5 Best Versions of Joker Ranked By Who’s the Scariest

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The Joker has changed a lot over the years, with each new take on the character mirroring the trends and ideas of the time. Sometimes he’s portrayed as a funny, mischievous villain whose crimes have a dark and ironic edge. Other times, he’s shown as a truly cruel and violent figure, a terrifying monster who enjoys causing pain, and his playful clown image is all but gone.

The Joker’s most defining trait, no matter how he’s depicted, is his adaptability. He can fit into different kinds of stories, whether as a deeply psychological enemy of Batman or as a force of complete disorder. Each version of the Joker mirrors the time period it was created in. This flexibility – from a playful trickster to a dangerous killer – is why he remains one of the most fascinating villains in comic books.

5. The Silver Age Joker (1950s-1960s)

During the 1950s and 60s, the Joker in comic books became less of a frightening villain and more of a silly trickster. He was known for ridiculous plans and over-the-top pranks, but wasn’t really scary. His crimes usually involved giant props, harmless jokes, and lots of slapstick comedy, making him seem more like a funny clown than a dangerous threat. While this version of the Joker was amusing, he wasn’t particularly menacing or frightening because he didn’t seem truly malicious.

Even though the Silver Age Joker often seemed comical, he could still be disturbing. His intense focus on Batman never wavered, and his erratic behavior suggested a truly dangerous side hidden beneath the surface. This version of the Joker demonstrated that even when aiming for humor, his strangeness and love of chaos could be genuinely unsettling.

4. The Bronze Age Joker (1970s)

During the Bronze Age of comics, the Joker went back to being a truly frightening villain, more dangerous than he’d been in years. Stories like Denny O’Neil and Neal Adams’ The Joker’s Five-Way Revenge highlighted a Joker who was clever, brutal, and deadly. He wasn’t just a mischievous trickster anymore; he was a cold-blooded killer who wouldn’t hesitate to murder anyone who got in his way, whether they were his own followers or innocent people.

The Bronze Age Joker was especially frightening because he was incredibly intelligent and clearly enjoyed causing chaos. He wasn’t simply a murderer, but someone who created mayhem as if it were art, leaving behind both victims and insanity. This period re-established him as a terrifying figure, paving the way for even more disturbing incarnations of the Joker in the years that followed.

3. The ‘Death of the Family’ Joker (2012)

Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s ‘Joker from the Death of the Family’ storyline took the Joker to a disturbingly new extreme. In this version, he horrifically cut off and reattached his own face, becoming a truly frightening figure. Combined with his relentless focus on dismantling Batman’s relationships, this Joker became one of the character’s most terrifying appearances yet.

This Joker was terrifying not only because of how he looked, but also because of his ability to mess with people’s minds. He expertly targeted Batman’s allies, using their weaknesses against them to make them doubt Batman. His disturbing obsession with Batman drove him to do anything for attention, even hurting the people Batman loved, and his warped idea of affection was truly unsettling.

2. The ‘Endgame’ Joker (2014-2015)

Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s take on the Joker elevated the character to a whole new level of horror. They presented him as a potentially immortal being who has tormented Gotham for centuries, making him almost supernatural in his evil. He became even more terrifying when he unleashed a deadly virus on the city, turning people into crazed and violent individuals, effectively establishing him as a godlike figure of fear.

This Joker was terrifying because he was so unpredictable and increasingly cruel. He wasn’t simply trying to harm Batman; his goal was to tear down Gotham City and definitively prove he was Batman’s greatest enemy. It didn’t matter if he could actually live forever; this Joker embodied unstoppable chaos, something Batman could never completely overcome, making him one of the most frightening versions of the character ever created.

1. The ‘Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth’ Joker (1989)

Grant Morrison and Dave McKean’s Joker from Arkham Asylum is famous for being incredibly disturbing. This Joker isn’t just a villain; he’s a bizarre, almost demonic presence who seems to come alive within the walls of Arkham Asylum. He’s both horrifying and mysterious, presented as a wild, unpredictable force fueled by chaos and a disturbing energy. His words and deeds make it impossible to tell if he’s simply insane or truly evil, making him exceptionally frightening.

This Joker is truly terrifying because he distorts what’s real. The unsettling, dreamlike artwork enhances his strange and inhuman quality, making him seem like the embodiment of Gotham City’s madness. He’s not just a danger to Batman, but also to our own sense of normalcy and comprehension. His capacity to create sheer psychological horror makes him the most frightening version of the Joker ever seen in comics.

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2026-01-11 00:40