Tag Archives: Batman

Graphic Novels, Movies

Trailer Feedback: Batman V Superman – Dawn of Justice

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The trailer for the film comic book fans have been waiting for has finally been unveiled.

Apparently, Superman has developed a God complex with Batman taking matters into his own hands (as usual) in an effort to take him down.

Upon a statue of America’s most iconic figure we hear how all men who are given too much power is corrupted in multiple ways before cutting to Ben Affleck gazing into the hallowed eyes of the legendary cowl before a glimpse of Batman emerging from some wreckage.

Our next shot is the showdown of the world’s most recognizable superheroes straight out of Frank Miller’s “The Dark Knight Returns;” complete with high-tech bat-suit.

Cyber Bat-Fleck then utters the words “Tell me, do you bleed? You will,” before we cut to the graphic.

While we don’t exactly know what the plot is we have definitely seen some potential key development in why our heroes are fighting. However, we know the film is not going to be about them fighting alone. Regardless, we are definitely interested and are looking very forward to another trailer.

Well played Hollywood, well played.

Graphic Novels

Throwback Thursday: The Killing Joke

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One of the most celebrated graphic novels of all time comes in the form of Alan Moore, Brian Bolland and John Higgins’ “The Killing Joke”.

The 1988 one-shot dives into The Joker’s past in the closest thing we get to an origin story (since the clown prince of crime  prefers his origin to be multiple choice). Believing in the theory that one bad day can shatter a persons psyche, Joker uses  Commissioner Jim Gordon as his personal guinea pig – tormenting him in one of the more vile crimes we’ve seen him commit.

Batman of course is on his way to rescue Gordon. With very little time on his side, he hopes that he isn’t too late or wrong in his counter-theory that willpower determines whether or not one will snap under their circumstances.

What makes The Killing Joke unique is how it develops The Joker. For the first time, we empathize for him. We see him as a tragic hero misshapen by society. There is a realism here that only Moore can tap into with his writing matched with Bolland and Higgins’s art. The Killing Joke is especially grisly in the heinous acts Joker commits for the sole purpose of proving a point.

In 2008 The Killing Joke was re-released as a deluxe edition, containing liner notes and recolored by Bolland in order to restore his artistic intentions to the novel.

There are very few novels that stand the test of time as The Killing Joke has, being one of the few story arcs kept in constant in “The New 52” series, serving as influence for Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight,” and being referenced in the “Arkham” games and “Batman the Animated Series”.  If you’re looking to start getting into comics or just in the neighborhood of finding a great book, pick up The Killing Joke.