WARNING: The following contains spoilers for DC vs. Vampires #6, now on sale from DC Comics
There have been numerous Robins over the years, with each one showcasing a different set of skills that make them stand out. But that's also raised the question over which one of them would be victorious if a fight broke out -- with DC seemingly confirming how one such brawl would play out
DC vs. Vampires #6 by James Tynion IV, Matthew Rosenberg, Otto Schmidt, Simone Di Meo, Daniele Di Nicuolo, Rex Lokus, and Tom Napolitano sees Dick Grayson and Jason Todd finally throw down once and for all -- with the fight seemingly confirming that Red Hood is the better fighter, even if he doesn't win the day.
The first two to take on the Robin role, Dick Grayson and Jason Todd have always stood in contrast to one another. Especially in the Post-Crisis DC Universe, Grayson was easy-going and friendly while Jason's combative and hot-headed nature led to him getting in over his head with the Joker and getting killed. After Jason's resurrection, he and Grayson went up against each other multiple times -- especially in the aftermath of Bruce Wayne's death and Dick Grayson's tenure in the role as Batman. But the two have largely settled their differences in the modern-day -- although the question remains over which one would be victorious in a genuine fight.
The opportunity presented itself in a surprising fashion in DC vs. Vampires #6. Revealed to be the mysterious king of the vampires, Nightwing quickly decimates the Bat-Family -- murdering Batman and Tim Drake while biting Damian. Jason remained behind to give Cassandra Cain, Green Arrow, and Alfred time to escape and try to save Damian -- and engaged the now-superpowered Nightwing in combat. Even with enhanced abilities, Nightwing turns out to not have the best handle on Red Hood. Jason even manages to seriously wound Grayson and may have even killed him if he'd been able to finish the fight. But the vampiric Wonder Woman proved to be a lethal wildcard, suddenly striking Jason mid-fight and biting him. Jason ultimately encouraged Green Arrow to kill him before he could become corrupted -- and noted he'd been winning.
It's a brutal fight, but also a fitting final one for Jason. It's also a clear indicator that Jason might have a point -- he could have defeated Grayson, even after he'd been upgraded with some impressive new powers. Notably, Jason has always been defined by his combat skills, especially in contrast to the more acrobatic Grayson and the investigative Tim Drake. It seems that Jason's confidence and bravado almost paid off, as even going up against an empowered Grayson he put up a good fight. He even got the chance to highlight his own apparent long-standing belief that eventually, Grayson would mess up -- although it's clear he never believed it would go this poorly.
Still, it seems like DC has given an answer to the lingering question of whether or not Jason Todd could ever actually defeat the original Robin in a fight, suggesting even with powers it would take outside influences to give Grayson the victory. While he's always been in Nightwing's shadow -- and specifically cites it as one of the many reasons he'd refuse to become a vampire -- it seems that Jason could at least argue he is indeed the better fighter. It may be a hollow triumph for this version of Jason considering his death, but it's still a win for the character.