Warning: This article contains spoilers for Batman: Three Jokers #3
Ever since the events of 1988's Batman: The Killing Joke, Batgirl has had a very justified vendetta against the Joker. Now, decades later, Barbara will finally get even with the Clown Prince of Crime in Batman: Three Jokers #3.
Alan Moore's Killing Joke is one of DC’s darkest and most iconic graphic novels. The story provided deeper insights into the origins of the Joker than any comic had before and had a massive impact on Batman storylines going forward, particularly concerning the character of Batgirl. After escaping Arkham Asylum and leaving an imposter in his place, Joker goes to Barbara’s apartment and shoots her in the stomach, paralyzing her from the waist down. Afterwards, Joker strips her clothes off and takes photographs of her naked body, photos he later uses to torment her father, Commissioner Gordon. Without the use of her legs, Barbara is forced to retire as Batgirl and becomes Oracle, assisting the Bat-family remotely until she eventually overcomes her paralysis through intensive physical therapy. Although her physical injuries healed, the emotional trauma caused by the Joker follows Barbara into Three Jokers.
Written by Geoff Johns, Batman: Three Jokers follows up on the revelation from Justice League: Darkseid War that there have actually been multiple Jokers throughout DC history. Batgirl and Red Hood - another member of the Bat-family who has been traumatized by the Joker - assist Batman in investigating the matter, which comes to a head in issue #3. While Batman faces off with The Joker known as The Criminal, Red Hood and Batgirl are nearly overwhelmed by an army led by The Comedian Joker, who carries the very camera used in The Killing Joke. The Comedian shoots Red Hood in the shoulder, but just before he blows his brains out, Batgirl intervenes. She grabs the camera and smashes it into The Comedian's face, breaking the lens along with his nose.
Seeing Barbara take the camera used to traumatize her and turn it into the instrument of her revenge is beyond satisfying, but the moment only works if fans know The Comedian is the same Joker from The Killing Joke - and, fortunately, they do. Back in issue #1, The Comedian is seen wearing the iconic Hawaiian shirt from The Killing Joke. The Clown version of Joker claims it’s actually his shirt, but The Comedian seems to disagree. “Your shirt? Now who’s taking credit for things they didn’t do? My greatest act of madness thus far,” he says, presumably referring to the events of Moore's graphic novel. If that’s not proof enough, in issue #2 readers see The Comedian visit the home of his former family as they were depicted in The Killing Joke. So by context clues alone, Barbara definitely broke the right Joker’s nose.
Shortly after being used as a weapon, the camera goes up in flames, providing a poetic form of closure for Batgirl. Indeed, both Barbara and the camera were left broken by the Joker, but while the shattered camera burns to ash in the fire, Barbara emerges from the flames stronger than ever, finally made whole again.
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