Batman: A Death in the Family

The death of Jason Todd, chronicled in Jim Starlin and Jim Aparo's Death in the Family, is bizarre. Published in the late 80's, this comic goes from strange to the downright weird -- even for an 80's comic.

Jason Todd, Batman's second Robin, following Dick Grayson who went on to become Nightwing, is in search of his birth mother. Following several possible leads, the brash young teen heads off to Africa and the Middle East without informing his mentor and friend, Batman.

Ironically, Batman is following the Joker to the same locales that Jason is searching for his mother. Coincidence? I think not.

As they gradually eliminate their leads, Batman agrees to aid Jason in his quest, the two come to the final woman. In a surprise twist, she is revealed to be working with the Joker, who has forced her to deliver his infamous Joker Gas to unsuspecting refugees.

After a fitting showdown, Jason shields his mother from an exploding bomb and loses his life. This story is something of a bizarre letdown -- or more realistically, a blatant decision by DC to assassinate one of its characters.

Even more bizarre than the story is the fact that Joker winds up becoming the Iranian ambassador to Iran -- but I won't even get in to that. I think it suffices to say that this bizarre tale is a clear cut moment when a publisher makes a decision to remove a character -- why they chose this completely outlandish scenario though, is something I'll never know...