Batman: A Death in the Family

Jim Starlin

Batman: A Death in the Family

Jim Starlin
46 pages1-hour read
Fiction
Graphic Novel/Book
Adult
Published in 1988

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

Bruce Wayne is a wealthy Gotham City industrialist who fights crime under the masked alter ego of Batman. Driven by a deep commitment to justice, he relies on a vast global network and high-tech gadgets to track threats worldwide. As a mentor and guardian, he attempts to balance his mission with the emotional needs of his young protégé.

Key Relationships

Adoptive Father of Robin/Jason Todd

Archrival of The Joker

Employer of Alfred

Former Mentor of Dick Grayson

Ally of James Gordon

Ideological Foil to Superman

Associate of Ralph Bundy

Jason Todd is the second youth to assume the mantle of Robin, bringing a brooding and aggressive energy to the role. Raised in poverty and orphaned at a young age, he struggles to process his childhood trauma. Placed on inactive duty by Batman, he travels internationally to uncover the true identity of his biological family.

Key Relationships

Adoptive Ward of Batman/Bruce Wayne

Son of Willis Todd

Adopted Son of Catherine Todd

Investigator of Dr. Sheila Haywood

Investigator of Sharmin Rosen

Investigator of Lady Shiva Woosan

Target of The Joker

The Joker is Batman's archnemesis and an agent of unrestricted chaos. Stripped of his usual assets by the police, he turns his attention to the Middle East to sell a stolen cruise missile on the black market. He operates purely out of self-interest and views everyone around him as expendable pawns.

Key Relationships

Archnemesis of Batman/Bruce Wayne

Employer of Rupert

Employer of Gaspar Taylor

Associate of Peter Brando

Supplier to Jamal

Blackmailer of Dr. Sheila Haywood

Dr. Sheila Haywood is a humanitarian worker stationed in East Africa. Formerly a medical student in Gotham City, she fled after a critical operation went wrong. Her name appears in Willis Todd's old files, making her a person of interest in Jason's search. She dedicates her current life to distributing supplies to refugees, though her past makes her vulnerable to extortion.

Key Relationships

Connected to Robin/Jason Todd

Former Romantic Partner of Willis Todd

Blackmailed by The Joker

Superman is a nearly invulnerable superhero who frequently cooperates with official government agencies. Operating as an enforcer of law and order, he values international stability and the strict observance of diplomatic protocols. His rigid adherence to rules puts him at odds with Batman's vigilante methods.

Key Relationships

Ideological Foil to Batman/Bruce Wayne

Legal Protector of The Joker

Liaison with Ralph Bundy

Supporting Characters

Sharmin Rosen is an Israeli secret-service agent operating undercover in Lebanon. Her name appears in Willis Todd's old address book, making her one of the primary candidates in Jason's search for his family. She works dangerous field assignments to monitor and intercept terrorist activities near the border.

Key Relationships

Investigated by Robin/Jason Todd

Undercover Contact of Peter Brando

Lady Shiva Woosan is a ruthless and amoral supervillain operating as a mercenary in the Middle East. Hired to train a camp of terrorists in Lebanon, she prioritizes testing her martial arts skills against worthy opponents above all else. Like Sharmin, her name surfaces in Willis Todd's files during Jason's investigation.

Key Relationships

Investigated by Robin/Jason Todd

Alfred is the loyal butler at Wayne Manor. He acts as an emotional sounding board for Bruce, offering insight into the struggles of the younger crimefighter living under their roof. He notices Jason's private grief and attempts to guide Bruce toward a more empathetic approach to parenting.

Key Relationships

Employee of Batman/Bruce Wayne

Caretaker of Robin/Jason Todd

Dick Grayson is the original youth to hold the title of Robin. Having matured and moved on to establish his own independent superhero identity, his absence leaves a void in Batman's life. His legacy casts a long shadow over Jason's tenure as the new sidekick.

Key Relationships

Former Protégé of Batman/Bruce Wayne

James Gordon is the police commissioner of Gotham City and a steadfast ally to the vigilante community. He maintains a working relationship with Batman despite the severe trauma his own family recently suffered at the hands of the Joker.

Key Relationships

Father of Barbara Gordon

Enemy of The Joker

Barbara Gordon is the daughter of Commissioner James Gordon. Having recently survived a brutal attack by the Joker that left her with paraplegia, her condition weighs heavily on the Gotham law enforcement community.

Key Relationships

Daughter of James Gordon

Victim of The Joker

Willis Todd is Jason's late father. A low-level criminal who worked for the villain Two-Face, his old address book provides the crucial clues Jason needs to begin an international search for his family history.

Key Relationships

Husband of Catherine Todd

Former Romantic Partner of Dr. Sheila Haywood

Subordinate to Two-Face

Catherine Todd is the woman who raised Jason, passing away from an illness when he was still young. Jason discovers through hidden family documents that she was his adoptive mother, prompting his sudden departure from Gotham.

Key Relationships

Adoptive Mother of Robin/Jason Todd

Wife of Willis Todd

Friend of Mrs. Walker

Mrs. Walker is a resident of Crime Alley and an old friend of Catherine Todd. She holds onto the Todd family's belongings for years, ensuring Jason receives the crucial box of documents when he finally returns to his childhood street.

Key Relationships

Friend of Catherine Todd

Former Neighbor of Robin/Jason Todd

Jamal is a terrorist operating in the Middle East. He purchases a cruise missile from the Joker for one million dollars, intending to launch the weapon at Tel Aviv.

Key Relationships

Buyer from The Joker

Peter Brando is a criminal associate of the Joker stationed in Lebanon. He helps broker the illegal arms deal between the Joker and local terrorist cells, drawing the attention of both Batman and Israeli intelligence.

Key Relationships

Associate of The Joker

Target of Sharmin Rosen

Gaspar Taylor is one of the Joker's henchmen. His attempt to travel overseas alerts Batman to the Joker's sudden pivot from local crime to international arms trafficking.

Key Relationships

Employee of The Joker

Interrogated by Batman/Bruce Wayne

Rupert is a henchman who assists the Joker in preparing for a working vacation outside of Gotham City. He aids in the logistics of transporting stolen military assets to foreign buyers.

Key Relationships

Employee of The Joker

Two-Face is a prominent Gotham City villain responsible for murdering Jason's father, Willis. His past actions fuel much of Jason's deep-seated anger and hostility toward the criminal underworld.

Key Relationships

Murderer of Willis Todd

Ralph Bundy is an intelligence officer working for the CIA. He attempts to manage Batman's interference in international politics, prioritizing diplomatic stability and potential government deals over vigilante justice.

Key Relationships

Contact for Batman/Bruce Wayne

Associate of Superman