With one of the greatest rivalries in comic book history, the never-ending war betweenBatmanandJokerhas long defined the city of Gotham. Having their first meeting back inBatman#1 by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, the sworn enemies have kept DC readers coming back for more ever since. With eight decades' worth of writers and artists leaving their own unique marks on the characters, there’s a variety of great comics that explore different aspects of the hero and villain.
Together, Batman and Joker have shared some of the most entertaining and thrilling comics from DC, with some stories even seeing the duo team up. With the hero representing moral order and the villain embodying sinister chaos, they form the perfect contrast between good and evil, something that has made them truly iconic. Through their rivalry, the very essence of what makes a good superhero comic has been explored, delivering several generations of readers non-stop fun.
10Batman: Europa(2016)
Brian Azzarello, Matteo Casali, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Diego Latorre and Jim Lee
Batman: Europafollows Batman and Joker in an unlikely alliance after the revelation that they’ve both been infected with the same mysterious virus. Unable to find a cure, the Dark Detective and his clown partner set off for Europe, chasing down clues that will reveal the culprit behind their infection. Playing a sick game of cat and mouse set up by the mastermind, the duo travel across Europe, from Prague to Paris.
Batman: Europaremains one of the best team-ups between the rivals, one that explores Batman’s practicality, but also his hatred for his nemesis. Revealing an unlikely villain behind the scheme, the miniseries highlights the detective skills of the hero, while also showing readers the tension between the characters.
9"A Death in the Family" (1988)
Jim Starlin and Jim Aparo
During the Batman story arc “A Death in the Family,” Joker kidnaps the second Robin, Jason Todd, brutally beating him almost to death with a crowbar, leaving an explosion to finish the job. Upon finding the body of his young ward, Batman swears vengeance, pursuing the Joker all the way to the United Nations, where Superman tries to stop him from crossing the line.
“A Death In the Family” is more than just the murder of Jason Todd, with much of the story dedicated to Batman’s quest for justice – and the blurry line between justice and vengeance. With the bizarre twist of Joker becoming Iran’s diplomat to the UN,the Caped Crusader is forced to reckon with international law as he tries to bring down his enemy once and for all.
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8"Endgame" (2014)
Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo
During Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s time on Batman, the war between Joker and The Dark Knight reached a boiling point in the “Endgame” story. Beginning with the hero forced to fend off an attack from a Jokerized Justice League, he comes face-to-face with the Clown Prince of Crime, who threatens Gotham itself. Things escalate when the villain drives down the city’s streets in a tank, and culminates in a fight to the death.
“Endgame” sees the most brutal fight to date between Batman and Joker, with the pair almost dying for good from their injuries resulting from the fight. In fact, the trauma to Bruce Wayne was so extreme that he forgot ever being Batman, forcing Jim Gordon to step into a GCPD mechanized Batsuit to fight crime.
7Batman: The Killing Joke(1988)
Alan Moore and Brian Bolland
Alan Moore and Brian Bolland’s iconic graphic novelBatman: The Killing Jokefollows Joker in his plan to psychologically break Batman. At the same time, Moore explores the origins of the killer clown, explaining that he was once a failing comedian who, in his desperation to provide for his family, took a job for some gangsters. In the present, he targets the Gordons to use as props in his sick game against the hero.
The Killing Jokeis, despite its controversial nature for some fans, one of the most important Batman/Joker comics in history,particularly due to it providing what most readers view as the definitive Joker origin. For readers who want to experience the comic that made DC’s Dark Detective so grim, this is the place to go.
6Batman: Three Jokers(2020)
Geoff Johns and Jason Fabok
A sequel toThe Killing Joke, Three Jokersexplores the idea thatBatman has actually been fighting against three different Jokers for years. Each version of the villain, the Comedian, the Criminal and the Clown, represent a different depiction of the character, from a dark and tragic one to a methodical one to the campy, eccentric version. As members of the Bat-Family confront their worst Jokers, notably Jason Todd’s confrontation with the clown who killed him, the story builds to a harrowing finale.
Three Jokerstakes several ideas that had been touched on or speculated on by readers and brings them to fruition, delivering the ultimate Bat-Family vs Joker story. Illustrated by Jason Fabok,it’s one of the best-looking Black Label comics, and delivers an ambiguous ending, leaving readers wanting more.
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5Batman & The Joker: Deadly Duo(2023)
Marc Silvestri
Marc Silvestri’s long-awaited take on The Dark Knight and the Clown Prince of Crime,Batman& The Joker: Deadly Duofollows the reluctant team-up of hero and villain to save Jim Gordon and Harley Quinn from a mysterious new villain. Forced to take on a ghoulish army of monstrous Joker clones, the unlikely partners fight their way to the villain – only to come face-to-face with the consequences of their war.
Deadly Duoexplores the impact that Batman and Joker’s devastating war has on those caught in the crossfire, while also touching on the twisted irony of them being forced into a partnership. With a horror-themed plot matched by Silvestri’s brilliant artwork, the story is one of the best things DC has published in years.
4Batman: White Knight(2017)
Sean Gordon Murphy and Matt Hollingsworth
In 2017, Sean Gordon Murphy started his “MurphyVerse” withWhite Knight, a miniseries that follows Joker’s return to sanity after Batman force-feeds him a fistful of antipsychotic pills.Having reverted to his ordinary personality of Jack Napier, the reformed criminal launches a bid for public office, running on the issue of bringing The Dark Knight to justice. However, as the story continues, the chaotic mind of the Joker begins to resurface, threatening Napier’s legacy.
White Knightis a fun inversionof the Batman/Joker dynamic, assigning legitimacy to the villain and casting Bruce Wayne as the story’s rogue, unhinged outlaw. While this version of Bruce isn’t evil, the story shows how, when the dust settles, it would be easy to turn the tables on his method of vigilantism.
3"Joker’s Five-Way Revenge" (1973)
Dennis O’Neil and Neal Adams
Throughout the Silver Age, the Joker became a more campy, laughable villain in line with his TV appearances, and he became more obscure than ever.InBatman#251, the killer clown was re-established as the formidable criminal his Golden Age creators intended. The story follows the clown as he escapes from captivity. When he learns that one of his old associates ratted him out to the police, he sets about murdering all five of his ex-henchmen, ensuring he gets the right man.
“Joker’s Five-Way Revenge” helped set the tone of the feud between Batman and Joker for a generation, and even shows that Bruce Wayne has a sense of humor about his worst enemies. The story is a classic game of cat and mouse, with The Dark Knight fighting to prevent Joker from committing his murders, culminating in a great final fight.
Who is the best member of the Batfamily in DC Comics?
There are many superhero families in DC Comics, but I think the most interesting of them is the Batfamily. Batman is obviously DC’s most popular hero; however, there are many exciting characters within the Batfamily. Among my favorites are Barbara Gordon, who delivers many fun and emotional moments as Batgirl and Oracle; Damian Wayne, the youngest Robin and the grumpiest of them all; and Jason Todd, aka Red Hood, the edgier character of the bunch, though there is a heart hidden down there. That said, Dick Grayson, aka Nightwing, is the Batfamily’s best leader, brother, and overall character.
2The Dark Knight Returns(1986)
Frank Miller, Klaus Janson and Lynn Varley
The Dark Knight Returnstakes place in an ultra-violent future Gotham, where the Mutant crime gang keeps the city in a state of fear. Seeing how bad things have gotten, an older Bruce Wayne steps out of retirement to bring down the gang – but, in the process, triggers the return of Joker from a catatonic-like state. After defeating the gang’s leader, The Dark Knight takes on the Clown Prince of Crime after he commits the mass murder of a late night audience.
Though not primarily a Batman vs. Joker story, the third issue, which primarily deals with their relationship, finally brings their long-running war to an end.The story also delivers a key insight into how Bruce perceives his culpability in his enemy’s crimes, stating that he believes he has “murdered” innocents by letting the clown live. To get one last laugh, the villain breaks his own neck, leaving the Caped Crusader on the hook for his death.
1Batman: The Man Who Laughs(2005)
Ed Brubaker and Doug Mahnke
In their seminal graphic novelBatman: The Man Who Laughs, Ed Brubaker and Doug Mahnke reimagine and explore the first meeting of Batman and Joker. The story follows the hero as he investigates a slew of murders of Gotham’s elite, leading back to the Clown Prince of Crime. In the process, the Caped Crusader delves into the origins of his new enemy, tying back to the events ofThe Killing Joke.
As great as their first meeting was all the way back inBatman#1,Brubaker and Mahnke’s retelling of the story works as the definitive starting point for their bitter rivalry in modern times. The story stands out as one ofBatman’s best detective stories, and shows just how great a threatJokeris to Gotham City.
The Joker
The Joker is a psychopathic criminal mastermind with a warped sense of humor. Initially introduced as a remorseless serial killer, the character evolved over time, often oscillating between a prankster and a homicidal maniac. His relationship with Batman is one of the most complex in comic book history, defined by their mutual obsession. Over the decades, the Joker has become an enduring icon of chaos and madness, embodying the antithesis of Batman’s order and justice.
