"This is probably not how you Thought the Story would Start.”

Thoughts on Batman: the Killing Joke's Prologue

SPOILERS

I was writing my review of Batman: The Killing Joke, and I realized I had a good amount of personal thoughts on this film’s prologue. I decided to post them separately.

“The Killing Joke” is a short 42 page graphic novel, so it makes sense why producer Bruce Timm would want to add on to the story. Instead of filling out the main story of the comic, he added a whole new story in the form of a prologue. Well, this prologue is boring...and weird. 

From the get go this movie let me know it will not be like the comics. Batgirl opens up the whole film saying “I realize this is probably not how you thought the story would start.” You’re darn tootin’! I thought I would begin a story about Batman and the Joker with either one of them, but the reason why the filmmakers added this new prologue is to showcase Batgirl as a strong willed and capable female protagonist. They did this by pinning Batgirl against her new archenemy, Paris Franz. Yes. That is his real name. No. He’s not in the comics.

Paris Franz goads Batgirl on by cat calling her, and basically getting inside her head. After the third night of Paris' schmoozing, Batman suspects Batgirl might be unfit for this case. Batgirl however ignores her mentor’s words, and ends up getting cornered in Paris’ trap. Batman saves her, and then firmly tells her she is off the case. Batgirl yells at Batman for keeping a leash on her, proceeds to furiously beat him up, kisses him, and then they have sex. WHAT!!!

Where did this come from? This scene doesn't move the plot along in anyway! It makes no sense why it's in this Batman movie! First off, this “possible relationship” between Batman and Batgirl is never hinted at in the comics. It was only subtly referenced one time in “Batman Beyond”. Second, Batman and Batgirl’s actual relationship has always been similar to a father and a daughter. The only place I would even suspect they are lovers is in fan fiction. Third, this scene doesn't show Batgirl as a strong feminine protagonist. It shows her as a weak female who uses her body to get what she wants. Fourth, this has nothing to do with the Joker. It’s his movie. His name is practically in the title. Why isn’t he the Paris Franz guy? Why couldn’t he have been the one to goad on Batgirl? At least then this scene would have had some validity being in this movie, but no. Batman and Batgirl “get it on” in a licensed DC animated movie, and I was stupid enough to watch this garbage.

So after that happens, Batgirl’s ignored by Batman, eventually kicks the crap out of Paris Franz, and then quits being Batgirl, because she needs some time off to clear her head. Then the movie just goes to Batman’s perspective, as if the first 28 minutes didn't matter, and nothing could be truer.
            This prologue doesn't build up anything that happens in this movie's main story. It takes away from the main story, by making what happens to Batgirl seem more like poetic justice than random cruelty. This dramatically changes the message this palpable story could have told. The only reason this prologue is here is to make Batgirl look like a strong female protagonist, and that drastically backfires.

Batman the Killing Joke's prologue is entirely unwarranted, absolutely boring, morally degrading, detracts from the main story, and has added a new awful dimension to Batgirl's character.