Batman: The Killing Joke

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.