Absolute Batman: The Killing Joke: 30th Anniversary Edition

Batman the Killing Joke is a staple in the history of Batman and anyone would agree and say that it is a comic that should be read. Written by the legendary Alan Moore with artwork from Brian Bolland with the original colour coming from John Higgins but the updated from Brian Bolland. It's a short and powerful story, simply focusing on what one bad day can do to a person, how it can drive them crazy and it does an excellent job. So why should you go for the absolute instead of the deluxe edition? Because this is the definitive version to own, especially considering the price, so for the extra money you get a hardcover slipcase, a larger format, the deluxe edition version of The Killing Joke as well as the original which even uses a more vintage paper and the colours are completely different between the two, and best of all, the original script which is the bulk of this absolute. So if you are a fan of the Killing Joke and are considering the upgrade, just buy it, it is well worth it. This is easily the most premium version you can opt for and because of this quality I am considering getting absolutes of some of my favourite DC comics like The Long Halloween and Dark Victory. If you have never read the Killing Joke, I urge you to pick up this premium format, the only downside is that it is very large so it may not fit on your bookshelf but the extra size is much appreciated when reading. To give an idea of the size I've taken a picture with another of Alan Moore's works Watchmen as it uses the same 9 panel grid as well as a trade paperback and hardcover. Hopefully you found this review helpful and happy reading.

What can I say - a classic piece of graphic storytelling given a wonderful Absolute edition. A must have for fans of this particular set of creators. Lots of great process material included as supplemental materials, including Alan Moore’s complete script that describes each panel in the most granular of detail. Great value.

Good presentation. Would be great if every publication had the nuts and bolts as this book does. In my mind the process is as interesting as the end product. Has both versions of Killing Joke. Both have their strengths. I prefer Higgins original 'gaudy' colours as they've been called. Recommended.

This is my first absolute edition and I was not disappointed. I loved Brian Bolland’s art and his design of the Joker. It’s great that in includes the original colours from the original release as well as the new colours by Brian himself. I’m so glad I have this in oversized format.

The Killing Joke has aged really well in my opinion. The absolute edition is not a necessary upgrade if you already have the deluxe edition, but it's worth it if you're a collector like myself. It's certainly the ultimate way to experience this classic. Alan Moore's script is shockingly detailed and elaborate. Brian Bolland's artwork shines in this oversized format and the new coloring is great.

An absolute classic made even better. The extras really give the story extra depth, and also provides an incite into the process of illustrating and storybooking a script. Also....that cover made even better.

Delivery really fast packaging very good bought as a Christmas gift for my grandson so have not opened it but I’m sure he will love it

Arrived with the corners a bit banged up but book in perfect condition as was protected by sleeve. Amazing joker origin story and even better in absolute edition.

No hay comparación, una de las mejores historias combinado con una presentación y edición de lujo. No te vas a arrepentir de adquirirla. En cuanto al empaquetado y transporte; no puedo creer que un producto de importación venga mejor protegido y cuidado que uno que está en bodegas de México. Al menos, este producto me quitó el mal sabor de boca de Death In the Family.

Hard cover high quality reproduction of possibly the most famous Batman story with the Joker.

I'm not the biggest reader of comics so it wasn't until I was 20-21 when I read The Killing Joke when I saw the then new edition on a bookstore shelf in 2008-9. I knew of its reputation and bought it and read at home. It did not disappoint and time has done little to tarnish my love for it (it probably works best as a finale to Batman rather than just plopped as normal in the timeline but it still works as is for me :) ). It wasn't until years later that I saw pictures online of The Killing Joke in its original colors and it floored me. I read Brian Bolland's blurb and how he recolored it but I did not expect THAT big a difference. I was curious to see how the rest of the story looked so when I saw this Absolute Edition had both versions AND Alan Moore's script, I pre-ordered this. That's pretty huge because I usually don't see the need to order the Absolute Editions. That said, this is a great book. We open Brian Bolland's recolored version and it's stunning on the bigger pages. His version is colored like a modern Batman comic and makes great use of limited colors in the flashback sequences. Moving onto John Higgins' original 1988 work, starting with his own introduction and a brief but fascinating look into how the original colors were done. As for the pages themselves, they're printed on high quality newsprint and before you accuse me of using an oxymoron, I've felt different types of newsprint paper and DC DEFINITELY got good stuff. I'm more a fan of the plasticy paper most modern books use but I applaud DC's commitment to make a version that looked and feel like the one originally made in 1988. As for how John Higgins' colors look compared to Brian Bolland's? Technically, it's darker to look at by, I think, how the newsprint absorbs the colors vs the other paper and softens the line work. That said, the art still looks sharp and is reproduced well, at least to someone who never saw a 1988 copy. On artistic merit... to each their own. For me, it was interesting but it looked like a surrealist painting with inks of Batman and the Joker laid over them. Some of the pages looked better on John Higgins' version than Brian Bolland's but for the most part, my late introduction to this story plus my personal tastes favor the new version. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a fan of revisionism and I get why a lot of people were upset that only the new version was the only one available for so long (and still is for under $10), but some of John Higgins' choices were off to me. That said, I like his idea that his version is the story through the Joker's eyes and Brain's was through Batman's eyes (also, he seemed very good-natured about his work being replaced in 2008). This finally brings us to the Alan Moore section of the book, at least moreso since it's the script Brian Bolland used to draw the comic. This part interested me as much as the two completed versions since I'm an amateur comic book writer. Alan Moore definitely earns his reputation for detailed scripts. The 3rd picture should make it clear his section is the biggest (I accidentally included the comic and art pages that come after Alan Moore's script but trust me; that's mostly script pages). It is readable, although some parts are a little tougher since these are just scans of the script and not made from a word processor version (by that, I mean Alan's typewritten pages were transcribed into a word processor and THAT is what 's included in this book). It does add a nice touch since it's DIRECTLY from Alan Moore's typewriter. It's an interesting look behind the scenes of The Killing Joke. That's not all. We also get Brian Bolland's An Innocent Guy and several pieces of artwork related to The Killing Joke (including posters for the movie; non-spoiler review:: the book was better) and others that just happen to have the Joker (including a funny one with Wonder Woman). There are a few minor setbacks: this is a hefty book. Your wrist will likely get tired as you read this, especially with Alan Moore's script. In addition, as my title indicates, this is not a book you'd want to lug in your bag to read on vacation. One a more basic level, this book is ONLY for fans of The Killing Joke and those interested in how both versions compare and how the comic was born from Alan Moore's script. Otherwise, the regular edition is fine. Other than that, this is a great book and a great tribute to all three artists who brought The Killing Joke to life. If you're a fan The Killing Joke, comparing and contrasting different version, and a fan of behind the scenes looks into comics, I highly recommend this edition. I'm not in a rush to get more Absolute Editions but I'm glad I got this :)

I received the product used and dirty

Happy with the product and the delivery was smooth