- Paperback: 48 pages
- Publisher: Warner Books (Mar 1988)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0930289455
- ISBN-13: 978-0930289454
- Product Dimensions: 25.9 x 16.8 x 0.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (72 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 667,739 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
/Alan Moore /Brian Bolland, illustrator In one of the most powerful Batman stories ever told, the Joker exacts brutal revenge against Batman through some of his closest friends. Along the way, the Joker's origin is reveale
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
57 of 61 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I'm not sure where this story is supposed to fit in the greater Batman legend, but it pretty well sums up the relationship between Batman and the Joker, as well as providing some insights into their origins.
As usual, the Joker has escaped and gone on the rampage, but this time he has decided to take revenge on all the key characters that he believes have caused his suffering - the Gordons and Batman.
His scheme is diabolical - this is one of the ugliest Batman stories I have ever read - and violent. His method of revenge is really sickening and will probably leave you hoping for some severe punishment to be delivered by the end of the book.
And it is - Batman is at his most savage when he catches up with Joker. But the flashbacks to the Joker's past, beautifully rendered, may in turn have you feeling some sympathy for a man who just wanted to take care of his family and ended up disfigured and insane.
This book is about twisted fate and redemption. Both Batman and the Joker are victims of events beyond their control and now must live with the consequences.
Buy this for great art and one of the most thought-provoking stories in comics.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I've read this comic plenty of times, but there is an odd thing about it. Unlike the vast majority of Alan Moore's catalogue this does not improve with multiple readings, in fact it's weaker on these subsequent readings.
That's not to say it is not good, it's still an excellent one shot, and a superior Batman tale, but it does not have as much depth to it as maybe a longer work would do or as it is often credited to have. That said, it is a very enjoyable read, with a nice summing up of the relationship between The Batman and The Joker and deeper meanings to it, but I have a strange disconnect when seeing it play out. This may be due to the condensed structure of forty odd pages, but there is a real and noticeable lack of emotion and empathy in the story, something that in my opinion is one of Alan Moore's greatest gifts. So the characters often feel like mouthpieces for their chosen allegories, rather than individuals that you can feel for.
On the other hand Brian Bolland's art is flawless in my humble opinion. This is the Batman that I imagine in my head, strong but not overly so, wide shouldered with a flowing cape. While his Joker is also impressive, and he deals with emotions and gestures beautifully. Ironically, I think the best piece of story telling telling here is from Bolland himself, in his eight page story 'An Innocent Guy', that wraps up this edition. It is an incredibly disturbing story and has some of the emotional impact that The Killing Joke sadly lacked.
The edition that I went for includes a foreword from Tim Sale, an afterword from Brian Bolland, and two pages of sketches from Bolland, with accompanying commentary. As a couple of reviewers have said, The Killing Joke is also collected in DC Universe: The Stories of Alan Moore (DC Comics), along with other stories, which should make it worth more bang for your buck. However that collection obviously does not include Bolland's short story, which I find myself re-reading quite often, as testimony to it's quality.
That's not to say it is not good, it's still an excellent one shot, and a superior Batman tale, but it does not have as much depth to it as maybe a longer work would do or as it is often credited to have. That said, it is a very enjoyable read, with a nice summing up of the relationship between The Batman and The Joker and deeper meanings to it, but I have a strange disconnect when seeing it play out. This may be due to the condensed structure of forty odd pages, but there is a real and noticeable lack of emotion and empathy in the story, something that in my opinion is one of Alan Moore's greatest gifts. So the characters often feel like mouthpieces for their chosen allegories, rather than individuals that you can feel for.
On the other hand Brian Bolland's art is flawless in my humble opinion. This is the Batman that I imagine in my head, strong but not overly so, wide shouldered with a flowing cape. While his Joker is also impressive, and he deals with emotions and gestures beautifully. Ironically, I think the best piece of story telling telling here is from Bolland himself, in his eight page story 'An Innocent Guy', that wraps up this edition. It is an incredibly disturbing story and has some of the emotional impact that The Killing Joke sadly lacked.
The edition that I went for includes a foreword from Tim Sale, an afterword from Brian Bolland, and two pages of sketches from Bolland, with accompanying commentary. As a couple of reviewers have said, The Killing Joke is also collected in DC Universe: The Stories of Alan Moore (DC Comics), along with other stories, which should make it worth more bang for your buck. However that collection obviously does not include Bolland's short story, which I find myself re-reading quite often, as testimony to it's quality.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The key thing about this seminal comic that you probably won't hear much is its understatement. Bolland's artwork always (to me) is both grandiose and understated simultaneously. He has a knack for the "knock-out" scene and subtle expression. But at the same time! In this way he complements Moore's writing perfectly - they are dream team, pity they haven't worked more since.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Thumbs Up!
I don't like Batman but I do like Alan Moore. That's what persuaded me to read this. Plus it has Brian Bolland doing the artwork and he drew my favourite Judge Dredd so there is... Read more
Published 1 month ago by 365 Graphic Novels
Killing Joke review
Quite possibly the best Batman Graphic Novel out there. Story line is intriguing and shows an interesting look into the joker's past. A must read for Joker fans
5/5
5/5
Published 2 months ago by matdinho
Brilliant!
Tim Burton described this as the first comic book he ever loved, which was enough to sell it to me! I'm a big fan of Alan Moore, and this story is certainly on a par with his other... Read more
Published 2 months ago by The Pink Shirt Platypus
There are these two guys in a lunatic asylum...
The Killing Joke has long been amongst the 'must have' comics for Batman fans and after finally buying it and reading it I understand why; it's quite simply perfect. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Chuck Imisson
A list of everything wrong with this book
1) The story - I normally love the work of Alan Moore, especially his work on Watchmen, but he must have been having a bad day when he wrote this rubbish. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Matt
"Why aren't you laughing?"
Batman goes to Arkham Asylum on a fool's errand - to try and talk sense to the Clown Prince of Crime, the Joker. But Joker's not there! Read more
Published 4 months ago by Sam Quixote
Simply superb!
I ordered this present for my sister for Christmas as i have heard wonderful things about the comic and i believe it will be right up her alley. Read more
Published 5 months ago by RRampton
One of the most important batman stories.
This comic could arguably be one of the most important batman stories of all time. It explains how joker came to be and how Oracle came to be the oracle. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Mr. J. Joseph
Short and sweet
I am not a die hard comic fan, or even a huge Batman fan (that is, not to say I don't enjoy Batman). Read more
Published 6 months ago by Grimmeye
A Classic
One of the greatest Batman comics of all time. This is a must have for not only Batman fans, but comic book fans. The Killing Joke tells the compelling story of The Joker's origin. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Aidan M
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