Batman: A Death in the Family - Definition and Overview

Batman: A Death in the Family is a Batman comic book story arc first published in the late 1980s which gave fans the ability to influence the story through voting with a 900 number.

Story Line

The story follows Jason Todd, the second Robin. In search of his biological mother, he travels to the Middle East where he becomes embroiled in terrorism, Islamic Fundamentalism, and The Joker. After a confrontation with the Joker, Todd is killed, prompting Batman to swear to avenge his death. Superman makes an appearance as a messenger from the President, trying to dissuade Batman from his mission to kill the Joker, who is now a citizen of and diplomat for Iran.

Significance

The story arc was panned by many as ridiculous and implausible, and the theme was derided as "racist" but the characterization of Batman in such an emotional state, the interactivity that it brought to the art form, and the drama of the murder of a main character have made this an enduring work in the realm of comic books.