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

9. I'll Take It!

The Killing Joke Joker
DC Comics

The first time that The Killing Joke really shows The Joker “proper” – as in the story’s present day Mr. J rather than any sort of flashback – we find him negotiating the purchase of a dilapidated fun fair. For anyone who knows anything about The Joker, however, you know that this deal isn’t going to end well for the poor sap who’s selling said fun fair.

At first we get what seems to be a reasonable and fair Joker who is happy to purchase the fair for what is deemed a more than worthy price. The unsuspecting seller thinks he’s quids in and can’t believe his luck. Of course, that’s when things take a turn for the worst.

Revealing that a deal had been, err, “arranged” prior by The Joker’s goons and the guy’s business partner, the Harlequin of Hate seals his twisted game with a firm handshake. A handshake that leaves the seller dead and with a maniacal smile on his face.

That Joker, ever the great negotiator.

What’s most troublesome here is just how The Joker plays along with the charade of what appears to be some sort of cat-and-mouse game, stringing along the poor guy who was innocently trying to offload his old fun fair. Seeing just such a twisted act play out calmly on screen before the eerie reveal should firmly set the stall for what's to come, whilst also serving as an eerie surprise for newcomers to this tale.

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.