7 Best Joker Comics of All Time, Ranked (& “The Killing Joke” Isn’t #1)

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Batman is a legendary comic book hero, but his greatest enemy, the Joker, is almost as famous. For over 80 years, the Joker has been a constant source of trouble for Batman, causing chaos in Gotham City while also captivating fans. He’s a frightening yet compelling villain that many people have both loved and disliked throughout the years in comics, movies, and other media.

What makes the Joker such a lasting and fascinating villain is the wealth of compelling stories told about him. These stories often explore different sides of his personality – sometimes he’s darkly humorous, other times genuinely frightening, and he frequently serves as a critique of society or our own perceptions. Here are seven of the best Joker comic book stories ever written, and surprisingly, “The Killing Joke” didn’t make the list.

7) Batman #1

No list of important Batman comics would be complete without the first issue from 1940. This comic is a turning point in DC Comics history because it established Batman’s rule against killing, after readers reacted to his actions in that particular issue. It also introduced two iconic characters: Catwoman and the Joker. Though quite different from modern Batman comics, this issue lays the groundwork for everything that makes the Joker such a compelling villain. In fact, many of the villain’s core traits are already present and are recognizable from Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight movie.

I was absolutely hooked when I first read Batman #1! The Joker just strolled onto the scene and started broadcasting his crimes on the radio – announcing when and where he’d strike, and basically laughing at the police and terrifying everyone. It wasn’t just random chaos, either. He left his calling cards at every crime and used this awful poison that froze people’s faces into these creepy, grinning masks. It quickly became clear he was way more dangerous than some silly prankster. Things got really scary when he even managed to capture Robin! Thankfully, Batman pulled it together and rescued Robin, finally stopping the Joker. The story ended with the Joker being sent to prison, but even then, he was already promising he’d escape… and honestly, knowing his track record, we all knew he probably would.

6) Batman: White Knight

It’s clear the Joker’s villainy stems from issues far beyond just mental health, but it’s fun to imagine what would happen if he recovered and became a good person. That’s the premise of Batman: White Knight, an eight-issue comic series by Sean Murphy. The story begins with Batman defeating the Joker and forcing him into treatment, resulting in a cure. Now sane and calling himself Jack Napier, the Joker enters politics, aiming to rehabilitate his image and, surprisingly, save Gotham from what he sees as the true danger: Batman.

The idea behind this story is compelling, but it’s more complex than a simple switch of who’s good and who’s evil. Batman’s unusually forceful methods have a reason, and the Joker’s supposed change of heart isn’t straightforward either. There are many layers to the story, but what could make it truly exceptional isn’t just the Joker’s reformation. It’s the insightful commentary on important issues like wealth disparity and the need for police reform, plus the long-standing question of how Batman and the Joker are completely reliant on each other.

5) Detective Comics #475 (“The Laughing Fish”)

The Joker is known for being a truly frightening villain in DC Comics, but one of his most unusual stories deserves a mention: “The Laughing Fish,” originally published in Detective Comics #475 in 1978. This story is unique, blending disturbing content with surprisingly funny moments – a classic combination for comics from that era, known as the Bronze Age.

Gotham City finds itself in a bizarre predicament when every fish in the ocean inexplicably develops the Joker’s face. But that’s just the beginning – the Joker has poisoned the fish to resemble him, allowing him to claim copyright over their appearance and sue anyone who uses them. This outlandish scheme is actually part of a larger plot involving multiple murders. It’s easily one of the strangest, yet most brilliant, Joker stories ever told.

4) Detective Comics #180 (“Joker’s Millions”)

If you’ve ever felt a strange sympathy for a villain, you’ll enjoy this classic Batman story. “Joker’s Millions” pits the Joker against his most relatable enemy: the IRS. He unexpectedly inherits a fortune from a mob boss, and for once, tries to go straight thanks to his newfound wealth (even though most of the money turns out to be fake!). But when the IRS comes looking for inheritance taxes, the Joker is forced to resort to small-time crime to solve his problem.

Ultimately, the Joker suffers a complete defeat. He’s forced to resort to ordinary crimes, which he finds beneath him, and when Batman and Robin discover the money is fake, they use it as evidence to get him arrested. Despite the story’s seemingly lighthearted premise, it’s surprisingly intricate and cleverly highlights key aspects of the Joker’s personality – particularly his massive ego, which makes him such a dangerous and compelling villain.

3) Batman: Endgame

As a huge Batman fan, I have to say Batman: Endgame by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo really dives into what feels like the ultimate showdown between Batman and the Joker. It starts with Scarecrow unleashing a fear toxin, but things quickly get way worse. Batman suddenly has the entire Justice League turning on him – they’ve all been infected with a super-powerful Joker toxin! When Batman tries to figure out what’s going on at Arkham, he meets this orderly, Eric Border, who shockingly reveals he’s the Joker! And this Joker isn’t just interested in a game – he’s tired of Batman and wants to finally end things for good.

What follows is a rapidly escalating conflict. The Joker unleashes a deadly, incurable disease on Gotham, attacks Commissioner Gordon, and causes such widespread chaos that Batman is forced to seek help from the mysterious Court of Owls. The Joker is even revealed to be using a special fluid to heal himself and continue his destructive acts. Ultimately, Batman and the Joker engage in a final, fatal battle within the Batcave, which collapses around them. It’s a dark and intense story—definitely not for the faint of heart—but it offers a fascinating look at one possible conclusion to the iconic Batman/Joker rivalry.

2) Detective Comics #168

First published in 1951, Detective Comics #168 is a key issue for Joker fans because it reveals his origin story for the first time. The story features Batman and Robin teaching a class at a state university, presenting them with an unsolved case: the Red Hood. This criminal evaded capture by leaping into a chemical vat at the Ace Playing Card Company and was never seen again.

The story eventually reveals that the Joker was once the Red Hood. He started as a lab employee who wanted to steal a million dollars and retire, which led him to become the Red Hood. During the robbery, he fell into chemicals, and while the hood saved his life, the chemicals drastically changed his appearance. This frightening new look is what inspired him to become the Joker. Though the Joker’s backstory has been retold and changed many times, this version is the basis for most of them.

1) Gotham Central #12-15 (“Soft Targets”)

Many people associate the Joker with Batman, but one of his most compelling stories actually appears in a comic focused on the Gotham City Police Department – Gotham Central. This series, created by Ed Brubaker and Greg Rucka, explores the daily lives and struggles of the GCPD officers, and features a standout story arc called “Soft Targets”.

This story plunges the Gotham police into chaos as the Joker launches a brutal attack, starting with the mayor’s assassination. He then escalates his violence, shooting at both police and civilians while taunting the Major Crimes Unit by broadcasting clues to his next move. This creates a desperate race against time, and when the police fail to stop him, the violence and public panic increase. It’s a remarkably gritty story, feeling more realistic than most Joker tales – which is a large part of why it’s so effective. Thankfully, the Joker is ultimately brought to justice.

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2026-01-23 02:15