The Dark Knight Wesyeed's bikini dance o-rama

[The Kid]

What books do recommend reading before seeing Nolan's A Joker's Tale.

 

[Anjow1060]

Arkham Asylum, Killing Joke

 

[CConn]

Batman #1 and The Man Who Laughs.

 

[sasquatchs]

Joker's Five Way Revenge

 

[Agentsands77]

Lessee.

Batman #1, "The Joker" and "The Joker Returns," collected in The Batman Chronicles Vol. 1 - These were cited as big influences for Nolan.

The Man Who Laughs - A contemporary retelling of the Batman's first encounter with the Joker. It's hard to find, though.

Batman Annual #14, "The Eye of the Beholder," collected in Batman: Featuring Two-Face and the Riddler - A very important Two-Face origin story that really set the stage for the contemporary portrayal of the character and strongly influenced The Long Halloween.

The Long Halloween - A huge influence on Nolan's vision, the direction of The Dark Knight, and the portrayal of Harvey Dent.

The Killing Joke - Considered one of the most important Joker tales, even though it's one of the most controversial. Some aspects of it are bound to appear in The Dark Knight (Ledger was given a copy to read once he was on board).

Arkham Asylum - One of the most interesting and frightening Joker portrayals to date. I know Christian Bale read it for Batman Begins, but I don't know to what degree it will play a part in The Dark Knight.

The Dark Knight Returns - A more quiet and intense take on the Joker that may have had an effect on the character's portrayal in The Dark Knight.

 

[Nepenthes]

^ that would do you pretty good

EDIT:

it will be interesting to see how much of the TDK Joker shines through considering he is pretty similar to Batman #1

and if you can get the recent Dini Detective Comics issue that's a fun story as well. Though it is kind of the more oddball Joker, not sure how much relevance to TDK.

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

Pfft...good luck finding the MAN WHO LAUGHS anywhere. I think there's a copy on Amazon for like 200 bucks and some sexual favors, if you willing.

For all of you who can get it, just imagine a great Joker story. Okay, now imagine it taking place early in Batman's career.

Okay, now imagine it ****ing rocks. Okay. Done.

 

[Morg]

Wesyeed, this isn't really a spoilers and I should ban you for false advertisment, there's no bikini beauties in here

 

[The Kid]

Sorry morg, I promise to put some bikini dancers in my next thread.

Interesting recommendations. Please post more if you have them.

 

[Anjow1060]

Lessee.

Batman #1, "The Joker" and "The Joker Returns," collected in The Batman Chronicles Vol. 1 - These were cited as big influences for Nolan.

The Man Who Laughs - A contemporary retelling of the Batman's first encounter with the Joker. It's hard to find, though.

Batman Annual #14, "The Eye of the Beholder," collected in Batman: Featuring Two-Face and the Riddler - A very important Two-Face origin story that really set the stage for the contemporary portrayal of the character and strongly influenced The Long Halloween.

The Long Halloween - A huge influence on Nolan's vision, the direction of The Dark Knight, and the portrayal of Harvey Dent.

The Killing Joke - Considered one of the most important Joker tales, even though it's one of the most controversial. Some aspects of it are bound to appear in The Dark Knight (Ledger was given a copy to read once he was on board).

Arkham Asylum - One of the most interesting and frightening Joker portrayals to date. I know Christian Bale read it for Batman Begins, but I don't know to what degree it will play a part in The Dark Knight.

The Dark Knight Returns - A more quiet and intense take on the Joker that may have had an effect on the character's portrayal in The Dark Knight.

Yeah, skip that one. Worst Batman comic EVER.

 

[Agentsands77]

Yeah, skip that one. Worst Batman comic EVER.

Hey, I don't like it much either (thought it's far from the worst... DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN is much, much, much worse), but it is an important source and influence. For that, and that alone, it's worth reading.

 

[CConn]

The Dark Knight Returns is one of the best comics ever.

 

[Agentsands77]

The Dark Knight Returns is one of the best comics ever.

I don't think it's that bad, per se, I just don't think any aspect of it is that good. Frank Miller's wording is frequently laughably over-the-top, his portrayal of Batman as an unhinged nutjob is depressingly unlikeable, and the story is often muddled and confused. The artwork doesn't do a whole lot for me, either.

 

[Mr. Socko]

I just don't like Frank Miller's art. The only time I like it is Sin City, that is all. But DKR was still really good


And I really want a copy of Man Who Laughs

 

[Agentsands77]

And I really want a copy of Man Who Laughs

Honestly, when I finally got a copy (for $30), it was something of a disappointment. It's not the masterpiece a lot of fans pin it as. It's a good story, nothing more, nothing less.

 

[Infinity9999x]

I just don't like Frank Miller's art. The only time I like it is Sin City, that is all. But DKR was still really good


And I really want a copy of Man Who Laughs

You know what's really weird? If you look at Miller's art on say, the 4ish Wolverine Mini he did with Chris Claremont, it looks completely different. I don't know why he changed his style so much, but I whish he hadn't.

 

[Infinity9999x]

Honestly, when I finally got a copy (for $30), it was something of a disappointment. It's not the masterpiece a lot of fans pin it as. It's a good story, nothing more, nothing less.

That was more or less my reaction to it as well. I mean, even with DKR, which inspires quite a bit of controversey, even if you didn't like it, when you get done reading it you can see why it had such a big influence on the character of Batman. The same goes with TKJ, and I'd even say (though this is just my opinion) TLH. With TMWL, it was good, probably one of the better Bat comics I've read reacently, but it didn't do anything revolutionary for the character of Batman or the Joker like the above mentioned had.

 

[Mr. Socko]

What was better? Man who Laughs or Killing Joke?

 

[Captain Clown]

What was better? Man who Laughs or Killing Joke?

They're both great, but I'm going to say The Man Who Laughs is better because it didn't have a stupid ending.

 

[Infinity9999x]

For me it was TKJ, I just liked the aspect that the Joker could have been a good guy at one point. Out of both I'd have to say I think TKJ has influenced the character the most.

 

[Romero's Stache]

Yeah, skip that one. Worst Batman comic EVER.

I want to strangle you with every single one of my zombie facial hairs

 

[Romero's Stache]

What was better? Man who Laughs or Killing Joke?

Man Who Laughs. It is perfect.

The Killing Joker is great, plus it is by Alan Moore (his beard is my second semi-cousin) which always gives it points. The ending though ruins it.

 

[Infinity9999x]

I personaly liked the ending, because it showed that Bats was actually trying to listen to Gordon. Batman and Gordon were trying to show Joker that he can't always drive people insane or into a rage. As Gordon said "we have to show him, we have to show him our way works."

 

[Jack O Lantern]

edit

 

[Dark Phantom]

Honestly, when I finally got a copy (for $30), it was something of a disappointment. It's not the masterpiece a lot of fans pin it as. It's a good story, nothing more, nothing less.

The reason why its so widely praised i guess is because its very plausiable for TDK. The whole book doesn't really focus on Joker at all, but from Batman and Gordon's point of view like in Batman:Year One.

So for those who want Joker to be the center of the story without him stepping above Batman's screentime, Man Who Laughs is the closest thing to what we can expect.