10 Worst Fakeout Endings In Comics
6. The Shocking Return Of Jason Todd
Back in 2003, Batman #617 - also known as Hush Chapter Ten: The Grave - had readers picking their jaws up from the floor. Here, the final panel depicted a sight that many of us thought we'd never see: the return of Jason Todd.
For the longest time, the running joke was that nobody in comics truly remained dead apart from Jason Todd, Bucky Barnes and Uncle Ben. So, when newcomer Hush unmasked to reveal the form of an older Jason, it was a genuine shocker.
Todd was Batman's second Robin, murdered by the Joker back in 1988's iconic A Death in the Family. To see Jason resurrected 15 years later? This was huge! How would Bruce react to this? What would be the dynamic between current Robin Tim Drake and Jason? How about Jason's return impacting Dick Grayson, Barbara Gordon and Alfred? Would Todd be an all-out villain or could he be redeemed?
The above were questions many had upon finishing Batman #617. After a brutal fight between the Caped Crusader and his fallen Robin in the following issue, it was revealed that 'Jason Todd' was actually Clayface in disguise. And with that, readers were left in bemusement at being lulled in.
Thankfully, the ever-intriguing Jason would be resurrected for real two years later in Judd Winick and Doug Mahnke's Under the Hood.