1. The Killing Joke
Published: March 1988
Author: Alan Moore
The Big Bad: Joker
The Premise: The Joker kidnaps Commissioner Gordon and his daughter Barbara in an attempt to drive the man insane all the while donning flashbacks to his past and origin of the smiling maniac.
Why it Would Work: The Killing Joke is the best Joker story of all time. Hands down. There's no debating it. It not only offers us a look into his origins, which could be tied to the television universe through Monster Men as well, but gives us a true glimpse into the insanity of the character. Seeing the Joker as a normal person struggling with life's stressors adds so much more depth to the character who went insane after "one bad day." His subsequent attempts to prove that he could do the same to Gordon, and failing after putting the man and his daughter through such horrible trials adds flesh to the bones of both characters. If there were ever a story which mirrors Batman with the Joker this is it. The Last Arkham, Serious Earth, and Sleeping all open Bruce's mind to us but no story does so like the Killing Joke. We're presented with the idea that Batman is just as mad, just as demented, as this crazed killer. While his insanity is on a different frequency it can't be denied that the subtext of the words shine a light on Batman's delusions. Simultaneously the story reminds us why the two are so different with the Joker thriving on methodical chaos and Bruce with his desire to control every aspect of himself. Somehow Moore's writing allows us to see on the same frequency of both characters and while we completely condemn the Joker for his actions we begin to empathize with his madness. The Killing Joke isn't without its lasting consequences. While Jim Gordon retains his sanity and moral code he is greatly traumatized. The consequences are much harsher for Barbara who is paralyzed but later finds her niche as Oracle - a character that could come to be a recurring figure within the series. Seeing Batman lose his stoic demeanor to laugh along with the Joker in the end says more about the characters on one page than most stories say in entire arcs. If there's a Joker to be found in a Batman TV series it must be THIS Joker. A great story is everything. Without good writing nothing else matters. If and when DC does decide to give Batman his own live-action television series these ten stories are the source material they should be handing over to the creators. Do you agree? Leave us a comment with your opinions.