Gotham Knights has included the Red Hood as one of four playable characters, but he is the only one out of Batgirl, Nightwing, and Robin to have mysteriously returned from the grave. Batman: Under the Red Hood has long maintained popularity in Batman's comics and has proven to be one of the most significant comics in DC's modern age. Jason Todd’s death forces Batman through some uncomfortable realizations, however, the manner of the second Robin's death has changed in some universes and never happened in others. This raises the question of how Jason's fate may have been handled in Gotham Knights' new universe, and how his death may affect the game's overall plot.
Gotham Knights takes place after Batman’s death at the hands of unknown conspirators, leaving Gotham City under the protection of Nightwing, Red Hood, Batgirl, and Robin. As villains like Mister Freeze take advantage of Batman’s absence, the four heroes must face their greatest challenge with the mysterious Court of Owls. Originally believed to be a myth, the Court of Owls is comprised of Gotham City’s wealthiest elite and seeks to control the city through economic and political means. In addition to unraveling the mystery of Batman’s death, Nightwing, Red Hood, Batgirl, and Robin must also defend his legacy and the city he left behind.
Also known as Red Hood in Gotham Knights, Batman: Arkham, and in the comics, Jason Todd is one of the most popular characters in the Batman mythos and is well-known for breaking the Dark Knight's no-kill rule in combat. In many continuities, Jason Todd is killed by Joker in a warehouse explosion while trying to rescue his mother. The character almost always dies but is resurrected through divine intervention or a Lazarus Pit. However, Gotham Knights looks set to put a twist on Red Hood’s origin by making the gun-toting vigilante unaware of his resurrection, leaving a crucial part of the character’s story a mystery. Thankfully, given the many DC universes and Batman comics, there are some obvious theories concerning Red Hood’s death and mysterious resurrection.
Gotham Knights’ Court Of Owls Could Have Resurrected Jason Todd
The trailers for Gotham Knights suggest the Court of Owls plays a vital role in the game’s main story, but there’s no telling what damage they inflicted before the game started. If the Court of Owls had something to do with Batman’s death, it stands to reason they could have killed another Gotham hero before slaying the Dark Knight. Murdering one of Batman’s Robins and secretly reviving them could be one of the methods of training the Court uses to train their Talons to eliminate Batman. Various trailers have confirmed that Gotham Knights’ Court of Owls can extend reanimation for their Talons, as shown by the countless cryostasis chambers within their hideout. The Talons hidden within these pods can range from hundreds of years old to regular human age, and their healing capabilities within the comics are pretty impressive. The Court of Owls could be responsible for Jason Todd’s resurrection with this technology.
Though Gotham Knights' Court of Owls utilizes suspended animation for their Talons, many continuities of the organization suffer from an imperfect system. The Talons often protest this ‘ceremony’ in comics and movies but cannot escape it. The process of becoming a Talon imbues the candidate with enhanced strength, speed, and regeneration. Unfortunately, by receiving these powers from the Court of Owls, significant mental fortitude and free will are stolen. For example, if the Court of Owls revived Red Hood to try and kill Batman or gather information about him, it’s unlikely the deadly vigilante could ever recover his memories without their help.
Gotham Knights’ League Of Assassins Could Have A Lazarus Pit
Though WB Games has released few trailers concerning Gotham Knights’ story, its website holds many hints about potential gameplay and enemies. Players can currently gather information about the Court of Owls, but four other ‘factions’ are locked and aren’t available in trailers or promotional materials. The League of Assassins could be one of these factions and play a role in Red Hood’s backstory. The League of Assassins initially trained Bruce Wayne during his journey to becoming Batman, though he swiftly departed their tutelage after discovering their lethal nature. Though Batman has repeatedly pushed the League of Assassins out of Gotham, their interest in the Dark Knight and his city hasn’t waned. When the Joker killed Jason Todd during his Robin days, Ra’s Al Ghul used the Lazarus Pit to revive and train him as a new soldier. Unfortunately, the Lazarus Pit’s healing properties inflict terrible tolls on the mind, resulting in Red Hood’s amnesia.
If the League of Assassins is one of Gotham Knights' five factions and responsible for Red Hood’s resurrection, it’s unknown why they would bring back the sidekick of their greatest enemy. In some continuities, Red Hood’s rage against Batman and the Bat Family resulted in a turf war between many villains in Gotham City. As criminals died and faith in Batman’s ability to protect the city waned, Red Hood worked as an unknowing agent for the League of Assassins. If Gotham Knights continues this trend, Red Hood could likely act as a sleeper agent for the League of Assassins in-game. Though the League hasn’t appeared in any promotional materials, their presence in the Batman: Arkham games with Talia al Ghul and her sister suggests they may appear again in Gotham Knights.
Gotham Knights’ Red Hood Could Be Brainwashed By Villains
While Red Hood is confirmed to have died, the amnesia surrounding his resurrection could be caused by one of Batman’s many villains in Gotham Knights. Several characters can inflict serious mental damage that has erased the Dark Knight’s memory before. Batman has adopted several alter egos during amnesiac periods, and his adopted son could suffer from similar ailments. The Mad Hatter, aka Jervis Tetch, has experience changing his victims’ memories and perception of reality. If a villain sought to torture Red Hood and replace his memories with a false death, Mad Hatter would be a perfect choice. While Jason Todd doesn’t recall how he came back to life in Gotham Knights, it’s possible he didn’t die at all and suffered brainwashing at the hands of Mad Hatter. However, Mad Hatter often teams with other villains to attack Batman, meaning he likely isn’t the only villain responsible for Jason Todd’s rumored amnesia.
A villain noticeably missing from Gotham Knights trailers is Joker, Batman’s arch-nemesis. While some argue Joker has no place in a game without Batman, his presence is a staple of many Gotham-based adventures. Most of Red Hood’s origins begin with Joker murdering the former Robin to break Batman's resolve. If Gotham Knights wishes to spare Jason Todd from death (like in Batman: Arkham Knight), it’s possible Joker teamed up with Mad Hatter to torture and brainwash Batman’s second Robin. Jason Todd’s last coherent memories would have involved Joker’s torture, leading to the understandable conclusion that he had died and been resurrected. Fury towards Batman's inability to save Jason and disappointment at Joker’s continued survival would still have pushed Jason Todd into becoming the Red Hood, thus resulting in the roster seen in Gotham Knights.
While it’s unknown how much unique content is dedicated to each playable character in Gotham Knights, Red Hood’s story is particularly intriguing and opens opportunities for further character development. Though the Batman: Arkham series handled Red Hood differently than Gotham Knights, both incarnations possess plenty of potential. Unfortunately, WB Games has yet to release more gameplay trailers or information concerning in-game Gotham Knights details, nor has the website received further updates since DC Fandome.