros Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Then, he gets a call from Kory, now in a purple dress, and she explains that the Nuclear Family died. Dick gives him the warning that Batman does not have a partnership, he acts out of his own self-interest.  Jason presents him with photos of his troupe now killed except Atlas the Strongman.  Jason tells him that the killer is the Melting Man.  The Melting Man was a Green Lantern villain, but his identity is changed here.  Bruce sent Jason when the victims were connected to Dick.  Dick uses Jason’s Wayne Enterprises’ computer to find Atlas, Clayton Williams.  An alert shows the arrival of the Titans.  Kory settles down Garfield and Rachel’s questions.  Kory talks to Dick, he has been replaced as Robin, and Kory says she will watch over Adamson while Dick checks on Clayton.  He is busy checking on parts and dresses in a suit, working as security, he is seen on the streets by a man who follows him.  I really like the character of Clayton Williams, a new character, and what he adds to Dick Grayson’s story.  Dick flashes his badge and then Jason tries to use his fake i.d.  Dick sees a figure out of his past.  He says “Halley’s Circus” and Clayton hugs him.  Jason slips in the back way.  

Clayton says the circus broke up after the death of Dick’s parents.  They exchange numbers and Clayton says he is proud of him.  Jason tries to flirt with a woman, her boyfriend is not happy, but the fight is broken up by Dick. There is an explosion of glass. A car burns outside, a distraction, Dick and Jason evacuate people.  He gets a call from the Melting Man, a man from his past, with a mask.  We flashback two years in Gotham City, Anthony Zucco, who murdered Dick’s parents, is arrested.  Dick watches Nick (Kyle Mac), Anthony’s son meet him in custody.  The officer who let Dick watch the room camera says that Zucco is given a deal to take down the Maroni family.  Dick walks out angry at the leniency given to Zucco and his son hears him.    Anthony is driven in a police van.  Gas canisters drop from a bridge and Robin lands on the van roof! The van crashes and Anthony hears as the officers are taken down. Robin opens the van door and beats Anthony.  He presses him against a bridge wall and says he wants his parents back.  Robin takes out his staff to beat Anthony, but he is interrupted by gun shots, Anthony says it is the Maronis.  Robin takes cover by the van and Anthony pleads for help, Robin refuses, the prisoner is gunned down.  

THE TITANS -- “Jason Todd” -- Christos Kalohoridis/©2018 Warner Bros Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Dick tells Jason that it was the son of Anthony Zucco and that he shouldn’t be Robin, Batman’s weapon. He receives a text from the Melting Man of Clayton captured. Dick tells Jason that he has to rescue Clayton on his own.  Robin enters a warehouse at night.  Clayton is hung with a burning acid on a pipe above him.  Nick of course blames Robin for his vengeance.  The Maronis revenge killed Nick’s mother, sister, and fiancee. His face is half burned by acid.  Some acid burns Clayton’s shoulder.  Jason Todd’s Robin is there, Dick throws his wing ding to free Clayton, in the fight, Jason is shot by an acid bullet.  Dick takes out the Melting Man and then checks on Clayton.  Six police officers arrive to check on the gunfire.  Jason Todd’s Robin brutally takes down all of the officers.  Dick pulls Robin from beating up the unconscious officer.  Jason says he is beaten up by Gotham City officers and wants pay back.  He says Dick is carrying around his Robin suit.  Time to become Nightwing.  Later, Clayton is patched up, and wanted to be told Dick is Robin.  He tells him about being raised by Bruce Wayne, Dick replies, “He did the best he could.”  Dick calls up Kory and says that he has given up the Robin identity.  Kory wakes up Dr. Adamson and wants answers. He says he won’t talk about Rachel.  I really like this Dick Grayson centered episode.  We see the path of Robin through Jason Todd, where he was going with Batman, and why he needs to go his own way.  I also like that the Titans are still in the episode.  

Five Wing Dings out of Five! 

#TheTitans, #JasonTodd, #ClaytonWilliams, #AnthonyZucco