In this short reworking of the Batman-Joker story, Alan Moore applies his trademark twisted perspective to reimage the conflict between the Joker and Batman. The Joker has escaped from the mental institution and Batman is not only interested in putting back behind bars, but in piercing the mystery of their ages old conflict. Why do they hate each other? Are they destined to kill each other? Is there a way out? Moore spins a brutal and action-packed tale that gathers in many threads of the Batman myth. But beneath the gunplay and against-the-moon brooding is a psychological drama. The Joker's own back story is provided. His criminal mind is obsessed with explaining his own "insanity" and comes surprisingly close to guessing that Batman is driven by a fairly similar story. How the characters resolve this issue id the real point of the story

Too short, but great reading and brilliant storytelling.

I have had a lot of my friends tell me about this book, especially what with the Dark Knight recently being the talk amongst us and I sought the book out hearing about how twisted and insane the Joker was in it. I had no idea just how twisted Joker was in the book. But first, I want to talk about how gorgeous the art is. This is some of the best artwork I've seen in a graphic novel from it's time and it truly captured the horror of Joker. That being said, this book made the Joker one scary villian. It made me appreciate Joker more just because of the flashbacks that showed how he became who he is but it also made me fear the Joker more because his "joke" in this goes far beyond anything I could have imagined Joker doing. I'm extremely happy I got this book because after I finished it, I went back to read it again. I really enjoyed reading the opening statement and the afterword because I don't normally get to hear what the artist and writer's think about their work. But this seriously is one of the best Joker stories ever written and the artwork is horrifying yet beautiful.

I consider myself fairly well-versed in comics, but I've generally steered clear of super-hero comics. Batman and the X-Men are pretty much the only ones I've touched, but even with those, I haven't really had the urge to delve deeper into their stories. I've, of course, read the obligatory Year One as well as a few side stories here and there, but--like many other people, so excuse me if this sounds band-wagony--I was inspired to pick up some more Batman books after seeing and loving The Dark Knight. This graphic novel by the critically acclaimed Alan Moore was first on my list. And, in my opinion, it's better than "Year One."

There is no denying that this book was written by a master. There are so many moments that either gave me chills or, as a writer, made me burn with envy. From the Joker's origin flashbacks, to the repetition of the "speech" Batman gives to the "Joker" when he first arrives at Arkham, to the subtle line of dialogue that throws the accountability of said Joker origin into question, Alan Moore has written a perfect Batman/Joker story that dissected, examined, and ultimately redefined the way the characters interact and the way the reader experiences them. It's short, it's horrifying, it's smart as a whip, and it's a cracking good read.

Brian Bolland's realistic art is wonderful--and at times really, really creepy. We're treated to insight from Bolland, as well as a reprint of a short Batman story titled "An Innocent Man" (written and illustrated by Bolland) that really ends this collection with a bang. The overall package is a handsome, over-sized hardcover book. My only complaint is that it's too big to fit in the shelf next to my other Batman trade paperbacks, but the size and quality of the art is well worth it!

9/10

I bought this book on the recommendation of many fans and since it has the reputation of being one of the best Joker stories in comics. Overall, the story delivers. What you get in this book is a Joker origin story and insight into why the Joker does what he does. His primary motive is to prove just one point, all it takes is just one bad day to drive a man over the edge. He doesn't commit crimes because he thinks they're funny. It's the traumatic experience in his past that has desensitized him to the harm that his violence does. Joker may even have a sort of death wish.

Now for the things that keep this from being a 5 star book. First of all, it is very short. Basically it is just one double-sized comic. That's it, so you'll finish reading this in about 30 minutes. The other thing is that some of the artwork is a bit dated, in particular the way Barbara Gordon is drawn. She is wearing glasses with lenses about the size of coffee cup saucers and appears to be stuck in a time warp that leads back to the 80's. Of course this can't be helped since this was when the story was drawn, but it is a bit distracting when you are compelled to do a fashion check in the middle of a story of this nature.

Overall, I recommend this book for Batman and Joker fans. You won't be disappointed. However, if you haven't read any Batman graphic novels recently, perhaps there are some other books you could start with first such as "Batman: Year One" or "The Long Halloween".

When I read this through for the first time, I was under the impression it was aimed at younger teenagers. Needless to say, when I got to the middle of the book, I was pretty shocked at some of the content. At times I think the Joker's reaction to his "bad day" were a little too extreme, but some of the lines he says are really powerful and thought provoking. So even though this story pushes the envelope, its still a classic.

Great insight into why the Joker may be who is is, very easy read should take about an hour.

As much as I enjoyed this comic, there's a limitation placed on a writer when he has to work with established characters. Alan Moore said in an interview that he created Rorschach in Watchmen on the premise that Batman really is a sociopath. However, when Alan Moore has to write Batman himself, he can't make Batman a sociopath. He gets to have some fun with Joker's origin story, portraying him as a nebbish who went mad from the chemicals that bleached his skin white and turned his hair green (the standard origin story for the Joker - one that they don't bother to repeat in the current movie). There's also a fun torture sequence (I can't believe I wrote that) with the Joker trying to drive Commissioner Gordon mad.

However, there's not much else to this comic. It's about 64 pages of the Joker being the Joker. The artwork is great. Batman and the Joker are again portrayed as two sides of the same coin, which is true but also a rather tired cliche in most crime novels (as in Red Dragon where Hannibal Lector taunts the hero by saying he's just like him - except for all the cannibalism). And for $10, I would expect something a little more substantial from Alan Moore.

There really isn't anything I an add that hasn't already been mentioned by other reviewer's: the comic looks great, the story is entertaining and provides (as far as I know) an unprecedented look into the origins of The Joker, and The Joker is just an awesome character in here. It is a bit short (you can probably finish it off in less than an hour, though I spent quite a bit of time examining the artwork) and a bit cliche (Batman and The Joker are the same) but still very enjoyable.

Check it out, it's well worth the $10 and the hour it takes to read it.

My first ever comic. I loved it. Fell in love with it when I sat down in the book store to read it. I highly recommend it.

Sorry, I'd never read a graphic novel, and was told this was a very good one. So I opened it up and it was a comic book. Great story. Great Joker origin. Great theme. But it was a comic book.

Everybody's ga-ga for the illustrations, but it's just a comic book. Even then, some of the characters just had creepy grins in place of actual everyday facial expressions (Joker's wife).

The entire angle that all it takes is "one bad day" to drive an innocent person mad is great though, and they transposed it onto two different characters in the new movie quite well.

But basically this is an illustrated children's book but with a neat premise and violence.

Wow... just wow! This short story was recently updated, with Brian Bolland recoloring (and apparently sketching in a few new details) the original comic. This is a Joker-origin story, though as the Joker himself admits, he doesn't remember his own past well. In his words, "Sometimes I remember it one way, sometimes another... If I'm going to have a past, I prefer it to be multiple choice!" The short summary is that the Joker escapes from Arkham, only to have Batman discover he's missing when he goes to try and offer something resembling a peace treaty. This escape isn't about crime or money... it's about proving a point. One bad day is all it takes to go from being an average person to a maniac or even a masked vigilante. Before the Joker is through, two of Batman's closest friends and allies will have had their lives changed forever.

Like I said before, the story is brief and to the point. Between moments of the story we see flashes of the Joker's past, of what he did to support himself and how he had his first run-in with Batman. Bolland has washed out these flashbacks, leaving shades of red to stand out, tying in nicely with the Joker's first criminal persona. I guess some people thought the ending was ambiguous... it does end with a joke, and I like how the moment was shared between the two of them. I suppose if you were to take away the text in the box, it would look a different way, but I didn't really find it confusing.

There! That's fairly spoiler-free! I did enjoy the Joker's lines about a coffee-table edition... being a librarian myself, I hope to never be in the same situation. :P

For a little added oomph, Brian Bolland included his short story "An Innocent Guy." I enjoyed the giant typewriter.

This is one you can read in 30 minutes but it certainly is an entertaining 30 minutes. Alan Moore offers a short yet sinister glimpse into the abysmal mind of the Joker. This isn't for little kids.

There are far too many people out there clamoring about this book. Why? Because there is a new Batman film in theaters. Admittingly, this is one of the Joker's finest moments, albeit darkest. And yes, it is one of the greatest Batman books ever.

That being said, it is very short. The story itself is only 46 pages. The extras aren't really that good. I liked Brian Bolland's re-coloring of his Batman: Black and White piece, but otherwise, they are pretty corny. Not enough to buy the hardcover. The re-coloring of the story itself is nice and gives it a cleaner, more up-to-date look, but the original coloring gave it more of a gritty feeling.

This is one of the best Batman books, and definitely is The Joker's finest moment. It is Joker at his darkly funniest, and most malicious. Perhaps short of killing Jason Todd, this is the sickest the Joker has ever been. The origin story pushes the point of the "One bad day" that the Joker is trying to convey. Not totally necessary, but cool.

Alan Moore's weakest work, but it is Alan Moore, who is greater than any other writer in his sleep. You really cannot go wrong. This book is a must for any Batman fan, and for a easy look at the mentality of the Joker, pick it up.

The art in this book is quite good. However, the story lacks something.

Okay, the Joker had a rough life, and then goes crazy? Got it. Batman tracks his arch-enemy and captures him, and somehow finds time for a hearty laugh with Joker while Barbara Gordon, a.k.a. Batgirl, lies in the hospital with a shattered spine? Got it. And Batman's friend Jim Gordon was pretty much driven to the brink of insanity, but the character is just fine the next time we see him? Got it.

This comic was basically an excuse to make sure Barbara Gordon never became Batgirl again, or Batwoman, for that matter. And the book glorifies the Joker's violence to an almost sickening point. It's not intelligent; it's not artistic. It's just that: violence.

If I were going to make a list of classic Batman comics, this would never make the list. It's a mess, and it's not good writing.

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3CAS7DS48K807 "The Killing Joke" is widely considered to be the be-all-end-all of Joker stories, so what better way to pay homage to the greatest comic book villain of all time near the eve of his re-unveiling in The Dark Knight than by reviewing his definitive story? This is the comic that (sort of) revealed the origin of The Clown Prince of Crime, humanizing him to an extent never before, and truly examined -with pictures rather than words- the antagonistic symbiosis that exists between Joker and his arch nemesis, The Batman. A beloved Gotham regular will never be the same and another will be put through hell before this story is done. Oh, and there are creepy little henchmidgets as well. Gotta love the henchmidgets.

The art is outstanding, the storytelling superb, and the character examinations are vital to understanding both combatants. The "one bad day" premise highlights the "two sides of the same coin" argument that Batman and Joker are in fact more alike than dissimilar. As if Bruce Wayne took a right when his arch-nemesis took a left. The controversial ending leaves little doubt as to Alan Moore's take on the debate, and I like it like that. While many critics have strongly resisted both the comparison and the somewhat sympathetic look at The Joker's past, the truth is that every great character -villain or hero- needs that sort of intricacy to their story to remain relevant in the world of modern fiction. Comics are no longer for children and adults realize that the world is seldom black and white, that all monsters were once men, and that unspeakable darkness and insanity resides deep inside each human mind. It can take years of suffering to bring them out or it can take one bad day. One bad day could ruin your very existence and everything you were; it's a frightening reality that cannot be overlooked while reading this comic. The more the reader is willing to ponder the ideas put forth by this story, the more you are likely to appreciate "The Killing Joke". An outstanding achievement in storytelling any way you look at it.

I was tempted to knock this down to four stars because with this book you are buying a single issue of a comic for what you could easily pay for a full trade paperback or graphic novel of equal quality like, say, Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns, which is so good it may very well cure cancer (can you prove it doesn't?). But the fact is no Batman fan should be without "The Killing Joke" and I would rather stick to reviewing based on quality rather than haggling over price. The bonus story at the end (written and illustrated by TKJ artist Brian Bolland) is a killer little mini-comic that serves as a perfect companion piece to the main story and definitely sweetens the pot for those wondering if they should get this hardcover edition. "The Killing Joke" is an absolute mindless must-have for fans of the comic book medium and even more so if you claim to be a follower of The Caped Crusader or his twisted nemesis. End of story.

"Batman: The Killing Joke" is one of the seminal Batman comics as well as one of the finest comics ever published. That's hardly a surprise considering that it was written by Alan Moore, the Shakespeare of comic books, who the year before had written "Watchmen," the greatest comic of all time. For "The Killing Joke," he teamed with artist Brian Bolland to craft a psychological look at what made the Joker, what makes him who he is now, and how the threads of Batman's fate are inextricably woven between those of the Joker.

In "The Killing Joke," the Joker escapes from Arkham Asylum. He then proceeds to cripple Barbara Gordon and kidnap her father, Commissioner James Gordon, and hold him hostage. Meanwhile, Batman frantically searches for the Clown Prince of Crime. As one of the many comics published in the 1980s which upgraded the medium from children's entertainment to serious literature, "The Killing Joke" is very mature and very disturbing. Unlike the Joker of Tim Burton's "Batman" or of the legendary animated series, this Joker's jokes are not amusing to us. They are disturbing. As if the crippling of Barbara Gordon was not heartbreaking enough, the Joker takes disturbing photographs of her nude -- in a pool of her own blood -- then kidnaps and abuses the naked and chained Jim Gordon, laughing all the way. This is not Caesar Romero's mischievous clown from the 60's TV series.

Through a series of flashbacks, we see how the Joker came to be. Moore cleverly draws from the original origin tale created for the Joker in the 1950's. Initially intended as a throwaway story, now that tale becomes something meaningful and intriguing, an important piece of a tragic puzzle. The Joker is such an interesting character in "The Killing Joke" because at once one is appalled by him, by his ghastly actions, by his complete disregard for humanity, and yet, at the same time, one feels horrible for him. He became the horror he is after one bad night -- and, as the Joker points out, so did Batman.

Introducing that notion was just one of the ways that "The Killing Joke" influenced the future of Batman comics. The notion that Batman was a similar creature to the Joker, perhaps even the same, had never been explored before. But that's just what Moore did. "The Killing Joke" suggests that Batman needs the Joker and vice versa, as though they are yin and yang, two pieces of a puzzle, neither of which can exist without the other. Batman needs to put the Joker in his place, just as the Joker needs to be put in his place by Batman. At first it seems like an insane idea -- but out of that apparent insanity comes the frightening realization that that may be the most sane idea yet.

Moore himself has distanced himself from the books since its publication, saying that he felt that the book was devoid of "real human importance," and that the characters felt like just that: characters. He may be right in some regards. "The Killing Joke" hasn't the "human importance" of "Watchmen," but its examination of what makes these two unusual humans tick, what created them, and its suggestion that one should step back and see the big picture, makes it important enough in my book. It's true that some of the characters with less scenes, such as Barbara Gordon or even Batman himself, do come off as characters more than people, but those characters that Moore focuses on, namely the Joker and Jim Gordon, come across as real human beings.

Bringing additional depth to the story is Brian Bolland, whose eerie, muted artwork perfectly compliments Moore's chilling story. When the book was first published in 1988, it was colored by John Higgins, who used a sort of rainbow-tinged brightness in his coloring, which didn't quite fit the story. This edition is re-colored by Bolland, so all the artwork looks the way it was intended to look: splendid. Most noticeably, he's sucked most of the color out of the flashback scenes, which adds an additional bitterness to them. Bolland's muted colors are utterly perfect for Moore's writing. The Joker may never have looked so good as he does when Bolland draws him.

"The Killing Joke" was highly influential. For one thing, it brought about the creation of the crippled Barbara Gordon's alter-ego, Oracle, who would be one of the leads of the "Birds of Prey" comics (and TV series). For another, it inspired both Tim Burton's depiction of the Joker in his film and Christopher Nolan's depiction of the character in "The Dark Knight." And while Moore and Bolland have often questioned the relevancy and overall quality of the book, it remains a fan favorite.

So for those looking to acquaint themselves with Batman comics, or those who want to know just what the comic fuss is about, "The Killing Joke" is a must. It remains the greatest Joker story ever told, as well as one of the best Batman stories told, period. It's dark, disturbing, thoughtful, and revelatory. If you're interested in comics and you haven't read it, well -- the joke's on you.

First off I had this book when I was young...the original print and then one day while shopping here on Amazon I find it in a hardcover edition and free shipping with my Prime membership....whoooooosssssshhhhhh in my cart faster then a speeding bullet!....Wait that's Supes not Bats....well you get the idea.

I must honestly say...the Killing Joke is without a doubt one of my all time favorite comic book self contained stories! How good is it, you ask? If I was stranded on a desert island and I could only take 5 of my all time favorite reads with me....Killing Joke would be one of them. Let me try to review without spoiling anything for those of you that may have never read this gem...and believe me it's been around for years!

First off the scribe of Alan Moore is nothing short of incredible to intense to at times insane. Mr. Moore can bring up feelings in his readers that make you want to turn you head to advert your eyes....but alas you can't and you won't....like a rubber necker driving past a car wreck you are doomed to stare all slacked jawed as you slowly roll by. That is the Killing Joke....Alan Moore at his best....teamed up with Brian Bolland (best known for his Judge Dredd vs. Judge Death in 2000AD comics) at his best. Brian has the spectacular talent to feed your eyes these unbelievable images and leave you wanting more. Even when they are ugly...haunting images....you still can see the beauty of his work.
So one of the best Batman Stories?? Without a doubt. Should you own it??? God yes! 5 out of 5 Stars....I would have given it 10!

Thanks for reading!

My second favorite comic ever to of course The Dark Knight Returns. The hard copy is definitely the recommended version. The coloring is phenomenal to go along with a quick moving plot line and some fantastic action sequences.

A must read for batman and comic book fans alike. Just another masterpiece by Alan Moore.

I expected more from this reading. Alan Moore did take it another level with what he did to Barbara Gordon in this issue. I found the ending anti-climactic. The art and coloring were good. I guess I've been spoiled by all the Batman cartoons and other Batman comics.

I've Always Loved Batman And Was To Scared To Get into the comics not knowing where to start. well after year one i thought it would be nice to grab a copy of this one. its very enjoyable and loved the art. good plot. good dialouge. this is a must buy.

This is one of the best Batman Comics. Great artwork and story! Well, I'm a great Joker fan and I like almost everything of his stories but this one is really really good! It also comes in great hardcover with some extra materials inside. If you want a great Joker and Batman story, you should buy this comic book!

Gretings from Croatia :)

First off I love the stroy it just seems like it was lacking something. I dont like it when a story makes me feel that way because then there is almost no reason in reading again. That is just my personal view. I appreciate the joker being brutal but like I said, there was something missing. I guess I had certain expectations seeing as so many people swear by this story. It was good it isnt great. Plus, when I get my books, I want them to be in awesome condition. There are many little flaws on the slip cover and on the actual hard cover, there are pencile marks!!! Pencile marks!! What, did thet use it as a clip board before they shipped it??? WTF?!?! I dont live with mommy and daddy and I work for my money so when you say its new thats how I expect to get it. When I bought this book I also purchaced the Weapon X story arch and that book to was damaged when I was told that it was new. I dont know just not a good experience in general.... :(

I am not a die-hard Batman comic book fan. I grew up on the post-Frank Miller live action movies and animated series. Before "The Killing Joke" my exposure to Batman comics was decidedly limited. I say this to show that I'm not one of those people who say: "A Batman comic? This is AWESOME!!" I have no loyalties and I'm not a hater. If it's good, it's good. If it's not, it's not.

1st, the car. The Batmobile is what we all want to drive. Forget Kit from Knight Rider. THIS is the car! Killing Joke's batmobile... was the ugliest POS incarnation of the Batmobile I have ever seen. Like I said, I don't know if this was Brian Bolland's (artist) continuation of someone else's design or an original, so not sure who to blame. It has what looks like a giant fox on the front of a car that looks like a modified version of one of those old '50s cars with the giant bulges around the wheels, a giant tailwing sticking about 8 feet into the air, and with Batman sitting in a large George Jetson bubble behind a long cylindrical hood. Had to mention. Just couldn't get over it. Worse, much worse, than George Clooney's neon open top from Batman & Robin.

Now the story. It just didn't do anything for me. It was emotionless, uncompelling. My previous Batman readings literally kept the page turning. Sometimes I didn't have time to admire the art because I wanted to see what happens next. Forcing myself to put it down because I've been reading for too long, then not being able to wait to get back to it. THE reason to buy this book is the transformation of one of the pivotal characters of the Batman universe: Barbara Gordon, commisioner Gordon's daughter and Batgirl, being senselessly shot by a heartless Joker and paralyzed for life. This pivotal moment occurs within the first few pages and with little emphasis, as if it was the requisite opening mugging of a nameless citizen of Gotham, rather than the climax it should have been.

This story also includes a detailed origins story for The Joker. As others have said, what makes The Joker so scary is that we don't know anything about him. We don't know what made him the way he is or why he does the sick things he does. Alan Moore's creation is mundane and questionable. Barring the obvious disfigurement, most people who would have undergone Moore's explanation might have gotten a little bummed, had a drink, and called it a day, not go inordinately psychotic and committing to a life of crime.

And those two details aside, it simply didn't move me. It was unemotional, undramatic, and bordered on boring. There's a bonus short story included, written and illustrated by the artist, Brian Bolland, that was, though short and unavoidably simplistic, far more dramatic and interesting then The Killing Joke, which just shows how much of a failure the main story was.

Lastly, character. The story opens with Batman making a trip to Arkham Asylum: He rolls up and parks out front. Batman wouldn't do that. He walks through the front door. Batman wouldn't do that. He gets directions from the receptionist. Batman wouldn't do that. He talks face to face with "The Joker" for five minutes before the "detective" realizes it's not even really him. Batman wouldn't.... And later, the murderous Joker -who just shot and paralyzed Batgirl and kidnapped and tortured Commisioner Gordon- tells a joke, and the brooding Dark Knight laughs. Batman wouldn't do that!! And the whole flashback of the joker and his life before crime is lame, tired, and at this point, pathetic.

The short 60 or so pages and the disproportionate price is just not worth it.

I have recently moved on to works by Jeph Loeb (writer) and Tim Sale (artist) that I highly recommend as far trumping the Moore-Bolland work. Although plot and character will do that.

I don't mean to come off so strong and verging on sounding like an *ss. The Killing Joke is a decent read. Like I said, mediocre, but grade A mediocre. It passes the time, the artwork -outside of the awful Batmobile- is pretty good, the opening and closing panels were very nicely done, and the story is pretty okay. The Killing Joke is not garbage, but definitely not a masterpiece. With the ambitious origin telling, and life-changing injuries of a pivotal character, it just could have been so much more.

Very well written story that gives a little bit of a glimpse inside the mind of the Joker.

The book shows an interesting perspective on how the Joker came to be. Made him more of a tortured and dark character (much like what Frank Miller did to Batman). Short and sweet, pick up this book if you want to see the direction that Tim Burton and Christopher Nolan took for the Joker character.

I bought this as a birthday gift for my husband and he loved it. He is very much into Batman and his favorite character is the joker so when i was browsing online and saw it I just had to get it. He really enjoyed it. My husband is not really big on reading but he absolutely loved reading The Killing Joke.

this is, by far, one of the best comic book I've ever read, hands down. the story picks up with Batman going to visit the Joker, in an attempt to smooth things over and end this constant cycle of fights they have had over the years before one of them gets killed, when Batman discoverers that the Joker has escaped and left an impostor in his stead, the story begins, and in this book you truly see the Joker as the great villain he truly is, from the horrific act of violence he performed by shooting Barbra Gordon and then stripping her nude just to show photos of it to her father (Commissioner Gordon) after he has been captured,to the truly sympathetic and yet unclear back story it gives the character, while also keeping it true to the dark crime comics that Batman is, it is ranked VERY high on my list of best comic books ever, at least in the top 3, and any fan of comics in general should pick this one up, even if you don't know the extensive history these characters (Batman and the Joker) you can still get into it since their two very recognizable icons, but this book gets very personal with both the characters in that even though they are sworn enemies, they are also best friends who have to fight each other because they are on two sides of one spectrum, and it also shows how similar they are, they are both freaks, one good freak, and one bad freak, but both the same in so many ways, this book is the vest telling of the Joker for who he really is, and the relationship he shares with batman, and how deep it really is, and is recommended to the highest degree, if you love comics, or even if you don't READ THIS BOOK, it's amazing, 5 stars

This hardcover is the Star Wars Special Edition of comics. Brian Bolland destroyed a great comic by re-coloring it on his computer. The Killing Joke had that great 80s color palette that you can find in Watchman and some of the best Vertigo Comics like Sandman and Preacher. Bolland defaced a work of art. In his remorseless forward to the hardcover, he acts as the comic's success belongs all to him and not Alan Moore or John Higgins. Higgins coloring on Hellblazer and Watchmen are some of my all time favorites. Thank god Bolland didn't go in and destroy those with his computer too. Bolland's lack of respect is sickening. True fans are just going to have to keep waiting for a real hardback of The Killing Joke.Batman: The Killing Joke

if u know who alan moore is u'll love this book, always provacative and real.

Batman is my comic book. These are the characters I keep coming back to, the Killing Joke is a great stop along the way.

The Joker is perfect in this book. He's laughing, joking, even doing a song and dance routine, and he's dead serious throughout everything.

Pick this book up. And don't let your kids read it. It gets rough.

At the end of the book is a sequence called "Innocent Guy" and it, too, is worth the price of admission. Alan Moore needs no praise from me, but he deserves every sale his books earn.

What a great story. And it reads like your favorite dvds, with an alternet extended ending. Very cool.

Before reviewing the content I must comment on the cheap, glue bound, binding of the book, which is not up to snuff. I've had my copy for less than 4 weeks and the binding is showing signs of coming apart; this is not acceptable for a hardcover, "Deluxe Edition."

Brian Bolland has re-colored the book himself for this hardcover edition and the results are subtle but distinctly different from the original with mixed results.

First, he has toned everything down a bit with colors, that he intended, on a white page, as opposed to the more vibrant colors on the black page from the original. The re-coloring is subtle, but the older volume is more dynamic and I must say I really liked the black page the book was printed on in the original which gave the book the darker tone that garnered so much attention.

Second, the "Red Hood" flash backs are now in a sort of sepia tone with usually one or two objects prominently colored per panel. The effect works, but uh, this is an idea from Frank Miller's Sin City books and seems kind of gimmicky as a result. Compared to the original, I like the older flash backs which were in full color.

Lastly, the yellow oval target on Batman's chest has been removed and I really don't like it. I've always preferred the yellow oval and it just looks like something is missing now. I really don't like this change.

Some of Bolland's character sketches (which are awesome) are included here and this made the purchase worthy for me. The price is great for a hardcover edition, but take note of the quality issues in my review.

this is one of the best batman stories you can read from someone other that Kane himself. though there are a lot of good stories of batman, the villians never had a great long back story. but Alan Moore has brought us this piece of genius that takes us through the mind of batman's arch-enemy the joker. this is a great buy if you weren't able to buy the original. it's a great and if you liked this than consider Arkham Asylum by Grant Morrison.

The art in this book is killer, and worth the purchase in itself. The story on the Joker and the 1 day it takes to push a normal man over the edge is also very strong. Definitely enjoyed this read.

I'll keep this short. I have the original "prestige format" copy and I STILL bought the hardcover...it's that great a story. One of my favorite Joker stories ever. I had to have it in hardbound.

Blurbs on a cover always tell you that whatever book you're holding in your hands is better than the best, that you'd probably die if you'd put it back to where it came from, and more of that kind of nonsense.
In this case (in 1988) they had Tim Burton saying it's his favorite and that it's the first comic he ever loved. The poor fellow. Don't get me wrong: I adore Tim Burton. I love everything he did (after Batman), but there definitely are other great comic books out there.
But still, he is right in saying that this one counts among the best. That is, now it does. Now that Brian Bolland himself has redone the original coloring (by John Higgins). I love Brian Bolland. He is one of my all time favorite artists, a genius in black and white (which best brings out his fine and detailed pencils). And he did a great coloring job here, too. The colors are more pastel and thus bring back a balance to the book I missed in the 1988 paperback.
The original coloring looked as if Mr. Higgins had just bought himself a new set of colors and went for it. There was so much yellow, green and red dripping off the pages that it stopped me from entering the storyline. It looked seventies cheap. Also, to my taste it almost destroyed Brian's genius penciling.
Which is a shame, cause it's a masterpiece (yes, another one) written by Alan Moore. Not for kiddies. The Joker is too brutal for that here. A dark tale about insanity, true insanity, the ways of getting there and what it can lead to. The Joker is meaner and deeper than ever. Batman isn't weak, after all he's Batman, right?! But then, why is it so hard for him this time to deal with the creep? That is, can he?
As a small extra there is a bonus story of a few pages, a few sketches and instead of the tpb's first page with the splattering raindrops, you get a set of bloody eyes staring at you out of the dark.
Highly recommended. Buy this new version and enjoy Mr. Bolland's genius artwork and Mr. Moore's timeless tale.

Blurbs on a cover always tell you that whatever book you're holding in your hands is better than the best, that you'd probably die if you'd put it back to where it came from, and more of that kind of nonsense.
In this case (in 1988) they had Tim Burton saying it's his favorite and that it's the first comic he ever loved. The poor fellow. Don't get me wrong: I adore Tim Burton. I love everything he did (after Batman), but there definitely are other great comic books out there.
But still, he is right in saying that this one counts among the best. That is, now it does. Now that Brian Bolland himself has redone the original coloring (by John Higgins). I love Brian Bolland. He is one of my all time favorite artists, a genius in black and white (which best brings out his fine and detailed pencils). And he did a great coloring job here, too. The colors are more pastel and thus bring back a balance to the book I missed in the 1988 paperback.
The original coloring looked as if Mr. Higgins had just bought himself a new set of colors and went for it. There was so much yellow, green and red dripping off the pages that it stopped me from entering the storyline. Also, to my taste it almost destroyed Brian's genius penciling.
Which is a shame, cause it's a masterpiece (yes, another one) written by Alan Moore. Not for kiddies. The Joker is too brutal for that here. A dark tale about insanity, true insanity, and what it can lead to. The Joker is meaner and deeper than ever. Batman isn't weak, after all he's Batman, right?! But then, why is it so hard for him this time to deal with the creep? That is, can he?
Highly recommended. Buy this new version and enjoy Mr. Bolland's genius artwork and Mr. Moore's timeless tale.

This is a well written and well drawn book - not for children, but nothing Alan Moore does is. I still have my copy from "back in the day" and I've kept it in good condition. I don't need another one. But, as the review title says, if you don't have this book by all means buy it.

Is it one of the best Batman, Joker, or Moore stories ever told. I don't think so. Is it still really great? Yes. Should it be in continuity? Absolutely not. At least not with what I feel Moore had in mind. I believe that Moore wrote this story without any concern for continuity in mind and I believe that that's why many of the people who have trouble with the book feel the way they do. Especially about the ending. After reading the book and thinking about it I came to one simple conclusion...

The Joker wins. The book is presented as the Joker trying to drive Gordon insane. I feel, in fact, that it is Batman that he is trying to drive insane. And he succeeds. Batman is driven over the edge by not just one bad day, but his second bad day and he has a laugh with and then kills the Joker at the end of the book. At the same time, falling into that "dark abyss," going against Gordon's wishes, and proving the Joker right all at the same time.

I think the fact that this obviously doesn't work in continuity is a big problem because it weakens the whole point of the book. In continuity, since the Joker can't be dead, Batman can't have been driven over the edge, and really we are left with a disabled Barbara as the only effect of the story. I think the book would have been better presented as a stand alone, along the lines of Dark Knight Returns. The Joker gets the last laugh but DKR is so out of continuity that that is acceptable.

I think in this case Moore just said to hell with it and wrote his out of continuity story anyway, knowing that DC would absolutely not let him kill the Joker and have Batman "lose" he left it ambiguous.

This is a review for the deluxe version of The Killing Joke released on March 19th 2008, not the differently colored version originally released in 1988 that went on to be a sequential art classic.

It's nice to see The Killing Joke in hardcover and in a bigger page format. The crisp line work of Brian Bolland shines even more on a wider, longer page. His legendary hatching and feathering technique deserves the industry version of "widescreen". This is where my compliments on this edition mainly lie. The recoloring brings out a very different response in me.

The recoloring by penciller Brian Bolland for this edition was a mistake. Gone are the atmospheric tints and lighting effects from John Higgins. Gone are great effects like raindrops on The Joker's shoulder when he appears in the story for the first time. Gone is an important component of the story that stood along Moore's script and Bolland's fine penciling as something that made The Killing Joke a visual tale to be remembered by Batman and comic book fans alike.

Bolland's recoloring job for the most part looks like he turned white lights onto every scene set in the story's present narrative and therefore effectively kills the disturbing mood that Higgins colors had substantially helped inject into the story. Instead of the original presence of emotion and horror, this version takes on some visual blandness. The scene between Alfred and Batman in the Batcave loses its somber tone. The attack on Barbara Gordon loses some of the terror of the original. Where has the strong mood of this story gone DC? I can see adjusting the intensity of Higgins original color palette to some degree like the method they chose with his coloring when they released an Absolute Version of Watchmen. It sophisticated his coloring job without changing the tone of the original. Production services at DC Comics should have just ignored Bolland's plea to recolor it altogether and let John Higgins go back and tweak his original job. I could even see Bolland and Higgins collaborating on a new recoloring but not Bolland by himself.

The flashbacks in the "possible" Joker origin have been changed to black and white with emphasis certain objects that are colored. This seems to work in a foreshadowing sense and it is disquieting to see what is chosen to be labled crimson. However, the flashback's black and white could have used more grays or a darker tint overall on these sequences (with the exception of the red objects). The Killing Joke is a very dark tale and a nice retro feel should not take the place of overall atmospheric disposition. If it was originally done as a play or film a good lighting designer or cinematographer would acknowledge the original intention through the lighting methods, but not dilute the story being told.

I loved the back up 8-pager, "An Innocent Man" when originally printed as a black and white tale for the 1996 Batman: Black and White anthology. However, I don't believe stories originally intended to be printed in black and white should get colored reprintings and vice versa. The only reason it seems to be included it because it is another Batman story by the same artist as The Killing Joke. I would much rather have seen more Joker sketches and covers that Bolland has done for fanzines, conventions, commisons and DC over the years--after all this book is supposed to focus on the Joker.

Alan Moore would not have approved of reprinting any script excerpts but that hasn't stopped DC Comics from going against his wishes as they have in the past. Fans would have loved reading the original script--even just one or two pages! This collection is aimed at fans of the Killing Joke. Give them a decent amount of extras DC! I realize that most of the original penciled and inked pages from the Killing Joke are hard to track down. Still, DC has plenty of Joker covers and art from Bolland that could have filled out the extras section very nicely. Batman: Year One, Dark Knight Returns, Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth have all had satisfying deluxe reprintings but it seems Killing Joke, a story that is certainly in the same league as those others, has gotten inferior anniversary treatment.

Before buying this edition, one should seek out examples online of side-by-side comparisons of pages from the original and recolored editions of the Killing Joke. Compare the examples and see which version you think you would like best. Normally, I'd give this The Killing Joke five stars but this deluxe edition could have been so much better. All the previous printings are worth hunting down.

The hardcover is not the The Killing Joke as originally presented to comic readers. For the original, you must buy the original GN one-shot, or DC Universe: The Stories of Alan Moore (Paperback) which reprints the original, as it was originally.

It should be noted before buying the KJ Hardcover that:

1) Brian Bolland radically recolored the entire story
2) Batman's yellow oval is removed from the entire story (even though the story still takes place during Batman's "yellow oval" period)
3) there is a subtle change to the cover; instead of just having the word balloon saying the word `Smile' with no punctuation, it now reads `Smile!'

The Killing Joke is a pivotal Batman storyline, and a somewhat disturbing one.

Yet again we see what happens when this maniac is on the loose, doing whatever he wants, and the cost of Batman and Commissioner Gordon's refusal to step over the line of the law far enough to kill the Joker, despite several opportunities.

This ends up costing Gordon's daughter a great deal, with is still playing out today.