In the 85+ years since Batman first debuted, he’s had an impressive array of rogues to keep him busy, but none as formidable or iconic as the Joker. The Clown Prince of Crime has been terrifying the inhabitants of Gotham as well as readers for decades, and with the release of Joker: Folie À Deux, it felt like the perfect time to delve into some of the best Joker stories from throughout DC history. But to keep things interesting, we wanted to avoid the Joker’s most famous—and obvious—tales like The Killing Joke and A Death in the Family, and instead offer up some other dark yarns about the pale-faced mass murderer that you might not have checked out yet.
Batman #1 (1940)
By Bill Finger, Jerry Robinson and Bob Kane
Call me old fashioned but I always think that to truly understand a character we should go back to the beginning, and that’s never been truer than in the case of the Joker and Batman #1.
Debuting only one year after the Caped Crusader himself, the first issue of his titular series also introduced his greatest foe in the Joker. In classic Golden Age Batman fashion, it’s a deeply gruesome tale that paints the Clown Prince of Crime as a serial murderer, happily poisoning his victims to leave them with a rictus grin. So many of the most important traits of the Joker are established here, from his love of killing people with a smile to his famous purple trenchcoat and fedora—which would be recreated later in The Killing Joke—to the fact that Batman captures him only for him to escape soon after. It’s an impressive read that will likely surprise contemporary readers with just how much death, destruction and Joker lore it manages to fit in.
Detective Comics #168 (1951)
By Bill Finger, Lew Schwartz and George Roussos
This is one of the most important Joker stories ever told, especially for fans of The Killing Joke. It’s here, rather than the controversial Brian Bolland and Alan Moore classic, that we’re introduced to the concept of the Joker as the Red Hood, a failed comedian who is forever changed by a fateful dip into some nasty chemicals.
It’s interesting to see just how much of this tale was reimagined by Moore for his most famous Batman story, and to realize how early on the creators behind the Bat realized they had someone just as complex as their hero in the Joker. This is also a notable tale as it’s the first time that readers were ever given an origin story for the villain. Even now, it’s still one of the most influential, shaping not only The Killing Joke, but also our wider understanding of the Joker in both comics and beyond.
Detective Comics #475 (1978)
By Steve Englehart, Marshall Rogers, Terry Austin, Jerry Serpe and Ben Oda
If you’re looking for a truly original Joker story that showcases just how depraved and strangely inventive he can truly be, look no further than this hilarious late ’70s issue. When the citizens of Gotham wake up to a surprise—that every fish in the sea now has the Joker’s face—they’re in for an even ruder awakening when it’s all revealed to be a copyright scheme by the villain. Yep, in one of his most maniacal schemes yet, he’s poisoned the fish with Joker venom and is now claiming copyright infringement.
Detective Comics #475 is a super fun issue that acts as both a really unique Bronze age comic, and also a nice throwback to both the wackiness of the Silver Age and the pulpiness of the Golden Age. Basically, this is everything you could want from a Joker story. (Is it any wonder it would later be adapted on Batman: The Animated Series?)
Batman: Arkham Asylum (1989)
By Grant Morrison, Dave McKean and Gaspar Saladino
The Joker has been everything from a clownish caricature to a nightmarish serial killer, but his most horror-drenched appearance is unquestionably in this surrealist masterpiece.
When Batman has to enter the haunted halls of Arkham to save the lives of some hostages, he’s forced to face his greatest foe and his greatest fear: that perhaps the pair aren’t too dissimilar after all. Morrison explores the nature of sanity and McKean brings it all to life in his atmospheric and often haunting style. Still one of the most shocking and complex Batman stories we’ve ever gotten, Batman: Arkham Asylum has long held the title of one of DC’s bestselling graphic novels. So, whether you’ve already read it or are just learning about it now, make sure to add this to your to-read list.
Joker / Harley: Criminal Sanity (2021)
By Kami Garcia, Mico Suayan, Jason Badower and Mike Mayhew
A more recent entry into the Joker canon is this true crime-influenced series from bestselling author Kami Garcia, who teamed up with Mico Suayan, Jason Badower and Mike Mayhew to bring a Hannibal Lecter-flavored take on the Joker and his on-again-off-again lover Harley Quinn. But this isn’t the pair as you’ve ever seen them before and Mad Love this comic is definitely not.
In Joker / Harley: Criminal Sanity, Harley is a detective haunted by the case she couldn’t crack and the Joker is the killer that she can’t seem to catch. If you love twisted takes on your favorite villains and curling up with true crime TV, then this DC Black Label comic is a must read. It’s a grim and gritty world away from the uber-popular Young Adult DC books that Garcia is most well known for.
Joker: Folie À Deux, directed by Todd Phillips and starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, is now in theaters. Click here for tickets and showtimes.
Rosie Knight is an award-winning journalist and author who loves Swamp Thing, the DC Cosmic and writing the monthly gossip column here at DC.com. You can also listen to her waxing lyrical about comics, movies and more each week as she co-hosts Crooked Media’s pop-culture podcast, X-Ray Vision.
NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in this feature are solely those of Rosie Knight and do not necessarily reflect those of DC or Warner Bros. Discovery, nor should they be read as confirmation or denial of future DC plans.
[[{“value”:”In the 85+ years since Batman first debuted, he’s had an impressive array of rogues to keep him busy, but none as formidable or iconic as the Joker. The Clown Prince of Crime has been terrifying the inhabitants of Gotham as well as readers for decades, and with the release of Joker: Folie À Deux, it felt like the perfect time to delve into some of the best Joker stories from throughout DC history. But to keep things interesting, we wanted to avoid the Joker’s most famous—and obvious—tales like The Killing Joke and A Death in the Family, and instead offer up some other dark yarns about the pale-faced mass murderer that you might not have checked out yet.
Batman #1 (1940)
By Bill Finger, Jerry Robinson and Bob Kane
Call me old fashioned but I always think that to truly understand a character we should go back to the beginning, and that’s never been truer than in the case of the Joker and Batman #1.
Debuting only one year after the Caped Crusader himself, the first issue of his titular series also introduced his greatest foe in the Joker. In classic Golden Age Batman fashion, it’s a deeply gruesome tale that paints the Clown Prince of Crime as a serial murderer, happily poisoning his victims to leave them with a rictus grin. So many of the most important traits of the Joker are established here, from his love of killing people with a smile to his famous purple trenchcoat and fedora—which would be recreated later in The Killing Joke—to the fact that Batman captures him only for him to escape soon after. It’s an impressive read that will likely surprise contemporary readers with just how much death, destruction and Joker lore it manages to fit in.
Detective Comics #168 (1951)
By Bill Finger, Lew Schwartz and George Roussos
This is one of the most important Joker stories ever told, especially for fans of The Killing Joke. It’s here, rather than the controversial Brian Bolland and Alan Moore classic, that we’re introduced to the concept of the Joker as the Red Hood, a failed comedian who is forever changed by a fateful dip into some nasty chemicals.
It’s interesting to see just how much of this tale was reimagined by Moore for his most famous Batman story, and to realize how early on the creators behind the Bat realized they had someone just as complex as their hero in the Joker. This is also a notable tale as it’s the first time that readers were ever given an origin story for the villain. Even now, it’s still one of the most influential, shaping not only The Killing Joke, but also our wider understanding of the Joker in both comics and beyond.
Detective Comics #475 (1978)
By Steve Englehart, Marshall Rogers, Terry Austin, Jerry Serpe and Ben Oda
If you’re looking for a truly original Joker story that showcases just how depraved and strangely inventive he can truly be, look no further than this hilarious late ’70s issue. When the citizens of Gotham wake up to a surprise—that every fish in the sea now has the Joker’s face—they’re in for an even ruder awakening when it’s all revealed to be a copyright scheme by the villain. Yep, in one of his most maniacal schemes yet, he’s poisoned the fish with Joker venom and is now claiming copyright infringement.
Detective Comics #475 is a super fun issue that acts as both a really unique Bronze age comic, and also a nice throwback to both the wackiness of the Silver Age and the pulpiness of the Golden Age. Basically, this is everything you could want from a Joker story. (Is it any wonder it would later be adapted on Batman: The Animated Series?)
Batman: Arkham Asylum (1989)
By Grant Morrison, Dave McKean and Gaspar Saladino
The Joker has been everything from a clownish caricature to a nightmarish serial killer, but his most horror-drenched appearance is unquestionably in this surrealist masterpiece.
When Batman has to enter the haunted halls of Arkham to save the lives of some hostages, he’s forced to face his greatest foe and his greatest fear: that perhaps the pair aren’t too dissimilar after all. Morrison explores the nature of sanity and McKean brings it all to life in his atmospheric and often haunting style. Still one of the most shocking and complex Batman stories we’ve ever gotten, Batman: Arkham Asylum has long held the title of one of DC’s bestselling graphic novels. So, whether you’ve already read it or are just learning about it now, make sure to add this to your to-read list.
Joker / Harley: Criminal Sanity (2021)
By Kami Garcia, Mico Suayan, Jason Badower and Mike Mayhew
A more recent entry into the Joker canon is this true crime-influenced series from bestselling author Kami Garcia, who teamed up with Mico Suayan, Jason Badower and Mike Mayhew to bring a Hannibal Lecter-flavored take on the Joker and his on-again-off-again lover Harley Quinn. But this isn’t the pair as you’ve ever seen them before and Mad Love this comic is definitely not.
In Joker / Harley: Criminal Sanity, Harley is a detective haunted by the case she couldn’t crack and the Joker is the killer that she can’t seem to catch. If you love twisted takes on your favorite villains and curling up with true crime TV, then this DC Black Label comic is a must read. It’s a grim and gritty world away from the uber-popular Young Adult DC books that Garcia is most well known for.
Joker: Folie À Deux, directed by Todd Phillips and starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, is now in theaters. Click here for tickets and showtimes.
Rosie Knight is an award-winning journalist and author who loves Swamp Thing, the DC Cosmic and writing the monthly gossip column here at DC.com. You can also listen to her waxing lyrical about comics, movies and more each week as she co-hosts Crooked Media’s pop-culture podcast, X-Ray Vision.
NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in this feature are solely those of Rosie Knight and do not necessarily reflect those of DC or Warner Bros. Discovery, nor should they be read as confirmation or denial of future DC plans.”}]]
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