[[[Batman]]] needs a Robin. It humanizes him, reminds him of the actual people he is sworn to protect. As a result, he welcomed Jason Todd into his life only to see the second Boy Wonder become his greatest failure. The death of Jason, at the hands of both the Joker and the comic book readers, was a major event in the latter 1980s and cemented the notion that comics, as they matured, also grew darker. The glass case with the retired outfit served as a stark reminder of that failure, pushing the [[[Dark Knight]]] to do better.

Then Jason got better. Well, he returned to life anyway. Apparently, Judd Winick was offered the [[[Batman]]] assignment and immediately wanted to revive Jason for no obviously good reason. So, Jason came back from the dead without explanation, and became the Red Hood, a true vigilante willing to take criminal lives unlike his mentor. The Red Hood also seemed to be a villain and was taunting Batman until they inevitably confronted one another and the truth was revealed.

The story arc, for good or ill, has now been adapted into the latest Warner Premiere animated feature. Batman: Under the Red Hood was written by Winick and is premiering tonight at the San Diego Comic-Con, and being released on Tuesday as a Blu-ray, Standard DVD, or digital download. In the comics, Jason was revived via a reality-altering event linked to the Infinite Crisis but here; he wisely simplifies the story and traces the revival to Ra’s al Ghul, who is portrayed with remarkable sympathy here.

Winick also nicely weaves in flashbacks that trace Batman’s adoption of Dick Grayson, and the youth’s evolution into Nightwing; along with Jason’s arrival and subsequent brief career as the new sidekick. In both cases, the young men revel in being a part of the Dynamic Duo and while we see Dick’s growth, we are never shown Jason having a distinct personality (which was a pretty ugly one in the comics).  The contrast between them is dramatically missing as is the theme that Batman needs a Robin. The current Robin, Tim Drake, is entirely missing from the feature and bonus features.

This 75 minute story uses the conflict between the Red Hood and the Black Mask from the comic book story, mixing in the Joker and Ra’s with cameos from Alfred, Commissioner Gordon and Talia. The action moves quickly enough and the fight sequences are sprinkled in nicely. The only false moment is the early chase between the Red Hood in a car and Batman in the Batwing. Planes fly at many times the speed of an auto and the chase should have ended about a block after it began.

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This just in! Starro, the hive-minded starfish-shaped ne’er-do-well of DC fame has decided to take over the Earth (again). Unlike previous attempts that alerted the JLA all too quickly, Starro this time methodically hatched his spores all over the 2010 San Diego Comic Con.

Shown here, the first nerdy victim, was obtained for the 50 year old conqueror near the Mattel booth. Mattel, who released the DCU Starro action playset (with Kevin Conroy voice activated narration!) at the con, was asked for comment.

“We here at Mattel wanted to celebrate the glory of Starro the Conqueror. His majestic tentacles enrobe our simple brain matter, and unites us with the singular mind that makes everything seem ok again. And it totally makes us forget about that silly Star Conqueror villain who took thirteen issues to lose to the son of Brainiac in R.E.B.E.L.S.”

It didn’t take long for the 100,000+ fans in attendance to submit their weak minds, and pie filled bodies to the intergalactic leader. The first stop after the con floor? Any panel where Mark Waid is in attendance. That mind has been giving us Starro’s followers many problems these days…. yes….

Today at the 2010 San Diego Comic Con, the Guinness Book of World Records awarded Marvel Comics’ X-Men #1 the award for the Highest Selling Single Comic Book. On hand to receive the award was longtime X-Men writer Chris Claremont (left) and Marvel Publishing COO, Jim Sokolowski. Oddly enough the artist for X-Men #1, one James Lee, was not in attendance for the presentation.

Those in attendance for the celebration (done in front of the life sized replica of Odin’s Throne from the upcoming Thor movie) could hear gentle sobs from somewhere in the back of the crowd. Mumbles of “Dagnabbit, I though Spawn #1 would take it!” could be heard from an unknown baseball cap adorned fan.

“This is a great achievement for Marvel. I’m very glad to have been a part of the creative team behind these beloved characters…” said Claremont.* Adding “…of course if you’d like to read how I would have actually finished that series you could go buy X-Men Forever... on sale now!”

*Ok, Chris didn’t actually say this, but we thought you’d agree.

There is a line from C.S. Lewis’s The Screwtape Letters: “The devil cannot abide to be mocked.” For some reason, I thought of it today as I contemplated the scene outside the San Diego Convention Center.

Yep, there were there, just as they said they’d be. Here’s a photo taken by Megan Phelps of the family business of a young relative Gabe…

…and here’s a pic of them in action. All four of them.

Now down the street were our people, in a photo snapped by Marc Bernardin:

A bunch of happy mutants yelling “My god has a hammer!” and calls and responses of “What do we want? “Gay sex!” “When do we want it?” “NOW!” The folks at ComicsAlliance have some very good pics of the counter-protestors, but my favorite was from wessgregg:

All I can say for the WBC is that it’s probably a good thing they protested today before the crowds got really large.

UPDATE: Rich Johnston has even more pictures and a great T-shirt.