No Laughing Matter: ‘The Killing Joke’ Coming To Theatres

Angie Fiedler Sutton article

{Header image copyright DC Comics and used courtesy of Fathom Events.}

Note: this article was also published on SciFi4Me.com.

Holy animated wonder, Batman! Set your batclocks to Monday, July 25, as Fathom Events will partner with Warner Bros. to bring the latest DC Animated adventure, the long-anticipated adaptation of The Killing Joke, to the big screen.

Alan Moore’s critically acclaimed Batman: The Killing Joke, published in 1988, is considered by many to be the ultimate Joker story, and is Moore’s take on the origin of the villain of the DC Comics world. This New York Times best-seller is the story of a humble comedian who decides to prove that anyone can be as insane as he is, and has gripped fans for almost three decades.

Winner of 1989’s Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album, The Killing Joke was originally intended to be a one-off, an “Elseworlds” type of tale. But the popularity was such that elements of the story made their way into Batman’s main continuity, affecting the DC Universe for years, most notably the crippling of Barbara Gordon and her development as the tech-savvy crime-fighting Oracle.

The animated adventure is set to be released digitally on July 26, and via DVD and Blu-ray on August 2, but Fathom Events will be offering the chance to see it on the big screen for one night only.

The movie brings back fan favorites Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill to reprise their roles as Batman and the Joker respectively. It also is definitely not for kids, dealing with mature themes and has plenty of violence. As such, it has received an R rating.

This screening will have some extras as well, with a special introduction from Hamill as well as a documentary about his casting and what the role means to him as both an actor and as a fan. Be sure to stick around after as well, as the screening will also include a behind-the-scenes special on how the Joker’s song and dance number was recreated for the film.

Tickets for Batman: The Killing Joke will go on sale on June 17 through either the Fathom Events website or through participating box offices. You can see a list of all the theaters showing by also going to the Fathom Events website. And that’s no joke.