One of the most famous comic books in the Batman lineage is the Alan Moore and Brian Bolland’s 1988 graphic novel The Killing Joke and the history that surrounds it. The comic book’s adaptation to the animated movie was announced last year at Comic Con and since then the fans have been waiting for something to emerge from the announcement.
The wait is finally over, as a short teaser along with a long 10 minute detailed interview with the crew that is working on the animated feature surfaced on web today. The 23 second teaser gives a brief look of the already famous story among the Batman loyalists. But the 10 minute video explains in detail what went into making on this movie, the legacy of the comic, and how Joker came to be as he is now. Also, the story is popular for the controversial depiction of Barbara Gordon aka Batgirl being treated in The Killing Joke. She’s been shot at in front of her father Commissioner Gordon, then held captive and stripped nude, and, maybe sexually assaulted – just to break psyche of the other characters.
The crew explains as to how difficult it was to show that portion of the graphic novel in the movie and that they have added elements that were suitable for such a plot. The movie will not only deal with the difficult subject of Barbara Gordon but will also also lead to many of the ‘Batman vs Joker’ story arcs in the future comics. Also, the Joker’s origin story and why he becomes the nasty disgusting creature that played a big role in the graphic novel will be seen. In short, the movie will reveal how the struggling comedian has one gruesome, terrible day, that ends up making him lose his mind.
The movie is due to be released in summer and may premiere at San Diego Comic Con in July. This animated movie is also special for fans as Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill will voice Batman and Joker respectively after both of them expressed their wish for the adaption on the screen. Mark Hamill in the clip says, “If people want to see a really nasty, vile Joker, this is the one.”
Bruce Timm, the writer, artist and producer on many of the DC comic to animated movie adaption expresses how difficult it was to translate Brian Bolland’s realistic art style and the fact that they worked with simple renderings of Batman by Kevin Nowlan for inspiration.
The graphic novel has come under fire in recent years for completely disarming an iconic female superhero at the time, especially in such a brutal way, but it’s still revered as one of the best in Batman’s history. In 2014 when Joker’s character completed its 75th anniversary, Rafael Albuquerque as a tribute, drew the cover of the reboot and it became controversial as it looked as if the Batgirl has become the victim of Joker and is physically restrained by him. This outraged many of the fans as they stated that threats of violence and harassment are wrong and have no place in comics or society. The artist immediately asked the DC publication to pull down the cover.
This could also mark the first R-rated movie in the Batman animated series and the storyline is certainly not for kids. So don’t think that you will be able to enjoy this superhero movie with kids because this one will give them the Joker creeps.