You know when a character is brought back for shock value, when really they should have just stayed dead because no one liked them anyway? Yeah, the return of Jason Todd was one of those things. The immensely enjoyable “Under the Hood” storyline a few years ended with the reveal of the returned Boy Wonder, ready to wreck revenge upon his former mentor, and then the whole thing sort of petered out.

Todd was in last year’s “Battle for the Cowl” mini-series, and while I thought that series was good, it didn’t hold much water thanks to some horrifically awful pencils from Tony Daniel. His appearance in “Batman and Robin” was far superior, but again, the art hurt the otherwise engaging story. As well as that, Todd’s character was never the same; each time he popped up he had been written differently, and it hurt him. People were beginning to think he was a hero. He’s not.

Finally, we’ve got Judd Winick writing the character again; and it is some incredibly epic storytelling. Applying the same tricks Ed Brubaker did during his resurrection of Bucky in “Winter Soldier,” we are presented with a gritty and harsh look at the return of Jason Todd. It skips over numerous details, sure; Todd just turns up, with no explanation, a traumatised youth who has intense fighting skills which he implements only when threatened.

This first issue is more about the relationship between Ra’s al Ghul and his daughter, Talia, who is attempting to heal Todd over time. The reality that Ra’s points out, is that Talia believes by curing Jason, she will win Batman’s heart. Of course, this didn’t happen, and considering how much the character of Talia has morphed in the last couple of years, under Grant Morrison’s direction, it’s doubtful she ever will, when he returns.

But it’s a solemn piece, giving an insight into a character whose drastic change has been one of my few grumbles with Morrison’s run over the last couple of years. The issue ends with the inevitable rebirth, setting up the rest of this mini-series, and it’s a perfect beginning to what will surely be, an incredibly engaging story.

The art in the book is wonderful, too. Pablo Raimondi adds depth and energy to the book; the pacing and storytelling are perfect, and the fight sequences involving a mute Jason feel almost poetic.