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The Batman comics in DC usually follow a very dark and gritty approach. We are often shown a very mature and serious take on the character and the mythos around him. The DC fans got one of the most brutal storylines of the Caped Crusader in 1988’sBatman: The Killing Joke.The one-shot penned by Alan Moore was so disturbing that it even led the writer to regret his decision despite its popularity among comic book lovers.
The one-shot explored the story of our favorite Dark Knight and the Clown Prince of Crime on a different and more disturbing level. Often many fans discuss different aspects of the graphic novel starting from Joker’s back story to how the comics gave birth to a new and darker approach to storytelling. But sadly, Alan Moore even after being the creator himself, didn’t belong to the same school of belief.
Also Read:“I appreciated that a lot of people were disturbed”: Late Batman Actor Kevin Conroy Didn’t RegretThe Killing Joke’s Controversial S-x Scene That Traumatized Young Fans
What happens inBatman: The Killing Joke?
Batman: The Killing Jokeis famous for providing a tragic backstory to one of the most iconic pop culture villains ever. Joker was presented as a character who had failed miserably throughout his life and was crushed hard till he lost all sanity. While the backstory is shown in flashbacks, in the present timeline, the Joker escaped Arkham Asylum and attacked Barbara Gordon, permanently paralyzing her.
Following that, he held Commissioner Jim Gordon captive and forced him to watch the photos of a wounded Barbara Gordon. On the other side, as the World’s Greatest Detective works hard on tracing Jim Gordon, we are shown one of the most outstanding confrontations between Batman and the Joker. The series of surprises didn’t end as the Joker was successful in making the superhero of Gotham laugh.
Also Read:“That dark, that lonely, that painful”: Just Like Heath Ledger’s Joker, One Marvel Star Fell Into Depression After Self-Isolation for $1.3B Movie
Why is Alan Moore not a fan ofBatman: The Killing Joke?
Alan Mooreis the creator of some of the most iconic superhero comics andBatman: The Killing Jokeis undoubtedly one of them. But despite the immense popularity received by his work, he wasn’t fond of it. The dark and brutal tone that attracted such a monstrous amount of fans for the one-shot became a disappointing factor for the creator.
In an interview withDeadline, the writer ofWatchmenadmitted that his story is too violent and doesn’t match his taste. He regretted his decision and wanted to disown the story a few months after it was published.
“I’ve been told the Joker film wouldn’t exist without my Joker story (1988’s Batman: The Killing Joke), but three months after I’d written that I was disowning it, it was far too violent – it was Batman for christ’s sake, it’s a guy dressed as a bat.”
Alan Moore added that Adam West’s Batman is more favorite as it doesn’t take things so seriously. But there’s no lie to say that his fans don’t think so about the graphic novel which showed how Batman and Joker’s lives mirror each other. The fame received by it also forced the story to be canon, against the original plans.
Also Read:“You’re one of the b**tards destroying Watchmen”: Alan Moore, Creator ofWatchmen, Was Humiliated ByHBO WatchmenSeries Showrunner Damon Lindelof
The live-action adaptations ofBatman: The Killing Joke
Besides the dedicated animated film based on the on-shot, elements fromThe Killing Jokecan be spotted in the different adaptations of The Clown Prince of Crime. In Christopher Nolan’sThe Dark Knight,the concept of narrating an ambiguous past was a prominent influence from the graphic novel. The lateHeath Ledgerwas also sent a copy of the comic to prepare for the role.
Director Todd Phillips admittedBatman: The Killing Joke’seffect in his 2019Jokeras well. TheJoaquin Phoenixmovie showed the character of Arthur Fleck as a failed stand-up comedian and an individual struggling hard till everything pulls him down to the extreme levels of insanity. The director revealed in an interview that the storyline was largely based onThe Killing Jokeand another 1928 silent filmThe Man Who Laughs.
Also Read:“Killing Joke”: Barry Keoghan is Desperately Waiting For DCU’s Call After Jokers’ Deleted Scene With Robert Pattinson’s Batman Went Viral
Interestingly, we have also seen theEternalsactor Barry Keoghan as a version of the Joker in a deleted scene from Matt Reeves’The Batman.Although the scene was cut, it raised wild reception and the fans can’t wait to see more of him in the future of the franchise. It is not sure if the storyline would be inspired by the 1988 comics, but Keoghan confessed his love for it and the fans want to see this version as well.
Source:Deadline
Subham Mandal
Senior Writer
Articles Published :1461
Subham Mandal is currently working as a content writer for FandomWire with an ardent interest in the world of pop culture. He has written more than 1000 articles on different spheres of modern pop culture and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. He’s also an experienced student journalist having demonstrated work experience with the Times of India. He aspires to be a column writer in the future.
