Batman: The Joker's 6 Essential Stories

Let's put a smile on that face!

The Killing Joke Joker is the greatest comic supervillain there's ever been: a homicidal clown with no superpowers but a fiendishly brilliant mind which has made him Batman's greatest foe, challenging him again and again throughout the years. Joker's got an iconic look with a smile that makes nightmares all by itself; the alabaster white skin, the bright green hair, the purple suit, and that echoing, never-ending laughter. He's a perfectly chilling figure whose bright appearance contrasts Batman's dark outfits yet inspires the same level of fear - maybe more. And then there's the question of his sanity: is he mad? Could someone not in charge of their faculties elude Batman for so long (constantly being caught and breaking out of Arkham Asylum), or create some of the most elaborate schemes the Dark Knight has ever faced? And if he is sane... well, he must be insane because he's choosing to be this way! In recent years he's appeared sparingly in Batman comics. In 2011 when DC launched their New 52 range, Joker appeared in Detective Comics #1, escaping Arkham Asylum once more but this time leaving behind his severed grinning face hanging on the wall. He appeared a year later in Scott Snyder's Death of the Family arc before disappearing again at the end - did he die? He's not been seen since Death of the Family ended over a year ago (discounting the godawful Villain's Month Joker #1 by Andy "Damian Son of Batman" Kubert). So if you're missing the Clown Prince of Crime, or maybe you just want to read some brilliant Joker comics, here are the greatest books featuring Joker. Let's put a smile on that face!
Contributor
Contributor

I reads and watches thems picture stories. Wordy words follow. My blog is http://samquixote.blogspot.co.uk , and if you want to see all the various places I contribute to, or want to send me a message, you can find links to everything here: http://about.me/noelthorne/#