WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Red Hood #52 by Shawn Martinbrough, Tony Atkins, Stefano Gaudiano, Paul Mounts and ALW's Troy Peteri, on sale now.
In the DC Universe, there are many sinister gangsters and mob bosses to take stock of, from the Falcones to bigger fish like the Joker. We can't discount the likes of Penguin, Two-Face and Black Mask as they all battle for Gotham's turf, however, when it comes to the meanest one, that's Killer Croc. Waylon Jones really understands what it takes to run the streets, and while his reptilian form has scared people off, it's actually made him the perfect leader at times.
In Red Hood #52, Croc returns with a vengeance, although this time he's relying more on his brain than his brawn.
From the Joker graphic-novel to Batman: The Animated Series to Forever Evil, Croc has always shown the potential to be a grimy boss. He really knows how to shake other gangs down and it seems to be due to the fearlessness that came with being someone society often rejects. To Waylon, this is his way at getting back at the public, taking what he was robbed of -- a chance to earn a living and be happy.
He's often grown disenchanted, especially as Amanda Waller's Suicide Squad saw him as nothing more than an ugly weapon. That said, Batman did try to help him from time to time, as seen when he wanted to cure Croc and his crew of mutants, but Waylon just couldn't stay in Arkham long enough. Granted, he got out on good behavior, he's no longer sticking to the path of light we all saw in Gotham City Monsters. In fact, the person who got him out, the fashion criminal and Jared Leto Joker wannabe, Tommy Maxx, is using him as muscle once more to rule the gangs on the Hill.
Croc's smarter, though, working on getting fashion royalties from the designer wear inspired by Batman's rogues. When Red Hood confronts him, Jason can tell this is a new Croc. Waylon taunts him about being far away from the city, the Bat-family and Artemis. He's using his sly tongue more, and the icing on the cake comes when he actually sells Tommy out for Jason to take down. But it's all part of a longer game as Croc was working with the other gang led by Demetrius, double-crossing Tommy for a lot of money.
He ends up gifting Tommy's empire and weapons to Demetrius after attacking the latter as part of a fake-out, proving Croc knows about theatrics. Not even Jason realizes he's played them all, and with Gotham restructuring after Joker War, Croc's seemingly assembling a new empire for himself. In the past, he always wanted to be a symbol, especially after his tragic relationship with Enchantress, and he seems to be making new moves without actually getting stuck too deep into crime. This could see other outcasts and mutants working under him in this new venture, which the Bat-family will eventually have to put in check, especially as Croc's ambition is larger than ever, as evidenced by his dapper suit and hat.