Bolland, Brian - Killing Joke, page 24 (Mar 1988)
Artist: Brian Bolland (All)
40 Comments - 4,028 Views - 7 Likes
Artwork Details
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DescriptionI’m delighted to update my gallery with such an important piece of comic history – page 24 from Alan Moore and Brian Bolland’s The Killing Joke. While it’s author, Alan Moore, would not agree with me (he referred to the work as "clumsy, misjudged, and [devoid of] real human importance"), I’m in the camp of thinking it is the definitive Joker story from a magical period in graphic storytelling in the late 1980’s that included such amazing works as The Dark Knight Returns, Batman: Year One, and Watchmen.Brian Bolland would also express dissatisfaction with the book – but his was tied to not being able to color the book himself given a tight original production schedule. The book was re-released in March of 2008 as a 20th anniversary hardcover edition completely re-colored by Bolland himself. The book made The New York Times Best Seller list in May 2009. I'm assuming that made Mr. Bolland happy. The plot revolves around the Joker's attempt to drive Commission Gordon insane - as wonderfully illustrated (literally & figuratively) by this page - in an attempt to prove that the most upstanding citizen can go mad after having 'one bad day'. Ultimately, Gordon does not crack and retains not only his sanity but his moral code in instructing Batman to bring the Joker in 'by the book' to 'show him that our ways works'. While the book is titled 'The Killing Joke', I've always felt that the 'killing' at the end of the story refers to the death of Batman's pretense that the Joker is alone in his madness - and not, as many people think, the murder of the Joker by Batman. Batman's madness may manifest itself in a different way, but he is mad nonetheless - he just chooses to spend his life forging meaning and order from his 'bad day', while the Joker chooses emptiness and chaos. I largely base that opinion on Moore's statement in an interview about the book - "Psychologically, Batman and the Joker are mirror images of each other." Can’t say I ever thought one of these pages would actually make it into my collection. Sincere thanks to Joseph Melchior for making it happen. Social/Sharing |
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Comments on this Artwork
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Alex Johnson 
Member Since 2006
Forum Moderator
Posted on 7/2/2012
Congratulations. I understand your joy no matter what Mr. Moore may think. :)
Alberto Giavoni
Member Since 2005
Posted on 7/2/2012
Ronan! stop! stop ! stop! it is aching so much!
Dino Mauricio
Member Since 2009
Posted on 7/2/2012
Wow!!! Exceptional KJ page with some great Joker images...Congrats!
Felix Lu
Member Since 2005
Posted on 7/2/2012
Well, you obviously know I'm a fan!;) So big, big congrats on this epic addition to your collection!
Wesley Liu
Member Since 2009
Posted on 7/2/2012
That is the most sinister Joker image from the entire book. Congrats!
E DLS
Member Since 2005
Posted on 7/2/2012
Great sequence and of course a fantastic Joker page! Congratulations!
J L
Member Since 2005
Posted on 7/2/2012
Another stellar addition to your fabulous collection Chris!!!!
Michael Kenyon
Member Since 2008
Posted on 7/2/2012
Worth every gold bar brick you had to extract from the vault.
Jeff Singh
Member Since 2004
Posted on 7/2/2012
Truly another feather in your collecting cap. A top page from a key comic that is on everyone's want list. Congratulations on this beauty.
- Artemaria
Member Since 2007
Posted on 7/2/2012
With no less than five smiling Joker depictions -- and all hand-drawn at various angles with nary a stat or photoshop in sight -- there is much to be happy about. In fact, as the new owner of this striking page, you should be the happiest of all. Congratulations on a great page from a (Moore's self-deprecating comments notwithstanding) historic book!
Mike W
Member Since 2007
Posted on 7/2/2012
OH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Horacio Alvarez
Member Since 2008
Posted on 7/3/2012
INCREDIBLE BLE BLE BLE BLE BLE BLE BLE BLE BLE...... CONGRATS ¡¡¡¡¡¡
Yehoy Lee
Member Since 2010
Posted on 7/3/2012
Every page from this story is a true grail. Congrats on a piece of history.
Ron S
Member Since 2007
Posted on 7/8/2012
An amazing page. Bolland and Moore packed so much into each page. A perfect matching of words and pictures. Congrats!!
Peter P
Member Since 2009
Posted on 7/21/2012
This is SO epic, absolutely love it!!! Congrats!!!! =)
Alex B
Member Since 2008
Posted on 7/24/2012
Wow ! THE perfect Joker page from the perfect Joker story ! Congrats for this beautiful piece of comics history !
Steven biali001
Member Since 2005
Posted on 3/16/2017
Fantastic page!! It has some of the best images of the Joker that I've ever seen!! Iconic!!
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