‘Gotham’ First Look: Does “Red Hood” Tease Joker Origin Story?

FOX’s ‘Gotham’ will take tonight’s installment to set up Bat-baddie “The Scarecrow,” but the biggest tease of all may lie ahead in the coming weeks, introducing the “Red Hood” gang to the future Dark Knight’s streets. Our first photos of the capering criminal gang have arrived, but might they be the seeds of our inevitable Joker arc?

Where tonight’s hour will bring us the torment of Jonathan Crane, and next week’s “Blind Fortune-Teller” will set up Dick Grayson’s parents, February 23 installment will introduce the “Red Hood” gang as a group of bank robbers Gordon and Bullock have difficulty catching. In the comics, the group has frequently been depicted among the Joker’s origins, as a gang whose central figure is purposely kept interchangeable by the red mask.

And while the various criminals seen in the photos may only allude to our future clown prince of crime, here’s what ‘Gotham’ showrunner Bruno Heller previously (and somewhat insultingly) said of the first season’s accelerated Joker introduction

We’ve said you’re going to be waiting a bit longer for it, but this is America – nobody wants to wait. So, we will scratch the surface of that story, yes. But just scratch it – a little tap on the door.

Time will tell if ‘Gotham’ plans any more substantial teases of Batman’s greatest foe (assuming it should do any in the first place), but in the meantime, take a look at the “Red Hood” gang above, and stay tuned for our “Scarecrow” review later tonight!