DC Argues Batgirl's Killing Joke Trauma Was Necessary
What happened to Batgirl in The Killing Joke changed the character forever. Whether it was for better or worse is up for debate, especially with DC’s history with the women in refrigerators trope. While Babs is amazing at what she does, her role as Oracle is undeniably a result of tragedy, naturally leading many to wonder whether it had to happen at all. One issue of Booster Gold however explains why the Joker was always meant to paralyze Barbara Gordon.
One of the most controversial comics in DC's history, The Killing Joke, was a traumatic experience for Barbara Gordon. After shooting Barbara and paralyzing her, The Joker strips her naked and takes photographs of her body, forcing her father, Jim Gordon, to view them all on a twisted theme park ride. Some comics fans may ask: was Barbara's injury written to strengthen her as a character or further motivate Batman in his fight for justice? Regardless of intent, DC argued that it is an unchangeable moment in time.
Related: Why Batgirl's Bathroom Made Fans Lose Their Minds
In 2008's Booster Gold #5 by Geoff Johns, Jeff Katz, and Dan Jurgens, Booster is desperate to save his best friend, Ted Kord, from his inevitable death at the hands of Maxwell Lord. Rip Hunter sets an important mission for Booster first: save Barbara Gordon from The Joker. Booster travels back in time, over and over as he repeatedly watches Barbara get shot. Even though he gets beaten to a pulp each time, Booster Gold persists. When he asks to go back again, Rip stops him. There was no abnormality in the timestream, Rip explains. “It’s solidified time, Booster… Anything from the present on back cannot be changed.” Barbara Gordon was always destined to become Oracle, and Ted Kord was always destined to
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