One of the best Batman stories ever, followed by the hand of one of the masters in comic book art. The best drawings of Batman I've seen. Great quality of this hardcover, too.

This is a great book indeed.It really shows a side to comics that alot of people dont see everyday in their local stores and tv shows.Only thing I found dissapointing was the fact that the book was not long enough.Im the kind of person where when I start to get lost into the story,I cant get enough and need more.Im sure alot of people would agree with me when I say that.Overall a definite must have.

I payed for it of course, but I still find it be a bit overpriced.
It's one of the greatest Joker tales ever told, and an important one for any collector to have. Yet, for the sheer depth of the story arch and the amount that I was charged... It was just a bit pricey.

The Killing Joke was a comic spawned shortly after the work of Frank Miller, and is probably the comic that established The Joker as one of the most important fictional villains of the 20th century. Batman had become a well thought out, complex character in recent years, primarily due to the work of skilled writer Frank Miller. Batman had been brought into a gritty, modern world of comic books, but I always felt that Miller's The Dark Knight Returns failed to bring the antagonistic Joker into a new light...well it did, but not in the way the character was meant to be. Alan Moore, with the help of Brian Bolland's stunning artwork helped bring to life what is widely accepted as today's standard for the famous Harlequin of Hate.

He's crazy, he kills people simply for his own twisted sense of humor, but always has a very zany, cartoonish attitude, which I felt was lacking in Miller's interpretation, where Joker seemed much too serious in appearance, dialogue, and action. The Joker presented in this graphic novel truly is a fiendish jester of fate, who for the most part is truly frightening, but never really acts like anything more than a loon. Bolland's art is very helpful in this aspect, not only bringing the Joker's exaggerated, skeletal body to life, but making it perhaps the most anatomically correct Joker ever seen, while still following the style of the 1970s Joker appearances.

The story revolves around the long struggle between Batman and his foe, and their never ending conflict. Joker, having escaped from Arkham Asylum (again), has decided to prove that one bad day can transform any sane man into a monster, such as himself. Taking possession of an old carnival he's ready to do whatever it takes to prove his point, with the assistance of a circus freak show. Meanwhile The Dark Knight questions himself on how this fight will end; coming to the realization that sooner or later one of them would kill the other, unless they tried to reason it out. A hopeless plan by our hero, but he has to at least try a single time to reason with his arch-nemesis, just so he can say he tried.

While Batman leads the hunt for the psychotic clown, Joker decides to prove his theory, kidnapping Commissioner Gordon, and shooting Barbara Gordon (Batgirl) through the spine (she never walks again). This is one of the most villainous acts in the history of comics; simply because of how pointless the shooting was, considering Barbara wasn't even in the character of Batgirl. She was just a bystander who Joker decided to use as a tool for his plot. Everyone is a puppet, or tool in his mind.

He does this act all of this while wearing a stereotypical beach-going tourist's attire, complete with a large camera, the only exception being his wide-brimmed, purple hat, which conceal his eyes. These are the eyes of a madman, and in one of the comic's final pages his eyes are concealed in shadow once again, before they come out and you see him for the hopeless case he truly is.

The story sets the stage for the most widely accepted Joker back-story through a series of flashbacks, showing him as a failed comedian with a pregnant wife, and soon winds up assisting criminals, and falling victim to tragedy. The character is shown to have had one bad day and that is how he ended up as the smiling super villain who has plagued Gotham City for decades. Of course this back-story isn't necessarily true, being that it comes from flashbacks spawned from Joker's mind, and as he famously states in his confrontation with Batman "If I'm going to have a past, I prefer it to be multiple choice!"

Gordon's capture and torture leads to a fight between these two iconic characters, where Batman tries to see if it is possible to reason with Joker logically, but the villain doesn't even try to lie about what is obviously in store for them. He can never be reasoned with, and won't stop until he's dead, and Batman refuses to kill him so it's a sick cycle that goes round and round. In the end of The Killing Joke the roller coaster has only been reset and it will only be a matter of time before Joker is back on the streets, killing again with some new, random scheme which will only make sense to him alone, depending on the mood he's in at the time, or which version of his past he remembers.

Alan Moore's story is sick, it's disturbing, and doesn't fail to leave the reader in a state of awe. The only problem is that by the end you crave for more! The story practically brings you to the point of begging for a sequel, or expansion which will probably never come. This is a one-shot story, and should remain that way, or else the original's impact may be lost. I don't have a single friend who doesn't think The Killing Joke is one of the most twisted, sick, most perfect stories of the comic medium. It's short, but it delivers a powerful punch!

Brian Bolland's art makes this short graphic novel a masterpiece, providing some of the best art ever seen in the characters' long history, only rivaled (in my opinion) by the art of Alex Ross. Joker really is frightening to look at here, because he doesn't look like a real person in most aspects, but Bolland manages to make this character incredibly believable in appearance, without taking any liberties of changing the body type into something more universal. The tall, skeletal body of the 1970s comics is preserved for the most part, except for the narrowing of the chin, which improves the look even further (hence why it's universally used in today's comics).

Recently I got the hardcover anniversary edition of The Killing Joke, with the artwork being edited by Brian Bolland, and re-colored by Bolland personally the way he intended it to be seen. I must say that I love the changes to the colors, more so than the cheery, bright colors of the original, which I felt distracted from Bolland's line-art, because the colors were way too traditional comic book, not fitting the intensity of the art. These colors are dark, gritty, and really captures to mood of the story more effectively than the bright colors of the original release. I especially love the flashbacks being in black and white, except for concentrating on objects that reflect the color red, which leads up to him taking on the garb of The Red Hood, before his first confrontation, leading to his ultimate disfigurement and insanity. This is a seriously talented artist and I only wish he was presented with more opportunities to draw these characters. Batman and Joker look their very best in these images, and I'd be hard pressed to find a comic with better consistency of art quality.

The Killing Joke is one, if not THE best story in the history of Batman comics, and rightfully earns my rating of 10/10 stars.

...however I did find it very hard to enjoy. I really like the artwork and I like that Alan Moore tried to take the Joker in a more psychological direction than was popular at the time (though it should be noted that Moore himself admits this wasn't his finest work). I even liked the origin of the Joker himself (a nice nod to Bob Kane's original origin story).

My complaint with the comic is that it's VERY disturbing.... at least for my taste. I don't like that a character is shot, stripped naked, and photographed. That's just not what I LIKE to read about, especially in a superhero story. It made it hard for me to enjoy the rest of the comic.

Also, Batman's out-of-character reaction to the Joker's....well "joke" in the end was kinda hard ta swallow. Especially after what he just put Jim and Barbara through.

Like I said, this is just my taste in comics and not nessessarily a flaw in the comic itself. If you can look past the brutality (or maybe you feel it adds to the story) you'll probably enjoy this comic.

But if your like me and prefer a darker superhero story WITHOUT it sucker-punching you with it's disturbia, probably best to look else-where.

Alan Moore and Brian Bolland's one shot graphic novel The Killing Joke is often regarded as not only the best Joker tale ever, but possibly even the greatest Batman story in general. The story is very simple, The Joker has escaped Arkham Asylum yet again but this time is out to prove that any man can be driven insane after having "one bad day". Joker continues by kidnapping Gordon and tortures him by putting him in the ultimate carnival ride from hell, all the while we are treated to a flashback story of how an ordinary man ultimately became the psychotic maniac we now know as the Joker. Meanwhile our hero Batman is on the search for Joker while contemplating the Jokers motives as well as questioning why they continue their never ending antagonistic relationship.

One of the best themes in this book is that the book questions whether Batman himself is insane. The story even points out how Batman also had "a bad day" and even how silly it must be for a grown man to be dressing like a giant bat. Possibly the most notable aspect of this story is that it is often cited as the definitive origin of the Joker, but the truth is that the origin presented here is really ambiguous. The Joker recounts his tragic past about loosing his wife and his ultimate plunge into the vat of chemicals. However, by the end of the story he then says that he can't quite remember exactly what happened as he often remembers it differently which ends up being the biggest slap in the face for readers. It just shows how manipulative the Joker can be into tricking the reader that there is deep down something redeemable in him but we were naive to think so.

The art by Brian Bolland is absolutely gorgeous. The artwork is highly detailed giving the book a very realistic and at times creepy look. Bolland is truly a master of his craft and is unsurpassed. Not only does Bolland draw one of the best Batman's but he definitely draws the best Joker by far.

Having Alan Moore in the credits alone will probably convince many that this story is pure gold but even Moore has admitted being dissatisfied with this work as he wrote while he was working on Watchmen and clearly that is where his head is at. I feel the story goes too far in trying to be "grim n gritty" at times, especially what Joker does to Barbara Gordon felt very out of character even for someone as evil as the Joker. I completely agree with Moore in that he felt that what he should have done instead was to write this story after he completed Watchmen. But overall this is a solid story with interesting themes and beautiful art.

One last thing worth mentioning, having owned the original pressing of this book for years I never understood why Bolland was disapointed with the coloring. Having recently flipped through the new 20th anniversary with redone coloring, I feel the original coloring was superior as the colors stood out more than the muted colors in the anniversary. The new colors obviously have more shading and subtlety which gives the book a modern look but this takes away the nostalgic appearance from the earlier edition. So my best advice would be to pay the extra cash for a copy of the original pressing of The Killing Joke.

I received the book on time and in perfect conditions as stated by the seller.

Batman makes yet another visit to Arkham Asylum, this time he simply wants to talk with the Joker, and see if they cannot somehow come to an understanding. But, the joke's on Batman when he finds that the Joker has escaped again. It seems that while Batman would like to end their long-running feud, Joker wants to take it to a whole new level. Grabbing Commissioner Gordon, he sets out to teach him, and Batman, a lesson in madness.

I am a huge comic book/graphic novel fan, but this one really did nothing for me. The author set out to give the story a "morally ambiguous theme," but that is not all he left ambiguous. Batman acts strangely out of character, less a dark knight, and more...well, nothing really, he's just less Batman. The Joker is well done, truly the crown prince of evil, but why add yet another Joker origin story? It seems to have nothing to do with the rest of the story. The ending is totally non-existent - I suppose that the author wanted an ambiguous ending, so he just left his board and went out for a Whopper and Coca-Cola. "Move along please, there's nothing to see here."

I thought that this was a terribly weak addition to the genre - filled with potential, but none of it totally realized. I highly recommend AGAINST this book. [If you want to read a good Batman story, with a similar theme, then read Batman: Jekyll & Hyde by Paul Jenkins.]

This is one of the most intriguing origins that have been created for the Clown Prince of Crime. This, along with the Jack Napier origin, is definitely a strong one. The artwork is nicely done, and the dialogue is smart and witty. The dark nature of this graphic novel is not for kids, but it is for every one who is a Batfan/Jokerfan. And the killer joke at the end is priceless, typical material from Batman's most notorious enemy.

Beautifully colored and inked. The story is short, but a great insight into the Joker. It can be disturbing, but that is the very charm that makes this story a great read again and again.

You don't need a review. Everyone says this is the greatest Joker story of all, so if you like Batman or Alan Moore then you will probably like this.

Not as long as other Alan Moore works but still great.

this was recommended to me after seeing the dark knight. the story is somewhat exciting, but not incredibly compelling. The artwork is great however.

This is the re-colored special edition of Batman: the killing joke. Brian Bolland's illustrations and colors are really stunning. It's quite timeless. Alan Moore's writing is exciting and easy to read. Wither you're a beginner to graphic novels, or a long time fan of batman, this is an essential book at a great price. It is a quick read that offers a lot of insight to the psyche of the Joker.

Coolest Batman ever

This is one of the best in the entire batman series, and Alan Moore is one of the best comic book writers to come out of the AD 2000 group. Having this in hard cover just makes this one of the more important books on the book shelf, or more likely near where we read every day. The idea behind the killing joke is that we get to see just how bad the Joker could be. We are used to the failed Joker on the TV series, and in the earlier comic books where Batman and crew always Pow the enemy. But this time the story line is darker, and fitting as part of the change in the batman series that started when the original comic book series came out.

This darker batman has bad things happen to him and the people around him. There is a penalty paid for being who he is and what he does, the Killing Joke is part of the foundation of this darker batman that has proven so popular over the last 20 years. Batman becomes real, more complex, and it is the Joker that will lead the way to this more complex darker batman over the next 20 years. The book dives deep into the process of the Joker, who he is, and just how truly insane the Joker has become. Not for kids, but for batman fans above the age of 14, this is the starting book to read, as it puts a foundation for the later 90's 00's batman that we have become accustomed to.

Five star book, worth reading.

It somewhat reminded me of the dark knight returns movie that just came out, in a sense that the joker was trying to prove his point that he can make people snap. its nice and short, and entertaining.

Joker is my favorite villain of all time. I have wanted to get this comic for ages. The whole story line of how he came to be the Joker seemed rushed and the whole insanity saga with Commissioner Gordon played out like the boat scene in the Dark Knight...long, boring, and making no sense at all. Also, the Joker just needed to be in the comic more being crazy as a loon and doing what the Joker does...much like the Joker needed to be in the Dark Knight A LOT more. But the comic ends with a great joke and a pretty weird sililoquoy by a deranged 18 year old...didn't get that one. Overall a great graphic novel from a great artist, just needed more of the Joker in it.

You must buy it for the artwork. It the most beautiful artwork I ever seen in a Batman book. I read a review here saying the recoloring in this book is bad. This reviewer is so wrong. Recoloring this book is the best thing that ever happened! I literally compare the original with this book side by side before I made the purchase and it is night and day! In this book, Brian Bolland, joins among the great Batman artists such as Jim Lee and Neal Adams. Spectacular artwork, extremely clean and sharp with rich colors. The story on the other hand, I do not appreciate as much as other people may have, because while it gives the Joker some background as to how and why he became the Joker, I'm not sure that I would want to know since it is the mystery of the Joker that makes him creepy and scary. The Joker is also quite sinister in this book and no doubt, a book that really pays tribute to him compare to Loeb's books which depicts the Joker as a bumbling idiot. The story is pretty straight-forward and easy read which is quite uncharacteristic of Moore (I have to look twice at the cover to make sure he wrote this), and disappointingly, not witty at all which I would expect from this author.

Great story that add's to the Joker Mythos - not sure if it's a good "origin" tale, but love Brian Bolland's art - the redone colours do the art full justice. A great read

One of the best Batman stories ever by one of the greatest writters in the medium. Also, amazing drawings by Bolland. Simply sensational. And if you're a collector, llok for the special edition with collectible figurines.

Amazon recently recommended that I purchase The Killing Joke based on my new addiction to comic books and graphic novels. (I've also only recently gotten into video games and other things that I think that I was supposed to start liking a long long time ago...Can you say: "mid-life crisis?"

Anyway, how timely I thought, of this Killing Joke recommendation by Amazon....A "new" Batman versus Joker story that is as "Dark" as the Nolan Brothers' most recent Batman films (Batman Begins & (The Dark Knight. And it virtually coincides with the theatrical release of the latter. With Heath Ledger's (Award Winning?) performance of the Joker fresh on my mind, I couldn't resist a "new" Joker story that captured a 'Darker' Batman and a much 'Darker' Joker than the silliness of the TV series' Cesar Romero or other more tame animated versions of the villain.

Ah, but the Joke is on me! New story??? Not!...The Killing Joke is new only if you're a noob like me that isn't in the know. This 2008 hard cover is a re-release that was originally published 20 years ago! The Killing Joke was written in 1988 by Alan Moore, and it is graphic novels like Moore's (along with those of Frank Miller...see Batman: Year One & Batman: The Dark Knight Returns) that inspired the Nolan Brothers' recent film adaptations. Therefore, indeed, it isn't The Killing Joke that has captured the 'Darkness' of the Nolan Brothers' films; it's the other way around.

But you already knew that, right? So I won't pretend to try to think that I'm informing you about the greatness of graphic novelist Alan Moore's storytelling ability. And I won't allude to the fabulous work by veteran comic book artist Brian Bolland.

I will strongly recommend Batman: The Killing Joke if you're unfamiliar with it and you are looking for a Batman versus Joker story that rivals the 'Darkness' in The Joker only recently introduced to the general public through Heath Ledger and the Nolan Brothers movie The Dark Knight.

Add this to your cart...and....Smile!

This is definately a graphic novel worth purchasing. The art is wonderfully done, and the story leaps off of the page. Joker origins have been done before, but never as beautifully as this one. If you consider yourself a Batman fan, then this is a product that you'll want to have in your collection forever!

The Joker is by far my favorite villan. I love this take on him and love the artwork.

One of the best graphic novels of all time. I Had to purchase it again after giving it away as a gift. The artwork is superb, as is the story. I recommend the hardcover edition for the collectors.

This is a simple, to-the-point review of what happens in this comic book. Tagged for SPOILERS because it is the story in a nutshell, hence the title of this review.

Batman goes to visit Joker in Arkham Asylum but it isn't really Joker so Batman is MAD and ANGRY and Joker buys a circus and has some flashbacks and shoots Barbara and steals an old man and has creepy circus midgets be mean to him and then Batman comes and he and Joker fight so Joker makes sad puppy eyes but they fight some more and then Batman wants to make everything better so Joker tells a joke and it's funny and they laugh THE END.

I don't normally write such long, gramatically incorrect sentances like this, but I honestly couldn't think of a better way to express my glee. This is a beautiful comic to read over and over, and not just for the artwork. The writing is well thought-out, and while it does have some classic comic book clichés, they don't jump off the page and stab you in the face - and they aren't overused. I'd definitely recommend it to Batman and Joker fans alike.

Now that everyone has seen the Dark Knight, Twice. For those interested in comics I would recommend checking the graphic novel out. It is a look inside the mind of the joker. Crazy, demented and twisted mind. This is not a comic for kids. It is more adult oriented and shows how a real joker would react in a world like Gotham. It is a good launching pad for understanding or at least getting an idea for what Heath Ledger portrayed in his performance in The Dark Knight. All in all if you're a huge comic fan you probably already have this, if you're just getting into or want something related to a comic movie this is a good start.

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.