The Killing Joke - Blog Posts
My Thoughts on How Barbara Became Oracle.
I’ve seen people talk about this change and I wanted to join in since I have some thoughts too.
For the most part, I’m okay with the change the writers did. Young Justice is one of many DC universes so anything can happen. I applaud the writers for trying something new.
Though, I still have some problems with the change. It was pretty weird that Barbara automatically assumed Orphan never killed anyone before they met. I think the writers were trying to outright tell us that Cassandra’s story is widely different. I also would’ve preferred if Orphan made that decision not to kill or killing is bad on her own like what happened when she and her mother fought in episode 8.
I read Cassandra’s comic origins on her Wikipedia page and prefer how she decided to be a hero than YJ’s version.
Incase anyone is wondering about my thoughts on how Barbara became Oracle in the Killing Joke, I’m okay with this version. There are many people who said they didn’t like it because they believe Barbara was a consequence of Joker wanting to drive Gordon crazy. I can see where they are coming from but that was not my perspective.
From how I see it, what happened to Barbara was a devastating way to show the audience that heroes can face as much pain and tragedy in their civilian lives as them being superheroes. And that terrible things can indirectly happen to you.
I hope you liked my rant! Thanks for reading!
What If............................... The Joker Reformed?
This is an Elseworld's idea I recently had after rereading "The Killing Joke". I'd always wondered what would've happened if The Joker did take up Batman's offer at the end of the story, and I eventually came up with a story in which Joker does agree to let Batman rehabilitate him. At first, Joker just spent the first few months in Arkham Asylum actually complying with the doctors and guards. But he eventually does escape, terrified of change and just wanting to do his old dance with Batman. Realizing he needs to keep a closer eye on him in order to make sure this does work, Batman secretly has Joker moved into Wayne Manor, confining him to a single room and forcing him to stick to a specific schedule. If he even deviates once from taking his medication, he's going right back to Arkham. Alfred hates this idea, but sticks by Bruce's side out of loyalty. When Barbara and Dick eventually hear about this, they initially think that Bruce has lost his mind and that Joker must be playing him. But Bruce does manage to at least talk them into leaving him alone. After a year goes by with no intrusions or deviations, Joker is allowed access to certain parts of the manor, such as the dining hall and living room. Alfred is always there to make sure nothing happens, watching Joker like a hawk and flinching at the most minor actions. Alfred utterly despises Joker, as aside from Joe Chill, he is the primary cause of Batman's suffering. He killed Jason Todd, crippled Barbara Gordon, and has dogged Batman to the ends of the earth in order to forever play his maniacal game of cat & mouse with him. However, Joker is 100% serious about reforming and just wants to be allowed to show that he can change. One night while Batman was out chasing after The Riddler, Riddler ended up getting the jump on Batman and knocked him unconscious, trapping him inside of a 100 acre mirror maze littered with dozens of laser beams that fire randomly every 20 seconds. What Alfred and the others were unaware of was that Joker knows Batman is Bruce Wayne, he just never cared. When Bruce radioed for Alfred to send in Nightwing, Joker overheard and snuck into the Batcave ahead of everyone. He then stole the Batman of Zur-En-Arrh costume, hotwired the Bat-cycle, and sped away. While Batman was running through the maze and dodging lasers, he ended up getting burned on his left arm and was trapped at a dead end. Before the lasers could finish him off, Joker came crashing through one of the mirrors and destroyed the laser beam with an explosive Batarang. He then tended to Batman's wound before grappling them up to Riddler's control room. The two then defeated the Riddler and duct-taped him to the signal for Commissioner Gordon. Impressed with Joker's heroic action, Batman eventually started to teach him how to be a vigilante. It turns out that Joker was more adept at this thing than he was even aware of. It'll still take a while for him to earn the trust of the rest of the Bat-family, but he's happy as Batman's new sidekick. Batman & The Joker: The New Dynamic Duo.