The various members of the Bat-Family share an obvious visual motif when fighting crime on the streets of Gotham City, yet for one hero, Jason Todd aka Red Hood, wearing a giant red bat symbol across his chest not only has a hidden meaning but outs him in ways that practically become a weakness.
A tactical mistake brought to readers' attention during 2016’s Red Hood and the Outlaws series, the third and fifth issues, written by Scott Lobdell and drawn by Dexter Soy, see Red Hood crossing paths with the ruthless Batman villain named Black Mask. Going undercover with this Gotham baddie to stop Black Mask from using a newly birthed Superman clone to enact his evil agenda, Red Hood’s choice in costumed logos is unexpectedly brought to the forefront in a way that fans might have initially glossed over.
As seen in Red Hood and the Outlaws #3 during a scene where a plain-clothed Jason is having dinner with Black Mask, Jason is asked about the emblem on his chest and whether or not it holds ties to Batman. Then, in Red Hood and the Outlaws #5, Jason has Black Mask on the ropes, with Black Mask calling back to their dinner conversation, revealing a hidden meaning as to why Red Hood uses the bat symbol in the first place.
While talking over food, Jason tells Black Mask that the only reason he’s wearing the bat symbol is that he likes “yanking the guy’s wings,” an answer that Black Mask is suspicious about but accepts for the moment. But after Red Hood’s true allegiance is revealed, Black Mask argues that despite Jason’s previous answer, Jason wears the symbol of the Bat because it’s a “leash” to keep Jason “tethered” to Batman, making him not an “outlaw” but an “errant child looking for your father’s love,” giving fans two clear examples as to why Red Hood wearing a bat-logo is a tactical mistake as well as a nod to his familial bonds.
Though the continued use of the bat emblem is an obvious exercise in corporate synergy to keep Jason Todd connected to Batman (at least in the real world), in the DC Universe, Jason's enemies don't know his origin or connections to other characters — i.e. the people he cares about, the lines he won't cross, and the allegiances he holds — making his choice in using this specific logo head-scratching, to say the least, especially when going undercover. Furthermore, with Black Mask calling Jason out later on, the hidden idea of Jason projecting his daddy issues for all to see and potentially exploit, all comes back to a logo design that might be more trouble than it’s worth.
Red Hood has switched his logo up more than once over the years but by inextricably tying himself to the shadow of the Bat, he inadvertently gives his enemies a heads up as to what he’s all about as he also wears his broken heart on his sleeve — or rather his chest — for all to see. It might be incredibly foolish for Red Hood to offer up his bat-connections unbidden, but at least when most villains see a vigilante who is part of the Bat-Family coming their way, they head for the hills.