The relationship between Batman and The Joker is one of the most twisted and dynamic in superhero comics; almost all the greatest Batman stories at least marginally focus on The Joker and how he tests Batman's limits.

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With the dozens of stories that have been told across many mediums about the rivalry between The Dark Knight and The Clown Prince of Crime, it's difficult to narrow down the greatest. But there are some special scenes between The Caped Crusader and his arch rival that stand out above the rest. Without further ado, here's the 10 best scenes shared by Batman and The Joker.

10 The Joker Spares Batman - "Joker's Five Way Revenge"

Dennis O'Neil & Neal Adams' "Joker's Five Way Revenge" created the modern Joker: a gleefully sadistic murderer who was unquestionably Batman's greatest enemy. The most important scene is when the Joker gets the drop on Batman and knocks him unconscious. Then, the unexpected happens; the Joker shows mercy, reasoning that killing Batman in this state would be an unfitting and anti-climactic end to their feud. The Joker's desire to make sure his final victory over Batman is "perfect" has been used many times since, and is what layered their relationship beyond a simple hero vs villain dynamic.

9 Alley Beating - "Hush"

Joker Hush

Batman's refusal to kill is his core moral conviction, but he has been tempted to break this code, such as during Chapter 7 of the 12-part "Hush" storyline, when he came across the Joker standing over the corpse of Bruce Wayne's childhood friend Thomas Elliot. Batman ruthlessly pummels the Joker, despite the clown's protests that he's innocent. Commissioner Gordon arrives in the alley and talks Batman down, but the scene remains a frightening demonstration of what Batman would be without morals, while also being laced in irony since, as readers later learn, the Joker was telling the truth.

8 The Joker Calls For Batman's Help - "Joker's Favor"

Batman The Animated Series remains one of the most highly regarded versions of Batman and his world, with at least two dozen classic episodes. One such episode is "Joker's Favor," where the hapless Charlie Collins finds himself blackmailed by he Joker after unknowingly insulting the clown during a moment of road rage.

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The episode end with Charlie, pushed to the brink, threatening the Joker with one of his own bombs, prompting the Joker to do something utterly unexpected: call out for Batman's help.

7 Bruce Wayne & Joker Stare-Off - "A Death In The Family"

A Death In The Family Stare-Off

After the horrific murder of Jason Todd"A Death In The Family" dives headfirst into absurdity when the Joker becomes the Iranian ambassador to the United Nations. However, this does bequeath one great moment; an unmasked Bruce Wayne, unable to conceal his rage at Jason's death, makes eye contact with the Joker before the clown walks away cackling. It's ambiguous to both the reader and Bruce himself whether the Joker recognized Batman, and whether he even cared.

6 Waterfall - "Death Of The Family"

In "Death Of The Family," the Joker abducts the entire Bat-family then takes them to an underground cavern. After setting the cavern ablaze, the Joker implores Batman to let his protégés die so they can be alone together. But Bruce spurns him, breaking free and dousing the fire. While chasing the Joker deeper into the caves, they reach a waterfall; there Batman claims to have discovered the Joker's real name, but before he can reveal it, The Joker shoves a joy-buzzer in his face, seemingly falling to his doom. Much as the Joker doesn't want to know Batman's true name since knowing it would diminish his greatest enemy's stature, he doesn't want Batman to know his.

5 Final Fight Flashback - Return Of The Joker

The Joker has "died" several times, but these deaths have been reversed, with one exception: Batman Beyond: Return Of The Joker features an extended flashback telling the last battle between the DCAU Batman and Joker.

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The Joker and Harley Quinn abduct Robin/Tim Drake then spend weeks torturing him in the ruins of Arkham Asylum, molding him into "Joker Jr." before inviting Batman and Batgirl for a look at their handiwork. As the Joker taunts Bruce with his newfound knowledge of Batman's identity, he inspires a rage in Batman with heretofore unseen murderous rage. But in the end, the Joker is denied death at his adversary's hands, instead being felled by the boy he tormented.

4 Interrogation - The Dark Knight

Batman-Joker-Dark-Knight-Interrogation

Critics and fans hold up The Dark Knight as the best Batman film, and the gone-too-soon Heath Ledger's mesmerizing portrayal of the Joker is a big reason for this continued acclaim. Ledger's best scene is when he's interrogated by Batman to learn the location of the kidnapped Harvey Dent. Despite Batman being the interrogator and unafraid of inflicting pain, the Joker remains firmly in control throughout the scene; he eventually reveals Dent's fiancée Rachel Dawes had been kidnapped as well and both are set to be killed, forcing Batman to choose which of the hostages to save (conveniently, the Joker mixes up the addresses).

3 Terry Gets Under The Joker's Skin - Return Of The Joker

Terry vs the Joker Cropped

Yes, one of the best moments between the Joker and Batman happened when it wasn't Bruce Wayne in the costume. Instead of silently ignoring the Joker's taunts as Bruce had always done, Terry McGinnis, dismissed by the Joker as a pretender to the cowl, opts to mock the mocker right back by deconstructing both the Joker's pathetic fixation on Batman and his mediocre comedy act. Terry manages to defeat the Joker in a way Bruce never could; he beats the Joker at his own game.

2 A Laugh In The Rain - "The Killing Joke"

Joker and Batman Laugh at the end of The Killing Joke

The central thesis behind "The Killing Joke," that Batman and the Joker are inverted reflections of one another, has defined their relationship since. After all, Batman is living proof of the Joker's claim that "all it takes is one bad day to reduce the sanest man alive to lunacy" isn't entirely incorrect.

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Both characters are at their most human in the final scene; Batman offers the Joker a sincere chance at rehabilitation but the Joker declines, realizing it's too late for him. He then tells a joke about insanity and the false hope of escape; the punchline delivers a moment of clarity about their relationship, and the pair react the only rational way: by sharing a laugh.

1 Tunnel Of Love - "The Dark Knight Returns"

TDKR Batman Chokes Joker

While "The Killing Joke" articulated how Batman and the Joker mirror each other, "The Dark Knight Returns" made the latent homoeroticism of their relationship into outright subtext; in the story's third chapter, "Hunt The Dark Knight," their final battle takes place in a Tunnel of Love, and the Joker derides Batman's refusal to kill him as if he's mocking a partner's impotence. When Batman finally snaps his neck just enough to cripple him, the Joker finishes the job himself to frame Batman for his killing, going out with a laugh.

NEXT: 5 Reasons That Year One Is Frank Miller’s Best Batman Story (& 5 Why The Dark Knight Returns Is)