8 Times Robin Outsmarted Batman
2. Jason Todd Kills A Rapist - The Diplomat's Son
In one way, the events of The Diplomat's Son were the beginning of the end for Jason Todd. Well, the beginning of the end... at least until Jason was resurrected some 15 years later.
Just two issues after The Diplomat's Son appeared in Batman #424, the stunning A Death in the Family arc would begin - an arc that would culminate in Jason Todd's death at the hands of The Joker. The thing is, part of the reason for Jason's demise was down to his brash attitude and rash thinking.
It was that same brash attitude and rash thinking, however, that saw Todd outsmart Batman in that one-shot Batman #424 story.
After the clearly guilty Felipe Garzonas managed to avoid a sexual assault and battery charge due to having diplomatic immunity, Jason decided to take matters into his own hands. Despite Batman clearly telling Todd that their hands were unfortunately tied on this issue, Jason pulled a vanishing act on the Caped Crusader.
By the time Batman had arrived at Garzonas' penthouse apartment, Felipe had fallen to his death and Jason Todd was the only person at the scene.
This was Jason Todd in one of his darker moments, with it implied that he'd pushed the sexual predator to his death. For Batman, he couldn't prove this, and all Jason would say on the matter was, "I guess I spooked him."
As alluded to, while this was a prime example of the second Robin being one step ahead of his mentor, this was the beginning of the end for Jason Todd.