How do I tell if my Killing Joke is a first printing?

Check for the green-tinted cover, squarebound prestige format, and 1988 printing info in the indicia. The 2008 Deluxe Edition is a separate hardcover with recolored art.

Did The Killing Joke influence the Joker movie?

Yes. The origin of a failed comedian driven insane by tragedy directly influenced Todd Phillips' 2019 Joker film and Tim Burton's 1989 Batman.

Batman: The Killing Joke First Print Value Guide (2026)

Name: Batman: The Killing Joke First Print (1988)
Brand: DC Comics

Comic Books

Alan Moore wanted to write the definitive Joker story. DC Comics let him. Batman: The Killing Joke, published in 1988, gave the Joker a tragic backstory - a failed comedian who snapped after "one bad day" - and then had him shoot and paralyze Barbara Gordon (Batgirl) to prove his point. It's violent, psychological, and unresolved. Moore later said he thought the story was too cruel. Readers and critics called it a masterpiece. A first printing in near-mint condition sells for $50 to $250, making it one of the most affordable iconic comics you can own.

Quick Value Summary


Item	Batman: The Killing Joke (First Print)
Year	1988
Publisher	DC Comics
Category	Comic Books - Modern Age
Creators	Alan Moore (writer), Brian Bolland (artist)
Format	Prestige format (squarebound spine, cardstock covers)
Condition Range
Poor	$10 – $20
Good	$20 – $35
Fine	$35 – $50
Very Fine	$50 – $75
Near Mint (ungraded)	$50 – $75
CGC 9.6	$75 – $100
CGC 9.8	$150 – $250
Rarity	Common (large print run)

The Story

The Killing Joke presents a possible origin for the Joker: a struggling comedian desperate to support his pregnant wife. He agrees to help criminals break into a chemical plant - his former employer - by guiding them through the facility. On the day of the heist, his wife dies in an accident. The criminals won't let him back out. During the break-in, Batman appears. The man falls into a vat of chemicals. He emerges transformed - white skin, green hair, and a mind shattered beyond repair.

The story cuts between this origin and the present, where the Joker shoots Commissioner Gordon's daughter Barbara through the spine, then kidnaps Gordon himself. The Joker's goal: prove that anyone can go insane after "one bad day." Batman hunts him down. They confront each other. The Joker tells a joke. Batman laughs. The story ends ambiguously, and readers have debated the final panel for decades.

Brian Bolland's art is extraordinary - dense, painterly, and deeply unsettling. Every panel is a masterwork. The Killing Joke influenced Tim Burton's 1989 Batman film and the 2019 Joker movie. Barbara Gordon's paralysis became canon in the DC Universe, leading to her reinvention as Oracle, an information broker and hacker who proved you don't need to walk to be a hero.

How to Identify a First Printing

Key Markers

The Killing Joke is a prestige format book - squarebound spine with cardstock covers, not a standard stapled comic. This format makes it look more like a thin trade paperback.

Cover: Green-tinted, featuring the Joker holding a camera with a wide grin. The green tint is the primary identifier.
Spine: Squarebound (flat, glued) rather than stapled.
Interior printing: Original 1988 color palette (the 2008 Deluxe Edition was recolored by Bolland).
Indicia: Check the inside front cover and copyright page for "First Printing" or 1988 printing information.

Later Printings and Editions

Multiple printings exist, with different cover colors and details:

Later printings may have different cover color tints or additional text.
2008 Deluxe Edition - Hardcover with completely recolored art by Brian Bolland. A different product, not a first printing.
Signed copies (e.g., by Bob Kane) command premiums but need authentication (CGC Signature Series or equivalent).

Value by Condition

Here's an honest assessment: The Killing Joke had a large print run. It's not rare. First printings are plentiful. What makes this book special isn't scarcity - it's cultural significance.

Grade	Value
Poor to Good	$10 – $35
Fine	$35 – $50
Very Fine (ungraded)	$50 – $75
CGC 9.6	$75 – $100
CGC 9.8	$150 – $250

Recent eBay sales confirm these ranges:

February 2026: First print, ungraded near mint - $50
February 2026: First print, described as "mint" - $60
February 2026: First print, green cover - $43
February 2026: First print, standard - $37

CGC 9.8 is the target grade for collectors. It's where the meaningful premium kicks in. Below 9.8, the difference between raw and graded isn't dramatic enough to justify the grading fee for most sellers.

The Condition Challenge

Because of the prestige format, The Killing Joke has specific condition vulnerabilities:

Spine stress - The squarebound spine cracks and creases easily when the book is opened. Most copies show some spine wear.
Cover creasing - The cardstock covers dent and crease more readily than standard comic covers.
Corner dings - Soft cardstock corners bump and show wear quickly.

Finding a truly mint copy - spine uncreased, covers pristine, corners sharp - is harder than the large print run would suggest.

Authentication & Fakes

Do You Need CGC Grading?

For most copies: no. If you have a clean first printing and want to sell it for $40–$60, the $30+ CGC grading fee doesn't make economic sense. Save grading for copies you genuinely believe are 9.6 or above, where the slab adds real value.

When to grade:

The book looks absolutely pristine - no spine stress, no corner dings, no cover marks.
You believe it could hit CGC 9.8.
You have a signed copy that needs Signature Series verification.

When not to grade:

Any visible wear, spine stress, or corner softness. You'll get a 9.4 or below, and the slab won't meaningfully increase the sale price over raw.

Fakes

Counterfeiting isn't a significant concern for this book - the values aren't high enough to justify sophisticated fakes. The main risk is someone selling a later printing as a first printing. Check the indicia and cover color to verify.

Where to Sell

eBay - The natural marketplace for this book. First printings sell regularly. Good photos and accurate condition description will get you fair value.
Local comic shops - Quick sale, but expect wholesale pricing (50–70% of retail).
Comic conventions - Browse multiple dealers, compare offers.

For CGC 9.8 copies:

eBay - Strong demand from collectors targeting the 9.8 grade.
Heritage Auctions - For certified copies, though the value may not justify auction consignment fees.

Not sure about the condition of yours? Upload a photo to Curio Comp for a free AI estimate. Upload a photo →

Common Questions

How much is Batman: The Killing Joke first print worth?

In near-mint condition (ungraded), $50 to $75. A CGC 9.8 - the collector target grade - sells for $150 to $250. Lower-condition copies are $10 to $50. It's valuable but not a fortune - and that's part of its appeal as a collectible.

How do I tell if mine is a first printing?

Check the cover's green tint, the squarebound prestige format, and the 1988 printing information in the indicia. Later printings may have different cover colors. The 2008 Deluxe Edition is a hardcover with recolored art - a different product entirely.

Is The Killing Joke a good comic to collect?

Yes - if you collect because you love the medium. It's one of the most acclaimed Batman stories ever written, with art by Brian Bolland that hasn't aged a day. As an investment? The returns are modest. As a piece of comic book history you can actually afford to own? It's hard to beat.

Does The Killing Joke connect to the DC Universe?

Yes. Barbara Gordon's shooting became permanent DC canon. She transformed from Batgirl into Oracle, using her intelligence and hacking skills to support Batman and other heroes from a wheelchair. That character evolution - directly inspired by The Killing Joke - is considered one of the best things to come from the story.

What influenced the 2019 Joker movie?

The Killing Joke's origin story - a failed comedian driven insane by tragedy - is a clear influence on Todd Phillips' 2019 Joker film starring Joaquin Phoenix. Tim Burton also drew on the book for his 1989 Batman film.