Batman: The Killing Joke

( 104 )

Overview

For the first time the Joker's origin is revealed in this tale of insanity and human perseverance. Looking to prove that any man can be pushed past his breaking point and go mad, the Joker attempts to drive Commissioner Gordon insane. After shooting and permanently paralyzing his daughter Barbara (a.k.a. Batgirl), the Joker kidnaps the commissioner and attacks his mind in hopes of breaking the man. But refusing to give up, Gordon maintains his sanity with the help of Batman in ...
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More About This Book

Overview

For the first time the Joker's origin is revealed in this tale of insanity and human perseverance. Looking to prove that any man can be pushed past his breaking point and go mad, the Joker attempts to drive Commissioner Gordon insane. After shooting and permanently paralyzing his daughter Barbara (a.k.a. Batgirl), the Joker kidnaps the commissioner and attacks his mind in hopes of breaking the man. But refusing to give up, Gordon maintains his sanity with the help of Batman in an effort to best the madman.
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Editorial Reviews

Library Journal

This classic, infamous story in the Batman saga has been recolored with a more effectively cooler palette and set into context with an introduction and an afterword. Escaped from Arkham Asylum, villain deluxe Joker shoots Barbara "Batgirl" Gordon as part of his plan to drive her police commissioner father insane. Intending to prove that anyone can go mad after "one bad day" as he describes in his putative origin story, the Joker also kidnaps and torments Commissioner Gordon. But Gordon remains sane, and Batman recaptures the Joker-the two actually share a laugh at the ambiguous ending. With Barbara Gordon now a paraplegic, the story stands as a chilling profile of madness. The Killing Joke provoked fury among many readers who lamented the disposal of Barbara Gordon as a mere pawn to testosterone; yet Gordon reinvents herself later as superinfohacker Oracle, poster girl for disability empowerment (see Birds of Prey, LJ 7/08). A bonus story at the end paints the quieter, equally chilling madness of a Batman fan fantasizing about killing the superhero-a perfect foil for the publicly gaudy Joker. For adult collections.-M.C.

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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781401216672
  • Publisher: DC Comics
  • Publication date: 3/19/2008
  • Series: Batman Series
  • Edition description: Deluxe Edition
  • Pages: 64
  • Sales rank: 25,131
  • Product dimensions: 7.40 (w) x 11.21 (h) x 0.47 (d)

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 104 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(64)

4 Star

(31)

3 Star

(4)

2 Star

(3)

1 Star

(2)

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 104 Customer Reviews

  • Posted March 29, 2009

    more from this reviewer

    A Classic - and for good reason

    Creepy and thrilling, this is the ultimate in comic book stories. It explores the Joker's psyche in a truly fascinating way and, in his attempt to turn Commissioner Gordon as crazy as himself, unravels the timeless villain in a way never done before.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted February 14, 2009

    easily one of the best joker books

    great book, i recommend for any batman/joker fan

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted November 26, 2008

    I Also Recommend:

    Joker
    Batman: Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth: 15th Anniversary Edition

    this was great

    probably one of the best graphic novels i've ever read. the ending had me guessing and this is now in my permanent library. i recomend it for any Batman fan, or anyone looking for a good read.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted August 3, 2008

    Far Cry from the Best Joker Story

    How should one put it? 1. Boring 2. Yet ANOTHER retelling of Joker's Origin 3. Not much plot, character development, or concept development.

    2 out of 11 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted July 23, 2008

    Chilling

    It stands out as one of the most amazing Joker stories in the DC Universe. Alan Moore has created one of the most phenomenal and chilling contributions to the legacy of Batman's archnemesis, creating what may be the most subscribable backstories for the villain. The horrific, mesmerizing sequence in the fun house, as Gordon's sanity is put to the excruciating test, is arguably one of The Clown Prince of Crime's greatest transgressions against humanity. Buy it.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 15, 2008

    Huh?

    I don't get all the praise. The art work is o.k. but nothing special. The plot is linear and predictable. And the 'joke' is barely there at all.

    2 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 12, 2013

    Anonymous

    This book was fantastic. Dark. Chilling. I have new respects for the Joker. Also, this is the graphic novel that Cristopher Nolan gave to Heath Ledger as inspiration for th Joker in 'The Dark Knight'. And you can take that to the bank.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 20, 2012

    I am a huge batman fan, and by far my favorite villian is The Jo

    I am a huge batman fan, and by far my favorite villian is The Joker. I really like this story of the jokers origin. My favorite part is the end where oracle is describing how he would kill The Batman. Not to mention the artwork is amazing and beautiful. Highly recomended!

    1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted December 20, 2008

    more from this reviewer

    It was Better in my Memory

    I enjoyed this story but not nearly as much as the more recent "Joker" graphic novel by Brian Azzarello. The Killing Joke is a good story and the subtle nuances made it enjoyable (like the black and white memories with the red objects, a la Sixth Sense) but it was just "ok" for me. I know many people consider this book a classic and for that reason alone I recommend reading it but there is much more fulfilling stuff out there. I actually read this story for the first time when I was in high school and I remember liking it much more back then in the early '90s.

    1 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted March 8, 2013

    Good but...

    An excellent telling of the Joker's origin. My only problem? It was too short. I would have liked some more meat to play around with, but still an outstanding read.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 22, 2013

    This book is sequential to the Batman continuity, but Alan Moore

    This book is sequential to the Batman continuity, but Alan Moore gets too much credit for being the best graphic novel writer around. Not everyone in this book has great dialogue, like Batman. Batman's dialogue is a bit stilted and sometimes not in his character. The panels are placed just like Watchmen and V for Vendetta (it must have been the thing back then to place nine panels on a page). The artist, Brian Bolland is amazing, and love what he has done, but I believe that the brice is a bit steep for the amount of pages in this book. It is expensive mainly because of who authored it. Still a must have in the batman continuity.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 18, 2013

    Always wanted to read this, just did and it knocked my socks off

    Always wanted to read this, just did and it knocked my socks off!

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  • Posted February 1, 2013

    A Classic Batman Story

    This is a must own for any fan of the Joker and/or Batman. The artwork, is very of its time, but it gives a glimpse into the mind of the Joker and helps the reader understand better what makes him tick. This graphic novel also clearly illustrates the relationship(s) between Batman and the Joker, Batman and Jim Gordon and Batman and Batgirl. It also shows why Barbara Gordon goes from being Batgirl to Oracle.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 24, 2013

    Joker 111111111111111111111111111111111 on Jan 1,000,0000

    The best book i have ever read.awsome.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 21, 2012

    This is the quintessential batman book for anyone who says they

    This is the quintessential batman book for anyone who says they are a batman fan to read. The art work is outstanding, the story is fantastic, I really could go on and on about how great it is but I will not. I will say this you must read this one especially if you call yourself a fan of the dark knight.

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  • Posted January 26, 2012

    more from this reviewer

    Review

    A short story about the origin story of both the Joker and Oracle. A must-read for any Batman fan and anyone who appreciates a tale about the clash between good and evil--and a sight into what they have in common.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 11, 2011

    A most excellent book. A must-read for Batman and Joker fans.

    A truly great book.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted November 21, 2011

    Great for any batman fan

    serves as a unique look into jokers madness

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  • Posted February 15, 2011

    more from this reviewer

    Essential reading for all comics fans!!

    I finally got around to reading what I've heard was one of the best Batman stories ever told. Alan Moore, who I don't hero worship like many comics fans, pens such a complete look at how the Joker works and thinks and why. Brian Bolland gives the definitive Joker. Every panel is amazing. He conveys so much with just a look. Overall, this a fantastic book.

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  • Posted July 17, 2010

    more from this reviewer

    I Also Recommend:

    Batman: Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth: 15th Anniversary Edition
    Batman: The Long Halloween
    Batman: Year One
    Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?
    The Dark Knight Returns

    Alan Moore making another classic

    This is one of the classic batman stories, along with Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, and Batman: The Long Halloween. The Joker tries to prove that one bad day can make someone go insane and kidnaps Commisioner Gordon, after crippilling Barabra in front of him, to prove it. The book is waist deep in philisophical undertones, like the jokers nietzsche-ian philosophies, which make it more enjoyable if you can spot them, but is still a good read if you cant.

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