The Joker is never one to shy away from grand schemes, having orchestrated many of the worst tragedies in DC and its multiverse. Over the years, his plans have grown more and more terrifying and impactful, namely his actions in Batman: Death of the Family. Always trying to outdo himself, Joker truly went for the gold in the latest crossover Bat-Family storyline: "The Joker War."
Desiring to break Batman's will by shattering the public trust of the Dark Knight, Joker concocts a plan to cripple the Wayne fortune and rob Batman of his technological advantages. Billed as one of the most epic stories of the year, Joker War often lived up to that promise - but occasionally fell short.
10 Worth The Hype: Punchline's Introduction
DC had been hyping of Punchline's debut for quite a while, with the new villainess being a replacement for Harley Quinn as Joker's sidekick and paramour. Nearly the complete opposite of Harley, Punchline has a more steely and cutthroat demeanor and maintains a personal vendetta against Quinn.
She's cold, calculating, and fiery, believing Joker's goals and aspirations to be those of a genius. In time, Punchline could make quite the formidable addition to Batman's rogue gallery.
9 Letdown: Punchline's Introduction (Again)
On the flip side of things, Punchline's character can arguably be seen as unoriginal. She's a real partner to Joker, who'd seemingly never go against him... like some other multiverse versions of Harley. Something that could have been done to change that would've been just to make her a pure anarchist or a citizen who'd become dissatisfied with Batman's way of doing things. Joker doesn't have to have a partner. After all, his one true love is Batman.
Granted, her new solo series may very well flesh her out into something far beyond Joker's latest underling.
8 Worth The Hype: Bat-Family... Assemble
"I work alone" is probably the biggest lie Batman ever tells people. Over the years, he's had various sidekicks, partners, and allies aiding him in his quest to rid Gotham of crime. Each member of his group has developed well into their own characters who can function and live outside of his shadow.
Nowadays, the gang only gets together in times of crisis, namely the Joker War. Seeing nearly all the Bat-Family members working together is always a welcome sight - as was their newest addition.
7 Letdown: Poison Ivy's Absence
Following the events of Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy, the titular pair were taking a break from each other. Despite attempts at a more heroic life, Ivy seemed to be still disillusioned with heroes following her death and revival in Heroes in Crisis. Ivy was last seen in New York City after she and Harley teamed up with Batwoman, and she would have had plenty of time to travel back to Gotham.
Almost all of Batman's other central rogues make appearances in one form or another in Joker War. Though Ivy's garden paradise, Eden, is used by Harley, she doesn't surface until after Joker War. Though this was arguably done to better set the stage for Ivy's return to villainy, her involvement in Joker War wouldn't have detracted much from it, as she probably would've only joined in the fight to protect The Green. Plus, Punchline would have her hands full if she threatened both Eden and Harley in Ivy's presence.
6 Worth The Hype: Clownhunter
Punchline wasn't the only new to be introduced through Joker War, with Clownhunter emerging as Gotham's newest vigilante. Born Bao Pham, Clownhunter has a particular grudge against Joker and anyone associated with him since Joker was responsible for the murder of Pham's parents five years before the events of the Joker War.
Having previously looked up to the Dark Knight, Clownhunter believes that Batman has failed in his job to protect Gotham. Taking matters into his own hands, Clownhunter fights with a baseball adorned with a Batarang, using it to kill multiple scores of Joker's clowns. Continuing to operate well after the War's conclusion, Clownhunter's more lethal methods put him at odds with the Bat-Family.
5 Letdown: The Designer
Introducing new villains to Batman's central rogue's gallery is always welcome, with Hush being the newest villain introduced in 2003. The Designer would've given Gotham's villains some much-needed overall organization and could've become a great threat in his own right. He had previously visited Gotham City right when Batman began his career, and The Designer observed Joker, Catwoman, The Riddler, and The Penguin before recruiting them for a master scheme.
Joker's insanity proved too much for The Designer to handle, and he was seemingly killed, leaving his machinations in the dust. However, The Designer's plan - or some variation of it - was put into motion anyways. The Designer himself appeared alive and well, even dueling Batman in a swordfight. Unfortunately, it was only his corpse, operated and controlled by Joker. Though it did set up the rest of Joker War nicely, it ultimately feels like a waste of a new character.
4 Worth The Hype: Reestablished Joker As Batman's Most Terrifying and Threatening Foe
With the introduction of The Batman Who Laughs - an alternate version of Batman who was poisoned by a mixture of chemicals released from Joker's body when he died - Joker himself was starting to fade from the spotlight. The Batman Who Laughs acted as one of the most prominent threats to DC's main universe, retaining Batman's intellect while gaining Joker's warped sense of reality.
Thanks to Joker War, however, Joker leveled the playing field once again in his favor. For a brief moment, he was one of the most powerful people on the planet, having access to Bruce Wayne's fortune, technology, and connections. The zombie army was a good touch too. Though he's gone into hiding for now, everyone knows the next time he resurfaces is going to be even worse.
3 Letdown: Another Jokerfied/Resurrected Alfred
Batman's butler, Alfred Pennyworth, can't ever seem to catch a break. He's been used in more plots against The Dark Knight than any other Bat-Family member, something that Joker attributes to the close relationship between Bruce and Alfred. It's an oversight of Joker to think that Batman doesn't care about his wards, extended family, and proteges as much as Alfred, making the Clown Prince of Crime look unoriginal.
Alfred was previously controlled in Death of the Family and has died and been revived in numerous other storylines, such as Injustice. There are more original ways to get under the Bat's skills, like Clayface's impersonation of Jason Todd in Batman: Hush. Joker knows Batman's identity, so why not dig up his parents to really hit him where it really hurts?
2 Worth The Hype: Harley Quinn's Official Hero Status
The road to redemption has been long and complicated for Harley Quinn, which included long stints as part of The Suicide Squad and sometimes even veering off the right track. Though she's been notably more dedicated to helping out the unfortunate, helping her former enemies take down her former lover is what ultimately sealed the deal.
Sure, Harley hasn't yet committed to Batman's famous "no killing rule," but not everyone in the Bat-Family has either. Though there was limited content of her fighting alongside the other Bat-Family members, she was ultimately responsible for the war's outcome (more on that in the next point).
1 Letdown: Same Outcome As Always
During the climactic finish of Joker War, Harley strapped bombs to herself and Joker and gave Batman an ultimatum. She wanted Batman to finally bring about change to Gotham through Joker's death, stating that Joker's imprisonment just "wasn't good enough" anymore. Joker laughed at the plan, believing Batman would never allow him to be killed. Much to Joker's surprise and anger, Batman left to save Harley.
Harley's bomb detonated, but not before Batman successfully saved the pair from the blast zone. Joker's bomb was found intact and deactivated, leaving no other trace. Though Batman claims the city is different now, but the only real difference is the public's distrust for Bruce Wayne and Batman. Joker dying at the hands of Harley Quinn would've been a full-circle moment for her and would have brought about a fresh change to comics.