Batman: The Killing Joke [Paperback]

As regular readers and followers of the Batman mythology already know, the Joker, is the Dark Knight's most well known and popular adversary. Talented comic book scribe Alan Moore broke with tradition. He decided this story would not just be about the Joker having some demented plan and our hero has to find a way to foil those plans, rather, he chose to examine what makes the villian tick. The story has Joker shooting and crippling Barbra Gordon, then kiddnaping her father Police Commissioner James Gordon taunting him, to see if a man can truly go insane within a short period of time. While the Joker awaits the inevitable confrontation with Batman, he allows himself to reflect on his early days, and thus, the reader learns his origin. The book focuses less on typical "superhero action" and more on the psychology of these characters. Mr Moore weaves his story with such effortless ease that it never gets bogged down. It's all about the choices that a person makes and how much these two mortal foes really do mirror each other.

The artistic talents of Brian Bolland and John Higgins really shine in the book. Their rendition of The Joker is quite spectacular and among the best ever produced in a Bat story...Really. The "dynamic duo (sorry I couldn't help myself)" set a standard for the way Joker is now drawn today. Batman doesn't look too bad either. The artwork is a nice mix of subtlty and some broad strokes-matching the story perfectly.

I have read a lot of Batman stories over the years, The Killing Joke may not be what you would expect for these icons, but it is worth reading for sure. It is one of the best. The book has 48 pages

1. Like another famous Morre book, Watchman, there is a beautiful segue in each section of the book. Look at the last panel of any section and then look at the first of the next. See the associative context? It's brillian and, having seen it in Watchman also, I heva to believe it is a collaborative effort between the writer and illustrator, rather than just the artist alone. I love it.

2. The comparison between the results of devestating loss upon two personalities, Batman and the Joker are wonderful. Is Moore saying there is little difference except by our perception? The Joker kills people for no reason, he destroys them and ruins their lives, just like his was destroyed by random meaningless events, like his wife's death. So he destroys randomly with a purpose of tortured logic apparent only to himself. On the other hand, Batman preys upon the criminals. "Destroying" their lives and works, from their point of view. They are taken away from their family and friends and placed in prison, a "loss" to their families, etc. They don't really understand why he does it, some silly rules from their point of view. It's only because our perspective is on the side of "good" that we seem him as the hero and Joker as the villian. If we were evil, we would see the reverse. But both sprang from a horrible incident that affected their sanity. They are Yin and Yang. The Joker causing Chaos, Batman trying to cause Order. That is what makes the Joker's smile so chilling. It is a grimace of pain and madness, and we, who are psychologically designed to respond favourably to a smile, are constantly confused and horrified.

3. The Joker went one way, the Batman another, what would happen to Gordon? Well, he goes a third way, he doesn't change, he stays himself in response to the horror. Would it have been different if Barbara had died? Maybe. Maybe having to be sane to be there for here anchored him.

4. The "joke", that for their constant battle to end, they both, each clinically insane from any psychiatric point of view, would have to trust each other is perfect displayed in the last few panels. The fact that they both understand this and realize the status of their mental states is driven home by their reactions to the story.

This is a great book to show to anyone who thinks that "comics" are simplistic tales for kids. It is short, It is brilliant, it clearly takes a legend that has been around for decades and gives it, at this date, a remarkable new twist that affects the way you see the characters moving forward. To take the "red hood" story line and make the Joker a pitiable if not understandable character is genius. I would have to say this rates right up there in my top 5.