Batman: The Killing Joke
2016's BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE is an animated adaptation of the seminal graphic novel from 1988 that traces the sad history of the Joker, of how he became that ultra sadistic, sociopathic jackal who proves as evil as Batman is...conflicted. Bob Kane's creation was always a tortured soul, and Alan Moore and Brian Bolland's comic effectively portrayed the batsuit clad millionaire Bruce Wayne as near evenly matched by this most nefarious of criminals. Director Sam Liu and writer Brian Azzarello have done a very faithful filmization, one that played in theaters for one night before its digital and DVD/Blu-ray releases.
I normally don't bother with animated spin offs that play on television or go straight to video. The animation is usually sub par and the story lines trite. My interest in superhero sagas of any stripe has dramatically declined over the past few years. But there was something about this one that caught my attention. That the source material was cited as an influence on Tim Burton and Christopher Nolan's Batman sagas didn't hurt a bit. THE KILLING JOKE was also the first Batman movie to receive an R-rating, indicating that things got plenty dark.
They certainly do. Readers of the novel will recall the shocking crippling of Barbara Gordon, alter ego Batgirl and daughter of Gotham's Commissioner Gordon. Also, the Joker's grotesque amusement park, a place where the Commisioner is stripped and humiliated, forced to observe nude images of his physically violated (in many ways) daughter. The flashbacks to the Joker's origins - once a failed comedian who worries of how to provide for his pregnant wife - are terribly sad and ultimately hopeless. The filmmakers dive in full barrels with THE KILLING JOKE, leaving Batman frustrated and exhausted, despite his ultimate victory. Though how that finale plays out, with a pull back from the arch-rivals, could lead to more than one interpretation.
Batfans do have some serious misgivings with this film's first half hour, new material featuring Batgirl's entanglement with a sleazily suave thief named Parris Franz. This story does feel more like fodder seen on a basic cable program, with some cheesy asides and a few unfortunate bits of animation. Ultimately, it effectively sets up the remainder of the movie, making that scene where Batgirl is ambushed by the Joker that much more resonant (she also gets an epilogue halfway through the credits, so stay tuned). Another thing about this section of the movie: yes, it's true, Batgirl and Batman have intercourse. No, it's not shown, not the reason for the R-rating (that would be for violence and some very creepy atmosphere later on). But it was enough for many devotees to get up in arms.
I consider myself a fan of Kane's world, but I'm not slavish to the comics or unwilling to see liberties taken. Batman is a complex dude and any gloom surrounding him seems entirely appropriate. For a scholarly view of the Dark Knight, read my friend Alex Wainer's fascinating book Soul of the Dark Knight:Batman as Mythic Figure in Comics and Film. Batman having sex with his protege didn't bother me a bit, but it was surprising. Maybe it shouldn't be as superhero dramas move further away from Zap! Pow! yesteryears.
NOTE: Mark Hamill and Kevin Conroy return as the voices of the Joker and Batman, respectively. They are both excellent.
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