10 Best Ed Brubaker Comics Fans Must Read

10. Batman: The Man Who Laughs

As a writer most noted for his love of noir, it’s no surprise that Ed Brubaker has dipped his toe in the murky waters of Gotham on several occasions. Batman: The Man Who Laughs is a 2005 one-shot by Brubaker and artist Doug Mahnke.

It was intended as a follow-up to Frank Miller’s Batman: Year One and takes its name from the 1869 novel by Victor Hugo of the same title. The novel’s character, Gwynplaine, was one of the original inspirations for The Joker. He was mutilated as a child, leaving his scarred face stuck in a permanent grin.

As a sequel, of sorts, to Year One, the plot is based on The Joker’s introduction in the original Batman #1 from 1940 and details the first interaction between the Clown Prince Of Crime and the Caped Crusader.

Any origin story is going to detract from the mystery of The Joker and this one is no different. But Brubaker nailed the chilling insanity of the character as he attempts to poison Gotham’s water supply with the toxic chemicals that changed his appearance.

It may not quite rival The Killing Joke as the ultimate Joker story, but it is a solid entry in the mythology of Gotham’s most notorious madman.