Week 13: redefining the Super Hero

The Joke That Kills

1. My initial reaction to the Killing Joke was that of awe and intrigue as the back story of the Joker character has only ever been shrouded in some mystery as it was only ever hinted at but never explicitly explained. It also one of sympathy as the story really tries to make a long time villain the victim of the story.
2. The connection I made to the story was that this comic was somewhat defiant of the stereotypical "Batman" story as it didn't deal with Batman's side of the story. But rather instead chooses to explore the Joker's psyche, proposing the Idea to the audience that instead all it takes is one bade day for someone to turn out like him. I was able to connect more to the Joker though this story as it paints him as a tragic character that was a product of his environment.
3. The changes that would be made to adapt the story is somewhat minimal as most works or mediums that gain popularity are usually due to its appeal within that genre/medium. To adapt it to a new medium while maintaining the spirit, appeal and overall mood and theme of the story is a difficult task. You either create a 1:1 adaption of the story, it moments and dialogue or you take creative liberties with it to make it truly special but not faithful to the source material at all. (akin Stephen King's the Shining and Stanley Kubrick version). For comics the easiest route to adapt to would be animation as the two are closely related and require no rewrites or major redesigns. 
4. This story differs somewhat greatly from the typical hero power fantasy because it tells the villains side of the story and makes the reader sympathizes with them. Also the main character of the series, Batman, isn't out fighting overpowered villains in this story, instead he is just going around doing detective work on the Joker, he isn't fighting some super powered overpowered beings.