DC Icon Jock Just Teased A New Take On The Greatest Batman Comic Of All Time

2 weeks ago 12

Absolute Batman cover art featuring the new muscle-bound take on the hero.

Batman: The Killing Joke may be receiving a rebooted run after DC artist Jock dropped a not-so-subtle hint on social media.

In a short video posted to X, Jock panned over a blank comic book cover bearing the DC Vertigo logo to reveal the title: Batman: The Killing Joke. As the video goes on for a few more seconds, Jock reveals that they're the penciler for the cover. Some sketching can be seen, but no cover art is fully shown, teasing an online audience without spoiling the cover as a whole. Jock simply captioned the post with the "eyes" emoticon.

In the comments, X users shared their excitement for the potential return of one of the most notorious Batman comics to date. Some cautioned Jock about what he possibly may be working on, noting that it took Batman: The Killing Joke's original artist Brian Bolland years to illutstrate. Others optimistically hoped that the could-be modern retelling of Batman: The Killing Joke would be better than the original comic, though the legacy standards left behind are extremely high. One user noted that DC Comics could be hinting at an anniversary re-release, while others couldn't move past their disbelief.

Batman: The Killing Joke was written by Alan Moore and published in 1988. "Easily the greatest Joker story ever told, BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE is also one of Alan Moore's finest works. If you've read it before, go back and read it again. You owe it to yourself," IGN has praised, according to DC Comics. The comic book company heralds Batman: The Killing Joke as "a twisted tale of insanity and human perseverance. Looking to prove that any man can be pushed past his breaking point to madness" as the story settles into The Joker's insistance of driving Commissioner Gordon insane.

Batman: The Killing Joke Is One Of The Most Intense And Divisive Batman Comics

Joker grins as he aims a camera at the viewer in The Killing Joke

Due to Moore's incredibly disturbing, cerebral storytelling, Batman: The Killing Joke has been as respected as it has been feared. Moore refuses to hold back as he cruelly depicts assault and torture in an unforgettable comic, all while anchoring the storyline in an age-old feud with an ambiguous ending. Readers witness Batman tortured to a new extreme by The Joker, who is determined to push the Caped Crusader past his mental and physical limits. The Joker escapes Arkham Asylum before Batman can attempt to even make amends with the Clown Prince of Crime. Commissioner Gordon begs Batman to simply kill The Joker and end both of their suffering, though Batman cannot ultimately end the villain's life. Instead, silence fills the final panel of the comic.

Readers are left wondering if there was any death at all, as Moore's concluding panels are intentionally provocative. The titular comic book was adapted into an adult animated movie that released in 2016 which failed to earn critical praise due to the film's departure from its renowned source material. As DC Vertigo prepares to make a comeback, it'll be interesting to see how an intentionally enigmatic tease the upcoming Batman: The Killing Joke project plays out.

Batman: The Killing Joke can be purchased through online retailers and at comic book stores.