Batman: The Killing Joke by Alan Moore, Brian Bolland
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Book Reviews of Batman: The Killing Joke
Book Review: The Killing Joke
Summary: 4 Stars
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. Book Review: Awesome Comic.
Summary: 4 Stars
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.Book Review: Batman: The Killing Joke
Summary: 5 Stars
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 :)
Book Review: This is an ok story but it isnt worth a five
Summary: 3 Stars
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.... :( Book Review: Grade A Mediocre
Summary: 2 Stars
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.