Expert: Justin Case - 6/20/2009

Question
Hi,

I'm looking for the best graphic novels featuring the joker, batman's antagonist,so as to complete my collection. I'm mainly interested in the quality of the story, but the art also helps(ie not too vague and impressionistic in approach). Also, I doubt I'd be interested in any stories from the 40s to 60s era as that protrayed the joker in a less dark element. Anyway, if you could post the top 20 or so graphic novels primarily featuring the joker, that would be great. Also, I very vaguely remember a story which had an alternate-universe-setting in which the joker became a police commisioner hunting down batman and catwoman(who are both criminals) and with the joker being helped out by robin.Any help finding that title would be most appreciated.

Thanks,
Geoff

Answer
Hi Geoff -

Yeah, when portrayed correctly the Joker is one of the most frightening super villains ever to appear in comics.  How ironic that he doesn't even really have any powers, he's just completely insane!

I don't recall the alternate reality story you mention but have a friend who is a writer for DC comics and I will ask him (he's a huge Joker fan too!)

In the meantime, listed below are my absolutely favorite graphic novels (or trade paperbacks) featuring the Joker.  Start with these and see what you think:

Batman: The Killing Joke - One of my favorites wherein the Joker torments Jason Todd (the second Robin).  When this story originally came out DC had a 1-800 number listed where readers could call and vote whether or not they actually wanted the Joker to kill Robin, read this one and find out what they decided!  Also this has an amazing story that really gets into the Joker's head and Batman's as well.

A Death in the Family: - The Joker kidnaps and permanently paralyzes Barbara Gordon (the former Batgirl) and the reactions of Comissioner Gordon and Batman make for an excellent story and superior art (in my opinion)

Mad Love, Arkham Asylum - Delves pretty extensively into the Joker's mind when a therapist at Arkham Asylum attempts to analyze him, plus shows the origin of the villain Harley Quinn.

No Man's Land - This was a multi-year saga consisting of several issues that are available in trade paperback and one set of them features the confrontation between Commissioner Gordon and Joker after he paralyzed Batgirl.

Emperor Joker - Joker gains the powers of Mr. Mxzptlyk (or however you spell it) and it shows how the villain defines himself in relation to Batman

Hush - Joker doesn't feature extensively in the Hush storyline, but he's in there and the art by Jim Lee is the finest I've ever seen.  Plus in the middle of the story we finally get the question of "who would win in a confrontation between Superman and Batman?" answered, and, in my opinion, Batman is the man!

Joker - A newer graphic novel written by Brian Azzerello.  If you want the crazy, homicidal Joker, this is the one for you.

Batman: Arkham Asylum - Written by the incomparable Grant Morrision, we find out what happens when the Joker frees all the criminals from Arkham Asylum.

Check those out and let me know what you think, I'd love to get your opinion.

Thanks!

Deran