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Nrama: Now that readers have been introduced to Barbara’s status in the New 52 and you’re finishing up your first year of issues, how would you describe Barbara now, in comparison to her debut in issue #1? How do you think she’s grown, and how do you think she’s still dealing with some of the same issues we saw in her introduction?
Simone: I spent a lot of time speaking with specialists and survivors about this, and one thing we saw with trauma survivors over and over was, the nightmares often go on even after the body heals. It’s not weakness, it’s not self-pity, it happens to the bravest people on Earth; soldiers, police, on and on. And Barbara being who she is, she finds herself wondering why she is regaining her mobility when so many will never have that option. Because of her experiences over the first year, she’s having to grapple with it. But again, she’s Barbara Gordon, she will find a way.
Nrama: Looking back at the first few issues of your run, the events of The Killing Joke played a big part in Barbara’s introduction as Batgirl in the New 52. Why did you feel like that was important to incorporate that into the title after introducing the character in #1?
Simone: Here’s the thing, Barbara has always been about inspiring people. She may have been created to boost ratings or whatever, but, the sheer force of having a brainy woman kicking ass in the comics and on television can’t be overstated. And of course, Kim Yale and John Ostrander turned lemons into the best lemonade ever by giving Barbara a purpose and glory after the Killing Joke. I didn’t want to do the book if that element, that inspiring quality, wasn’t part of the mix. I get that not everyone agrees, but we have had endless lines of people who have experienced some massive trauma who found something to believe in with Barbara’s story. In the end, it’s supposed to be entertaining, first. That’s still the primary goal. But heroes who struggle are so much more meaningful to me. Most of us have struggled, but we don’t often see that portrayed as comics move more towards big stories and spectacle.
Nrama: Her emotions over the events of The Killing Joke still don’t feel completely resolved, because she hasn’t had to deal with the Joker again. Since we’ve heard about the return of Joker in “Death of the Family” in the Batman title, and DC has implied it will touch other members of the Batman family, will Barbara be confronted more directly by the villain in your title?
Simone: “Resolved” is kind of a tough word, here. There’s definitely a feeling out there regarding this stuff that someone is fixed or not fixed, like an on/off switch. It’s not that binary, but she is facing this stuff head on. And I am pretty sure a Joker/Batgirl story is inevitable, but I can’t say more than that. Think of two trains on the same track facing towards each other…there’s nowhere for either of them to go but towards collision.
Nrama: And that collision occurs in your “Death of the Family” tie-in to Scott’s Batman story?
Simone: Yes. It is the once-and-for-all confrontation between the Batgirl and the man who shot and paralyzed her. It does not go as he expected. This story starts in issue #14, and I have to say, it’s pretty shocking. That’s all I’ll say right now, however.
WB has announced that Batgirl will be the next DLC character to be released for the videogame INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US and what better idea than to introduce her in the context of the now classic KILLING JOKE storyline. They even have a Killing Joke Joker skin I am dying to download myself for my game, hope it comes with the package or can be bought separately soon (it’s easier than earn them points to unlock stuff, believe me. I am just starting to get the basic moves of the characters). In the meantime, enjoy this clip introducing Batgirl to the INUSTICE universe.
