Member Since August 2008
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Bolland, Brian - Killing Joke, page 24 (Mar 1988)

Location: KILLING JOKE, THE
Artist: Brian Bolland (All)

Location: KILLING JOKE, THE
Title: Bolland, Brian - Killing Joke, page 24 (Mar 1988)
Artist: Brian Bolland (All)
Media Type: Pen and Ink
Art Type: Interior Page
For Sale Status: NFS
Views: 4164
Likes on CAF: 8
Favorited on CAF: 3
Comments: 40
Added to Site: 7/2/2012

I’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.

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Member Since: August 2008
Last Login: April 2026
Country: UNITED STATES
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Ruben E Member Since 2003

Posted On 7/2/2012

Congrats! Very memorable page.

Alex Johnson Member Since 2006
Forum Moderator

Posted On 7/2/2012

Congratulations. I understand your joy no matter what Mr. Moore may think. :)

C F Member Since 2007

Posted On 7/2/2012

Awesome!

Malvin V Member Since 2004

Posted On 7/2/2012

A great page from a great book! Congrats!!

Alberto Giavoni Member Since 2005

Posted On 7/2/2012

Ronan! stop! stop ! stop! it is aching so much!

daveofapocalypse (daveofapocalypse) Member Since 2004

Posted On 7/2/2012

That is a beaut! Congrats!

. BRAUNY Member Since 2007

Posted On 7/2/2012

Major congrats on a great page from a classic story!

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!

Julien Schantz Member Since 2005

Posted On 7/2/2012

Fantastic page !!

Davide G. Member Since 2009

Posted On 7/2/2012

Simply put, this page kills!

frank x townsondecker Member Since 2006

Posted On 7/2/2012

INCREDIBLE!!!

Terry Maltos Member Since 2004

Posted On 7/2/2012

Nice!

J L Member Since 2005

Posted On 7/2/2012

Another stellar addition to your fabulous collection Chris!!!!

Romain Verlier Member Since 2009

Posted On 7/2/2012

Killer page !!!!

Michael Kenyon Member Since 2008

Posted On 7/2/2012

Worth every gold bar brick you had to extract from the vault.

Steve Day Vich Member Since 2007

Posted On 7/2/2012

You can retire now.

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!

Mark Levy Member Since 2004

Posted On 7/2/2012

A stunner ..Congrats!

* From The Land Beyond Member Since 2006

Posted On 7/2/2012

Yes please!

George 1 Member Since 2011

Posted On 7/2/2012

AMAZING

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 ¡¡¡¡¡¡

alessandro gentili Member Since 2011

Posted On 7/3/2012

BIG PAGE !!!!!! THANKS FOR SHARING!!!!!!!!

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.

Cyril Kvas Member Since 2005

Posted On 7/3/2012

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!!!! =)

COMIC PARADISE Member Since 2005

Posted On 7/22/2012

ronan...great page...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 !

bob fish Member Since 2011

Posted On 12/7/2012

wow wow wow !! no better artist on the joker....

Jared Simmons Member Since 2004

Posted On 7/23/2013

Thank you for finding this page I misplaced. :)

Mario Rhodanos Member Since 2004

Posted On 8/29/2016

woooooooooooooooooooooow

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!!

Canada Jones Member Since 2017

Posted On 2/12/2020

Amazing Page!!

Bill J Member Since 2009

Posted On 8/30/2020

Memorable page from a memorable book. Congrats!

Phill R Member Since 2010

Posted On 10/17/2024

An incredible page from the book, congrats!!!

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Bolland, Brian - Killing Joke, page 24 (Mar 1988)

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