An upcoming story arc of DC Comics' Batgirl will see Barbara Gordon forced to literally revisit her old wounds from the infamous Batman story The Killing Joke.
As revealed in DC Comics' August 2018 solicitations, the new story arc, titled "Art of the Crime," sees Batgirl in high-speed pursuit of a villain who will short out the spinal implant allowing Barbara Gordon full mobility from the grievous injuries she suffered at the hands of the Joker in The Killing Joke. With her old wounds reopened, Batgirl finds herself back on the mend while taking the fight to Grotesque. The story begins in Batgirl #26, written by Mairghread Scott with art by Paul Pelletier.
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Since The Killing Joke's original publication in 1988, the Eisner Award-winning graphic novel has generated a significant amount of controversy for the graphic depiction of violence perpetuated against Barbara by the Joker. After a lengthy period as the hero Oracle and leader of the Birds of Prey, writer Gail Simone restored Gordon's mobility and return to the Batgirl mantle at the beginning of the New 52 era in 2011, though the character continued to suffer severe psychological trauma from her ordeal.
Check out the cover art and full solicitation text for the issue below.
BATGIRL #26
- written by MAIRGHREAD SCOTT
- art by PAUL PELLETIER
- cover by SEAN MURPHY
- variant cover by JOSHUA MIDDLETON
- “Art of the Crime†part one. During a high-speed chase with murderous art thief Grotesque, the villain K.O.’s Batgirl with a souped-up stun gun that temporarily fries the device implanted in her spine. (That thing that helps her, you know, walk and be Batgirl?) Babs finds herself in for a whole new world of hurt now that old wounds have been opened up—and so does Grotesque.
- ON SALE 08.22.18
- $3.99 US | 32 PAGES
- FC | RATED T