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Batman: The Killing Joke (Batman (DC Comics Paperback)) | 
| Author: Alan Moore
Publisher: Warner Books
Category: Book
Used (7) Collectible (3) from £12.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  27 reviews
Sales Rank: 409739
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 48
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 10.2 x 6.6 x 0.1
ISBN: 0930289455
Dewey Decimal Number: 741
EAN: 9780930289454
ASIN: 0930289455
Publication Date: March 1988
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| Customer Reviews: Read 22 more reviews...
 Beautifully drawn, twisted and dark... December 5, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
The reviews on here are pretty mixed, but I got this anyway (being a bit of a Joker fangirl) and I'm really glad I did. I've read it twice so far, and although perhaps the story is weaker than, say, The Long Halloween, the art is incredible and the Joker himself is fantastic - as sick and psychotic as he should be. In fact, the whole thing is truly dark (I would strongly recommend not to give this to anyone under 12 or 13), which is the only real way to portray Batman and the Joker.
The story also gives a twist to the character of the Joker, giving him an origin that actually makes you feel sympathy for him, which is something that you'll probably find hard to do until you read this.
The only complaint I have about this is the slightly anti-climactic ending, which left me feeling a bit confused the first time I read it; but overall it's a great book. I highly recommend it.
A beautifully drawn, but very dark, tale. October 24, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
This was my first introduction to more "adult orientated" graphic novels (as opposed to comics). I bought it on a whim after seeing the cover featured in a TV programme hyping the 1989 Tim Burton Batman movie, and it was a real eye-opener. The tone is certainly much darker than the image of Batman which I'd grown up with (ie Adam West in all his campness) and provides a fascinating origin for the Joker. He comes across as an ordinary man driven beyond his capacity for reason, instead of the stereotypical insane clown of lazier Batman stories. (In fact the entire story is based around his "one bad day is all it takes" philosophy...)
The story itself is short but all the more effective for it, with some beautifully - if chillingly - drawn characters. The Joker is especially well rendered, with several large and extremely detailed frames - which is hardly surprising given that much of the book focuses on him and his "past life".
All in all, "A Killing Joke" is a worthy complement to "Batman: Year One" and "Dark Knight Returns", as it gives the reader a solid - and believable - origin to Batman's most enigmatic adversary. Highly recommended.
Return of a classic October 24, 2008
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
This was the first comic i ever bought,twenty or so years ago and it is still one of my favourites.The story is probably the best Joker tale and the art is un-paralled.This edition is if anything an improvement on the original having Brian Bolland's own colours which are a delight in themselves.This book might be the definitive version of this seminal graphic novel.
 It was OK. September 1, 2008
3 out of 8 found this review helpful
I was really looking forward to this, having heard so much praise. I guess I missed something, but I was expecting a really deep, complex story, like so many reviews and articles had described, and didn't find anything of the sort. The artwork's flawless, but the story really did nothing for me, especially the Joker's back story, which seems to be the most raved about part. I felt no attachment to any characters, and having only recently read Watchmen for the first time, and being so blown away by that, I couldn't see how this was the same writer. I also found it shockingly short, which I don't expect from a graphic novel. As I said before though, awesome artwork. I still love that cover!
 A Feast for the Eyes; A Drain On the Mind August 29, 2008
4 out of 8 found this review helpful
Okay, let's keep this brief and informal lest I start taking myself far too seriously. After all, it is only a comic book to which I am referring regardless of how good or bad this particular one may be.
As an addition to the Batman Legend, 'The Killing Joke' is something of a let down, and not least due to the 1980's "think outside of the box" storyline. In my opinion it will warp your perception of the Caped Crusader and Smiles-McGee as it did mine with it's painting of the pair as something of an old married couple who may fight but deep down are the best of friends (and thankfully like an old married couple they are not sexually attracted to each other either). It has to be said though that The Joker's crimes depicted here are less master-criminal and more sick-bastard. Whilst inventive, they lack the subtlety and genius you'd expect from the character. It would be far too easy to confuse his antics with that of 'Lord Pumpkin' in his origin one-shot as the freaky carnival setting and deformed minions are not Joker-like in my mind. I'd also suggest that the "definitive origin story" for the Joker is an ideal that should have died long ago, way before the 80's ever hit, and it's inclusion here makes the Joker seem weak and unjustified (in some senses) in his madness. Basically, as in the short version, Alan Moore's story is cleverly gimmicky at best with scripting that is just plain awful. Sorry to all the fans of the piece out there, but it reads more like a romance comic with Batman being the hysterical woman moreover Dark Knight.
What you will take away from reading this (and despite what I just said, you must buy and read this!) is that Brian Bolland is highly revered for a reason. The artwork is simply phenomenal, and the newly revamped colouring is stunning. You may never see a depiction of classic Batman or Joker looking this good anywhere else again. With the added bonus of Bolland's 'Innocent Man' (which he also wrote) sitting quietly at the back, this package must adorn your bookcase. I would recommend this to anyone.
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