The Joker is the antithesis of Batman. While Batman continues to fight and defeat many, many villains throughout the years of DC comics, the one big villain that jumps to mind is the Joker. Comic genius and veteran Alan Moore (also wrote Watchmen, V for Vendetta) wrote The Killing Joke (1988), a one shot giving the backstory of the Joker. It shows his motivations and reveals why he’s so messed up.
It begins with Batman visiting the Joker in Arkham Asylum to talk. He wants to know he tried at least once to communicate with and help the Joker resolve his issues. The Joker targets Commissioner Gordon and his daughter Barbara Gordon (who was Batgirl at this point in time) in order to make a particularly disturbing point to Batman. Violence and detectiving ensues, with casualties, characteristic insanity and an incredibly dark plot line.
The illustrations are amazing, detailed, and unsettling. A lot of the imagery from this graphic novel are what we conjure in our minds when thinking of the comic incarnation of the Joker. Panels featuring his manic expression surrounded by the equally manic laughter, the lettering reflecting the tone, is just perfect.
The Killing Joke gave an insight into the mind of the Joker and developed the relationship between Batman and the Joker considerably. However, it is not without its flaws. Without going into too much detail, the treatment of Barbara Gordon in the comic is frustrating. She is reduced, through violence, to a motivating plot line, and what her character endures to further the plot is pretty fucked up. This is one of the darkest stories associated with Batman because of what happens to Barbara Gordon and what the Joker attempts to do with this violence.
While the graphic novel is considered iconic, it has also been met with considerable controversy over the years. Many believe that it doesn’t live up to Alan Moore’s usual standard of writing. Something he actually agrees with critics on. He believes that the comic didn’t say anything relatable to humans, and that’s what makes it boring. Furthermore, he has gone on to say that his treatment of Barbara Gordon was regrettable and not well thought through.
None-the-less, this graphic novel has had a massive influence on the DC universe, and has shaped how people think about the Joker. It’s interesting and morbidly entertaining to read. I’ve always been a fan, despite the problems. This is a Batman comic you could pick up and read without much other context, but be warned —it’s quite depressing.