Batman: The Killing Joke - 10 Disturbing Moments We Can't Wait To See

1. The Twisted Conclusion

The Killing Joke Joker
DC Comics

When it comes to the conclusion of The Killing Joke, there’s so much to say.

First of all, at the behest of Jim Gordon, Batman is adamant to take in The Joker “by the book”. Regardless of crippling Barbara and taking naked photos of her whilst she winced in pain, regardless of what he’s done to Jim in his efforts to drive Gordon to insanity, the Dark Knight still has to resist the urge to cross the line when it comes to apprehending his nemesis.

When the two do finally come face-to-face, an ever-familiar battle plays out, with Batman getting the best of his foe. Much like readers were given a surprise in how these two rivals actually discussed their relationship and how they’re really not all that dissimilar in how they came to be, there’s a bigger surprise for the Caped Crusader when The Joker pulls a gun on him and has him dead to rights. And then, wouldn’t you know it, the gun is merely a joke gun. The irony.

In a genuinely heartfelt, emotional outcome, we see the Dark Knight try to help the Harlequin of Hate, offering to help rehabilitate him. Sadly, in a sombre moment, The Joker breaks down and reveals he’s too far gone. And giving an even more odd feel to proceedings, these longtime rivals then actually share a joke together. Not only that, Batman actually laughs. Yes, as in the ever-stoic, stoney-faced hero cracks a smile and lets out a few ha-ha’s.

The Killing Joke is a rollercoaster of a ride, and this was a fitting, poignant end to a tale that many see as the definitive Joker story and one of the greatest graphic novels of all time. Now it’s just a case of hoping the animated feature can do justice to the legendary work of Alan Moore and Brian Bolland.

Which moments are you most looking forward to see playing out in the animated The Killing Joke? Let us know in the comments section.

Senior Writer
Senior Writer

Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main dayjob, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks, Jamie Hayer, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg.