"Batman: The Killing Joke," DC Comic’s latest animated feature, will be playing in select theaters for one night only. DC has been putting out a number of animated movies which are only available online or on DVD for the past several years. Most of which, receive better perception by audiences compared to their live-action blockbusters.
But what makes "Batman: The Killing Joke" so special???! Holy Venezuela, Batman! "Batman: The Killing Joke" will be based on the critically acclaimed graphic novel written in 1988. The story explains the origin of everyone’s favorite psychopath, the Joker. "The Killing Joke" also tells the story of how the Joker attempts the drive Gotham City’s Police Commissioner Jim Gordon insane, as Batman desperately tries to stop him.
The novel has claimed to be one of the best Batman stories ever told. In fact, it won the Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album in 1989. The novel also made the New York Times Best Seller List in 2009, after it was reprinted in 2008 in a new hardcover, with new coloring and redone artwork. "The Killing Joke" has since become the inspiration for other Batman media, films, comic books or video games
In a series of flashbacks, audiences will learn about how the Joker wasn’t always so psychotic. He began as a simple family man with an average job, trying to support his pregnant wife. After quitting his job to pursue his dream in stand-up comedy, he fails and must seek other means to support his wife. “One bad day” is finally his tipping point and enough to make him go insane. In present day, we get to see the Joker attempt to prove that “one bad day” is all it takes for even the best people to go utterly insane. He does this by kidnapping Jim Gordon and his daughter Barbara (aka Batgirl), and shooting her. The Joker takes them both to an abandoned amusement park where he strips them both, takes pictures of the naked and wounded Barbara and shows them to the Commissioner who he has chained to the Freak Show.
The Old Graphic Novel Cover
The New Movie Poster
It is obviously quite a graphic and horrific story, which is why the filmmakers have rated the upcoming movie Restricted, in order to keep it as true to the source content as possible. Which is creating a lot of excitement for eager fans. Fans are also excited by the all-star cast selected for the movie. Including Kevin Conroy as Batman/Bruce Wayne. Conroy has voiced the character in seven DC TV series since the early '90s, as well as several animated movies. Conroy also is notably the first actor to portray Batman and use two different district voices between Bruce Wayne and Batman. He also holds the record for longest time playing the character in either live-action or animation.
Mark Hamil is also set to reprise his role as the Joker. Hamil first voiced the Joker in 1992 in "Batman: The Animated Series" alongside Kevin Conroy. He went on to voice the Joker again and again in a majority of DC series, video games and animated movies. Tara Strong will also be reprising her role as Barbara Gordon/Batgirl. She first voiced the character in 1997 in the "New Batman Adventures" and reprised it several times after in a handful of other series and movies. Strong is also fairly well known in the voice acting world, especially for her roles as Bubbles in the original "Powerpuff Girls," Timmy Turner in the "Fairly Odd Parents," Raven in "Teen Titans," plus literally hundreds more.
The world premiere for the movie will be July 22 at San Deigo Comic Con, and will be released in theaters for one night only on July 25. At the showings, there will also be a documentary on how Mark Hamil first got cast as the Joker as well as a documentary on the making of the movie.
Catch the trailer for the movie comic book geeks everywhere are rejoicing over here.
