Batman: The Killing Joke

5 Responses to “Batman: The Killing Joke”

1. Lonnie says:

   April 30, 2010 at 4:20 pm

   Once again, I cannot imagine a Batman graphic novel getting five star. That would place the writing on the level of Hemmingway, Fitzgerald, ect.

   With that said, this graphic novel (how you can call something a novel that has less that 25 words a page is beyond me), there are some really vital events in the Batman tale. First, you learn the origin of the Comic. Second, you learn the origin of Prediction and the end of the original Batgirl. Both of these events are decent.

   The overall tale is weak. They try to brush upon the psychological similarities between Batman and the Comic, but they do not do it justice. Really, these types of comparisons cannot be accomplished lacking some serious words on a page. I guess as readers we are supposed to fill in the gaps as to the psychological similarities, but it really doesn’t clarify the difference that led them each down the path they chose.

   I like the concept, but really, don’t spend the money, get the 500 word synopsis somewhere online just to fill in some vital events in the batman tale.
   Reader’s Rating: 3 / 5
2. P R says:

   April 30, 2010 at 6:41 pm

   Generally I am forgiving with well-intentioned works; but, this is neither well-intentioned nor well-realised. Although Brian Bolland’s art is, as permanently, arresting, the writing for The Killing Joke is missing and in fact virtually nonexistent. Alan Moore was assured that the tale 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 immediately lamentable, but the event itself is even moreso.

   Essentially this is just an excuse to torment beloved characters in excessive ways, yet it manages to lead the way absolutely no new territory. It is the same plodding plot that has permanently been linked with Batman and especially the Comic, and it is needlessly pretentious and unappealing. It goes far too far in some ways, and yet not far enough in others. All in all, it is completely needless, utterly superfluous, and should indeed not have ever been included in proper Bat-canon. Moore himself even said that if he had known they were going to take it into canon, he would never have done it. I only wish he had known before.

   The Killing Joke is one of the worst Batman tales ever composed. It seems that whenever a new writer attempts to give a new and treacherous spin to the Comic, it ends up being the same spin that every additional new writer attempts to give him. He’s not an appealing villain any longer, and especially not as the same things are permanently done with him. In this case, you have him doting along and ruining a character for the long term (that is not even plausible considering the setting) just so that he can share a completely overdone and unexceptional ‘moment’ with his mortal enemy. Who cares?

   This is yet another supremely overrated piece of drek that was permanently just style over substance and added nothing — in fact detracted majorly — from the Batman mythos. It’s not worth looking at, and it would be especially wonderful if everything that came from it were completely undone. It should never have entered into continuity, but now that it has, it’s made the work even more lamentable.

   A piece of pretentious, self-vital garbage. It’s not even worth it for the Bolland visuals.
   
   Reader’s Rating: 1 / 5
3. Kurt A. Johnson says:

   April 30, 2010 at 7:40 pm

   Batman makes yet another visit to Arkham Asylum, this time he simply wants to talk with the Comic, and see if they cannot somehow come to an understanding. But, the joke’s on Batman when he finds that the Comic has escaped again. It seems that while Batman want to end their long-running feud, Comic wants to take it to a whole new level. Grabbing Commissioner Gordon, he sets out to teach him, and Batman, a lesson in madness.

   I am a huge comic book/graphic novel fan, but this one really did nothing for me. The leader set out to give the tale a “morally ambiguous theme,” but that is not all he left ambiguous. Batman acts strangely out of character, less a dark knight, and more…well, nothing really, he’s just less Batman. The Comic is well done, truly the crown prince of evil, but why add yet another Comic origin tale? It seems to have nothing to do with the rest of the tale. The ending is really non-existent – I suppose that the leader wanted an ambiguous ending, so he just left his board and went out for a Whopper and Coca-Cola. “Go along please, there’s nothing to see here.”

   I thought that this was a terribly weak addition to the genre – filled with potential, but none of it really realized. I highly recommend AGAINST this book. [If you want to read a excellent Batman tale, with a similar theme, then read Batman: Jekyll & Hyde by Paul Jenkins.]
   Reader’s Rating: 1 / 5
4. Invisiboy2001 says:

   April 30, 2010 at 9:47 pm

   The art in this book is reasonably excellent. But, the tale lacks something.

   Okay, the Comic had a rough life, and then goes crazy? Got it. Batman tracks his arch-enemy and captures him, and somehow finds time for a hearty laugh with Comic while Barbara Gordon, a.k.a. Batgirl, lies in the hospital with a shattered spine? Got it. And Batman’s friend Jim Gordon was pretty much driven to the brink of insanity, but the character is just fine the next time we see him? Got it.

   This comic was basically an excuse to make sure Barbara Gordon never became Batgirl again, or Batwoman, for that matter. And the book glorifies the Comic’s violence to an nearly sickening point. It’s not intelligent; it’s not artistic. It’s just that: violence.

   If I were going to make a list of classic Batman comics, this would never make the list. It’s a mess, and it’s not excellent writing.

   Reader’s Rating: 2 / 5
5. Anonymous says:

   April 30, 2010 at 10:14 pm

   …but ultimately pointless. Adds nothing to the Batman legacy, but takes nothing away. It’s just there, but any self-respecting Batman collector already owns it, and already knows this. Persons searching for a weightier Batman tale should look elsewhere.
   Reader’s Rating: 3 / 5