Understanding The Villain, A Close Reading Analysis of The Batman: The Killing Joke

Inoviso, Mica O.
World Literature
ABLCS 2-1
Understanding the Villain, a Close Reading
Analysis of the Batman: The Killing Joke
Batman: The Killing Joke, a one-shot graphic novel written by Alan Moore and
Illustrated by Brian Bolland published in 1988. The theme of the story is about Joker
and Batman themselves, a sane and insane man trying to let the world experienced
what they’ve gone through that make them as they are. Joker who overpowered my
madness brought upon the past and Batman who’s trying to make the world a better
place and free from any danger. This paper aims to argue (1) The Character motivation
of Joker (2) The underlying message from the story (3) Identify the true villain from the
graphic one-shot story.
The one-shot graphic novel started with the scenes where Batman or Mr. Bruce heading
to the Arkham Asylum a jail for the criminally insane, in order to talk with Joker. He was
having a conversation with Joker about ending the feud that strongly built between them
since, it will not cost them any better it is either Batman die in Joker’s hand or vice
versa. Batman being himself doesn’t want to have Joker found death to his hands but
the latter chooses not to speak anything. Until, the Joker he was supposed talking with
was only an impersonator of Joker. At intervals, the story cuts away to the real Joker
himself inspecting a property that he was planning to buy without any specific reasons
from the scenes. Because the story is interspersed with flashbacks the graphic one-shot
showed us the different story of Joker’s origin. An ordinary man having a rough day with
his work as a comedian, unsure that he was able to call again to his work since no one
seems to entertained by his performance. Brought by these stressing situations he put it
all to his wife Jeannie, but later on he breaks down after his wife comfort him to
understand their life situation in a positive light. Joker was planning to get set-up in a
decent neighborhood which is so unlikely to their current home before the birth of his
son. Going back to the current time the Joker with his clownlike appearance, depicted
with white skin, ruby red lips which is permanently fixed in an evil or demonic grin drawn
to his face and have a green bright hair, which makes him a totally creepy. As Joker and
the salesman talks about the place and how the carnival is still pretty sturdy and
considering those well-functioning rides, but the latter was worried that its price is kind
of unreasonable because of how the way it looks like an old, garish and ugly. Joker
seems to like it even more because of these features of the carnival of which is
unexpected to the part of the salesman. But when the two are settled Joker came closer
to the Salesman and ask to shake on it surprisingly the Salesman turn into stone
I want to argue through-out this paper the character motivation of Joker which includes
his backstory that is evident from the story. The flashback scenes and dialogues in the
graphic comics help the readers to understand the character motivation of Joker leading
him to cause destruction, create violence and use his own way to pull other by his
madness. We need to first Identify who is Joker before he was considered one of the
villains or the antagonist in every DC superhero stories. From the narrative of the story
they share glimpse from the Joker’s past which I think plays an important role in
understanding more about the character of Joker. Based on the characterization or how
I understand Joker through dialogue, description and action. From the first scene of
flashbacks which entails Joker as a husband to his 6 months pregnant wife Jeannie. I’ve
seen a completely different Joker through it. A husband longing for stability for his own
family, a passionate person who only wants less for herself and it is the acceptance
between his audience. Since, he was a comedian it brings him joy and somewhat
satisfaction if your art as a performer or an artist is being embrace or appreciated by a
lot of people or even one person in the audience, it brings great impact. But with the
case of Joker according to the dialogues he can’t receive those things, it was
devastating to his part as a comedian who just wanted to perform well and make the
audiences laugh but the reality is nobody laughs at him. Which cause him to think that
he was a less person, a loser who can’t even give a decent life to his wife.
Joker: You think, you think. I don’t care that it’s all a big joke to me or something
Joker: Jeez I have to go, I have to go and stand up there, and nobody laughs and you think, you think… I
Don’t mean to take it out on you. Your Suh-suffering enough
Jeannie: Honey, that’s not
Joker: It’s true. I can’t support you. Oh, Jeannie what are we going to do?
From the second flashback scenes I explore and understand

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Inoviso, Mica O.

Understanding the Villain, a Close Reading

Analysis of the Batman: The Killing Joke

From the second flashback scenes I explore and understand

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