Joker Stories to Read Right Now!
The Joker: Year One concluded this week with some insights into the Clown Prince of Crime.
If you are ready for more Joker stories, here are Joker stories you can read right now.
Three Jokers
Written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Jason Fabok.
Unlocking the mystery of The Joker. The title is a bit of a giveaway. SPOILER, there are three The Jokers. Once Batman unlocks the truth about the existence of three Jokers, it’s time to find explanations. But the Joker isn’t going to make it easy, none of them are. If Batman found fighting one Joker difficult enough, when he’s up against three at once, he’s going to have his hands full.
Luckily for Batman, Barbara Gordon and Jason Todd, two Batman sidekicks who fell victim to the horrors of The Joker, accompany him on his terrifying journey into the mind of not just one mad man, but three mad Jokers. Except it’s not going to be lucky for Barbara or Jason. Having already attacked both of batman’s sidekicks once, all three Jokers are going to be one the case.
Death in the Family
Written by Jim Starlin and illustrated by Marv Wolfman
If you are looking to find out more about Jason Todd’s experience at the hands of the Joker, you are going to need to look into Death in the Family (not to be confused with the later storyline Death OF the Family, also staring the Joker).
Death in the Family is a collection of four issues of Batman from 1988 and it is explosive. Jason Todd is the new and current Robin, but he is a little more reckless and a little more brutal than his predecessor, Dick Grayson. Jason’s life is thrown into turmoil when Batman suspends his crime fighting and Jason discovers that his mother is still alive.
Jason goes in search of his mother, but is a little light on the details. She could be any one of three different women in three different countries. In his global search for his mother, Jason gets more than he bargained for when he encounters The Joker making deals with terrorists.
In addition to being a great read, Death in the Family is a landmark comic that changed the direction of comic books and had a dramatic impact on Batman stories for decades.
Joker (DC Black Label)
Written by Brian Azzarello and illustrated by Lee Bermejo
Named merely, Joker, this is an iconic story from Brian Azzarello.
Mysteriously released from Arkham Asylum, the Joker returns to Gotham to find his criminal organisation in pieces. He isn’t happy. And when the clown isn’t laughing, that’s when you should be worried.
In a story that takes place in a single night of unrelenting madness and violence with appearance by a cast of famous Batman villains, the Penguin, the Riddler, Two-Face, Killer Croc and more.
It’s brutal Joker story. Suitable for adults. Be warned.
The World of Flashpoint, featuring Batman
Written by Brian Azzarello and illustrated by Eduardo Risso
For an alternative version of The Joker, check out the Batman companion comic to Geoff Johns’ Flashpoint story. The Flash has travelled back in time and saved his mother. The repercussions are devastating for the world. For Bruce Wayne, his parents have been saved, but Bruce dies. Batman still exists in the form of Thomas Wayne, applying a brutal justice to the streets of Gotham.
The Joker also exists, but Flashpoint Joker is nothing like any Joker you have seen before. If you thought Batman had trouble with the Joker before, you’ll be surprised how difficult Batman finds this Joker.
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
Written by Frank Miller
The legendary Frank Miller reinvents Batman in his epic vision of Gotham City in the future. It has been ten years since Batman has retired and when he comes back to take on a new generation of villains, the Joker takes notice.
The retirement of Batman caused the Joker to withdraw into inaction. When Batman comes back, the Joker gets his smile back and that means a whole lot of trouble for everyone.
Batman: White Knight
Written by Sean Murphy and illustrated by Matt Hollingsworth
In this alternate version of Gotham, the Joker becomes a sane citizen.
Taking the name Jack Napier, the Joker is looking to clean up Gotham. His to do list includes discrediting Gotham’s true enemy, Batman, and uncovering decades of corruption. Napier becomes a councilman and hero. But hey, things aren’t going to be that straight-forward.
Watch out for new versions of familiar characters with an impressive new vision of Batman and the Joker. The story was so successful, it has created an ongoing series of stories.
So may great Joker stories, so little time.
Chip Zdarsky has provided some insights into the Joker’s past in Joker: Year One. We can only wait to see what happens next with the character.
What we do know is the Joker is unsettled, temperamental, mostly brutal and a great deal of fun.
Pick up your copy of Three Jokers, Death in the Family, Joker (DC Black Label), The World of Flashpoint featuring Batman, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns or Batman: White Knight (these are paid affiliate links and as an Amazon Associate I will earn a small income from qualifying purchases, but won’t cost you any more).
So many great Joker stories!