Everyone knows the Joker. He’s Batman’s archenemy and one of the most dangerous and unpredictable villains in Gotham City (and across DC Comics).
The origins of the Joker are as mysterious as the character himself. Bill Finger, Bob Kane, and Jerry Robinson—credited for the character’s conception—each offer their own version of the story. What can’t be denied was the influence of actor Conrad Veidt’s grinning visage from the movie The Man Who Laughs (1928) as inspiration for the Joker design.
Regardless of the story behind the Joker’s creation, Batman’s villain has become over time a larger-than-life character, an unstoppable force of nature representing everything Batman stands against. He is often used to represent unresolved societal issues and has been, throughout the years, a criminal mastermind, a comical prankster, an anarchist, and a classic trickster who shifts between violence and dark humor.
He is a colorful character who has made Batman’s life hell on many occasions. While some people love the Joker, others hate him, and I’m pretty sure everyone can agree that he has been overexposed on several occasions!
An active villain since his debut in Batman #1, 85 years ago, he has been part of the best and the worst of Batman comics. Today, we are taking a look back at the Joker’s criminal career in DC Comics. And what could be more fitting for a character such as the Joker than focusing on his legend and his most iconic stories? This isn’t a full reading order, but a collection of essential comics that shaped the Joker.
The 3 Must-Reads Joker Comics
If you have to only read only three Joker comics, look no further than the following three titles!
- Batman: The Man Who Laughs (2005)
Blending classic and contemporary elements, Ed Brubaker and Doug Mahnke are revisiting the Joker’s first encounter with Batman for a Post-Crisis DC story taking place after Batman: Year One (as always, read it if you haven’t yet!) - Batman: The Killing Joke (1988)
From Alan Moore and Brian Bolland comes one of the most iconic, influential, and controversial Joker stories, exploring Joker’s tragic origin and twisted relationship with Batman. - Arkham Asylum: Serious House on a Serious Earth (1989)
Grant Morrison and Dave McKean deliver a horror-oriented take on Batman and the Joker’s relationship set inside the walls of Arkham Asylum. A surreal and psychological tale with Batman facing not only the Joker but also his influence on the entire asylum.
Joker Throughout the Years, A Collection of Most Notorious Comics
To discover and understand the evolution of the Joker throughout the years, DC Comics has released two anthologies celebrating the Clown Prince of Crime. They both collect classic Joker Stories such as The Joker’s Five-Way Revenge! or The Laughing Fish!, and take you from his first appearance to his most recent classics. Both collections deliver some information to better contextualize Joker in history. It’s a good way to familiarize yourself with the character, although you need to have an affinity for Golden and Silver Comics which can sometimes be a chore to read.
- The Joker: A Celebration of 75 Years
Features stories from Batman #1, 5, 25, 32, 85, 163, 251, 427, Batman #15 (The New 52), Detective Comics #64, 168, 180, 475, 476, 726, 741, 826, Detective Comics #1 (The New 52), World’s Finest Comics #61, Superman #9 and Batman: Legends Of The Dark Knight #66. - The Joker: 80 Years of the Clown Prince of Crime: The Deluxe Edition
Collects stories from Batman #1, #159, #251, #321, #429, #614, Detective Comics #168, #475, #476, #826, Batman: The Killing Joke, Batman Adventures: Mad Love, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #50, Gotham Central #15, Detective Comics #1 (2011) and Batman #17 (2013). We prefer this collection as it contains Mad Love.
There is no denying that DC Comics knows how to put out those anthologies, always full of classics. We are now taking a closer look at several of those stories available in one of both of those collections and other classic Joker stories in a more detailed manner:
Joker’s Early Days
Making his first appearance as a serial killer and criminal mastermind in Batman #1 (1940), the Joker was not supposed to survive his second appearance, also in a story published in Batman #1, as he was supposed to be stabbed in the heart. Editorial interference taking the form of then-editor Whitney Ellsworth made a change to Finger’s story by adding a drawn panel indicating that he was alive. A decision that seems to have not bothered Finger as the character would quickly become a recurring fixture in Batman’s World.
The implementation of the Comics Code Authority during the 1950s and 1960s influenced the Joker’s image, transforming him into a prankster. The character would go back to its roots in the 1970s that delivered a few iconic stories featuring the Clown Prince of Crime:
- Batman #1 (1940) – Discover the Joker’s first appearance as a master criminal leaving stricken victims behind wearing a ghastly clown’s grin.
- Batman #251 (1973) – “The Joker’s Five-Way Revenge!” – After a long period portrayed as a mild annoyance and a 4-year absence, the Joker makes his triumphant return as a murderous psychotic in this classic story from Dennis O’Neil and Neal Adams.
- Detective Comics #475 (1978) –”The Laughing Fish!” – From Steve Englehart and Marshall Rogers. One of the most infamous Joker tales in which fishes begin appearing with the Joker’s trademark smile–which the madman literally attempts to trademark! It’s the first of a two-part story, so continue with…
- Detective Comics #476 (1978) – “Sign of the Joker!” – Batman and Commissioner Gordon race across Gotham City, trying to stay one step ahead of the Joker as his insane scheme to copyright his Joker Fish leads to more mayhem! A second part that perfectly highlights the Joker’s nature.
All those stories are available in The Joker: A Celebration of 75 Years and The Joker: 80 Years of the Clown Prince of Crime: The Deluxe Edition.
Have A Laugh! Your Iconic Post-Crisis Joker Stories
In a Post-Crisis DC Universe, the violence and psychological games that defined the Joker reached new heights, starting with his murderous act in the defining story Death in the Family. Soon enough, Alan Moore’s The Killing Joke explores the Clown Prince of Crime’s possible origins as he commits a new violent and traumatic act against another beloved member of the family. From now on, The Joker made a habit of dragging Gotham City, Batman, and his allies through hell.
If you haven’t read our Top 3 Joker Comics, do it in this section, starting with The Man Who Laughs, which makes a great entry point for the Joker in the Post-DC Crisis continuity.
- Batman: Death in the Family (1988) – Some stories leave a lasting impact, regardless of their quality. This is the case for this more Robin-focused tale in which the Joker committing one of his most notorious crimes. By Jim Starlin and Jim Aparo.
- Batman: Secrets (1992) – An underrated Joker story from Sam Kieth who delivers a psychological tale where the Joker, recently released from Arkham, tries to frame Batman for murder. Kieth’s distinctive artwork is one of the highlights of this graphic novel.
- Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #65-66 – “Going Sane” (1995) – The creative duo of J.M. DeMatteis and Joe Staton successfully explore the timeless theme that Batman and the Joker are two sides of the same coin in this two-part story that sees the Joker going sane! Reprinted in Batman: Going Sane and The Joker: A Celebration of 75 Years.
- The Joker: Devil’s Advocate (1996) – A One-Shot from Chuck Dixon and Graham Nolan where the Joker faces death row for a crime he didn’t commit. Exploring the dilemma that comes with such a premise, Batman is trying to find the real culprit and save the Joker’s life before it’s too late.
- Superman: Emperor Joker (2000) – The Joker is naturally associated with Batman. This story stands out by placing him against Superman after the Clown Prince of Crime reshaped reality to his own image! From Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness
- Gotham Central #12-15 – “Soft Targets” (2004) – From Ed Brubaker and Greg Rucka. This is Joker’s reign of terror on Gotham City, and his eternal war against the Caped Crusader, told from the perspective of Gotham Central detectives caught in the middle of a dangerous game (with the final issue clearly an inspiration for elements of Nolan’s The Dark Knight). Collected in Gotham Central Omnibus.
- Detective Comics #826 – “Slayride”(2007) – Need to get into the holiday spirit? For Christmas, Paul Dini and Paul Kramer invite you on a wild ride with the Joker and Robin in this colorful and thrilling classic one-off.
- Batman: Death of the Family (2012) – In the New 52 era, the Joker made his big return to Gotham under the creative team of Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo, determined to reclaim his place as Batman’s greatest enemy.
- Batman: Endgame (2014) – Working as a follow-up to Death of the Family, the Joker is back in Gotham and ready to burn everything down after the disappointment Batman caused him in their last encounter.
Out Of Continuity Joker Stories
We conclude our tour of Joker’s classic tales with some comic books set outside DC’s main continuity. You can read those whenever you want, giving you different representations of the Joker, exploring his influence on Harley Quinn and showing what kind of character he would be in more grounded setting.
- The Batman Adventures: Mad Love (1994) – set in the continuity of Batman: The Animated Series, Mad Love is a classic Harley Quinn story that expose the hold the Joker’s has on her.
This one focuses more on Harley Quinn but offers a fascinating glimpse into the Joker’s hold over her. - Brian Azzarello’s Joker (2008) – A more divisive story that put the Joker in a more realistic setting as we follow the character on a night of revenge, murder, and manic crime.
- Stjepan Šejić’s Harleen (2019)– A more recent take at Harley Quinn’s backstory and the Joker’s complex influence on her.
Continue your exploration of Gotham’s infamous villains with our Poison Ivy Reading Order and Penguin Recommended Reading Order.