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Бетмен: Убивчий жарт

(Batman: One-Shots)

Alan Moore (Goodreads Author),

Brian Bolland (Illustrator)

Євген Музиченко (Translator)

4.37 · Rating details · 154,325 ratings · 4,665 reviews

«Убивчий жарт» — один із найкращих творів про Джокера в історії жанру і одна із найкращих робіт Алана Мура за всю його зіркову кар’єру. Навіть якщо ви вже читали це — візьміть і перечитайте. Задоволення гарантовано!»

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Hardcover, 72 pages

Published May 2017 by Рідна Мова (first published 1988)

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Aug 29, 2016 Jayson rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: genre-superhero, era-cold-war, author-british, comics-dc-post-crisis, format-comic-book, genre-crime, subject-batman-family, 001-099-pp, read-in-2016, comic-book-graphic-novel

(A) 85% | Extraordinary
Notes: A discomforting, audacious book that compels re-readings and focused, lingering looks at specific pages and panels.

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Mar 11, 2016 Sean Barrs the Bookdragon rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 5-star-reads, comic-graphic-novel

“All it takes is one bad day to reduce the sanest man alive to lunacy. That's how far the world is from where I am. Just one bad day.”

Now this was good, and I mean good. It’s such a simple idea, but so real and powerful. I mean one bad day is all it takes. One push, one snap, one descent into chaos and it’s over. Once you’ve crossed that threshold then things will never be the same again. And the Joker, being the sly and brilliant villain that he is, wants to share the experience with the world. ...more

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Jan 25, 2010 Anne rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: graphic-novels, read-in-2010, comics

All it takes is one bad day.

description

This is one of the most iconic comics in the Batman/Joker mythos and arguably has a place as one of the most iconic comics out there period. I think most people will agree that Bolland's visuals are just unbelievable. The expressions on the faces, the body language, even the colors are as close to perfect as you can get.

description

And Moore is at the top of his game here. Wow. Just...wow!
The ripple effects of what happened here not only created Oracle, but inspired a ton of ...more

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Mar 14, 2008 Erin rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Recommended to Erin by: Zak

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. It causes me no joy to give any comic written by Alan Moore one star, but this is how it has to be. Now, before I write a single word more, let me start with this simple disclaimer: I consider Alan Moore the best writer to have ever worked in comics. There are no qualifiers to that; no qualifications. Moore is unmatched.

But The Killing Joke? As a Batman book, it's just bad. That isn't to say there's nothing to like here: this book certainly has its moments; some of which are brilliant, in fact. It causes me no joy to give any comic written by Alan Moore one star, but this is how it has to be. Now, before I write a single word more, let me start with this simple disclaimer: I consider Alan Moore the best writer to have ever worked in comics. There are no qualifiers to that; no qualifications. Moore is unmatched.

But The Killing Joke? As a Batman book, it's just bad. That isn't to say there's nothing to like here: this book certainly has its moments; some of which are brilliant, in fact. But as a story, it doesn't work.

Killing Joke is really two stories told in parallel. It provides an origin for the Joker while simultaneously following him on a scheme to drive Commissioner Gordon insane.

The origin is largely based on an old issue of Batman from the 50's: "The Man Behind the Red Hood." As much as I appreciate the nod to the past, the Red Hood origin of the Joker is one I could do without. While I am not in favor of attempts to make Batman "realistic," I do feel that some elements should be handled carefully if handled at all.

And that's really the problem here. Not only did Alan Moore use an absurd origin; he made it more so. In the original, the Red Hood was a hardened criminal before he became the Joker. In this version, he was a comedian having a really bad day.

I think I understand what Moore was trying to do here. I believe he wanted to create an element of pathos in the Joker's past while playing up the absurdity of the medium.

But the result felt sloppy. Instead of adding layers to the Joker's personality, it just made him less interesting.

The real problem with Killing Joke, however, is the other story line. The Joker takes Barbara Gordon by surprise, shooting and paralyzing her. Setting aside my personal objection to crippling one of DC's best (and, at the time, few) female characters, Moore missed a huge opportunity here. Had Oracle’s injury been sustained as Batgirl, the psychological effect on Batman could have been developed in great depth, as he’d have been responsible for placing her in harm’s way. As it was, the story only takes a toll on her father, and that's largely wrapped up by the end of the comic.

The Joker's motive for all this mayhem, to break Jim Gordon and prove that a bad enough day can drive anyone insane, comes to nothing. In part, he's foiled by Batman, but really he loses because he's wrong: Gordon is strong enough to survive his ordeal.

In the end, after everything, The Joker's comprehension of the human psyche is wrong. To me, this destroys the character’s credibility. The Joker has no superpowers, but madness is his expertise. For him to set to prove a point about insanity than fail, not due to Batman but rather his own assumptions, weakens him. Even after shooting Barbara, he ends the book less of a threat than he started.

Now, let's be honest: one star is a harsh rating, and were this book not commonly called "The Greatest Batman Story Ever Told" I'd almost certainly have been more lenient. There are certainly excellent aspects to the writing and the art; aspects that would buy any other book three stars.

But this isn't any other book. It's one of the most significant Batman stories written, having forever altered the continuity and status of several characters. It's Alan Moore's most famous Batman story.

And it really isn't that good. ...more

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Jan 22, 2013 Alejandro rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: comic-book, politics, horror, detective, super-heroes

A truly masterpiece of the comic books!

This is a prestige format stand-alone story.

Creative Team:

Writer: Alan Moore

Illustrator: Brian Bolland

Colorist: John Higgins

HAVE COURAGE

Nothing’s going to be the same… …not ever again.

A writer should have balls, and I don’t mean the organic meat sacs, since a female writer is the same entitled to have balls. But if you aren’t confortable with the “male metaphor”, I am confident that you already got that I am talking about writing with courage.

A writer ...more

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Feb 24, 2018 Lyn rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I asked a GR friend: Marvel or DC?

Her response made me think. She said, “Marvel over all. But DC has the better villains.”

Whu - ?

Well.

Yeah, I’ll be damned, I think she’s right.

Looking at all of the Marvel villains, I think maybe only Red Skull or Bullseye come close to matching the lunatic force of DC’s lineup. Magneto and Doctor Doom are powerful and bad, but also have some incongruous redeeming qualities. Lex Luthor, Deathstroke, Brainiac, Bane, Harley Quinn and all the Batman bad guys ...more

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Aug 22, 2016 Jon Nakapalau rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: graphic-novels, philosophy, crime, comics, pop-culture, favorites

The best Batman/Joker story ever! Alan Moore asks the question no one else ever wanted to ask: how much of who the Joker is can be attributed to Batman? How much of who Batman is can be attributed to the Joker? 'Primordial Unity' and the 'Tragic Birth' of both the Joker and Batman has never been explored more deeply - I think Nietzsche would have liked this story.

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Oct 11, 2013 Jeff rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: comix

Should some origin stories be better left untold?

Comic publishers will embellish the backstory of character more than necessary or drag it out and milk it, or they’ll retcon the character one too many times until the reader doesn’t know which way is up. If there’s a month, a week, a day, a couple of minutes left undocumented in a character’s background, it’ll be fodder for a future story.

Does the Joker need an origin story?

Some basic facts are presented here: He was once “normal”. He became a ...more

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Mar 05, 2016 Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: comics-graphic-manga, library-book

MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List

OMG! THIS BOOK WAS AWESOME! THE STORY LINE! THE GRAPHICS ARE FREAKING AMAZING!

I'm sure everyone and their cousin has already read this book, but I haven't so here we go. This is about how the joker turned nutsy cuckoo! He had a good job but left it thinking he could be a stand up comedian and support his wife and unborn baby. Well.... that didn't happen, he apparently wasn't funny --->who knew?

Then he goes and tries to get some crime job with some idiots ...more

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Dec 29, 2017 Fabian rated it really liked it · review of another edition

The Killing Joke does much more for the iconic symbolism & stylistic edge of the Batman mythology than the serious-as-a-heart attack (overrated) Christopher Nolan films. But I am admittedly really in no position to analyze,* I leave this to the millions and lkegions of fans. The afterward by maestro illustrator**- his representation the most demonic and therefore probably my favorite interpretation of the Joker--is correct when he says that Alan Moore has written better stuff. (Watchmen, ...more

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Jul 10, 2012 Ronyell rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommends it for: Fans of The Joker!!!

Shelves: graphic-novels-comics, modern-age-comics, strong-hero, my-blog-reviews, strong-heroine, sexy-bad-boy-hero, dc-comics, alan-moore

5.5 stars!!!

OH…MY…GOD…

description

I thought I knew everything there was to know about the Joker, one of Batman’s greatest foes. But after reading “Batman: The Killing Joke” and how the Joker was portrayed in this book, the Joker has officially become one of the most VILE, TWISTED, DARK and most DISTURBING villain I have ever come face to face with…AND I LOVED IT! Being brilliantly written by Alan Moore and being masterfully illustrated by Brian Bolland, “Batman: The Killing Joke” has remained to be one ...more

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Oct 02, 2016 Michael Finocchiaro rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: graphic-novels, english-20th-c, superhero

One of the classic and most brutal Joker vs Batman graphic novels, The Killing Joke is a Batman classic and should be considered one of the essential canonical books in the genre. The Joker is as sinister and terrifying as ever and Batman is pushed to his limits and beyond. A fantastic fast-moving and beautifully drawn epic!

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Sep 21, 2016 Saania Zee Jamal ϟ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: Superhero fanatics.

Shelves: minor-disappointment, covergasm, edge-of-the-seat-thriller, wow-hello-graphic-violence, superheroes, fantasy-la-la-la, comic-a-o-graphic-novel

An accurate depiction of what these 45 minutes felt like:

description

Nolan's movies are the reason I got hooked into the world of Batman. Not only did they become some of my favourite films of all time, but they also gave me one of my favourite villains of all time: The Joker.

And I figured it was about damn time I took a leap into where it all actually began– the comics.

There's no doubt that this green-haired madman is universally hailed as perhaps the best antagonist to have ever been created, and one can ...more

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Aug 15, 2015 Sarah rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ebook, z2015, z2018, books-i-ve-read-more-than-once, graphic-novels

Just finished rereading this. It’s still such a cool comic!

*Batman voice* "WHERE IS HE?"

I can see why this is so popular. The story is great and the illustrations are phenomenal. I love the Joker, he's my favourite batman villain (and possibly my all-time favourite comic/superhero villain too). He is just completely insane and I love it.

I love getting backstories so I loved getting to see an adaptation of why the Joker was the way he was. It was really well done. However, after reading this I ...more

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Dec 09, 2014 Shelby *trains flying monkeys* rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: liburry-book, comix-graphix, read-2014

2.5 stars rounded up.
This book was much better than "The Watchmen" to me. I may just not be a fan of Alan Moore's writing.
I mean it has this guy!

and I still didn't fan-girl over it.

It was an okay book for me though. You get the origins of the Joker..who I think is one of the best villains ever.

It's a dark one though for those of you who don't like dark. Barbara Gordan (aka-Batgirl) gets shot by the joker and he doesn't stop there. He pulls out full assholeness for this one.

The artwork is ...more

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Dec 18, 2017 Ahmed Ejaz rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2017, graphic-books

"All it takes is one bad day to reduce the sanest man alive to lunacy."--Joker

Wow! It's good! I liked this comic. I admit I was afraid because I thought it was published in 1988 and the work of graphics wouldn't be good. But at the same time I wanted to know the origin of Joker. In spite of its release date, the graphics were quite good. I enjoyed reading it. The Joker in this one was portrayed better than that in The Man Who Laughs.
The origin of Joker is heart breaking and pretty typical for ...more

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Jan 12, 2015 Scarlet Cameo rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: rc-15

English review at the bottom

¿Que puedo decir de esta historia que no se haya dicho ya? ¿Qué es un obra maestra? Lo es, el dialogo es increíble, la deconstrucción del Joker también, pocas historias nos han mostrado tantas capas de este personaje ¿Porqué? Fácil, tenemos su parte más vulnerable, una que pocas veces se había explotado, también tenemos al clásico Joker,al que, como diría Alfred, "Quiere ver arder al mundo"...pero hay otra capa, la que poco se atreven a mostrar y es ¿Porque Batman? (y ...more

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Jul 21, 2008 Dan Schwent rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: cool-covers, comics

I'm probably risking a lynching from the fanboy mob but I liked this a whole lot more than the other well-regarded bat-book, The Dark Knight Returns. It nicely illustrates the Batman/Joker dynamic as well as highlights their similarities. Joker seemed like a psychopath rather than the buffoon he was normally portrayed as at the time. Shooting *spoiler* in the spine and taking pictures in order to try to break *spoiler*. Awesome. My favorite part was the Joker and Batman sharing a laugh while ...more

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Sep 02, 2015 Ahmad Sharabiani rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: comic, novel, crime-mystery, 20th-century, graphic

Batman: The Killing Joke (Batman), Alan Moore, Brian Bolland (Illustrator), Tim Sale (Introduction)
Batman: The Killing Joke is a 1988 Comic graphic novel featuring the characters Batman and the Joker written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Brian Bolland. The Killing Joke provides an origin story for the supervillain the Joker, loosely adapted from the 1951 story arc "The Man Behind the Red Hood!".
تاریخ نخستین خوانش: سال 2005 میلادی

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Aug 20, 2017 Heidi The Reader rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, graphic-art-or-comic

I've decided to explore the world of superhero comics. First on my list, Batman: The Killing Joke by Alan Moore.

The story opens on a dark and stormy night. We're heading into Arkham Asylum with Batman. After passing a few famous inmates, we're outside inmate #0801, Name Unknown's cell.

A shadowy figure is playing solitaire within the barred room. It's The Joker.

By far, one of the creepiest villains of the Batman pantheon.

"So when you find yourself locked onto an unpleasant train of thought, ...more

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Jan 09, 2016 F rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2016, graphic-novel-comic

I know nothing about Batman (apart from seeing the Christian Bale films)
I know nothing about Marvell or comic books or superheros in general but i loved this comic!

My first ever graphic read.

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Oct 16, 2011 Sam Quixote rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Batman goes to Arkham Asylum on a fool's errand - to try and talk sense to the Clown Prince of Crime, the Joker. But Joker's not there! He's escaped and plans on destroying the Gordon family. Will the Dark Knight save them? Or will Joker have the last laugh...

First off, this is an acknowledged classic and I utterly loved it when I read it several years ago. Re-reading it now, I can say this book most definitely holds up, this is a classic Batman book for a reason. What I forgot was how slim a Batman goes to Arkham Asylum on a fool's errand - to try and talk sense to the Clown Prince of Crime, the Joker. But Joker's not there! He's escaped and plans on destroying the Gordon family. Will the Dark Knight save them? Or will Joker have the last laugh...

First off, this is an acknowledged classic and I utterly loved it when I read it several years ago. Re-reading it now, I can say this book most definitely holds up, this is a classic Batman book for a reason. What I forgot was how slim a book it is - it's 46 pages long! The other Bat-classics, Returns, Year One, Long Hallowe'en, they're all at least 100 pages, the last one I think is nearly 300 pages. 46 pages!

It's a testament to Alan Moore's skilful plotting and Brian Bolland's superb artwork and layouts then that the two of them are able to fit so much and develop it so well in such a limited frame. And here's the other surprise about this book, even though Alan Moore's name is on the book, Brian Bolland is far and away the real reason anyone, whether they like superhero comics or not, should pick up this book. The artwork is GORGEOUS!

Look at that iconic cover - Joker looking perfect, his pose fit snugly within the rectangular cover; it says so much and is such a beautiful cover. I've got a large print of this framed in my house I love it so much. Looking through the book though are so many other frames that are utterly fantastic - the Joker smiling a winning smile to the Carnival property owner; Joker's gun as it points at Barbara Gordon; the Heart of Darkness-esque shot of Joker sitting on a bumper car atop a pile of (fake) dead babies; the design of the red hood; the half page image of the Joker becoming the Joker for the first time; the first panel of the last page when Joker begins laughing at his own punch-line - and Batman joins in!

Yes this is an origin story of one of the most interesting villains in fiction ever created, but I choose to believe it isn't, that it's one version of Joker's origin, one of many swirling around the calliope of his deranged mind, in the same way that the ending could be seen as imaginary. I mean, could you see Batman laughing with the Joker? But I loved Moore's choice of ending the story on a joke, that was a master stroke.

Bolland writes the afterword and he makes an interesting point about Moore, that "The Killing Joke" is never mentioned among his great works (Watchmen, V for Vendetta, Swamp Thing, From Hell) and I think that, while Moore is a tremendous writer (especially in the 80s), the writing here is not his best. Sure he does a decent job but it's not his best work. No, the real reason this book is so revered is the artwork. Really, I can't praise it enough. And it's a damn shame that Bolland hasn't drawn another Batman comic since then, or any comic really, instead illustrating book covers exclusively.

Any Batman fan will already have this on their "to-read list" or else already own it, but I think comics fans who don't usually go in for superhero comics will find plenty to enjoy here too. This is the book that influences a lot of things that follow it: Tim Burton's 1989 Batman movie (Jack Napier in the factory being chased by cops), the Batman games "Arkham Asylum" and "Arkham City" (see the fight sequences between Batman and Joker and tell me you don't recognise a few moves there), but most of all what happened to poor Barbara Gordon and how her character would develop over the years.

Also, if you can, buy the Deluxe Edition as it features the colour work of Bolland himself instead of John Higgins the original colourist. Bolland's approach is markedly different particularly in the flashback sequences of Joker-before-he-was-Joker. It also comes with an introduction by Tim Sale (artist of Haunted Knight, The Long Hallowe'en, and Dark Victory), and an afterword by Bolland along with a bonus strip written and drawn by Bolland of a murderous delusional fantasising about killing the Caped Crusader.

A wonderful achievement by two talented artists, taking an iconic figure in an iconic series and making him seem new. Nearly 30 years later and it still reads fresh. Even if you've read it before but it's been a few years since you last picked it up, go read it again, you'll find little bits you missed all those years ago, like me.

I've got one: so, a bat and a clown go to the fair and.... ...more

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Aug 22, 2010 Lenny rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: holy-comics-batman

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Update 2019: I haven't read this book since I started writing reviews regularly. I reviewed it a long time ago. I will not read it again. I'm sure there are a lot of things to appreciate about this story - I don't even mention the art - but I can't tell you how heartbreaking it was to see Barbara Gordon, the only woman in this book, treated this way. She was also my favorite character growing up. Thankfully she still exists as a character or this would've been it. Thanks in part to a woman she Update 2019: I haven't read this book since I started writing reviews regularly. I reviewed it a long time ago. I will not read it again. I'm sure there are a lot of things to appreciate about this story - I don't even mention the art - but I can't tell you how heartbreaking it was to see Barbara Gordon, the only woman in this book, treated this way. She was also my favorite character growing up. Thankfully she still exists as a character or this would've been it. Thanks in part to a woman she returned as Oracle.
There are a lot of 5 star reviews and I'm sure they make valid points. But this book is sexist. Both of those things can exist.

And if you don't see how it matters, please don't forget that stories tell us a lot about who we consider to be our heroes, and to whom violence is acceptable. Take a look at the crazy comicsgate men (I won't call them fans) who think women, LGBTQ folks and people of color don't belong in the pages or writing and drawing them.
I bet a lot of them love this book.

------
By now, Killing Joke is a book you have to read if you want to cover all the Batman "classics." And while the Joker/Batman matchup might be the greatest hero and villain superhero matchup of all time, and this is considered an iconic story of the two.

BUT, let's admit it--Moore can't write women. At all. (For more evidence, read Watchmen.) I don't know him as a person but he seems to have very little respect for women in his writing. And his treatment of Barbara--the Joker shoots her in the spine, paralyzing her--is evidence of that. She's the only woman in this whole book,and is violently broken, like an object, with no other roles in the story than to BE broken and lure the (male) heroes to the (male) villains.

Barbara joins the long list of superheroes with ugly, violent demises (see 'Women in Refrigerators,' by writer Gail Simone), and she suffers the most violent and debilitating fate for a comic book character. Even though it isn't permanent in the DC mythos, that doesn't change the overt sexism of this story.

There are two other reasons why I can't stand this book, even amid its incessant praise:

1) Giving the Joker a backstory was a terrible idea. If you've seen The Dark Knight, you know that one of the most terrifying aspects of the Joker is not when he tells Rachel his origin story, but when he tells someone else something completely different, and it's just as believable. He's a maniacal sociopath who, therefore, can come from anywhere, and he's told so many different stories that maybe he doesn't even know who he truly is. That's scary. Yet Moore undoes all of that--the enigma behind Joker is no more. And the Red Hood origin story has been retold so many different times, and tying into future stories (a la Jason Todd) it's pretty much canon.

2) Jim Gordon. Not only does Moore do away with Barbara's integrity, he tosses Jim's out the window too. Jim's experience in this book is every parent's ultimate nightmare: his daughter is shot, he is captured, and then the Joker shows him pictures of Barbara in various states of undress, bleeding and broken on the floor.

How in the WORLD does that not break you as a parent? It should. No question. As soon as the Joker was captured, Jim should have grabbed the nearest weapon and done something. Maybe not shoot him in the heart or the head, but somewhere where it would have caused tremendous pain. It's believable that Jim didn't go crazy, like the Joker was hoping for. But there is no way that Jim, not as commissioner but as a father, and a human being, would have just stood back and let Batman take care of it.

I seriously don't understand why everyone loves this book. There are far better Batman stories to read. ...more

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Jul 23, 2015 Gabrielle rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2019, graphic-novels, best-bad-guys, reviewed, puddin

Updated review, with a few thoughts about the “Joker” movie at the end.

---

With the much-hyped upcoming “Joker” movie coming soon – and my various feeds being bombarded with tantalizing trailers, reviews and opinion pieces (I found this article especially interesting: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...), I felt an itch to revisit the infamous origin-story graphic novel “The Killing Joke”. The Joker has always been my favorite thing about Batman comics: the Bat himself bores me silly, but Updated review, with a few thoughts about the “Joker” movie at the end.

---

With the much-hyped upcoming “Joker” movie coming soon – and my various feeds being bombarded with tantalizing trailers, reviews and opinion pieces (I found this article especially interesting: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...), I felt an itch to revisit the infamous origin-story graphic novel “The Killing Joke”. The Joker has always been my favorite thing about Batman comics: the Bat himself bores me silly, but his nemesis’ mercurial insanity never fails to be entertaining. Alan Moore’s bold idea, to dig at how and why an ordinary man could turn into such a demented villain, has both moments of genius, and moments of truly questionable story-telling choices. Alan Moore’s work always makes me react the same way: “This is great, but…”. And “The Killing Joke” is no different.

Told in alternating time lines, we see how an already unstable failed stand up comedian made a series of decisions that led him to have a very, very bad day, and how the Joker lures Batman to a decrepit amusement park in order to have a final confrontation.

I love how Moore illustrates the point that Batman and the Joker are in fact two sides of the same coin: their actions are motivated by a great loss that pushed them to the brink, and that Batman’s strict moral code (he won’t ever kill the Joker, even if that would make his life soooo much easier, given the frequency with which the bugger escapes Arkham Asylum) is mirrored by the Joker’s utter lack of rules.

It is a very brutal comic, in that very dark way Moore excels at, and while the fate he had in store for Barbara Gordon is a bit controversial (see “The Refrigerator Monologues” https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), it can’t fail to get the point across. One bad day, one final devastating news, one final humiliation or indignity. When ordinary people are pushed around to the point where their mind just snaps, what can you expect? We have no control over some of the things that happen to us. We have control over how we react to them… but do we? In an insane world, is sanity really the best option?

One problem I have with this book is the incredibly antiquated “oh, he fell into some chemical waste, that’s why his skin is white and his hair is green” thing. I’m sorry, but give me a freaking break here. You are Alan Moore, you created “Watchmen” and you can’t find anything more plausible to explain the Joker’s signature look? Feh!

An essential read for comic book fans, but far from perfect.

---

Todd Philips said that his movie was partially inspired by this comic – but it’s really more as if this comic had a baby with the movie “Taxi Driver” while “Clockwork Orange” watched them from the closet. And at the risk of sounding weird, I loved it. I thought it was beautiful, disturbing and very powerful. It’s nice to see a movie that isn’t a paint-by-number feature that requires zero brain cells, and it’s nice to see actual thought-provoking art on the big screen – very refreshing, albeit in a really heavy and upsetting way. I may be biased because I was always a big fan of the character, but I truly think the movie is a masterpiece (the use of music, colors and angles is enough to blow my mind, and then there is Phoenix's ridiculously immersive performance!)– and hopefully, it being a huge box office success will remind studios that people really do love challenging and compelling story-telling. ...more

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Apr 06, 2016 Mario rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: graphic-novels

So when you find yourself locked onto an unpleasant train of thought, heading for the places in your past where the screaming is unbearable, remember there's always madness. Madness is the emergency exit.

Since the animated movie is coming out soon, I decided to finally read this graphic novel. And I'm so glad I did. Joker has always been my favorite batman villain and it was nice to finally get some backstory on his character. And despite the great plot, my favorite thing about this graphic ...more

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Apr 08, 2016 Chad rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2019

I've probably re-read this a half dozen times over the years. It's one of the first "mature" takes on the Batman and Joker dynamic and how they are mirror images of one another. This is one of those iconic comic books that every fan of the medium should read. Alan Moore's Joker is creepy as hell with an evil menace lurking behind his sense of humor that chills you to the bone. Batman is written as a stodgy jerk who has trouble towing the line without going too far. Joker is definitely the star ...more

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Mar 09, 2016 Ayman Gomaa rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: comics

We must ask ourselves why we love the joker <3 !!!!
why is he our favorite Villain <3 !!!
The killing joke and indeed it was , this comic focused a lot about the joker and his philosophy and his twisted mind , but this was my first time to really get to know the real story about the joker and how he become the joker and i really liked it :D .

i see now why a lot of comics fan rate this as one of the favorites ever , it was brilliant and Alan Moore writing makes it the best <3

..... After ...more

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Nov 13, 2016 Jaya rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: mmxvi, tv-audio-adaptations, graphic-comics-pictures-art-visual, them-covers, high-octane

"All it takes is one bad day to reduce the sanest man alive to lunacy.
Thats's how far the world is from where I am. Just one bad day."

Absolutely brilliant

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Jul 02, 2014 Will M. rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: graphic-novels

While Joker is one of my favorite villains of all time, this graphic novel didn't amaze me. It isn't the perfect backstory that I was expecting. I read this because the animated movie is about to be released soon and I wanted to read the graphic novel first. I'm hoping that the animated movie would be a lot better than this. It might just be coincidental though and my mood could've affected my enjoyment. I might be doing a reread of this in the near future and hopefully it would have a different ...more

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May 29, 2016 Jeannette Nikolova rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Also available on the WondrousBooks blog.

I will go in two directions with this review:

I. The Killing Joke on its own.
II. The Killing Jokeas a Batman book.

I.

For me, the most spectacular thing about The Killing Joke was the art. It's mesmerizing and beautiful, despite how long a time has passed since the book was created. The illustrations greatly support the entire story, they are spooky, disturbing and masterful. I especially liked the close ups of the Joker, which, for some reason, made him ...more

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About Alan Moore

Alan Moore

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Alan Moore is an English writer most famous for his influential work in comics, including the acclaimed graphic novels Watchmen, V for Vendetta and From Hell. He has also written a novel, Voice of the Fire, and performs "workings" (one-off performance art/spoken word pieces) with The Moon and Serpent Grand Egyptian Theatre of Marvels, some of which have been released on CD.

As a comics writer, ...more

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Quotes from Бетмен: Убивчий жарт

“All it takes is one bad day to reduce the sanest man alive to lunacy. That's how far the world is from where I am. Just one bad day.” — 520 likes

“MEMORY'S SO TREACHEROUS. ONE MOMENT YOU'RE LOST IN A CARNIVAL OF DELIGHTS, WITH POIGNANT CHILDHOOD AROMAS , THE FLASHING NEON OF PUBERTY, ALL THAT SENTIMENTAL CANDY-FLOSS ...

THE NEXT , IT LEADS YOU SOMEWHERE YOU DON'T WANT TO GO...

...SOMEWHERE DARK AND COLD, FILLED WITH THE DAMP, AMBIGUOUS SHAPES OF THINKS YOU'D HOPED WERE FORGOTTEN.

MEMORIES CAN BE VILE, REPULSIVE LITTLE BRUTES. LIKE CHILDREN, I SUPPOSE. HAHA.

BUT CAN WE LIVE WITHOUT THEM? MEMORIES ARE WHAT OUR REASON IS BASED UPON. IF WE CAN'T FACE THEM, WE DENY REASON ITSELF!

ALGHOUGH, WHY NOT? WE AREN'T CONTRACTUALLY TIED DOWN TO RATIONALITY!

THERE IS NO SANITY CLAUSE!

SO WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF LOCKED ONTO AN UNPLEASANT TRAIN OF THOUGHT, HEADING FOR THE PLACES IN YOUR PAST WHERE THE SCREAMING IS UNBEARABLE, REMEMBER THERE'S ALWAYS MADNESS.

MADNESS IS THE EMERGENCY EXIT...

YOU CAN JUST STEP OUTSIDE, AND CLOSE THE DOOR ON ALL THOSE DREADFUL THINGS THAT HAPPENED. YOU CAN LOCK THEM AWAY...

FOREVER.” — 394 likes

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