With the massive success of Matt Reeves’ The Batman, fans are being prompted to check out other Batman content such as Batman: Under The Red Hood, which is often debated as a contender for the best animated DC film. Part of that has to do with the many iconic quotes that come from this famous story.
Exploring the tragedy of the Red Hood and Batman, each of the characters is well-realized through dialogue taken from the comics themselves as well as original dialogue. The result is a series of lines that many fans will forever remember this dark story for.
Contents
- 1 Nightwing Appreciates Politeness
- 2 Joker’s Twisted Sense Of Humor
- 3 From Clown To Killer
- 4 The Red Hood Does Not Take No For An Answer
- 5 Batman’s Guilt
- 6 Ra’s Al Ghul Is Not That Evil
- 7 The Saddest Line Is The Final Line
- 8 Jason Todd Knows His Dark Side
- 9 Is Jason Wrong For Being Angry?
- 10 Why Batman Wants To Kill But Chooses Not To
Nightwing Appreciates Politeness
“He Did Just Thank Me, Didn’t He?”
For as dark and serious as most Batman stories are, there is always a bit of levity; especially if the famous Nightwing, aka Dick Grayson, is involved. However, in one instance, the comedy is used to show off an unexpected emotional beat. After a fight with Red Hood, Nightwing offers to keep helping Batman, but the older hero assures him that he already has and then thanks him.
The wounded Nightwing is guided out by Alfred before he says, “He did just thank me, didn’t he?” Alfred responds with, “Indeed he did, sir.” This leads to a final comment from Nightwing, “Weird.” Not only is this humorous but it’s meant to show that as Bruce gets older, he’s become more human than in his early days as a vigilante.
Joker’s Twisted Sense Of Humor
“Not These Guys ‘Cause They’re Kinda Dead.”
Black Mask offers to have the Joker take down the Red Hood, and the Joker is being uncharacteristically quiet. So, when he asks for a glass of water, it’s no shocker that he somehow uses it as a means to kill one man, get a gun, then slaughter Black Mask’s men.
Joker’s kill streak just turns out to be a bit of fun before he accepts the job. He lets Black Mask know that “I’m gonna need some guys. Not these guys ’cause well they’re kinda dead.” This bit of dark humor is followed by a twisted cackle, showing that this is one of the scariest animated versions of the Joker.
From Clown To Killer
“Do Tell The Big Man I Said…Hello.”
John DiMaggio’s Joker is introduced in Under the Red Hood via a very brutal and cold opening scene in which he beats Jason Todd, aka the second Robin nearly to death. Joker leaves before Batman can arrive on the scene and up until this point, he has been giving mostly fun banter, even though it was twisted.
That changes when he tells Jason, “Do tell the big man I said…hello.” The typical bouncy and jovial attitude is replaced with a sinister tone that makes DiMaggio’s Joker unique and scary.
The Red Hood Does Not Take No For An Answer
“I’m Not Asking You To Kick In With Me. I’m Telling.”
With Red Hood being the titular villain who carries a large part of the plot, he is required to make an impact in his first scene. He does just that with Jensen Ackles of Supernatural fame providing a now-iconic voice for the character.
He delivers the heads of lieutenants to the crimelords of Gotham City they represent and takes over their entire operation in a few minutes. He even says that it’s not a request to be their boss, “I’m not asking you to kick in with me. I’m telling you.” He has no qualms about killing them, thus establishing himself as a powerful villain from the start.
Batman’s Guilt
“My Partner. My Soldier. My Fault.”
Batman and Alfred have a talk after they learn the truth about Jason Todd’s resurrection. Alfred shows why he’s the most important Bat-Family member by comforting Bruce. However, Bruce still takes the blame for the creation of Red Hood.
“If I hadn’t made him into Robin, he would’ve grown to do wrong. Then I got him killed. My partner. My soldier. My fault.” This is one of many examples of this Batman being one of the more emotional and layered portrayals of the character; he is more than just a raging man in a mask.
Ra’s Al Ghul Is Not That Evil
“I Have Returned Your Son to You As A Blight Upon Your House.”
For all of his extremist methods and twisted morality, Ra’s Al Ghul has some wholesome moments in the Batman franchise. He fully admits to resurrecting Jason Todd as a means to rectify his mistake of trusting Joker, which led to the boy’s death.
“I have returned your son to you as a blight upon your house.” Ra’s had no intentions of turning Jason against Bruce or making him into the dark villain for Gotham that he is now. He genuinely regrets his actions which makes this version of Ra’s Al Ghul much more likable as a result.
The Saddest Line Is The Final Line
“This Is The Best Day Of My Life.”
The final words that are spoken in Under the Red Hood end the story on a more bittersweet note. Batman is able to let his guilt go but he does remember back to the day when Jason Todd first became Robin. He was so excited to be Batman’s partner in crimefighting to the point where it’s adorable.
He hops right onto the Batmobile and with joy, says the words, “This is the best day of my life.” with his words echoing before the credits. It’s tragic that such a good child went down a dark path.
Jason Todd Knows His Dark Side
“Or Is This Just the Real Me?”
There is an unfortunate truth to Jason Todd: while Batman definitely tried his hardest to steer him down a better road, Jason was never going to turn out a hero. Time on Gotham’s streets turned Jason bitter and it was noticeable when he was Robin.
Jason is rather forward about it when he and Bruce take off their masks, “Does it make it easier for you to think that my dip in his fountain of youth turned me rabid? Or is this just the real me?” It’s an example of a DC character who went from friend to supervillain, which makes it easy to feel sorry for both parties.
Is Jason Wrong For Being Angry?
“You Know, I Thought… I Thought I’d Be the Last Person You’d Ever Let Him Hurt.”
Ackles continues to steal the movie as Red Hood, playing a broken son on the verge of tears as he confronts Batman. He scolds him about how his one rule about not killing is flawed when Joker has filled entire graveyards,
“You know, I thought… I thought I’d be the last person you’d ever let him hurt. If it had been you that he beat to a bloody pulp, if he had taken you from this world, I would’ve done nothing but search the planet for this pathetic pile of evil, death-worshiping garbage and then send him off to hell!” Even though Jason is a bit extreme, it’s hard to not sympathize with his plight.
Why Batman Wants To Kill But Chooses Not To
“If I Allow Myself To Go Down Into That Place, I’ll Never Come Back.”
Bruce Greenwood shines as one of the best voice actors for Batman. He earns this through a speech he gives to Jason when he asks if it’d be too hard to kill the Joker, “No. God almighty, no. It’d be too damned easy. All I’ve ever wanted to do was kill him.”
“A day doesn’t go by that I don’t think about subjecting him to every horrendous torture he’s dealt out to others, and then… end him.” This earns a humorous response from Joker before Batman finishes with, “But if I do that, if I allow myself to go down into that place… I’ll never come back.” Of all of the attempts to explain Batman’s no-killing rule to the audience, this is probably the best.