Review of "Batman: The Killing Joke," by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland

 Review of

Batman: The Killing Joke, by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland ISBN 9781401216672

Five out of five stars

Batman and Joker are so similar personalities

 It is no coincidence that the two best Batman movies had the Joker as Batman’s main antagonist. There have been many colorful villains on the other side of the bat-punch over the years, but none is more of an alter ego than the green haired one. This fact is used to develop the opening scene in the book.

 The Joker is in an insane asylum along with some of Batman’s other foes. Batman goes to the Joker’s cell and tries to reason with him to call off their “feud” before one of them is killed. His magnanimous gesture is for naught as the Joker has already escaped and is deep into plotting his revenge.

 In a brutal scene, the Joker kidnaps police Commissioner Gordon and attempt to drive him insane. The Joker taunts Batman, setting up yet another confrontation between the two longtime foes in a setting that fits the Joker’s mind. In an ending that is deliberately ambiguous, we don’t know if Batman follows Gordon’s instructions or executes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

 Although occasionally brutal in expression, the psychodynamic between Batman and the Joker makes this story a great one. There is an origin of the Joker subplot that helps us understand him a little better and that also moves his psyche closer to that of the Batman. One of the best evil villains ever created, the Joker expresses the dark side in all of us, and fortunately in nearly all cases it remains submerged and unexpressed. However, when someone does let that personality emerge it is usually national news.