comment #1

Drew says ...

Jeff, you might want to actually read THE KILLING JOKE. It bears pretty much no resemblance to THE DARK KNIGHT at all beyond using The Joker as a major character.

comment #2

D.Z. says ...

Time Warner probably frowns on the unlicensed digital distribution of a comic still in print. The more you know...

comment #3

kinks541 says ...

Thanks, Jeff.

Anyone... what program do I use to open a .cbr file?

comment #4

The Bandsaw Vigilante says ...

"Time Warner probably frowns on the unlicensed digital distribution of a comic still in print. The more you know..."

Yup. I practice intellectual property law, and I give this file's online lifespan about as much time as I can count on my ten fingers...

comment #5

redmond says ...

I reread The Killing Joke before seeing TDK for the first time and honestly (not to mention thankfully) didn't see much of a connection. I dunno what kind of marketing was done for Killing to be considered one of the best Batman stories out there. It pales in comparison to The Dark Knight Returns and Jeph Loeb's Long Halloween and Dark Victory.

comment #6

LYT says ...

redmond, it came out before Jeph Loeb's Long Halloween and Dark Victory. All it had to be compared to at the time was Dark Knight Returns.

It broke new ground in fleshing out the Joker's origin and in the significant, unexpected change it made to Barbara Gordon as a character, a change that -- unlike some in comicdom -- has not been undone.

comment #7

quitstaringatme says ...

The illegal distribution of copyrighted material aside, The Dark Knight was mostly inspired by Batman: The Long Halloween by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale.

Here's the description from the back of The Long Halloween's collected edition:

"A costumed hero learning he can trust no one.
A crime lord trying to hold on to a crumbling empire.
A city beset by gangsters, becoming a haven for freaks.
An honest district attorney hiding a terrible secret.
And a friendship that would be shattered forever. "

It was a clear influence on the Dark Knight, just as Miller's "Batman: Year One" was a clear influence for Batman Begins.

It's a good read, and you can find an illegal .cbr scan of it wherever pirated torrents can be downloaded.

comment #8

D.Z. says ...

redmond: It's the "Alan Moore did it, so it must be good" factor. Much like Radiohead, he doesn't live up to the hype; but, like Radiohead's music, fans feel more intellectual after being exposed to Moore's music, and that's all that matters.

comment #9

kinks541 says ...

I'm so glad to have finally signed up for an account here so I can join in the massive chorus:

D.Z. is a trolling moron.

comment #10

BurmaShave says ...

D.Z. please don't start bringing your terrible taste into music discussions.

comment #11

Sean says ...

Relevance of Killing Joke to The Dark Knight:

% The Joker is on a campaign to drive a "white knight" insane, in this case Jim Gordon, by harming and/or threatening to harm a loved one.

% The Joker offers up his "multiple choice" approach to his biography.

% Joker harps on about the ways in which he and Batman need/"complete" each other.

Basically, what Joker does to Gordon in the book, Joker does to Dent, and then Dent does to Gordon.

comment #12

Sean says ...

Relevance of Killing Joke to The Dark Knight:

% The Joker is on a campaign to drive a "white knight" insane, in this case Jim Gordon, by harming and/or threatening to harm a loved one.

% The Joker offers up his "multiple choice" approach to his biography.

% Joker harps on about the ways in which he and Batman need/"complete" each other.

Basically, what Joker does to Gordon in the book, Joker does to Dent, and then Dent does to Gordon.

comment #13

redmond says ...

LYT: Fully aware of the timeline of The Killing Joke but was hoping it's acclaim would've dissipated over the years. Though you make a valid point that the events that happen to Barbara have remained permanent.

DZ: You're preaching to the choir. With the exception of Watchmen, I've never been thrilled with Alan Moore's work. That said, I've yet to read his Swamp Thing run or From Hell. (Also, Radiohead's new album makes me want to commit suicide.)

Sean: I see your points, but wouldn't consider The Killing Joke the major impetus for the film.

comment #14

JCEFalconi says ...

The Killing Joke was the first time the Joker had any deep characterization. Another reference to the comic is the bit where the joker is saying that "you only need a slight push to lose your sanity" (paraphrased), it's basically the same thing as "the only thing you need is a bad day".

comment #15

mario_a says ...

Nolan mentioned The Killing Joke as inspirational reading leading up to The Dark Knight. All of the characterization stuff mentioned is spot on. In fact, I half expected the Joker to go into his flashlight joke when hanging upside down from the scaffolding at the end. What he says is prett much the gist, but much more serious (sorry, couldn't resist).

comment #16

MovieBob says ...

Everyone who does a Batman project and wants to reassure the fans that it'll be "DARK!!!!" name-checks "Killing Joke." Burton did it leading up to his first Bat-film.

Thankfully, as far as I'm concerned, none of them really seem to actually take much from it. It's not a bad book, even if it's own author disowned it and tends to cite it as a career low-point, but at the end of the day it's just another supervillian origin flashback with big dollops of "look! blood and swears! MATURITY!!!!!!" 90s-Comics bullshit on top.

comment #17

Mr. Blood Vessel says ...

Thankfully, as far as I'm concerned, none of them really seem to actually take much from it. It's not a bad book, even if it's own author disowned it and tends to cite it as a career low-point, but at the end of the day it's just another supervillian origin flashback with big dollops of "look! blood and swears! MATURITY!!!!!!" 90s-Comics bullshit on top.

pretty much.

comment #18

Jean says ...

I gotta agree with DZ (yikes!): Radiohead - most OVERRATED band ever...