Complete bastardization of what I’ve been saying about Jason’s attitude wrt capes. He does not hate them. In fact his role as “ethical crime lord” is suspiciously compatible with capes. Remember all those times he used Batman as a collection service for dangerous goods in UTH? That’s collaboration. Remember how Ollie was initially intrigued by Red Hood’s methodology, before Bruce lied to him about Jason just wanting money? That’s synergy. Remember when Jason went totally out of his way to prove Black Lightning’s innocence (one of the “boy scouts in spandex”) so the man could not only be freed but have his good name restored? Exactly.
Jason values action. His contempt for the cape business comes from the fact he views them as INSUFFICIENT— a lackluster half measure which is 70% posturing and only 30% effection, the inadequacy of which Jason has witnessed multiple times and personally suffered from… yet heroism does still count as action. It does have a place in Jason’s world. To put it as a metaphor: a story might just be a collection of lies but it still holds value nonetheless. At the same time, Jason will not pretend a story is the same as food in your stomach.
Also I feel the need to point this out very clearly now, and underline it in red:
If there is a sin Jason is “supposed” to be guilty of, the thing that marks him as villain rather than hero or antihero, it’s his cynicism. I’d go as far as to say it’s the major theme of his character arc in post-crisis. The cynicism that the world beat into him vs the inherent faith that took root when he had his One Good Day, his growing extremist utilitarianism vs his idealistic desire to just help and protect people. What he needs to do vs what he wants to do. (Paradoxically, sometimes it’s his cynicism which is his virtue and his faith which is his flaw. E.g. his desire for an answer before killing Joker, allowing Karate Kid to live in Countdown.)
People often point to Winick’s portrayal of Robin Jason in UTH as some kind of argument against holding his writing in high regard for the character. Personally, I don’t care about authorial intent because if I did I never would’ve made it past Starlin however I’m not interested in completely discarding Winick’s Jaybin either. Is it more victim-blamey bullshit? Sure I suppose, but I think there is relevance in the specificity of Winick’s vision.
Winick does not ever allow Jason to be shown as incompetent. Winick’s Jason is skilled, both as Red Hood and Robin.
Jason performs above Bruce’s expectations, his concern apparently unwarranted. This does not paint the picture of a boy in over his head, as previous writers have sometimes tried to frame Jason.
Jason isn’t so arrogant or full of rage that he can’t recognize his mistakes or apologize for it when he makes one either.
Notice it’s when Bruce argues results that Jason immediately folds. To Winick’s Jason, even if he doesn’t give a crap about the guy he pummeled, getting in the way of accomplishing the goal is a legitimate wrongdoing on his part. That is what’s worth apologizing for.
Lastly, an excerpt from Alfred:
Master Jason had a condescending practice of referring to the costumed criminal elements as "dress ups."
He also noted that such individuals did not fear the Batman the way the street toughs and mafioso did. The "dress ups" did not believe that he was a monster.
I explained to Jason that he was correct, but only to a certain degree.
These individuals with their special abilities...these men who could do the unimaginable... these madmen...They have their own myths.
Some believe he is just a man. Others believe he is an army. Some think he can't be injured. Others believe he can't die.
But the boy did say something to me that chilled me to the bone...even then.
"They all know he won't kill them"
I'm not sure what frightened me more. The observation by one as young as Jason...that power could be levied with the threat of murder. Or the fact that he was most likely correct.
What Jason’s disregard for the sanctity of life signifies in this story isn’t just ~rage~. What disturbed Alfred wasn’t just Jason being nebulously evil, but rather how he recognized and was oriented to incentives and leverage in a way Alfred deemed inappropriate for someone Jason’s age. This excerpt comes at a high point in the story right before the finale itself. As far as Winick’s presentation of Jaybin goes, this is his concluding statement. Red Hood wasn’t built on a hand-waved idea of a bad Robin. The problem presented is that Robin is supposed to be innocent, an out-and-out idealist, and yet Jason was not.
(Of course the irony is that back during Elmore’s Lady and Diplomat’s Son, it was Bruce and the GCPD who were the idle cynics and Jason who was the idealist demanding justice. Even as Red Hood, Jason can’t help but hope, and it eventually becomes his downfall. That being said, it makes total sense for Bruce and Alfred to remember things differently— the truth is far too difficult, far too unflattering to their egos.)
