Batman: The Killing Joke (1988)
Here's a graphic novel that has been hailed since it's arrival some 18 years ago as a defining Batman book. Written by Alan Moore, whose acclaimed Watchmen, has done more for bringing comic books consideration as serious literature than any single book in the last 30 years. It was the only graphic novel to make Time magazine's list of "100 best novels from 1923 to present. In weeks ahead I'll be reading this and perhaps posting a review.
Portions of the Joker's origin in The Killing Joke served as inspiration to the first Batman movie with Jack Nicholson playing the Joker. This book went along way into creating the arch-villain Joker into a more three dimensional character.
Wikepedia summarizes the book thusly:
The plot revolves around a largely psychological battle between Batman and his longtime foe, the Joker, who has escaped from Arkham Asylum. The Joker intends to drive James Gordon, the Police Commissioner of Gotham City, insane, in order to prove that the most upstanding citizen is capable of going mad after having "one bad day." Along the way, the Joker has flashbacks to his early life, gradually explaining his origin.
The book neatly explores the similarities between villain and hero; sanity vs. insanity, and how these can manifest themselves differently in different individuals. The final panels show graphically (almost literally) how the line is blurred between the two.
Overall I enjoyed this book, and read it on hearing it referred to often as one of THE Batman stories. I will say, that like a movie that has been overly hyped before you see it, expectations can often never be met. This happened a little for me with this book.
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Did you have a bad day today? Imagine how this guy feels.
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