Bonded By Trauma: An Exploration Of The Relationship Between Jason Todd And Barbara Gordon

Trauma is a feeling that every member of the Batman Family has experienced. It’s one of many reasons why each of them has chosen to fight crime, perhaps none more so than Jason Todd and Barbara Gordon. 

Jason and Barbara’s experiences are similar, despite them coming from different backgrounds. Their trauma was caused at the hands of The Joker, giving them unique perspectives on what it’s like to survive a harrowing event. 

Whether as colleagues, friends, adoptive siblings or romantic partners, there’s a whole range of roles that Jason and Barbara could fill for one another and it’s worth investigating the bond that’s unique among the Batman Family.

Continue reading “Bonded By Trauma: An Exploration Of The Relationship Between Jason Todd And Barbara Gordon”

Batman: Three Jokers Review: Trauma Comes In Threes

DC Black Label, known for publishing mature titles, has provided some refreshing new takes on the Batman mythos, with stories such as Batman: White Knight and Batman: Damned. Characters like The Joker have been reimagined in new ways and that trend has continued with Batman: Three Jokers, which presents three different versions of The Clown Prince of Crime for the Batman family to overcome.

Produced by the superstar trio of Geoff Johns, Jason Fabok and Brad Anderson, Three Jokers brings together the three members of the Batman family who’ve been most effected by Joker’s actions: Batman, Red Hood and Batgirl. 

Continue reading “Batman: Three Jokers Review: Trauma Comes In Threes”

Exploring The Complexity Of Nocturna’s Relationship With The Batman Family

Batman’s Rogue Gallery features an eclectic mix of supervillains who constantly push The Dark Knight to his limits, and while Big Bads like Joker and Ra’s Al Ghul have shaped Batmans’ evolution as a crime fighter, there are many other characters who’ve shaped the creation of his family and his crusade to protecting Gotham.

An underrated character who fits into this category is Natalia Knight/Nocturna. Not only has Nocturna affected the life of Bruce Wayne, she’s also played a key role in the lives of characters like Jason Todd and Stephanie Brown.

Continue reading “Exploring The Complexity Of Nocturna’s Relationship With The Batman Family”

10 Comics That Told Inspiring Mental Health Stories

In the modern age, mental health has become as important as physical health. People all over the world are discussing disorders like anxiety and how it can affect everyday life. And with the debate comes a duty to break down stigma so more people feel comfortable talking about their experiences.

Storytelling is an effective way of presenting mental health in a relatable way. Stories inspire us. They introduce us to characters who’ve been through similar situations and have managed to overcome adversity.
Comics are a wonderful medium for mental health positivity. They show readers that even the mightiest of superheroes like Thor and Captain Marvel can be vulnerable. It’s humbling to see such powerful characters be brought down to earth and made to deal with the same problems that humans face on a regular basis.

Seeing a superhero overcome their mental health struggles is inspiring. Readers witness their own journey reflected back at them and it might encourage them to make a positive change in their life.

Various comic book stories have covered issues as heartbreaking as depression and suicide. But by the end of the story, there’s always a ray of hope. After reading one of these stories, you’ll be reminded that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. Continue reading “10 Comics That Told Inspiring Mental Health Stories”

From Red Hood To Red Ronin: Reimagining Jason Todd As A Japanese Warrior

Comics, like other creative mediums, offers writers and artists the chance to be experimental and provide different takes on established characters. Thinking outside of the box can help to keep characters relevant and inspire fans to see them in a different light. One of the most interesting reinterpretations I’ve come across recently is the presentation of Red Hood as a Japanese warrior. Continue reading “From Red Hood To Red Ronin: Reimagining Jason Todd As A Japanese Warrior”

Appraising The Relationship Between Red Hood And Artemis

In comics, characters are often thrown together and forced to coexist. It provides the chance for some fun interactions, as the characters need to settle their differences. This is exactly what happened when Jason Todd was put with Bizarro and Artemis to form Red Hood and The Outlaws. All three characters came from different backgrounds and they started off fighting each other. Over time, they learned to work together and become friends.

Red Hood benefited from a lot of character development through his interactions with Artemis and Bizarro. His relationship with Artemis is interesting because they’ve had similar experiences. I’m taking a closer look at Red Hood and Artemis’ relationship to see how it’s developed. Continue reading “Appraising The Relationship Between Red Hood And Artemis”

Making The Life And Times Of Jason Todd Video Series

Video making is one of the best ways to reach an audience, which is why I decided to start a YouTube channel called Comic Curators. The channel features comic reviews, character studies and positive mental health. I’ve recently finished creating a three part series called The Life And Times Of Jason Todd, focusing on my favourite comic character, Red Hood. I’m happy to present the second video in the series that focuses on Jason’s resurrection and transformation.
Continue reading “Making The Life And Times Of Jason Todd Video Series”

Comic Kitchen: Red Hood

Comic Kitchen is a series that creates a three-course meal around a comic character. It’s a segment that combines my love of food with my passion for pop culture. This edition is a special one because it’s the first time I’ve cooked my own dishes and that feels appropriate for Red Hood. Jason Todd is a guy who grew up on the streets, who learned to savour every morsel he could find. His appetite is something to behold, so I’ve created a menu that focuses on protein, big portions and zest. Continue reading “Comic Kitchen: Red Hood”

Why Jason Todd Was A Better Robin Than People Gave Him Credit For

For those of you who’ve been reading The Comic Vault regularly, you’ll have probably realised by now Jason Todd is my favourite comic character. His background, personality and lifestyle make him one of the most interesting characters in the Batman universe. As Red Hood, Jason has a dedicated following, but that wasn’t always the case. During his early years as Robin, Jason was so unpopular that fans decided to kill him off.

I disagree with the backlash Jason received, though the story of how he became Robin is worth knowing about. I’m looking into Jason’s tenure as Robin to show how he was a better Boy Wonder than people gave him credit for. Continue reading “Why Jason Todd Was A Better Robin Than People Gave Him Credit For”

Red Hood And The Outlaws Artist Dexter Soy Talks Comics, Collaboration And Rooftop Fights

Ever since DC: Rebirth, one of best titles has been Red Hood and The Outlaws because of the story quality, characters and art. Jason Todd, Artemis and Bizarro have all received amazing development, courtesy of writer Scott Lobdell and artist Dexter Soy. The Philippines born artist has created some incredible panels. After an epic two year run, Dexter recently finished up on the series with Red Hood and The Outlaws #25.

But before he signed off, I couldn’t resist interviewing him about his time on the series and how he got into the comic industry. Continue reading “Red Hood And The Outlaws Artist Dexter Soy Talks Comics, Collaboration And Rooftop Fights”