One of the most famous Batman stories of all time is offered for the first time in hardcover in this special twentieth-anniversary edition.
This is the unforgettable that forever changed Batman's world, adding a new element of darkness with its unflinching portrayal of The Joker's twisted psyche.
Writer Alan Moore, acclaimed author of WATCHMEN and V FOR VENDETTA, offers his take on the disturbing relationship between The Dark Knight and his greatest foe. The Clown Prince of Crime has never been more ruthless than in this brutal tale.
This special new edition also includes a story written and exquisitely illustrated by Brian Bolland.
The Killing Joke, one of my favorite Batman stories ever, stirred a bit of controversy because the story involves the Joker brutally, pointlessly shooting Commissioner Gordon's daughter in the spine. This is a no-holds-barred take on a truly insane criminal mind, masterfully written by British comics writer Alan Moore. The art by Brian Bolland is so appealing that his depiction of the Joker became a standard and was imitated by many artists to follow.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Intense art and storytelling...:
This is an amazing marriage of Alan Moore's storytelling, Brian Bolland's art, and Batman's archnemesis. Both writer and artist are perfectly suited to shedding light on Batman's most famous foe. Truly getting to the essence of the insanity that exists in Batman's world is, in my opinion, rarely achieved in Batman comics. Alan Moore is not afraid to tell this story. Brian Bolland (especially in his re-rendering of the piece) is very bold in his ability to make Batman's world, almost too real. He almost... more info
The genesis of the 'modern' interpretation of the Joker right here:
Over 20 years ago (1988) comic wunderkind scribe, Alan Moore teamed up with artist mastermind, Brian Bolland, to craft a 1-shot Batman book, "The Killing Joke" which would go on to serve as the blueprint for one of the most popular interpretations of the Joker ever (Heath Ledger in 'Batman: The Dark Knight Returns'). Although somewhat tame in today's era, at the time, 'The Killing Joke' stirred up a smidgen of controversy over the use of violence and depictions of The Joker's sadistic crimes. One thing that... more info
An overrated piece of trash:
Generally I am forgiving with well-intentioned works; however, this is neither well-intentioned nor well-realised. Although Brian Bolland's art is, as always, striking, the writing for The Killing Joke is lacking and in fact virtually nonexistent. Alan Moore was assured that the story would not be entered into continuity, and yet despite that it was. The irresponsibility and sheer idiocy of having a major continuity event take place in an extraneous graphic novel and not the actual comic titles is... more info
It is good, but not OMGWTFBBQ amazing:
I will start out by saying i am new to comics. and new to batman. i have read maybe 10 or so comics/tpb in my life prior to this book. what pulled me to this book, like some of you, is the movie Dark Knight. so, is the killing joke good? yes, of course. this edition especially. the art is beautiful and an absolute pleasure to look at/read (i have a problem with comic book art of yesteryear, i think it looks incredibly childish, this book looks wonderful). this edition also contains a short 3 page comic... more info
