After nearly three decades The Killing Joke has finally been made into an animated movie. Written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Brian Bolland, this controversial one-shot is one of the definitive origin stories for The Joker. The heavy references for this book have forced this story into continuity.
The Killing Joke is also a turning point for Barbara Gordon. After this graphic novel was published, Barbara returns as an already established hero: Oracle. It takes twenty-three years for her to reclaim her title as Batgirl.
Also Jason reviews All-Star Batman #1 by Scott Snyder. Kyle returns with Spider-Man Deadpool #8: The story arc continues!
Comic Review
- 1:55 – All-Star Batman #1
- 5:40 – Spider-Man/Deadpool #8
Batgirl
6:44
- First appearance: Batman #139 (1961)
- Depicted as a family
- Retconned out during Crisis on Infinite Earths
- Mary Elizabeth “Bette” Kane as “Flamebird”
- Batman TV Show
- They re-envisioned Batgirl
- Barbara Gordon as Batgirl
- Detective Comics #359 (1967)
- First appearance of Barbara Gordon as Batgirl
- She was a popular staple in the comics
- The Killing Joke (1988)
- After Joker’s assault
- Barbara Gordon is no longer Batgirl
- She is now Oracle
- No Man’s Land (1999)
- Batman: Shadow of the Bat #83 – Helena Bertinelli (AKA the Huntress) becomes Batgirl
- Cassandra Cain later succeeds Helena as Batgirl in Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #120
- Batgirl (2000)
- First monthly title for “Batgirl”
- Cassandra Cain continues as Batgirl
- Birds of Prey #96 (2006)
- Charlotte Gage-Radcliffe acts as Batgirl
- Batgirl (Volume 3) #1 (2009)
- Stephanie Brown takes the role as Batgirl
- Formerly Spoiler and the fourth Robin
- New 52 (2011)
- Barbara Gordon reclaims her title
- Batgirl #1
- Birds of Prey
- Batgirl (2014)
- A soft reboot
- Exploring Barbara’s inability to escape her earlier trauma
The Killing Joke
- 18:49 – The Killing Joke (TBP)
- 19:58 – The Killing Joke (Animated Movie)