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AAAAround the time of the release of the last film in the ‘Dark Knight’ trilogy, the idea of ‘re-visioning’ ‘The

Killing Joke’ came to me.

TTTThe themes explored in The Killing Joke storyline, (albeit in altered form) are central to the way that the

Batman story has developed ever since it first appeared; the ‘psychological mystery’ of how the Joker came to be- how the Jokers psyche relates to (and in some way mirrors), that of the Batman.

AAAAlan Moore gave the Joker greater psychological depth, unfortunately as always, something is gained and

something is lost: Once the shiny tin of ‘Joker Origin’ had been opened, it could never be sealed again; the freshness gone.

SSSSince ‘The Killing Joke’ and the original ‘Dark Knight, the race has been on to fill in back story and sub plot for every major and minor character in Batman and provide them with psychological ‘depth’, with varying levels of artistic success. The thing is, once these characters have been kitted out with a back story for good or ill, they are now ‘pre-owned’.

AAAAbout now every bit of loose flesh has been nosed out on the Batman carcass and consumed.

WWWWith every psychological re-telling, Batman and his world inevitably become more ‘realistic’ and

‘reasonable’. In the end, Bruce must inevitably give the whole implausible business up and live a normal life; just like in the film.

TTTThere is no future in endlessly, repeatedly re-chewing Batgristle. AAAAs s s s far as ‘realism’ goes I think of it as the dying red giant Batman sun blowing off what remains of its

romantic outer layers in a final spectacular Super Nova. Leaving….what?

WWWWell

MMMMaybe Batman can have a new existence as a ‘black hole’ exerting gravitational pull, drawing in fresh

material, and new stories.

TTTThis is ‘re-visioning’.

I I I I bag first go over the event horizon.

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