Batman: The Killing Joke Deluxe (New Edition‪)‬

APPLE BOOKS REVIEW

Whoever said you can’t improve on a masterpiece never checked out this breathtaking deluxe edition of the classic graphic novel Batman: The Killing Joke. When they first published it in 1988, writer Alan Moore and artist Brian Bolland couldn’t have known that their wild new ideas for the character of the Joker would strike such a resounding chord with fans and creators alike. The Killing Joke’s proposed origin story for the villain is deeply and darkly compelling, from his failed career as a stand-up comic through his encounter with toxic chemicals to his strange, symbiotic relationship with Batman. This deluxe edition gives Bolland the chance to refresh the entire look of the story, stripping his artwork down to the ink, tweaking certain lines, and reimagining the entire book with a muted palette that perfectly suits Moore’s tragic, noir tone. This nihilistic masterpiece has inspired countless takes on the Batman story. (Hello, Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight! What’s good, Todd Phillips’ Joker?) Once you step inside this haunting vision of Gotham yourself, it’s easy to see why.