Choosing the best Joker comics can be tough, given the character’s nearly eight-decade history. From comics to films, TV series, and even novels, there’s no shortage of material centered on this kooky, complex villain. If you’re just jumping into Joker comics, here’s a great place to start.
The Joker has been portrayed as everything from an agent of chaos and brutal mass murderer to a mischievous prankster and tragic outcast. Our obsession with him lies in this confusing paradox: we hate him, but simultaneously, we feel for the guy. And these complicated feelings towards the Joker are constantly evolving. If any of us remember our first time watching The Dark Knight, most of us left thinking he was pure evil. Now? Controversial take here, but maybe he has some grey-area philosophical points (though definitely not the best way of expressing them).
While this list isn’t comprehensive, it does highlight some of our favorite Joker moments and portrayals.
Image Credit: DC Comics
From writer and artist Frank Miller, The Dark Knight Returns is a four-issue series published in 1986 that sits at the top of our list of the best Joker comics. Regarded as one of the best Batman comics ever created, The Dark Knight Returns is set ten years after Batman’s retirement following the tragic death of Jason Todd. Bruce Wayne is forced to come out of hiding to save a decaying Gotham, rotted by chaos and violence. News of Batman’s return makes its way to Arkham Asylum, awakening the previously catatonic Joker.
While unquestionably a Batman-centric comic, The Dark Knight Returns shows just how deeply Batman and the Joker are intertwined. Batman can’t bring himself to destroy the Joker (even when he finally has the chance), and the Joker can’t seem to live without Batman. Nowhere is this more evident than in their showdown in the tunnel of love. It’s a brutal sequence and one of the most unforgettable Joker moments in comics. The comic also features one of the Joker’s most chilling quotes:
“They could put me in a helicopter and fly me up into the air and line the bodies head to toe on the ground in delightful geometric patterns like an endless June Taylor Dancers routine — and it would never be enough. No, I don’t keep count. But you do. And I love you for it.”
Yikes.
Image Credit: DC Comics
Well, just because the aforementioned showdown didn’t end in Batman’s final takedown of the Joker, don’t worry! We’ve got another chance with Batman: Endgame. From Scott Snyder and artist Greg Capullo comes a six-issue series that culminates in yet another big confrontation between the Joker and Batman. Endgame can be dense for readers, especially for newcomers to the Batman mythos. But make no mistake — this one’s a full-throttle thrill ride. With a twist-packed plot, some truly disturbing violence (we won’t spoil it, but yes, there’s limb loss), supernatural elements, and plenty of psychological depth, Endgame is a standout read for superthrillist fans.
Endgame, published in 2014, also gives us a satisfying return of the Joker to comics after the Batman: Death of the Family (not to be confused with Batman: Death in the Family) arc, which concluded in 2013. While the gap from 2013 to 2014 might not seem huge, it was long enough to feel like a noticeable absence for fans who missed the Clown Prince of Chaos. His return here not only raises the stakes but also closes out this version of the Joker before DC’s New 52 relaunch revamped the entire universe.
Image Credit: DC Comics
A Death in the Family is a 3-issue series (#426-#429) published in 1988, and despite its often ludicrous plot, it remains one of the most memorable Joker stories. A Death in the Family begins with Batman, believing Jason Todd to be emotionally unstable, relieving Robin of his duties. The main arc follows Batman and Robin (Jason Todd) as they pursue the Joker, who has recently escaped Arkham Asylum. They discover that the Joker has stolen a nuclear weapon and is now roaming the world.
Meanwhile, Robin — a divisive character among Batman fans who became unpopular with fans as writers made him too rebellious — sets off on a personal quest to find his birth mother. What could go wrong? In a devastating twist, she betrays him to the Joker, ultimately leading to his death. Among the more outlandish plot points is the Joker’s appointment as the Iranian ambassador to the United Nations, which just makes us laugh.
Okay, so why is this on our list of the best Joker comics beyond the wild story? Sure, we could talk about the critical feedback, which is primarily positive, with many critics calling A Death in the Family peak ’80s comic book fun. But for us, what truly adds A Death in the Family to the list of the best Joker comics is the fan vote that determined the character’s fate. After the first two issues were published, DC Comics held a controversial phone-in poll, giving fans the power to decide whether Jason Todd would live or die. In a razor-thin vote — 5,343 to 5,271 — fans gave him the Roman thumbs down. The writers didn’t leave us hanging, though, and brought us a shocking, brutal finale for the second Robin (RIP).
Image Credit: DC Comics
From writer-artist Sean Murphy comes White Knight, an eight-issue limited series published between 2017 and 2018. The story begins with Batman, Batgirl, and Nightwing in a high-speed chase through Gotham after the Joker, which results in the deaths of multiple innocent bystanders. Batman eventually corners the Joker in a pharmaceutical warehouse and forces him to take an unknown drug — one that unexpectedly cures his insanity. While the outcome of said sanity may seem reasonable, how Batman goes about his acts of heroism raises a central question: Is Batman doing more harm than good? And if goodness comes at the cost of others, is it truly good at all? It’s a compelling philosophical debate, and this comic earns its place on our list of best Joker stories for that reason.
Beyond its superhero narrative, White Knight addresses real-world issues such as economic inequality, systemic injustice, and the timeless adage “power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” The White Knight, albeit very entertaining, challenges readers to consider who gets to wield authority, how justice is defined, and whether those fighting for order may also be contributing to the very chaos they seek to eliminate. And in having to unpack this as readers, maybe we all feel a little more like the Joker ourselves.
Image Credit: DC Comics
Because we’re talking about the Joker, we can’t put together a list of the best Joker comics without mentioning the most infamous one, though whether or not to read it is certainly up to the reader’s discretion. The Killing Joke, a 1988 graphic novel by Alan Moore and artist Brian Bolland, is a nonlinear narrative that offers a possible origin story for the Joker, portraying him as a failed comedian who turns to a life of crime to support his family. Interwoven with these flashbacks is the present-time plot: the Joker, believing one bad enough act can turn someone insane, shoots Batgirl (Barbara Gordon) in the stomach and kidnaps Commissioner Gordon. With Gordon captured, he psychologically tortures him, using disturbing graphic images of his wounded, clotheless daughter to drive him insane.
Fair warning: the graphic novel includes violent imagery, including depictions of Barbara Gordon that many readers — and Moore himself — have criticized as overly gratuitous, sexualized, and problematic. Moore has publicly expressed regret over the story’s treatment of Barbara, saying it went too far for a comic book. Still, The Killing Joke makes our list of the best Joker comics due to its interesting nonlinear structure and compelling take on the Joker’s origin story.
With so many great stories to choose from, we picked the best Joker comics based on a mix of narrative impact and artistic quality (featuring some incredible artwork by comic legends like Brian Bolland, Frank Miller, Jim Aparo, and Greg Capullo). We also looked for comics that gave us both versatility in depictions of this beloved character, whether he was written as a chaotic trickster, a brutal villain, a tragic figure, or a psychological mirror to Batman himself.
Like some of our other “best of” lists, we also considered how each of these comics contributed to the larger Batman mythos, the cultural conversation it sparked, and whether it brought something new to the table, like a philosophical dilemma or even a defining moment for another character. And some of the best Joker comics made the list simply because they’re too iconic (or too unhinged) to ignore.
Choosing the best Joker comics can be tough, given the character’s nearly eight-decade history. Here’s where to start. Read More