What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedBatman: The Killing Joke
Sam Liu · Film · 2016
If you loved Batman: The Killing Joke, start with Batman (William Dozier, 1966) — a series from the same story. Below: 2 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Batman: The Killing Joke across media.
You are drawn to the way Batman: The Killing Joke dissects the fragile barrier between heroic justice and irredeemable psychological madness.
Start with the source
The source
Batman
William Dozier · Series · 1966
Adaptation
Batman
Tim Burton · Film · 1989
Adaptation
Batman: The Animated Series
Bruce Timm · Series · 1992
Books on the same thread
Batman Arkham Asylum 25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition
Grant Morrison · Book · 2014
Shares 2 threads with Batman: The Killing Joke: Madness, Dark Superhero.
Much like in Batman: The Killing Joke, this story forces Batman to confront the visceral reality of madness and the personal hells residing within his most dangerous foes.
Absolute Batman, Vol. 2: Abomination
Scott Snyder · Book
Shares a thread with Batman: The Killing Joke: psychological warfare.
This narrative mirrors the grim exploration of psychological warfare found in Batman: The Killing Joke, focusing on how corrupt institutions erode the sanity of those caught within them.
Series on the same thread
Batman: The Animated Series
Bruce Timm · Series · 1992
Shares a thread with Batman: The Killing Joke: Superhero Animation.
If you appreciated the moral ambiguity of Batman: The Killing Joke, you will find this series expands on the psychological depth and heavy emotional burden of Gotham’s dark vigilante.
Batman: Caped Crusader
Bruce Timm · Series · 2024
Shares a thread with Batman: The Killing Joke: Trauma.
This series captures the same atmosphere of systemic corruption and personal trauma that defined the bleak, intense world of Batman: The Killing Joke through a sophisticated neo-noir lens.
The New Batman Adventures
Series · 1997
Shares a thread with Batman: The Killing Joke: Superhero Animation.
While lighter in tone, this series continues the exploration of justice and the eternal struggle between good and evil established in the darker Batman: The Killing Joke narrative.
The Batman
Duane Capizzi · Series · 2004
Shares a thread with Batman: The Killing Joke: Superhero Animation.
This show investigates the dual identity and orphanhood that drive the character, providing a foundation for the psychological conflict seen in the events of Batman: The Killing Joke.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast
Dr. Jordan B. Peterson · Podcast · 2026
Explores: Existentialism, Individual Responsibility, Cultural Critique.
The philosophical inquiries here mirror the existential themes of madness and moral relativism that Batman: The Killing Joke explores through the fractured psyche of its central antagonists.
The Joe Rogan Experience
Joe Rogan · Podcast · 2026
Explores: intellectual curiosity, unfiltered dialogue, lifestyle exploration.
The unfiltered dialogue in this podcast aligns with the raw, provocative nature of the psychological analysis present in Batman: The Killing Joke, challenging your perspective on human behavior.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Batman: The Killing Joke a direct sequel to Batman: The Animated Series?
No, Batman: The Killing Joke is a standalone 2016 film directed by Sam Liu. While it shares some voice talent with Batman: The Animated Series, it is not a direct sequel and functions as an independent adaptation of the source material.
How does Batman: The Killing Joke compare to the 1989 Batman movie?
Batman: The Killing Joke is a 2016 animated film focusing on the Joker's attempt to drive the Gordon family into madness. The 1989 Batman movie is a live-action production with a different narrative structure and focus, unrelated to the specific plot points explored in the 2016 film.
Should I watch Batman: The Killing Joke before the 1966 Batman television series?
There is no required viewing order between these titles. Batman: The Killing Joke is a 2016 animated film detailing the Joker's psychological attack on the Gordon family, whereas the 1966 Batman series is a distinct live-action production with its own separate continuity and tone.
What is the main plot of Batman: The Killing Joke?
In Batman: The Killing Joke, Batman hunts for the Joker after he escapes custody. The Joker attacks the Gordon family to demonstrate his theory that anyone can fall into madness, mirroring his own tragic origin story through a series of diabolical actions.