Customer Reviews
Beautifully drawn, twisted and dark... - By: Caitlin, 05 Dec 2008 
The reviews on here are pretty mixed, but I got this anyway (being a bit of a Joker fangirl) & I'm really glad I did. I've read it twice so far, & although perhaps the story is weaker than, say, The Long Halloween, the art is incredible & the Joker himself is fantastic - as sick & 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 & 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. - By: JimDiGriz1975, 24 Oct 2008 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 featuredin a TV programme hyping the 1989 Tim Burton Batman movie, & 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 Westin all his campness) & 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 & extremely detailed frames - which is hardly surprising given that much of the book focuses on him & his "past life".
Allin all, "A Killing Joke" is a worthy complement to "Batman: Year One" & "Dark Knight Returns", as it gives the reader a solid - & believable - origin to Batman's most enigmatic adversary. Highly recommended.
Return of a classic - By: John Hughes, 24 Oct 2008 This was the first comic i ever bought,twenty or so years ago & it is still one of my favourites.The story is probably the best Joker tale & the art is un-paralled.This edition is if anything an improvement on the original having Brian Bolland's own colours which are a delightin themselves.This book might be the definitive version of this seminal graphic novel.
It was OK. - By: D. C. Campbell, 01 Sep 2008 
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 & articles had described, & 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, & having only recently read Watchmen for the first time, & 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 - By: R. T. Southgate, 29 Aug 2008 
Okay, let's keep this brief & 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, & 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 & 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 & more sick-bastard. Whilst inventive, they lack the subtlety & 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 & deformed minions are not Joker-likein 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, & it's inclusion here makes the Joker seem weak & unjustified (in some senses)in his madness. Basically, asin 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 & read this!) is that Brian Bolland is highly revered for a reason. The artwork is simply phenomenal, & 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.
