Beautiful, but too short
"Batman: The Killing Joke" is a thriller graphic novel written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Brian Bolland, set in the DC universe. Bruce Wayne investigates the motive behind the Joker's crimes in an attempt to save his next victim from the clutches of this mad criminal.
The graphic novel begins with classic noir undertones, reminiscent of the classic investigations typical of 80s and 90s detective fiction. Later, the encounter with the kidnapper takes a highly unexpected turn that honestly left me speechless.
The quality and flow of the panels are perfect and successfully maintain the narrative pacing. This kind of storytelling ability is quite rare compared to today's comic books and comic book movies.
What stunned me the most is that this work laid the foundation for the modern Joker, born precisely out of the despair inflicted upon him by society. He isn't just a raving lunatic who wants to wreak havoc; he is revealed to be a nihilist who became that way due to the indifference he faced in the dark city of Gotham.
My only regret is that the story is too short; they could have pushed much further into the psychological introspection between Batman and the Joker. It's fine by me anyway, though. After all, we are talking about a truly masterful work.
In this way, the comic managed to anticipate the version of the Joker that many people absolutely love (or hate) - the one played by Joaquin Phoenix in the eponymous movie. Honestly, I always feel a stronger attachment to DC characters because the authors often produce more self-contained works. Therefore, it's a read I highly recommend, even to comic book newcomers like me.