Batman readers were allowed to vote on the outcome of the story and they decided that Robin should die! As the second person to assume the role of Batman’s sidekick, Jason Todd had a completely different personality than the original Robin. Rash and prone to ignore Batman’s instructions, Jason was always quick to act without regard to consequences. In this fatal instance, Robin ignores his mentor’s warnings when he attempts to take on the Joker by himself and pays the ultimate price. Driven by anger with Superman by his side, Batman seeks his vengeance as he looks to end the Joker’s threat forever.

I purchased a copy of this book for my own reading.

Continuing my dive into the world of iconic graphic novels, A Death in the Family seemed an obvious choice. While maintaining the dark style seen in The Killing Joke, at its time of publication, it introduced an interesting element. The readers had the opportunity to vote on the most pivotal moment in the story, waiting to see what the outcome was when the next instalment dropped.

This time, the art style has more of the Adam West era about it in terms of the costume styles, but also the onomatopoeic word flashes to denote action and impact that a certain era of Batman is known for. But the story, that’s something altogether more tragic than the Adam West series. And if possible, it’s even more shocking than The Killing Joke. Having read it, I now see why it is so often raised on a pedestal in the pantheon of the superhero comicbook world.

My rating: