Batman: The Killing Joke, a DC Universe Original Animated Film, recently received an Amazon listing that has revealed its Blu-ray/DVD/UltraViolet release date — August 2, 2016. Amazon is now accepting pre-orders for the impending release. A Deluxe Edition of Batman: The Killing Joke is also available for pre-order, and is a numbered gift set that will include a limited edition Joker figurine. Furthermore, the Digital HD download of the film will be released on July 23, 2016.
The Killing Joke is a one-shot graphic novel that was written by Alan Moore, illustrated by Brian Bollard, and published by DC Comics in March 1988. It essentially serves as an origins story for the Joker, while it also elucidates the psychological claim that Batman and the Joker mirror one another through how they were both transformed by tragedy, despite the fact that they possess completely different existential perspectives, ethics, and morals.
Furthermore, the film will contain a prologue of original content not present in the original graphic novel — content that will help to provide additional contextual data for the story.
Due to the nature and content of the source material that the animated film is based upon, Batman: The Killing Joke has been officially rated R by the MPAA for “some bloody images and disturbing content.”
Batman: The Killing Joke voices Mark Hamil as the Joker, Kevin Conroy as Batman, Tara Strong as Barbara Gordon/Batgirl, and Ray Wise as Jim Gordon.
Special Features include:
- Episode from The New Batman Adventures
- Episode from Batman: the Animated Series
- Madness Set to Music — documentary on the creation of storyboards and original score
- Many Shades of the Joker: The Tale of the Killing Joke — Making-of short that explores the style of the graphic novel
Standard Edition
Deluxe Edition
You can view the film trailer here.
