Talk:Batman: The Killing Joke

Barbara Gordon…
Didn’t she retire as batgirl shortly before, not due to, the events in this story (hence why she was picked to be shot; it wouldn’t affect her as much as other characters)? Can anyone with a more comprehensive way of checking comic timelines confirm this as true or false..? Ayries (talk) 10:15, 24 February 2009 (UTC)

Cut from Brian Bolland page
I've just cut the below from the Brian Bolland page as it belongs here. is there anything that needs to be merged into this article that isn't already present?

The Killing Joke, published in 1988, details a possible (now almost entirely assumed as canonical) origin story for the villain The Joker, as being a failed stand-up comedian. The story also delves deep into the interaction between the Batman, Commissioner James Gordon, and Gordon's daughter Barbara (formerly Batgirl, now known as the technological genius Oracle). The finer points of the Joker/Batman dichotomy, and how each are on the brink between madness and sanity is ably explored, and the ending has become a slight point of contention over the off-panel happenings, with some fans suggesting that the Batman murders the Joker.

quercus robur 19:32, 22 December 2005 (UTC)

Couldn't an analysis of the joke be that batman was the first guy who easily crossed over the gap to sanity, and then tried to convince the joker to cross in an irrational manner (rehab)? They are both trying to convince the other to join their way of thinking, but the fact that they started in an insane asylum led me to believe they are escaping from insanity. Rm999 02:34, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

I wsa suprised to see that there was no mention of the oft quoted reading of the book that the Joker actually raped Barbara Gordon and may in fact have raped Jim Gordon too. When asked about this reading of the comic Alan Moore allegedly said (to some UK comicbook creator friends of mine) that he fully accept that reading but wouldn't be drawn on if he intended it to be in there... when pushed further he apparently said that as far as he was concerned the Joker did rape her but not in any of the 3 orifices one would imagine... he always thought the Joker used the wound... remind me never to visit Alan Moore's head... All that aside I don't think I know anyone over the age of 25 who have read the book and not assumed that a rape took place - which in turn makes the whole book all the more horrific. I believe this reading was also mentioned as fact in a wizard-style magazine 'hero' that profiled various supervillians. Can anyone find a reference for this or similar? AlanD

"Themes" and original research
I just flagged the "Themes" section for Original Research. It is completely unsourced (the article has no references), and reads like it's just someone's interpretation made into a quasi-essay. Cheers --DarthBinky 02:47, 15 September 2006 (UTC)
 * Seeing this, I diligently set out to Google Books to find some printed material. Luckily, the first two results were gold (query: "Batman 'Killing Joke'" -- 55 hits total).  Unfortunately, they were for the "Critical reception" section instead.  More tomorrow.  --zenohockey 04:05, 15 September 2006 (UTC)
 * Any followup to this? If not, I think it'd be more appropriate to remove the section, well-written as it may be.  Bhamv 10:37, 2 April 2007 (UTC)
 * I appreciate the 'well-written', because I think I started that section a few years ago. I can't really claim credit for most of the better parts that have no doubt come since. I can verify that it was not sourced, I just made most of that stuff up, although I think a lot of it is obvious if you read it. Nonetheless, I guess we have to respect the wikipedia policy, so feel free to remove it.Tristanreid (talk) 16:52, 18 June 2008 (UTC)
 * There actually does look to be much more on Google Books than when I checked two years ago. I'll go through it again shortly. --zenohockey (talk) 00:22, 19 June 2008 (UTC)
 * There. Problem solved. --zenohockey (talk) 01:19, 19 June 2008 (UTC)
 * Excellent. Nicely done. Tristanreid (talk) 14:02, 19 June 2008 (UTC)

Bolland redux
I just added some material from Brian Bolland's introduction to TKJ in the Alan Moore trade paperback, about the origins of the story and Bolland's opinion of the finished book.

mention on the season 1 finale of "the batman"
During the confrontation scene between Batman and Clayface, Clayface talks about how anyone can be turned mad by having one bad day. To me this seemed a direct reference to this comic book, ayone have any thoughts on whether it should be mentioned on this page?--Dr_P 17:03 25/10/06

Plot Summary
Unnamed Editor: I chose to remove the "(possibly indicating that he does not want to return to sanity)" from the second-to-last sentence, as it is an unverified speculation without any source

Anonymous: Changed the last sentence of the plot summary to reflect the ambiguity of the final frames. It is uncertain if the laugther is coming only from Batman, as was previously claimed. The actual panal shows no word bubbles, and the text of the laughter is not connected to either figure. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 137.30.98.6 (talk) 19:11, 14 May 2008 (UTC)

Critical reception and legacy clean-up
That section seems a bit disorganized. The thing with Barbara Gordon getting shot and it's impact is mentioned twice. The sections regarding the two movies are separated. It should be rearranged so it isn't repetitive and flows better. --76.103.226.21 (talk) 04:28, 23 February 2008 (UTC)

WikiProject Comics B-Class Assesment required
This article needs the B-Class checklist filled in to remain a B-Class article for the Comics WikiProject. If the checklist is not filled in by 7th August this article will be re-assessed as C-Class. The checklist should be filled out referencing the guidance given at Version 1.0 Editorial Team/Assessment/B-Class criteria. For further details please contact the Comics WikiProject. Comics-awb (talk) 15:33, 31 July 2008 (UTC)
 * Done.--Oneiros (talk) 13:52, 27 August 2008 (UTC)

Summary Ending
Can we change this ending a bit? The final frames are intentionally ambiguous. The reader can't tell if the Joker is laughing alone, Batman is lauging alone, if both are laughing, if Batman is placing his hand on the Joker's shoulder or grabbing his throat, etc. The purpose of the ending is to be unclear. Our current summary makes it look cut-and-dry. --74.95.86.182 (talk) 14:15, 18 March 2009 (UTC)
 * It is not ambiguous. Both are shown laughing. Nightscream (talk) 20:43, 23 March 2012 (UTC)

This is ridic. The fact that BOlland told Morrison what the ending was supposed to be means that is the canon ending. Why was it removed. At very least it belongs in as part of the speculation on the ending. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 174.44.181.242 (talk) 12:25, 17 August 2013 (UTC)
 * Alan Moore's script is clear. The two are laughing until the police arrive. It is not ambiguous. Just because Grant Morrison says something does not make it so. Doczilla  @SUPERHEROLOGIST 17:42, 17 August 2013 (UTC)

And unless Morrison is lying about Bolland telling him that the original intent was to have Batman kill the Joker at roughly 2:15 in this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wQ2x0OKBjU then it seems at odds with what was supposedly in the script. And there is nothing to suggest that the released version of the script wasn't modified or even flat out faked because it only popped up in tumblr. I find it a little bit easier to believe Morrison and what he said Bolland told him then a script that popped up on the internet. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 174.44.181.242 (talk) 03:29, 18 August 2013 (UTC)
 * In the recording you linked, Morrison only says that Bolland hinted. Morrison's interpretation of a hint is not confirmation of anything. It's his opinion. He's not a primary source. A hint is not proof. Doczilla  @SUPERHEROLOGIST 18:20, 19 August 2013 (UTC)

So, has this conversation been sorted out? It seems that someone has simply deleted the second to last paragraph, while neglecting to rewrite the plot summery.--74.69.108.90 (talk) 17:14, 21 June 2014 (UTC)

-- I removed the 'snaps his neck' since it widely considered ambiguous at best (even Morrison admits that). More importantly, the links following the last sentence of the plot summary don't support the speculation that Bats killed the Joker...one of them even denies it outright. --Stevehim (talk) 03:23, 4 February 2015 (UTC)

Joker modelled after Jaz Coleman?
Jaz Coleman, the vocalist of Killing Joke, has mentioned in interviews that the appearance/characteristics of the Joker in this comic book have been modelled after his physical appearance and stage persona. Is there validity to this and if yes, should it be included in the article? --NeuroCatalyst (talk) 20:56, 26 May 2011 (UTC)
 * Joker (and his appearance and characteristics) was invented in 1940, and the modern incarnation (homicidal maniac and all that) have been cemented since 1973. Jaz Coleman was born in 1960, and his band didn't release its first album until 1980.  If he's honestly made this claim, he's an imbecile. 214.3.138.234 (talk) 13:58, 1 June 2011 (UTC)Steve
 * Almost a year later I coincidentally stumbled across one of the interviews I mentioned again. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfaIDGfzKo0&feature=related around the 10 minute mark Jaz talks about the Joker connection --NeuroCatalyst (talk) 14:57, 23 March 2012 (UTC)

== Feminist reception necessary ==

I'm curious as to why feminist reception is relavant to this article. Feminism as I'm aware of isn't in the practice of critiquing comic books, and if they are certainly not to an extent where it needs an entire paragraph. I think it should be removed as WP:UNDUE Thorrand (talk) 14:26, 18 March 2015 (UTC)

Feminism has a place to critique in all forms of media, as long as women are mentioned in those forms of media. The feminist reception to The Killing Joke is actually really important, as Barbara only serves as a device to cause Gordon and Batman pain in the book. There is too often a trend of women being killed, raped, tortured, and injured just for the male character's development. This trend was dubbed by Gail Simone as Women in Refrigerators, after the Green Lantern found his then girlfriend chopped into bits in the refrigerator. Feminism is extremely important in comic books and it should be taken down. 70.60.36.163 (talk) 15:51, 26 March 2015 (UTC) alicia


 * "Feminism as I'm aware of isn't in the practice of critiquing comic books" - This isn't the case. Feminist and gender theory is a major part of critical discussion of art. That goes for movies, literature, comic books, anything. There's a lot of feminist criticism of this work, so it should be covered. Popcornduff (talk) 17:11, 26 March 2015 (UTC)

Indeed, feminism has a place to critique all forms of media, but it is vital to look at everything when presenting a good critique. Barbara's interaction with the Joker, whether sexually assaulted in any form from nude photos without consent to rape and her victimization, followed by subsequent paralysation, is VITAL to HER development as a character Oracle. Oracle is a beloved character by many women who read DC comics. http://thenerdybird.com/oracle-is-stronger-than-batgirl-wi/

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Title
Where does the title come from? Is it connected to or inspired by the band Killing Joke? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 31.48.38.175 (talk) 23:25, 8 August 2017 (UTC)

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Further Jaz Coleman connection
Is it worth mentioning the title itself led to an agreement between DC and the band - Killing Joke - that they could use a few pieces of Batman artwork on their releases, in return for using their name as the title? For reference, there's an image of Batman on their 12" single release of "America" and also a section of his cape on the cover of "Outside The Gate", their album released at the same time as the single. I don't have any sources/citations but any intrepid Wikipedian should be able to track them down easily enough. SamXT (talk) 22:37, 29 August 2021 (UTC)


 * If such material is accompanied by reliable, verifiable secondary sources explicitly cited in the article text in the form of an inline citation, (which are explained here), then yes, it can be added. Nightscream (talk) 19:54, 30 August 2021 (UTC)

So, what IS the "killing joke"???
Curious that the actual joke isn't listed. This site is for information, and this is a huge missing piece. Skaizun (talk) 00:24, 4 August 2022 (UTC)


 * This site is an encyclopedia. This we are restricted to summarizing information rather than include excessive detail. The information we do include should be encyclopedic, and adhere to the site's copyright concerns. Th joke is mentioned at the end of the plot summary, but if you want to read it in its entirely, it's best to read the book, or perhaps find a site hosting it or the panels in which the Joker tells it. Nightscream (talk) 15:47, 4 August 2022 (UTC)