Batman: Urban Legends #1 (2021)

Italics indicate flashbacks Red Hood chases down a small time crook, incapacitating him with rubber bullets whilst reminiscing on his time with Batman. He interrogates him, and demands to know who is making the latest illegal drug, 'Cheerdrops', which gives people euphoric hallucinations, but which can lead to them injuring and killing themselves as a result. The crook can only give him the location of the dealer, and Red Hood leaves him behind to head over, in the process passing two cops who, upon hearing the gunshots, complain about how children are being raised these days. In the Batcave young Jason Todd complains to Alfred about his training, and is impatient to finally go out on a mission. He complains about constantly being in the shadow of Batman and the previous Robin, only to stumble upon a locker full of guns. Batman immediately interrupts him, and whilst Jason is confused as to why Batman would have guns, Batman explains that he must still learn about them for the purpose of forensics. He insists that they are a coward's weapon and that neither of them will be using them, but Jason is clearly enraptured. Out in Gotham, Batman observes as the please try to talk a man under the influence of Cheerdrops off a ledge. Believing he is at a theme park with his dad, the man jumps off the edge, but Batman is able to catch him safely. One of the cops shoots at him and Batman leaves with a collection of Cheerdrops, and the cop complains how all the city's freaks want to emulate Batman, including whoever is spreading the Cheerdrops. Meanwhile, Red Hood interrogates one of the building's occupants on the room of the dealer, lamenting that he was never the best detective. Finding the room, he moves in only to find a young boy crying, with his mother comatose on the bed. Red Hood is able to coax out that the boy's name is Tyler, and he calls an ambulance for the mother. Tyler explains that his dad, Andy, is at work, although given the state of the apartment Red Hood is not convinced he will be in a much better state. Red Hood finds a phone, and calls Oracle to get a trace on the Andy's number. Not wanting Tyler to end up in the system, Red Hood opts to keep him safe himself. At the Garage, Batman studies the chemical composition of the Cheerdrops, and discovers that they are an inverted version of the Scarecrow's Fear Toxin, although Scarecrow himself is still believed dead. He calls Oracle, and requests that she determine the activities of Scarecrow's known associates. she warns him that Red Hood is also investigating the case, and and tries to encourage him to go easy, but Batman is adamant that Jason is a killer and that he will do it alone. In the Batcave, Bruce reveals to Alfred that Jason is still alive. Bruce does not know what could drive Jason to kill, but Alfred is clear. It is Jason's adulation of Batman, and subsequently their failure to protect him from the Joker, that has prompted his turn to violence. Alfred tries to persuade him that approaching him as Bruce, rather than Batman, is the best approach, but Batman insists that Jason's killing means that it is Batman that must stop him. Red Hood brings Tyler to his father's location, and sits him to the side out of harm's way. He gives him his mask, and tells him to call Oracle if anything happens. To keep his spirits up, Red Hood encourages Tyler to give himself a superhero name - he decides to call himself 'Blue Hood' after Red Hood's own name. Red Hood attempts to sneak into the building, only to be spotted and fired at by the occupants. He realises he has found the factory, and incapacitates the workers, with one of them fleeing. One of the guards identifies the fleeing crook as Andy, and Red Hood gives pursuit. Knowing the impact that not having a parent had on him, Red Hood initially opts to incapacitate him, and explains that he is here with Tyler. However, Andy is completely apathetic, caring nothing about Tyler and his mum and revealing that he had dosed him up himself on Cheerdrops. In a fit of rage, Red Hood executes him, only to immediately realise what he has done...