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Books : Batman: The Killing Joke (Deluxe Edition)
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Rating: 
- A short story, short on story
This graphic novel has been given a massive amount of praise and to be honest, I'm not sure why. Perhaps because it's Alan Moore, perhaps because it is Batman vs Joker, perhaps because it has a Joker origin. I'm not sure.
I read it in one sitting, it's a very short and at £10 is a bit expensive. As it's so short there's not really a story. None at all. Batman turns up at the begining and the end, the middle is mainly flashbacks to the Joker origin. Which is campy and somewhat uninteresting.
The end is somewhat ambiguous following on the unexplored idea of should Batman kill the joker and why.
Really, the problem is not bad writing, just that it's too short and doesn't really explore the relationship at all.
There are better graphic novels, there are better batman novels. I wouldn't recommend this.
Rating:
- Not as great as it's made out to be....
I must admit to having had a copy of this book for quite a while now, and having read and re-read it a number of times, still cannot see why it is so lauded. Okay, the artwork IS wonderful (though Brian Bolland didn't like the colour much, apparently), and there are elements within the story which have subsequently proven pivotal within the DC Universe, but that's not really enough to explain it's status. I think that after an excellent set up, the ending is rather flat. I'd always assumed that I'd "missed the point" somewhere ... now I'm not so sure. It's quite interesting to review "The Killing Joke" in the context of the rest of Alan Moore's work at DC (and, as all but his "Swamp Thing" stuff is now collected in a single trade paperback, that's relatively easy to do). It's certainly not his most interesting or most imaginative during this period (his two comparable Superman stories are probably superior, whilst his Omega Men and Green Lantern Corps tales are better still) and I suspect much of the status comes from the general Batman "thing" that ran from Miller's "The Dark Knight Returns" to the Burton's two movies.
A good book, but not the great one everyone seems to think.
Rating:
- The best Joker story for the last 20 years
This story has to be the best insight to the Joker mainly because its the only one that has a worthy and acceptable back story for Joker. He's not as psychotic as I usually like him to be in this but he's still got the regular charm. Seeing as the story's quite short its hard to mention anything without spoiling anything. but I assure you, this is an excellent read.
The artwork is excellent too like all of Bolland's work. My only problem is the design of the Batmobile. You'll understand when you see it.
Rating: - Not as good as its cracked up to be
Not bad but not all that good either. Art excellent but story weak. Batman's characterisation is non-existent, he's not a character, just someone chasing The Joker. Joker's story is OK-ish but there isn't anything you could call a plot here.
Commissioner Gordon looks like he's going to go mad and then doesn't. Big deal.
Also incredibly short. Could have done with being twice as long and letting us in on Batman's mind more. Not enough time to develop affinity with the people The Joker is threatening, so we don't really care if they live or die.
And can't we have something better than the 'covered in chemicals' origin?
Rating: - Good but nothing special
I have to say, as someone trying to get into comics for a while , I was let down by this graphic novel. The dialogue was well written, it was just that the story's arc was so sharp. Everything happened at double speed, which may be comic style, so it was hard to be taken in by or invest any emotion in the characters. When certain things happen in the story that should be shocking, I was not that moved or bothered what the outcome on the next page would be. For a story like this to be told with real success it must be at least double the length.
The Joker's origin story is also very poor in my opinion. The execution is too fast and leaves you scoffing and the final few panels. The only thing that saves this particular problem is he beautiful illustration that accompanies the final reveal., even then it feels rushed at best.
All in all I would say it is a good graphic novel but nothing more. If like me you are looking for an interesting first step the comic world, I would look elsewhere.
- A short story, short on storyThis graphic novel has been given a massive amount of praise and to be honest, I'm not sure why. Perhaps because it's Alan Moore, perhaps because it is Batman vs Joker, perhaps because it has a Joker origin. I'm not sure.
I read it in one sitting, it's a very short and at £10 is a bit expensive. As it's so short there's not really a story. None at all. Batman turns up at the begining and the end, the middle is mainly flashbacks to the Joker origin. Which is campy and somewhat uninteresting.
The end is somewhat ambiguous following on the unexplored idea of should Batman kill the joker and why.
Really, the problem is not bad writing, just that it's too short and doesn't really explore the relationship at all.
There are better graphic novels, there are better batman novels. I wouldn't recommend this.
Rating:
- Not as great as it's made out to be.... I must admit to having had a copy of this book for quite a while now, and having read and re-read it a number of times, still cannot see why it is so lauded. Okay, the artwork IS wonderful (though Brian Bolland didn't like the colour much, apparently), and there are elements within the story which have subsequently proven pivotal within the DC Universe, but that's not really enough to explain it's status. I think that after an excellent set up, the ending is rather flat. I'd always assumed that I'd "missed the point" somewhere ... now I'm not so sure. It's quite interesting to review "The Killing Joke" in the context of the rest of Alan Moore's work at DC (and, as all but his "Swamp Thing" stuff is now collected in a single trade paperback, that's relatively easy to do). It's certainly not his most interesting or most imaginative during this period (his two comparable Superman stories are probably superior, whilst his Omega Men and Green Lantern Corps tales are better still) and I suspect much of the status comes from the general Batman "thing" that ran from Miller's "The Dark Knight Returns" to the Burton's two movies.
A good book, but not the great one everyone seems to think.
Rating:
- The best Joker story for the last 20 yearsThis story has to be the best insight to the Joker mainly because its the only one that has a worthy and acceptable back story for Joker. He's not as psychotic as I usually like him to be in this but he's still got the regular charm. Seeing as the story's quite short its hard to mention anything without spoiling anything. but I assure you, this is an excellent read.
The artwork is excellent too like all of Bolland's work. My only problem is the design of the Batmobile. You'll understand when you see it.
Rating:
- Not as good as its cracked up to beNot bad but not all that good either. Art excellent but story weak. Batman's characterisation is non-existent, he's not a character, just someone chasing The Joker. Joker's story is OK-ish but there isn't anything you could call a plot here.
Commissioner Gordon looks like he's going to go mad and then doesn't. Big deal.
Also incredibly short. Could have done with being twice as long and letting us in on Batman's mind more. Not enough time to develop affinity with the people The Joker is threatening, so we don't really care if they live or die.
And can't we have something better than the 'covered in chemicals' origin?
Rating:
- Good but nothing specialI have to say, as someone trying to get into comics for a while , I was let down by this graphic novel. The dialogue was well written, it was just that the story's arc was so sharp. Everything happened at double speed, which may be comic style, so it was hard to be taken in by or invest any emotion in the characters. When certain things happen in the story that should be shocking, I was not that moved or bothered what the outcome on the next page would be. For a story like this to be told with real success it must be at least double the length.
The Joker's origin story is also very poor in my opinion. The execution is too fast and leaves you scoffing and the final few panels. The only thing that saves this particular problem is he beautiful illustration that accompanies the final reveal., even then it feels rushed at best.
All in all I would say it is a good graphic novel but nothing more. If like me you are looking for an interesting first step the comic world, I would look elsewhere.