John Higgins (1) (1949–)

The Killing Joke is a 1988 DC Comics one-shot graphic novel featuring the characters Batman and the Joker written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Brian Bolland. The Killing Joke provides an origin story for the supervillain the Joker, loosely adapted from the 1951 story arc "The Man Behind the Red Hood!". The Joker's origin is presented via flashback, while simultaneously depicting his attempt to drive Jim Gordon insane and Batman's desperate attempt to stop him.

Created by Moore and Bolland as their own take on the Joker's source and psychology, the story became famous for its origin of the Joker as a tragic character; a family man and failed comedian who suffered "one bad day" that finally drove him insane. Moore stated that he attempted to show the similarities and contrasts between Batman and the Joker. The story's effects on the mainstream Batman continuity also included the shooting and paralysis of Barbara Gordon (a.k.a. Batgirl), an event that laid the groundwork for her to develop the identity of Oracle.

While this comic remains influential, I personally did not care for the Joker's back story as it takes away from his menace and allure. However, this comic greatly influenced Tim Burton's take on the character as well as the upcoming film The Joker.… (more)

This is by far the best Batman graphic novel ever written. It captures the essence of Joker perfectly without being watered down to sell toys and merchandise, and explores the complicated relationship of Joker and Batman in a borderline X-rated fashion.

This book gives us Joker's backstory, which is kind of odd. In this he's an engineer who works at a chemical plant but quits his gig to be a comic. Of course he sucks harder than Fozzie Bear at it. That's how he as a square got into the criminal life, trying to make money for his wife and kid. Then they both die accidentally and he goes nuts. One thing leads to another and Bats is on his tail. Trying to dodge him Joker jumps into the chemical vat and becomes, well, Joker.

Fast forward to the present - he's really nuts. He escapes Arkham Asylum while Bats is trying to visit to bury the hatchet. Joker, however, is busy kidnapping Commisioner Gordon, and messing with Barbara Gordon, his daughter (and on the side Batgirl) by breaking into her apartment, shooting her intentionally in the spine to paralyze her, then strips her naked and takes pictures of her in pain, bleeding, and paralyzed. He takes Gordon to the funhouse while Bats is in pursuit as usual, and tortures Gordon with pictures of what he did to Barbara. Essentially, he's trying to make him go crazy.

All of it culminates with the side of good trying to show the side of evil that good works even if evil don't believe it. The ending's kind of open ended, so if you're a Batman stan you either love it or hate it.

This is LEAPS AND BOUNDS better than that crappy animation adaptation DC slung out there.

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Batman: The Killing Joke is an excellent graphic novel following two of comics leading stars: Batman and the Joker.

Introduction: I have always loved superheroes - Adam West's Batman was a key staple of my childhood. Slowly as I got older and Marvel and DC were the beckoning lights at the movie theaters, I became totally obsessed with everything superheroes, super villains and comic books. I began collecting them, reading them, and trying to get my hands on every adaption possible. So, I decided to watch The Killing Joke animated movie. I was so enchanted and enthralled with the film that I had to see the famous comic/graphic novel it was based on. It was a short search - a local store had it in stock the first time I went to look for it, and the rest is history.

Review:

This comic is so simple in theory, but so complex in art. A joker origin (of sorts), a splash of James and Barbara Gordon, some tragic ultimatums, Batman, and beautiful art.

The introduction to the Joker's "back story" is so interesting. The Joker has always been this mysterious character, and the reader is welcomed into one theory of how the joker came to be. But the joker says it himself - he prefers his past as multiple choice. So is anything he tells us actually true? That's up to you to decide.

The Joker is cunning and intelligent, as well as insane and wild. The reader gets to see his thought pattern and how truly manipulative he is when he takes control of the plot and causes his destruction. But then, he makes it worse by not only physically torturing his victim, but try to mentally destroy him as well. How can someone be to cruel yet so smart? It's an incredible reading experience for fans of the Joker.

The ending leaves viewers with many questions - one that we may never know the true answer to. This cliff hanger wasn't as troubling as other cliffhangers have been for me in the past. It leaves it off at the perfect ending - the reader questioning the events that happened. This leaves the reader to interpret the ending in their own way. What truly happened and what are we to believe?

Brutal is one word to describe this novel - there are graphic scenes, ones that changed DC comics dramatically - and it's not for the lighthearted.

Overall, I really enjoyed this graphic novel. It changed my views on the Joker and Batman, and I really appreciated the little splash of Barbara Gordon (one of my personal favourite characters DC has ever created).

For those who are fans of the film / want to watch The Killing Joke animated film: The plot is very similar, but there are a few changes. These changes don't impact the end of the story, but it may change some of your personal feelings/understandings of the characters.

Five out of five stars.… (more)