It’s been almost three years since I’ve been to the make-believe part of my brain. Real life was more interesting than fiction in my eyes and, for the most part, still is. Even so, I’ve been meaning to come here again, and now that I’m back I’m realizing that I should have made the trip a lot sooner.
Let’s start with a screenplay adaptation of the 1988 comic Batman: A Death in the Family (Jim Starlin, illustrated by Jim Aparo), also known as “the one where Joker kills Robin.” The comic itself is awkwardly plotted and rife with bombastic dialogue, but it’s less known for its story than its ending, Robin’s murder at the hands of the Joker. I don’t like the comic. I think it’s too contrived, but the idea of Batman losing Robin and having to experience a kind of twisted sequel to his ultimate trauma, seeing his parents gunned down as a little boy, was fascinating to me.
Instead of tell it through Batman’s eyes, though, I wanted to focus on the Joker. What’s his perspective on trauma? Has he ever gone through anything traumatic? How does trauma influence, or infect, his cryptic philosophy?
Anyways, here it is. It’s pretty short, a three page monologue.
Some ambient noise if you want to get in the mood (it rains in the scene):
Just Writing 