In the wide landscape of DC comic adaptations, one animated movie stands out the tallest with its interesting approach to storytelling. This was Batman: The Killing Joke, based on the super-popular 1988 comic written by Alan Moore and Brian Bollard. Voiced by the late Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill as Batman and Joker, the movie was bound to create magic on screen.
However, apart from Alan Moore not being satisfied with his writing, it also featured a controversial R-rated sequence that sparked a great deal of debate.
Why Did Alan Moore Hate Kevin Conroy’s Batman: The Killing Joke?
Most authors take great pride in the work they do. However, this was not the case with Alan Moore, who detested and criticized his own writing in The Killing Joke. The reason lies in the fact that he put too much violence and melodrama on Batman’s shoulders, which is something he was never supposed to carry (via Inverse).
He also voiced his concerns about the story being dark and physically violent. He did acknowledge some positives, but overall, it was among his least favorite pieces of writing. Moore further detailed his broader impact on comics and expressed dissatisfaction with how his groundbreaking work on Watchmen was absorbed into popular culture.
Further, he had hoped his works would usher in a fresh era of creativity and inventiveness. But instead, he noted a prevailing trend toward psychological and darker themes in the industry. He added:
I was naively hoping that there’d be a rush of fresh and original work by people coming up with their own. But, as I said, it was meant to be something that would liberate comics. Instead, it became this massive stumbling block that comics can’t even really seem to get around to this day. They’ve lost a lot of their original innocence, and they can’t get that back. And, they’re stuck, it seems, in this kind of depressive ghetto of grimness and psychosis. I’m not too proud of being the author of that regrettable trend.
Alan Moore discussed why he felt this was his least favorite piece of writing due to the movie’s darker themes. However, this film also featured an R-rated scene that has the potential to become the most contentious scene in DC Comics history.
The movie mostly adhered faithfully to the original work. However, it also debuted a romantic storyline between Barbara Gordon’s Batgirl and Kevin Conroy’s Batman.
The scene in question depicts the duo having s*x on a rooftop. Batgirl is seen taking off her clothing, and although there is implied s*xual activity, it is not depicted on screen (via Looper). The scene soon became contentious because Batman was her mentor, and their age difference seemed dubious.
A Perfect Farewell: Kevin Conroy’s Last Appearance as Batman
Kevin Conroy was undoubtedly one of the most iconic actors who helmed the role of the Caped Crusader. While he passed away due to cancer at the age of 66 in 2022, his legacy lives on forever. His final role as Batman unfolds in Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earth – Part 3. Among the many unique aspects of the movie is his reunion with Mark Hamill in the role of the Joker.
It’s indeed a poignant reunion, given that Hamill retired from the role after Conroy’s death. While appearing at Fan Expo San Francisco, Hamill added that he won’t voice the character again if it’s not opposite Kevin Conroy, and he also added, “Without Batman, crime has no punchline.”
Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part 3 presents a similar art style from the beloved Batman: The Animated Series. It is this style and visual similarities that triggered a nostalgic wave amongst the audience (via Game Radar). It transported them back to the iconic Batman series, which completely transformed the perceptions of the Caped Crusader for many. Further, it also featured Conroy’s final line “And if it has to end, at least I go out like this: being Batman.”
Before this, Conroy’s final movie was anticipated to be Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, an action-adventure shooter game. However, this game had already sparked debate before it was even released. Notwithstanding these divergent viewpoints, Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths served as the ideal farewell to Kevin Conroy’s portrayal of Batman.
You can buy Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths Part Three on Amazon and can rent Batman: The Killing Joke on Apple TV.
