JayToddz for the masses

Q:So what are some must-read Jason issues from before he was killed? And what, outside of Countdown, Under the Red Hood comic stuff, Lost Days and Hush are good resurrection comics?

Anonymous

Robin:

A lot of Jason’s Robin issues are NOT collected. We’ve asked for them to be! Batman 408-412 contains Jason’s origin.

Batman 416: Jason and Nightwing meet for the first time.

Batman 424: The infamous issue where Jason may or may not have pushed a serial rapist — who was going to get off on diplomatic immunity — off a roof.

Batman 425: Where Jason sees the consequences of his actions after the Felipe Garzonas incident when Garzonas’ father holds Jim Gordon hostage in a junk yard.

Batman: The Cult : Jason slaps Batman across the face. ‘Nuff said.

Batman Annual 12 —- this *may* be extremely difficult to find. It’s Jason’s only solo Robin story. Read this story by going to the Batman Annual 12 tag.

Gotham Knights 43-45 — written by Scott Beatty in the early 2000s. Strong story, great art, includes “flashback” sequences of Jason and Barbara working together as Robin and Batgirl.

Nightwing Year One: Written by Chuck Dixon in the early 2000s as well, it also includes flashbacks to Jason and Dick working together. This story isn’t without its critics, though: some of this story also includes some “revisionist” history.

Red Hood and resurrection issues:

Teen Titans #29, collected in the Teen Titans: Life and Death trade paperback. Jason confronts Tim Drake. Written by Geoff Johns. Also available in the Robin: The Teen Wonder trade.

Green Arrow 69-72: Jason sides with Green Arrow villain, Brick, because he’s pissed off at his dad. He has a great swashbuckling battle with Green Arrow and has a rather misguided attempt at trying to forge an alliance with/find an ally in Speedy/Mia Dearden. Collected in the Green Arrow: Road to Jericho trade.

Robin issues 177-183: Written by Fabian Nicieza. Some good, in-character interaction between Jason and Tim. Collected in the Robin: Search for a hero trade.

Outsiders #44-45: Jason helps the Outsiders free Black Lightning from jail. Also collected in the Outsiders: Pay as you go trade paperback.

There are, uh, a few others including Nightwing: Brothers in Blood (which is really bad, but in that it’s so bad it’s laughable way), Battle for the Cowl (which is generally awful characterization for Jason) and Batman and Robin 3-6 (which is pretty good in some portions and a bit of a mixed bag in others).