Set years in the future, The Dark Knight Returns focused on an older Bruce Wayne suiting up as Batman. The Joker had spent years in an asylum, but the Caped Crusader's re-emergence brought his insanity to the fore, and he once again went after his old foe. Sick of playing games with him, Batman savagely beat him, stabbed him in the eye with a Batarang, and broke his neck. When it became clear he wouldn't finish the job, The Joker did it for him. This felt like a fitting end for their relationship, especially as it meant that The Joker was able to have the last laugh by framing Batman for his murder. Unsurprisingly, he died laughing!
