3. Mad Love - Paul Dini And Bruce Timm
Mad Love is a nice break from the usual Joker fare dark, menacing and horrific art and story as it's drawn in the style of the Batman Animated Series, the acclaimed 90s TV show, with clean, sharp lines and colours. Mad Love also introduces Paul Dini and Bruce Timm's greatest contribution to the DC Universe: Harley Quinn. The story explores Harley's origins beginning when she got her start as Harleen Quinzel, an interning psychiatrist at Arkham Asylum, and her fatal contact with the Joker, her patient, who took advantage of Harleen's inexperience to gain her sympathy and turn her into a devoted follower. The book shows off Joker's manipulative side superbly and gives the character another dimension as Harley goes from being a female goon amidst his posse of clown-themed goons to his regular sidekick and lover. Can a monster like Joker love? What must that love be like? And does it make him less of a monster? Beautiful art from Bruce Timm whose style defined the look of the Batman Animated Series, and an always inventive script from Paul Dini makes Mad Love an insanely fun Joker book.