Continue below for a brief review of the original Batman: The Killing Joke graphic novel, originally featured on the The World's Finest Fanworks section in 2006.

Batman: The Killing Joke
Studio: DC Comics
Release Date: March 1988

Synopsis: Alan Moore cemented his reputation for unparalleled storytelling with wildly acclaimed books such as Watchmen and V For Vendetta. Here he takes on some of DC's most classic characters, offering his unforgettable version of the disturbing relationship between the Dark Knight and his greatest foe, the Joker.In this groundbreaking work, Moore creates a twisted tale of insanity and human perseverance. Looking to prove that any man can be pushed past his breaking point to madness, the Joker attempts to drive Commissioner Gordon insane. Refusing to give up, Gordon struggles to maintain his sanity with the help of Batman in a desperate effort to best the madman.

Batman: The Killing Joke Graphic Novel Mini-Review
By The World's Finest contributor Barb Gordon

Batman: The Killing Joke is really such an amazing piece of work. As an Oracle and all around Barbara Gordon fan, it always seemed an essential story to read, even if I wasn't sure if I was going to end up liking it or not. It's where so much started and ended. The graphic novel is downright creepy. What Joker does do Barbara, even moreso to her father, and how Batman handles it all, there's such an air of unease. The Joker truly is a psychopath of the worst sort and that's on full display here. And, while I enjoyed the origin Alan Moore gave the Joker, and even moreso the ambiguity, because in all actuality, it probably isn't his origin to begin with. Like the Clown Prince of Crime said himself, sometimes he remembers it one way, sometimes another. He can make his past as sappy as he wants to win someone over, but even at this point, I don't think that even the Joker knows how it all started anymore.

Lots of comic readers and critics were taken aback, upset with the Joker shooting Barbara. I'm not sure if it's because it meant she couldn't be Batgirl anymore, or that they simply didn't like the act of what he did and how abrupt it was. Honestly, I always enjoyed seeing Barbara was as Batgirl, but she always seemed to be just a copy of Batman in the comics. A wannabe. A girl joining the all boy's club and somehow sticking it out. But she was always following along. The comics really seemed to push her character forward ahead. But then this happened. As sudden and horrific the act is, and as bitter as Barbara is for it, what came from this pushed her character forward. Does it excuse the act? No, but DC Comics got a lot of good out of this bad incident.

Batman: The Killing Joke moved Barbara beyond the Batgirl stage and into something wholly her own. While it wasn't the intent at the time, what DC Comics had planned for her and such, she became something so great. She became Oracle, and became able to do so much, at such a level that no one else can touch. She is in her own realm where she basically rules all. That's a huge leap from kinda tagging along with other capes in Gotham.

And even beyond that, being shot doesn't really do jack squat for her. It doesn't make her weaker in any sense at all. In fact, she became so much stronger. Again, that doesn't ignore that what happened here isn't exactly the best way to treat her character, but I love that writers were able to make something amazing out of something so senseless.

And that's not the only controversy with Batman: The Killing Joke, too. There is the controversial topic of whether or not The Joker ... went too far here. I still debate whether she was violated by the Joker or not. He shot her - well that's a given we all know. He took pictures of her - a given as well. He put her in different positions - the pictures sort of relate that story. But did he rape her? Detective Harvey Bullock tells Batman that that her friend found her naked, and that pictures had been taken of her. But that's it. I suppose that was intentional by Alan Moore, to let the reader decide (which has resulted in so many discussions and debates online).

Personally, I don't really think that would fit with the Joker's character. Yes he's unpredictable, a psycho, a maniac, a killer, but a rapist? For some reason, I really don't buy that. Him shooting her point blank and taking pictures, that I can see. That seems to hit his character, as much that makes sense. It's still a terrible, unforgivable act, but it ... suits him, for lack of better words. That would be "fun "for him. But going beyond that, I just don't buy it.

Batman: The Killing Joke, to me, is a really great book. Yes, there are other ways DC Comics could have pushed ahead and developed her character. And this story being published in the 1980s still doesn't excuse that. I understand why people are upset on how Barbara's character is treated - as a mere plot point to fuel Joker's attempt to drive Commissioner Gordon crazy and further bolster Batman's drive to put an end to The Joker's terror. And while there are better ways to do it, I still enjoy this book because even though something life changing happens to Barbara Gordon, and even though she isn't in the story all that much, the resultant furthering of her character is so paramount. Could it have all been better without having to exploit her character in such a horrible fashion? More than like,y but for all the flaws, we get some great insight into Barbara. She's just been shot, was stripped naked and had taken pictures of her while she was in excruciating pain, but her strong will and character win out. What's the first thing she thinks about when she wakes up in the hospital? She asks about her father. I found that to be a very intense piece of characterization, the first real genuine look of who Barbara Gordon really is, and the start of the character we all know and love today.

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