There's no doubt the Joker is one of the most diabolical criminals of any rogues gallery. There's no other villain that's so symbiotically connected to their arch-nemesis, not Doctor Doom to Reed Richards or Lex Luthor to Superman. In a way, he's what Batman could be if he let the pain and anger inside of him burst.
This is why, after several decades, the Joker received another comic book series under his own name. This time around he didn't go on a spree against different heroes and villains. Instead, according to the events of Infinite Frontier #1, he's the world's most wanted man. Before readers delve into this series, they should read other foundational books that feature the Clown Prince of Crime.
10 The Killing Joke: Often Called The Ultimate Joker Origin Story
The Joker was definitely on a quest to hurt Batman and his allies in 1988. Toward the end of the year, he ended up killing Jason Todd. In the spring, he tackled two other members of the Bat Family in The Killing Joke.
Written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Brian Bolland, the graphic novel was loosely based on the 1950s Joker origin story "The Man Behind the Red Hood." In what many have described as the ultimate Joker story, the villain goes for wounding instead of killing. He shoots Barbara Gordon, causing her to be paralyzed, and works hard to make Jim Gordon cracked. The Joker's origin is intertwined with these events as well as Batman's hunt for the criminal.
9 Detective Comics #168: The Origin Of Joker Origin Stories
Though the Joker had been terrorizing Batman and Robin since the release of Batman #1 in 1940, readers didn't know the man's origins. That changed with Detective Comics #168 and "The Man Behind the Red Hood." Written by Bill Finger and penciled by Lew Sayre Schwartz, the story of how the Joker came to be had a lasting effect that continues even today.
The entire issue wasn't devoted to the villain's origin. Instead, it deals with a case Batman teaches students about that involves the thief known as the Red Hood. It's only in one of the last pages of the comic that the Joker reveals how he transformed from the Red Hood into who he is by falling into a vat of chemicals.
8 The Joker (Vol. 1): His First Solo Series Where He Is Pitted Against Lex Luthor, Green Arrow, & More
After being one of the most prominent members of Batman's rogues gallery for years, the Clown Prince of Crime took a four-year sabbatical starting in the late 1960s. When he returned in Batman #251, readers saw a Joker that resembled his earlier form. He was a homicidal maniac seemingly as smart as the Caped Crusader.
The Joker became so big that, in 1975, he was given his own series. Simply named The Joker, it ran for 10 issues. During that time, the criminal battled his villainous allies, like Lex Luthor, as well as heroes like the Creeper and Green Arrow.
7 Death in the Family: Joker Coaxes Jason Todd's Mother Into Torturing & Killing Her Son
Technically, Joker didn't kill Jason Todd in the four-issue "A Death in the Family" storyline. The explosion sequence, written by Jim Starlin and illustrated by Jim Aparo, is what killed him. It was also Batman's readers that gave the second Robin a death sentence.
Nevertheless, "A Death in the Family" showed the Joker at his most menacing. After Jason is relieved of his Boy Wonder duties by the Dark Knight, he travels to the Middle East where he believes he has found his birth mother. Turns out she's working for Joker, who tortures and beats Jason and leaves him for dead as a timer ticks off his impending doom.
6 Batman: Confidential #7-12: Another Fan Favorite Origin Is Depicted
Premiering in 2007, Batman Confidential was a series that focused on the Caped Crusader's early adventures. Each story arc featured a different creative team. Between issues #7-12, writer Michael Green and artist Denys Cowan took the reins and provided one of the Joker's definitive origins.
In "Lovers & Madmen," Batman crosses paths with a criminal who doesn't seem like the average stooge. Each time the Dark Knight encounters the villain he seems more psychotic. Eventually, Green and Cowan detail the black hat's fall into the chemical vat and his subsequent transformation.
5 Injustice - Gods Among Us: Joker Pushes Superman So Far That The Man of Steel Flat-Out Murders Him
Though not part of standard continuity, Injustice: Gods Among Us reveals an extremely deadly version of the Joker, one who's willing to torture the most powerful hero of the DC Universe. Unlike Batman, who's already damaged, what Joker does to Superman starts a chain reaction of death and destruction.
In the earliest issues of the series, the Joker releases the Scarecrow's fear venom to make Superman believe he's battling Doomsday. Unfortunately, it turns out he beat a pregnant Lois Lane to death. Right around the same time, Joker detonates a nuclear bomb within Metropolis city limits. It's no wonder the Man of Steel decides to kill Joker outright.
4 Death of the Family: Joker & Batman Engage In A Rare One-On-One Battle
Sometime in the not-too-distant future, creators Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo will be listed among the greatest Batman teams through the comic's long run. During DC's New 52 era, the writer and artist put together a storyline that affected not only Bruce Wayne but everyone connected to him in the Bat Family.
"Death of the Family," which spanned 23 issues in various comics, has the Joker return to Gotham City in search of the face he ripped off in an earlier storyline. After killing dozens of police officers, he goes after members of the Bat Family and their allies. Eventually, it all comes back to Batman and Joker in a face-to-face battle.
3 Three Jokers: The Concept Of Multiple Simultaneous Jokers Is Introduced
As the Rebirth era of DC Comics began, one of the questions that emerged in the Batman universe was about Joker. While sitting in the Mobius chair, the Dark Knight discovered there was more than one of them out there. In fact, there were at least three.
This idea was fleshed out in the 2020 miniseries Batman: Three Jokers. Written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Jason Fabok, it revealed three types of Jokers: The Clown, The Comedian, and the Criminal. Batman is joined by Batgirl and Jason Todd, two people who faced direct attacks by the Joker. Together, the trio tries to discern who these criminals really are.
2 Batman - White Knight: Joker Regains His Sanity & Goes Straight, While Batman Does The Opposite
The question has come up numerous times over the history of DC Comics: What would happen if the Joker became sane? Would he continue to be a criminal or go straight?
It's a little bit of both in Batman: White Knight by Sean Murphy. The miniseries is set in a world where Jack Napier regains his sanity. With the help of a more stable Harley Quinn, Napier campaigns to take down Batman, who seems to have gone insane himself. In the end, while spiteful at the start, Napier goes full-on good guy toward the end of the series.
1 Joker War: Joker Takes Over Bruce Wayne's Company, His Fortune, & His Bat-Arsenal
One of the last major Joker storylines before the start of DC's Infinite Frontier, "Joker War" pits the Clown Prince of Crime against a weakened Batman. The multi-issue story has Joker taking possession of Wayne Enterprises, Bruce's vast fortune, and the Caped Crusader's inventory of "toys." From there, he goes on a rampage throughout Gotham.
Though every battle between Bats and Joker is both physical and psychological, this one is more of the latter. Dosed with a more powerful version of the Joker venom, Batman hears the voice of the dead Alfred in his head and gets sucker-punched by Harley Quinn. It takes a good deal of Bat-Resolve— and his allies— to take Joker down. At least, for the time being.