DC Teases "The Death of Oracle"

Admiral_Young · October 9 2010, 06:02 PM

At the DC Nation panel this morning DC released cover art from various projects, including "Dark Supergirl" returning in James Robinson's Justice League. The most intriguing to me though was of Batman standing over what appears to be the grave of Oracle. Described as a "game changer" by one of the panelists. There is also a Jim Lee piece of Batman strangling the Joker in mid air...I assume this is from the upcoming continuation of "Dark Knight: Boy Wonder" or whatever it has been retitled.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?p...ticle&id=28785

Whofan · October 9 2010, 06:25 PM

Maybe she won't die and the title means she'll return as Batgirl?

Admiral_Young · October 9 2010, 07:06 PM

Who knows, if that happens they will have three Batgirl's running around with one Batwoman! I'm intrigued is all I know. The Batfamily stuff DC has planned for the next year and a half is exciting.

C.E. Evans · October 9 2010, 08:06 PM

No exclamation point in the thread title? You're slipping, Admiral_Young...

I need to catch up on the last few issues of Batgirl I still haven't read yet, but it seemed like they were already setting up someone who could fill in for Oracle in a pinch, at least as far as Steph is concerned anyway...

Admiral_Young · October 9 2010, 08:10 PM

Haha...

BillJ · October 9 2010, 08:48 PM

Who's Oracle?

Admiral_Young · October 9 2010, 09:04 PM

Barbra Gordon? The first Batgirl who was crippled by the Joker in Alan Moore's famous "The Killing Joke" during his vendetta against Jim Gordon. Babs became a computer hacker and information broker called Oracle and also operates the Birds of Prey.

FormerLurker · October 14 2010, 02:55 AM

What's sad is "The Killing Joke" was supposed to be and Elseworlds, but someone in DC Editorial wasn't paying attention.

Myasishchev · October 14 2010, 04:11 AM

FormerLurker wrote:

What's sad is "The Killing Joke" was supposed to be and Elseworlds, but someone in DC Editorial wasn't paying attention.

I was actually going to ask about that.

I was rereading it the other day and noticed the "Elseworlds" logo, and said:

Well, wait, if this is "Elseworlds," why is Babs in the chair?

Reverend · October 14 2010, 05:30 AM

Perhaps I'm in the minority, but I always thought Babs was more interesting as Oracle than she was as Batgirl and I'd hate to see her go back to wearing the cape and cowl. Even if they cure her injury (which I think would be a bad idea BTW), I think they ought to keep her in the puppet-master/mentor role as that's where she really shines.

As for killing her outright...I'd say that smacks of running out of ideas and will only mean they'll have to bring her back sooner or later, because nobody stays dead.

Of course it's possible they're just "killing" the Oracle persona and either have Babs take on another pseudonym or finally retire. I'd rather they not do that either, but it beats most of the alternatives.

Admiral_Young · October 14 2010, 05:57 AM

For some reason I don't think this is going to be a literal death. We have two Batmen, I don't see any reason why we can't have multiple Batgirls either

Aragorn · October 14 2010, 10:05 AM

Killing her outright will allow DC to introduce Chloe Sullivan in a similar role.

Admiral_Young · October 14 2010, 10:59 AM

Maybe that's what they're secretly planning. I already don't like the DC Chloe though.

Allyn Gibson · October 14 2010, 12:20 PM

FormerLurker wrote:

What's sad is "The Killing Joke" was supposed to be and Elseworlds, but someone in DC Editorial wasn't paying attention.

No, it honestly wasn't intended as an imaginary story. (The Elseworlds branding wouldn't debut for another three years after The Killing Joke.) The Killing Joke was intended to go into continuity, but after crippling Barbara, no one had any idea what to do with her. John Ostrander and Kim Yale came up with an idea and made her, indisputably, more important to the DC Universe as Oracle than she ever was as Batgirl.

JoeZhang · October 14 2010, 12:24 PM

Krasny Oktyabr wrote:

FormerLurker wrote:

What's sad is "The Killing Joke" was supposed to be and Elseworlds, but someone in DC Editorial wasn't paying attention.

I was actually going to ask about that.

I was rereading it the other day and noticed the "Elseworlds" logo, and said:

Well, wait, if this is "Elseworlds," why is Babs in the chair?

I can't see how any of this is correct, the first title to be published with an Elseworlds logo was 'Batman: Holy Terror' which came out in 1991 (Yes 'Gotham by Gaslight' came out first but it does not have the logo) 'The Killing Joke' was released in 1988.

I've never seen a house ad or a single printing with the Elseworlds logo on it nor any indication in interviews that this was suppose to occur anywhere but in the regular DCU. The idea that is it or was suppose to be an Elseworlds seems to be an urban myth.

October 9 2010, 06:02 PM	#1
Admiral_Young Fleet Admiral Location: Metropolis	DC Teases "The Death of Oracle" At the DC Nation panel this morning DC released cover art from various projects, including "Dark Supergirl" returning in James Robinson's Justice League. The most intriguing to me though was of Batman standing over what appears to be the grave of Oracle. Described as a "game changer" by one of the panelists. There is also a Jim Lee piece of Batman strangling the Joker in mid air...I assume this is from the upcoming continuation of "Dark Knight: Boy Wonder" or whatever it has been retitled. http://www.comicbookresources.com/?p...ticle&id=28785 __________________ Admiral Young Chief of Operations Ignoring the The Last Stand since 2011.

October 9 2010, 06:25 PM	#2
Whofan Fleet Captain	Re: DC Teases "The Death of Oracle" Maybe she won't die and the title means she'll return as Batgirl?

October 9 2010, 07:06 PM	#3
Admiral_Young Fleet Admiral Location: Metropolis	Re: DC Teases "The Death of Oracle" Who knows, if that happens they will have three Batgirl's running around with one Batwoman! I'm intrigued is all I know. The Batfamily stuff DC has planned for the next year and a half is exciting. __________________ Admiral Young Chief of Operations Ignoring the The Last Stand since 2011.

October 9 2010, 08:06 PM	#4
C.E. Evans Vice Admiral Location: Saint Louis (aka Defiance)	Re: DC Teases "The Death of Oracle" No exclamation point in the thread title? You're slipping, Admiral_Young... I need to catch up on the last few issues of Batgirl I still haven't read yet, but it seemed like they were already setting up someone who could fill in for Oracle in a pinch, at least as far as Steph is concerned anyway... __________________ "Shout, shout, let it all out..."

October 9 2010, 08:10 PM	#5
Admiral_Young Fleet Admiral Location: Metropolis	Re: DC Teases "The Death of Oracle" Haha... __________________ Admiral Young Chief of Operations Ignoring the The Last Stand since 2011.

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October 9 2010, 08:48 PM	#6
BillJ Vice Admiral Location: In the 23rd Century...	Re: DC Teases "The Death of Oracle" Who's Oracle? __________________ "You know. 1966? Seventy-nine episodes, about thirty good ones." - Phillip Fry describing Star Trek, Futurama

October 9 2010, 09:04 PM	#7
Admiral_Young Fleet Admiral Location: Metropolis	Re: DC Teases "The Death of Oracle" Barbra Gordon? The first Batgirl who was crippled by the Joker in Alan Moore's famous "The Killing Joke" during his vendetta against Jim Gordon. Babs became a computer hacker and information broker called Oracle and also operates the Birds of Prey. __________________ Admiral Young Chief of Operations Ignoring the The Last Stand since 2011.

October 14 2010, 02:55 AM	#8
FormerLurker Captain	Re: DC Teases "The Death of Oracle" What's sad is "The Killing Joke" was supposed to be and Elseworlds, but someone in DC Editorial wasn't paying attention.

October 14 2010, 05:30 AM	#10
Reverend Rear Admiral Location: UK	Re: DC Teases "The Death of Oracle" Perhaps I'm in the minority, but I always thought Babs was more interesting as Oracle than she was as Batgirl and I'd hate to see her go back to wearing the cape and cowl. Even if they cure her injury (which I think would be a bad idea BTW), I think they ought to keep her in the puppet-master/mentor role as that's where she really shines. As for killing her outright...I'd say that smacks of running out of ideas and will only mean they'll have to bring her back sooner or later, because nobody stays dead. Of course it's possible they're just "killing" the Oracle persona and either have Babs take on another pseudonym or finally retire. I'd rather they not do that either, but it beats most of the alternatives. __________________ Star Trek Logos - Dark Knight Adventures - DeviantArt

October 14 2010, 05:57 AM	#11
Admiral_Young Fleet Admiral Location: Metropolis	Re: DC Teases "The Death of Oracle" For some reason I don't think this is going to be a literal death. We have two Batmen, I don't see any reason why we can't have multiple Batgirls either __________________ Admiral Young Chief of Operations Ignoring the The Last Stand since 2011.

October 14 2010, 10:05 AM	#12
Aragorn Admiral	Re: DC Teases "The Death of Oracle" Killing her outright will allow DC to introduce Chloe Sullivan in a similar role.

October 14 2010, 10:59 AM	#13
Admiral_Young Fleet Admiral Location: Metropolis	Re: DC Teases "The Death of Oracle" Maybe that's what they're secretly planning. I already don't like the DC Chloe though. __________________ Admiral Young Chief of Operations Ignoring the The Last Stand since 2011.