At this year’s Sharjah Animation and Comics Conference (SACC), visitors are getting a rare glimpse of a truly unique collector’s item: a handcrafted version of "Batman: The Killing Joke" that doubles as a piece of art. Priced at Dh60,000, this Avant-Garde Edition is designed to mimic the vintage camera famously featured on the original 1988 cover. Weighing in at a substantial 4.4kg, the book is encased in aluminium and goatskin, complete with a functioning viewfinder and a detachable lens. With only 47 copies produced worldwide, it stands as a testament to meticulous craftsmanship, held securely within a premium calf-leather carrying case.

Developed by the Croatian publisher Argent Comics, this project marks the world's first giclée-printed comic book, utilizing specialized metallic paper and a labor-intensive manual binding process. The limited production run of 47 is a deliberate nod to the atomic number of silver, staying true to the publisher's identity. Inside, readers can explore a "director’s cut" experience, featuring both the original 1988 coloring and Brian Bolland’s 2008 recolored version, alongside exclusive materials like signed negatives. While the camera-inspired edition is the main attraction, the exhibit also highlights a tactile "Noir" version of the comic, further showcasing the innovative artistry currently on display at the Aljada event through Sunday.