super heroes reinvented (6 points)

 1. my reaction to the killing joke is not really anything too extreme. However I'm not going to view this as any fault of the comic itself, this more comes from the fact that these concepts and this story has been told through so many different means over the years that it's effect on modern audiences just won't be that strong. we've seen all this before, through people referencing it.

2. I'm a little confused about what this question is asking. I didn't feel really that connected with the ideas. The characters were entertaining I guess, but again this story just can't wow me any more. These ideas of breaking someone and making them a villain and the differences between good guys and bad guys started with the killing joke, however they are much better explored in the dark knight, mostly because unlike the killing joke, that movie shows how one bad day was about to break Harvey Dent.

3. any changes i would make would be to essentially push it more. I found it weird how the joker wants to recreate this bad day he had with commissioner Gordon, but at the end of the day, he doesn't do anything permanent to him. After this is over and Batman saves him he can go back to life as normal. the joker however never got that choice. his wife was dead, his face was deformed, his life was ruined by the mob and he was turned into a criminal. and to top it all off there's no one to blame for him but bad luck. I feel as though the story is trying to sell me on the idea that the reason the joker's plan failed is because people aren't like him, it's not a very strong argument because the people didn't go through what he went through. it would be darker but i would say kill Gordon's daughter and do some black mail or something to ruin his social image and his job, make it to where he can't return to his old life. then when he chooses to stay sane, the choice will seem even stronger.

4. normal superhero stories at the time were very straightforward. there's a bad guy, you punch him, you save someone, you win. This story analyses the psychology of heroes and villains in a way none did before, questioning the origins of both.


I also read watchmen. i'd never read it before nor seen the movie so this was an interesting read. i'm gonna be honest i was really surprised at how xenophobic rorschach was, however over all a very interesting story trying to tear down the romanticization of super heroes. it shows what happens when people have this much power and we as the public allow them to romp and do their thing. it analyzes how heroes may look, how a super smart detective might be biased and hateful, an ultra human superman-esk person would just not care about the people ``below" them. how people's personal goals will get in the way of their hero working through pretty much the whole cast. at it's core it is cautionary tail about looking up to powerful beings.

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