Batman: The Killing Joke by Alan Moore, Brian Bolland Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Batman: The Killing Joke
Book Review: The Dark Knights Nemesis Returns
Summary: 5 Stars
Prior to this, with the exception of Frank Miller's depiction in the classic Dark Knight Returns, The Joker had become a fun recurring villain, all high-camp and party tricks.
Then, in less than 50 pages, Alan Moore reinstates him as a truly grotesque figure, not seen since Bob Kanes original run.
It's a decent tale, though the final scene where Batman and Joker share a joke seems oddly out of place, not to mention in poor taste. After what he did to Barbara?
Batman also seems rather sympathetic to his nemesis, which, all things considered, is a bit misplaced. Although, saying that, the flashback that strings through the story detailing the origin of The Joker (or IS it? He does claim at one point to use 'multiple choice' where memories are concerned!) gives us insight into why he took the path he did.
Ultimately, when this was first released it was a revelation, just as Miller's Batman was in DKR. A classic character given a worthy revamped character study.
Now, years later, the impact is dulled somewhat because we all know how murderously Joker has behaved since.
Still, Moore's writing is, as ever, faultless, and Bolland's art is beautiful; both demanding you go back to pore over the book time and time again.
Book Review: This comic is in the DC Alan Moore compilation
Summary: 5 Stars
If you want to read this story, it is currently available in DC Universe: The Stories of Alan Moore.
Great story of the creation of the Joker with stunning artwork.
Book Review: not as good as I remembered
Summary: 3 Stars
Not as good as I remembered, I bought this the other day there when it came out as a re-issue as I remember reading it when I was younger, the art is excellent but the story is too short and the ending isn't great, I think I thought the killing joke story was death in the family which I had read about the same time.Book Review: Awesome!
Summary: 5 Stars
What a fantastic edition. Literally got delivered to my work this morning and i've already read most of it. I love the artwork, totally stunning, the vivid colours of the Joker are fantastic, it is also great having a story telling the Jokers background. I may not be a graphic novel expert but I do know that I loved this, and would highly reccommend it to anyone looking for a story that really gives an insight into what pushed one of the most easily recognisable villains to the edge and made him what he is.Book Review: When comics grew up (before they reverted back to little brats).
Summary: 5 Stars
Im sure everybody is now aware that 'comics' are no longer the sole preserve of the pre-adolescent. Comics grew up and stretched beyond their previous confines of being monthly escapist fantasies by adopting the sophistications that literature and film enjoy (if not on a regular basis.)
It would be almost impossible to have any knowledge of the mainstream superhero genre and not be aware of Alan Moore. Although Moore does'nt rate this highly in his own ouvre, this is an excellent and taut Batman tale that invests the Joker with a little more humanity than your average funny book.
This is an incredibly brutal tale which prefigured(famously alongside Frank Miller's Dark Knight Returns and Year One Batman titles) the glut of gritty and 'realistic' titles that currently swamps the form. However, it is handled a lot more deftly than the current vogue , which after taking near enough ten years to catch up, have remained ploughing a golden rut ever since. This is where Moore is approximately in the region of a million miles away from his peers.
Moore's dialogue is pitch perfect(and not filled with gratuitous language to let you know you're reading a grown-up comic, like so many lesser writers) and his working knowledege of the form is up there with the Kirbys and Eisners. More importantly, his understanding of the human condition helps to create vivid and sympathetic characters, which in essence, marks his work out from the rest of the pack.
There have'nt been many Batman titles before or after that have juxaposed the insane villainy of the Joker with the trauamtic and tender reasons for his career in super-criminality. The Killing Joke is effectively an origin story of the Joker and how after losing everything that matters to him, wheels are set in motion that create an iconic comic character. Let's just say that the Joker's genesis perhaps rings a little truer than the Batman's, who seemed to deal with the presumably devastating trauma of the murder of his parents by dressing up as a bat (after an ominous rodent flew through his window) and ridding Gotham City of crime.
If you are unaware of Alan Moore's work, then this would be a nice, gentle introduction into his often vertiginous and cosmic writing. However, until you read The Watchmen, From Hell, V For Vendetta, or more recently, Promothea, you will have yet to fully taste the strange fruits that grow out of his brain-grove.