Batman The Killing Joke

DC


Written by Alan Moore, Art by Brian Bolland, Colours by John Higgins, Letters by Richard Starkings

Published in 1988.

I bought this recently in a hardback Deluxe version. I first read it many years ago, borrowing a friends copy.

It was created by Brian Bolland after being asked by DC on what he would like to work on. He came up with a Joker origin story and asked Alan Moore to be the writer.

Most people know the plot. The Joke escapes Arkham. He then shoots Barbara Gordon and kidnaps Commissioner James Gordon. He rents a small theme park for the express purpose of showing Gordon the wounding and abuse he heaps on Barbara in an attempt to prove his theory that all people are 'one bad day' from going insane.
While this unfolds we see in flashback the genisis of The Joker as he goes from failed stand up comedian to psycho through poor lifestyle choices.
We finish by seeing Batman being told by Gordon to 'Do it by the book'. He hasn't fallen into The Joker's trap. Batman catches The Joker and they share a joke...

This comic is very important in the history of the art form. The story is well written and beautifully drawn. It sucks you in and stays long in the memory. I remembered huge chunks of it from over twenty two years before. Of course the injury and abuse of Barbara Gordon is one of those things in the book that sticks. This raises the most important question in Comic Books, of the superhero genre to me: Is it okay to reflect society or should comics strive to aim higher and reflect more?

I recommend on the art and the way the story is written.