In honor of the seventy-fifth anniversary of Joker, we're doing a countdown of your favorite Joker stories of all-time.
You all voted, now here are the results of what you chose as the 75 Greatest Joker Stories! Click here for a master list of all 75 stories.
Enjoy!
10. "Going Sane" (1994's Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #65-68)
In this intriguing storyline, J.M. DeMatteis explores just what would happen if Joker DID kill Batman. He theorizes in this story that he would basically go...well, SANE...
Of course, he didn't REALLY kill Batman and that's where things begin to fall apart for his new life (the art is by Joe Staton and Steve Mitchell).
9. "Slayride" (2006's Detective Comics #826)
Paul Dini, Don Kramer and Wayne Faucher deliver a brilliant one-off Christmas story where the Joker holds Robin hostage in a stolen car while he goes on a murderous Christmastime rampage...
It is an excellent look at both the resolve of Robin and the psychosis of the Joker. It is a gripping narrative.
8. "A Serious House on Serious Earth" (1989's Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth Original Graphic Novel
Grant Morrison and Dave McKean's graphic novel, Arkham Asylum, is built upon a fairly straightforward premise - the residents of Arkham Asylum have taken control of the facility and they will only stop killing people if Batman agrees to turn himself into the asylum...
However, that's just the necessary set-up to allow Morrison to basically deliver a series of striking set pieces featuring the various members of Arkham Asylum, with Batman visiting many of his old foes in states never before seen. The Joker, in particular, is given a tremendous re-design by Dave McKean (although, as noted in an old Comic Book Legends Revealed, Morrison's original idea for the Joker's look was considered TOO out there). Letterer Gaspar Saladino gave Joker his own distinct lettering, as well.
This comic was worlds ahead of its time.
Go to the next page for #7-6!
7. "The Joker" and "The Joker Returns" (1940's Batman #1)
Bill Finger, Bob Kane and Jerry Robinson's introduction of the Joker is one of the best villain introductions of the entire Golden Age...
What's amazing is that they intended to kill him off IN THIS ISSUE. Luckily for future comic book readers, an editor famously stepped in and changed the dialogue at the end of the issue.
6. "A Death in the Family" (1988's Batman #426-429)
1988 was a landmark year for the Joker, as it was the year where the Joker finally did something so horrific that it was solidified as part of Batman history from that point forward. In "A Death in the Family" by Jims Starlin and Aparo (with inks by Mike DeCarlo), the Joker actually SUCCEEDS in killing off a major superhero. In the story, he kills Batman's young partner, Robin (the second one, Jason Todd).
First the Joker beats Jason nearly to death...
And then more fatally, explodes him with a bomb...
This was the story where fans got to vote on whether Jason lived or died and sadly for him, they voted death. The Joker would never be quite the same after this (and the other 1988 story that you'll see later on the list).
Check back tomorrow for the top five!