Batman: The Killing Joke is a 1988 DC Comics graphic novel featuring the characters Batman and The Joker. It was written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Brian Bolland. "The Killing Joke" gives an origin story for the supervillain the Joker, loosely based from the 1951 story arc "The Man Behind the Red Hood!". Taking place over two timelines, "The Killing Joke" shows the Joker trying to drive Jim Gordon insane and Batman's desperate attempt to stop him.