The Killing Joke

[craigaat]

Finally read this since they announced the animated movie, thought it was terrible. I don't understand why everybody loves it so much.

 

[The Joker]

What did you find so terrible about it?

 

[craigaat]

It just seemed like half a story to me. Terrible was probably too harsh a word, but I'd just finished reading it and I felt underwhelmed.

Spoiler

The Joker's back story (whether it was actually his past or not is irrelevant) could've been better. It sets up this relationship with the wife then "sorry mate, she's dead", that bit's over now. The Gordons could be swapped with any other characters and it wouldn't really make any difference. That ending wasn't a proper ending either. It's like the writer didn't know what to do, so we end up nothing.

 

[The Joker]

I don't think we were meant to feel any sort of big emotional attachment to Joker's dead wife, or their relationship. It was just a symbolic element of how something terrible happens to him that drives him crazy. The whole one bad day speil he preaches to Gordon after he gives him a really bad day.

 

[Brother Jack]

I think it's a bit overrated myself, but I still really like it.

 

[Spidey220987]

[YT]/watch?v=DDj4zGFf4F8[/YT]

 

[Slushy]

Did Batman kill The Joker at the end?

 

[The Joker]

No. Batman is more interesting with his one rule. Since TKJ is canon, obviously he didn't kill him. They never had anything to retcon on that score when they decided to make it canon.

 

[Ponyboy]

Did Batman kill The Joker at the end?

For a time I started believing that Batman did kill Joker... but then when DC stated Killing Joke was now canon (wasn't it originally an Elseworlds title?) the idea that Joker was killed at the end has to now be scrapped. But maybe the main reason why DC started saying KJ was canon (I think I remember Bob Harras saying, yes it is, about 4 or 5 years ago) is to clear up any confusion regarding whether they'd ever print a story where Batman "officially" kills the Joker. But it also has repercussions for characters like Oracle too.

 

[Slushy]

See that's the thing though, if its not canon, then yes, he did kill him to go along with the title. Also, it makes Batman look dumb by not doing it since he has to recapture Joker countless times.