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He is a man of mystery who is known by many names and titles. Ace of Knaves. Caliph of Clowns. Mogul of Mountebanks. And, of course, the Clown Prince of Crime. Call Joker what you will. Just don’t call him late for dinner!
Batman has one of the best rogues’ galleries in all of comics, yet The Joker is undoubtedly his archenemy. This is because the two characters are a perfect study of contrasts. One is a man who becomes a creature of darkness to instill order. The other is a symbol of joy made sinister, who is chaos incarnate. Most of the best Joker comics are built around this symbolic conflict.
Best Joker Comics as of 2026
The Joker is at his best when he’s at his worst. With that in mind, most of the comics on this list lean toward the dark side of Batman and are aimed at adults. If you’re looking for more lighthearted fare. the Batman ’66 comics offer campy fun with a Cesar Romero Clown Prince.
The Man Who Laughs (2005)
Taking its name from the 1928 horror film that inspired Jerry Robinson’s original designs, The Man Who Laughs presents the first battle between Clown Prince and Dark Knight. This involves a series of murders, with Gotham City’s elites turning up dead with wide grins. Naturally, this is discovered to be the result of a unique toxin – the soon-to-be infamous Joker venom.
The script by Ed Brubaker adapts the story of 1940’s Batman #1 and modernizes it. Rather than hijacking a radio transmission, for instance, Joker poisons an on-site reporter and takes over their live report to introduce himself to Gotham City. Despite this, the story retains the classic Noir flavor that defines both hero and villain. It also features fantastic art by both Doug Mahnke and Patrick Zircher.
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The Dark Knight Returns (1986)
Originally published as a four-issue miniseries, The Dark Knight Returns is regarded as one of the greatest Batman comics ever published. Writer/artist Frank Miller conceived of the story when it occurred to him that he was older than the eternally 30-something Bruce Wayne. This inspired the epic tale of a senior citizen Batman, coming out of retirement to save a troubled Gotham.
While centered around Batman, The Dark Knight Returns showcases just how deeply Batman and the Joker are intertwined. Batman can’t bring himself to destroy the Joker even when he finally has the chance to do so guilt-free. Similarly, Joker can’t seem to live without Batman.
Nowhere is this more evident than in their final showdown in a carnival’s Tunnel of Love. It’s a brutal sequence and one of the most unforgettable Joker moments in comics’ history. The Dark Knight Returns also features one of the Joker’s most chilling monologues:
“They could put me in a helicopter and fly me up into the air and line the bodies head to toe on the ground in delightful geometric patterns like an endless June Taylor Dancers routine — and it would never be enough. No, I don’t keep count. But you do. And I love you for it.”
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Going Sane (1994)
What would Joker do without Batman? It’s a question that was most famously asked by Heath Ledger’s Joker in The Dark Knight. However, it was honestly explored over a decade earlier in the story Going Sane.
Originally published in Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #65-68, Going Sane finds the Clown Price of Crime winning. He gets the jump on Batman, knocks him out, and dumps his body in a river. After celebrating with an all-night comedy film festival, Joker is left with one question; what now?
The answer is in the title, as Joker becomes Joseph Kerr. He gets a mundane accounting job and starts a new life with a good woman. At the same time, a not-quite-dead Batman is nursed back to health by a small-town doctor. Amazingly, she doesn’t recognize Bruce Wayne and he too finds a chance at a new life with a new love. But can he take it with Joker still at large?
The answer leads to one of the most bittersweet endings in DC Comics history. It also examines the idea that, on some level, Batman is as crazy as Joker. Other comics have suggested this, but none have explored the question as effectively as Going Sane.
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White Knight (2017)
Set in an alternate timeline of the main DC Universe, White Knight does the unthinkable and makes Joker into a hero. The story opens in a chemical factory, where Batman loses his temper and force-feeds the Clown Prince of Crime an untested medication. Amazingly, this cures The Joker physically and mentally, yet makes him more dangerous than ever.
After suing the GCPD for allowing a vigilante to assault him, Joker turns his genius toward saving Gotham City. Nominally, this involves running for city council and helping fund a new library. However, the newly-sane Jack Napier’s true target is the rich elites who used him and Batman to mask their own crimes.
Beyond its superhero narrative, White Knight addresses real-world issues such as economic inequality and systemic injustice. Writer/artist Sean Murphy uses the story to challenge readers to consider who gets to wield authority and how justice is defined. These ideas resonated with readers, leading to a host of White Knight sequels and spin-offs.
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The Killing Joke (1988)
Written by Alan Moore with art by Brian Bolland, The Killing Joke is easily the most infamous Joker story of all time. The nonlinear narrative proposes a possible origin story for Joker, portraying him as a failed comedian who turns to a life of crime to support his pregnant wife. These flashbacks are intercut with scenes where Joker tests his belief that “one bad day” can drive anyone insane. His test subject is Commissioner Gordon, whom he tortures after shooting his daughter, Barbara, and taking photos of her wounded, naked body.
There has been considerable debate over The Killing Joke in recent years. Some readers believe that Joker did more than just strip and photograph Batgirl. Others claim the story ends with Batman finally killing Joker.
However, Alan Moore has refuted both these claims and now considers The Killing Joke to be the worst thing he ever wrote. Indeed, Moore has expressed regret over how dismissively the story handles Barbara Gordon, whose injuries are barely discussed and treated as unimportant. Despite this, many readers consider it the definitive Joker origin story. Even if Joker himself says that “if I must have a past, I prefer it to be multiple choice!”
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How we chose the best Joker comics
The best Joker comics were chosen based on narrative impact and artistic quality. We also looked for comics that offered versatility in their depictions of this beloved villain. Different writers have depicted Joker as chaotic trickster, a brutal villain, a tragic figure, and a psychological mirror to Batman himself. And every one of these interpretations is valid. Another consideration was how each of these comics contributed to the larger legend of Batman. And some made the list simply because they’re too iconic (or too unhinged) to ignore.
