Reading about Oracle always tangles me up in logistical questions. Does second-life work like that? Can a guy really open up a wall in a game? When a woman screams in real life, does it make any sense at all that her avatar starts screaming, too? Because I think she would be too busy screaming to tell her character to scream. Then again, maybe it’s pre-programmed that they scream under certain circumstances.
And how does one explode a human head, anyway? I first thought it would happen with an explosive device, but that couldn’t happen unless said device were pre-planted in said head. The second idea was heating up the liquid inside the skull with microwaves, but it seems like that would get the excess liquid to bubble out the eyes and nasal cavities. Unless it happened fast enough to heat the liquid instantly, which brings us back to an explosive device.
While I may not be much of a second-lifer or skull-exploder, I do know my Babsology, and more importantly, my superheroes. The series is called The Cure. The first issue chronicles the villain’s desperate, yet evil, attempts to save his desperately ill daughter. It also makes much of the hero’s misery over her grievous injury. Babs is going to have to choose whether to heal the girl or heal herself. Being a hero, she’s going to heal the girl. There is a way that set-ups like these go. In fact, this is the way that this set-up has already gone in Birds of Prey.
And so, of course, I’m hoping it goes the other way. Part of this is because of my shameless bias for Batgirl Babs. Part of it – let’s say that I’ve had it up to here with stories that come complete with forgone conclusions. My heart drops a bit each time I see summaries that go along the lines of: “Will Batman kill the Joker this time?” “Is this the end for Lois and Clark?” “Is Batman dead?” The answer is always ‘no.’ Always. Without exception. We know it the moment we pick up the solicit.
This time, I’m hoping for a surprise.
