The Joker escapes Arkham Asylum and initiates a psychological experiment on Commissioner James Gordon to prove that the loss of sanity is inevitable after a "one bad day" experience. To test this hypothesis, the villain shoots and paralyzes Barbara Gordon, then subjects her father to a sensory assault of graphic imagery within a derelict amusement park. Parallel to this assault, the narrative presents a potential origin story for the Joker, depicting him as a failed comedian who suffers a series of personal tragedies before falling into a vat of chemical waste during a botched heist at a playing card factory.
Readers interested in the psychological dynamics between Batman and his antagonists find a study of moral boundaries and shared trauma here. The book appeals to those who prefer bleak, realistic interpretations of superhero lore where victory is ambiguous. The reader walks away with a grim comparison between Batman and the Joker, considering the possibility that both men reacted to personal disaster with different forms of madness. It provides a definitive, albeit controversial, explanation for the permanent physical trauma suffered by Batgirl and the cyclical nature of Gotham's violence.
Balanced in tone; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Story Seeker. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1988
- Language
- EN
