Batman: The Killing Joke

Background

Central to the mythos established here is the brutal attack on Barbara Gordon, who was shot and paralyzed by the Joker. This act was not merely an assault but a calculated move to prove his philosophy: that random cruelty can destroy anyone's life. The event transformed Barbara from Batgirl into Oracle, a pivotal information broker for the superhero community, while simultaneously serving as the catalyst for Batman's most desperate attempt to save the Joker's soul before he is executed.

Did You Know?

• Barbara Gordon's paralysis in this story led to her reinvention as Oracle, making her one of the most important disabled characters and information hubs in comic book history.
• Brian Bolland famously colored the final cover himself years after the original black-and-white release, creating the iconic image widely recognized today.

Background and creation

Artist Brian Bolland conceived the idea for the story after watching the 1928 film The Man Who Laughs, whose character Gwynplaine inspired the Joker's visual design. DC editor Dick Giordano invited Bolland to work with writer Alan Moore on a plausible origin for the Joker. Bolland said he thought of his favorite writer, hero, and villain, resulting in Moore, Batman, and the Joker. The story stresses it is only one possible origin, but it became widely accepted in DC continuity.

Editor Len Wein had to get publisher approval for the mutilation of Barbara Gordon. Bolland saw his earlier character Judge Death as a dry run for drawing the Joker. Moore finished The Killing Joke as a favor to Bolland after falling out with DC. The 48-page prestige format took considerable time due to both creators' meticulous work.

Bolland was aided by DC's laid-back attitude. Original editor Len Wein left and was replaced by Dennis O'Neil, who was hands-off. Bolland intended flashback sequences in black and white with muted colors, but was upset by the garish colors in the finished comic. The 2008 20th anniversary edition featured new coloring by Bolland, restoring his intentions, with touchups done in Photoshop.

Themes and analysis

The book explores Moore's assertion that Batman and the Joker are mirror images, showing how both dealt with life-altering tragedies. Critic Geoff Klock noted that both are creations of a random 'one bad day': Batman forges meaning from tragedy while the Joker reflects absurdity. The Joker's torments of Commissioner Gordon aim to prove that a nugget of insanity waits to spring forth in everyone, but Gordon emerges with his sanity intact. The story returns Batman to darker roots, changing how the Modern Age perceived him.

It frames Batman as just as insane as the Joker, with differing worldviews. The final panels are debated: one view sees Batman and the Joker ending disputes by laughing together; another, popularized by Grant Morrison, holds that Batman kills the Joker. Moore said his intention was a moment of lucidity before their cycle resumes. The Joker is an unreliable narrator, admitting to multiple memories of his past, accentuating a world of urban violence and moral nihilism.

The New 52

When DC relaunched its continuity in 2011, many Batman stories were erased or altered, but The Killing Joke remained intact. In the new continuity, Barbara Gordon recovered from paralysis after three years. She resumed work as Batgirl one year after regaining mobility but continued to have posttraumatic stress disorder when exposed to gunfire that could cause new spinal damage. In March 2015, DC released 25 Joker-themed variant covers for its monthly series.

One cover for Batgirl #41 by Rafael Albuquerque, inspired by The Killing Joke, showed the Joker with a revolver draped over a tearful Batgirl with a red smile painted on her mouth. The cover drew criticism for highlighting a dark period in the character's history, especially given the series' optimistic direction. The hashtag #changethecover led to posts asking DC not to release it. DC withdrew the cover at Albuquerque's request, who said he did not want to hurt anyone. The 2020 book Batman: Three Jokers features the Joker's pregnant wife, Jeannie, and more details about her fate.