DC Comics
JOKER
91
APPEARANCES
4611
TOTAL ISSUES
8
SERIES
The Joker is a fictional super-villain created by Bill Finger, Bob Kane, and Jerry Robinson who first appeared in the debut issue of the comic book Batman (April 25, 1940), published by DC Comics. Credit for the Joker's creation is disputed; Kane and Robinson claimed responsibility for the Joker's design, while acknowledging Finger's writing contribution. Although the Joker was planned to be killed off during his initial appearance, he was spared by editorial intervention, allowing the character to endure as the archenemy of the superhero Batman. In his comic book appearances, the Joker is portrayed as a criminal mastermind. Introduced as a psychopath with a warped, sadistic sense of humor, the character became a goofy prankster in the late 1950's in response to regulation by the Comics Code Authority, before returning to his darker roots during the early 1970's. As Batman's nemesis, the Joker has been part of the superhero's defining stories, including the murder of Jason Todd—the second Robin and Batman's ward—and the paralysis of one of Batman's allies, Barbara Gordon. The Joker has had various possible origin stories during his decades of appearances. The most common story involves him falling into a tank of chemical waste which bleaches his skin white and turns his hair green and lips bright red; the resulting disfigurement drives him insane. The antithesis of Batman in personality and appearance, the Joker is considered by critics to be his perfect adversary. The Joker possesses no superhuman abilities, instead using his expertise in chemical engineering to develop poisonous or lethal concoctions, and thematic weaponry, including razor-tipped playing cards, deadly joy buzzers, and acid-spraying lapel flowers. The Joker sometimes works with other Gotham City super-villains such as the Penguin and Two-Face, and groups like the Injustice Gang and Injustice League, but these relationships often collapse due to the Joker's desire for unbridled chaos. The 1990's introduced a romantic interest for the Joker in his former psychiatrist, Harley Quinn, who becomes his villainous sidekick. Although his primary obsession is Batman, the Joker has also fought other heroes including Superman and Wonder Woman.
DC Special Series #27
Sep 1981
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Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #1
Mar 1985
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Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #11
Jan 1986
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Batman: The Killing Joke #1
Jul 1988
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The New Teen Titans #47"Past Tense"
Sep 1988
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Batman: Shadow of the Bat #1"The Last Arkham: Part One"
Jun 1992
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Batman: Shadow of the Bat #3"The Last Arkham: Part Three"
Aug 1992
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Batman: Shadow of the Bat #4"The Last Arkham: Part Four"
Sep 1992
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Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #39"Mask: Part 1"
Nov 1992
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Batman: Shadow of the Bat #13"The Nobody"
Jun 1993
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Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #50"Images"
Sep 1993
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Batman: Shadow of the Bat #16"The God of Fear, Part One of Three"
Sep 1993
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Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #0"Viewpoint"
Oct 1994
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Batman: Shadow of the Bat #0"[untitled]"
Oct 1994
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Robin #0"Brothers in Arms"
Oct 1994
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Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #65"Going Sane, Part 1: Into The Rushing River"
Nov 1994
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Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #66"Going Sane, Part 2: Swimming Lessons"
Dec 1994
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Batman: Shadow of the Bat #34"Falls Upon Prodigal: Part Ten"
Jan 1995
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Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #67"Going Sane, Part 3: Breaking the Surface"
Jan 1995
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Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #68"Going Sane, Part 4: The Deluge"
Feb 1995
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Batman: Shadow of the Bat #37"Falls Upon The Joker: Part One: The King of Comedy"
Apr 1995
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Batman: Shadow of the Bat #38"Falls Upon The Joker: Part Two: Tears of a Clown"
May 1995
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Robin #23"Buggin"
Dec 1995
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Kingdom Come #2"Truth and Justice"
Jun 1996
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Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #105"Duty: Part One of Two"
Apr 1998
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Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #106"Duty: Part Two of Two"
May 1998
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Robin #1000000"Dark Planet"
Nov 1998
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Batman: Shadow of the Bat #80"Road to No Man's Land - Wax Man and the Clown, Part One"
Dec 1998
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Batman: Shadow of the Bat #81"Road to No Man's Land - Wax Man and the Clown, Part Two"
Jan 1999
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Batman: Shadow of the Bat #82"Road to No Man's Land - Wax Man and the Clown, Part 3"
Feb 1999
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Batman: Shadow of the Bat #83"No Law and New Order, Part 2"
Mar 1999
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Batman: Shadow of the Bat #86"Home Sweet Home"
Jun 1999
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Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #118"Balance"
Jun 1999
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Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #123"Underground Railroad, Part One"
Nov 1999
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Batman: Shadow of the Bat #93"Assembly Redux!"
Jan 2000
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Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #126"Endgame, Part One: Silent Night"
Feb 2000
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Batman: Gotham Knights #6"Personal Effects; The Riddle"
Aug 2000
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Robin #85"Fool's Errand"
Feb 2001
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Batman: Gotham Knights #12"Damages; The Black and White Bandit"
Feb 2001
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Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #138"Terror: Part Two of Five - Strange Scarecrow"
Feb 2001
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Batman: Gotham Knights #14"Sibling Rivalry; The Bet"
Apr 2001
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Batman: Gotham Noir #1"Gotham Noir"
May 2001
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Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #142"The Demon Laughs, Part One: Exit Screaming"
Jun 2001
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Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #143"The Demon Laughs, Part Two: Running Wild"
Jul 2001
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Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #144"The Demon Laughs, Part Three: The March Hare"
Aug 2001
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Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #145"The Demon Laughs, Part Four: Mad About You"
Sep 2001
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Robin #94"A Question of Timing"
Nov 2001
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Robin #95"Book of the Dead"
Dec 2001
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Batman: Gotham Knights #22"Bugged Out"
Dec 2001
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The Spectre #10
Dec 2001
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Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #162"Auteurism Part 1 of 2"
Feb 2003
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Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #163"Auteurism Part 2 of 2: Electric Boogaloo"
Mar 2003
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Batman: Gotham Knights #44"Body of Evidence - Knights past part II"
Oct 2003
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Batman: Gotham Knights #50"Pushback, Book One"
Apr 2004
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Batman: Gotham Knights #51"Pushback. Book Two"
May 2004
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Batman: Gotham Knights #52"Pushback. Book Three"
Jun 2004
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Batman: Gotham Knights #54"Pushback. Book Five"
Aug 2004
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Batman: Gotham Knights #55"Pushback. Book Six"
Sep 2004
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Batman: Gotham County Line #1"The Obvious Kill"
Dec 2005
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Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #198"Blaze of Glory Part 2 of 3: The Fuse"
Feb 2006
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Batman: Gotham Knights #73"Payback"
Mar 2006
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Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #199"Blaze of Glory Part 3 of 3: The Fire"
Mar 2006
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Batman: Gotham Knights #74"Payback, Part 2"
Apr 2006
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Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #200"Gotham Emergency"
Apr 2006
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Robin #152"It All Comes Back Around"
Sep 2006
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Batman: Streets of Gotham #5"Leviathan Part One"
Dec 2009
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Batman and Robin #12"Batman Vs. Robin Part 3: Mexican Train"
Jul 2010
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Batman and Robin #13"Batman And Robin Must Die! Part 1: The Garden of Death"
Aug 2010
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Batman and Robin #14"Batman and Robin Must Die, part 2: The Triumph of Death"
Oct 2010
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Batman and Robin #15"Batman and Robin Must Die, part 3: The Knight, Death and the Devil"
Dec 2010
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Batman and Robin #16"Black Mass"
Jan 2011
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Batman: Streets of Gotham #19"House of Hush, Chapter Four: The Reason for Hyenas"
Mar 2011
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Batman: Streets of Gotham #20"House of Hush, Chapter Five: Infestation"
Apr 2011
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Batman and Robin #22"Dark Knight vs. White Knight: Tree of Blood, Conclusion"
Jun 2011
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Red Hood and the Outlaws #0"Everyone Has to Start Somewhere"
Nov 2012
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Red Hood and the Outlaws #13"The Moon's Up, and the Sun's Down -- and a Thousand Starry Eyes Have Caught Me Dying!"
Dec 2012
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Red Hood and the Outlaws #14"Up, Up and Away... My Beautiful, My Beautiful Balloon!"
Jan 2013
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Red Hood and the Outlaws #15"It Only Hurts When You Laugh"
Feb 2013
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Red Hood and the Outlaws #16"Family Matters"
Mar 2013
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Red Hood and the Outlaws #25"Zero Year: The Beckoning Dark"
Jan 2014
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Justice League #7
Dec 2016
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Justice League #27
Oct 2017
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Nightwing #69"The Very Unfriendly Owl"
Apr 2020
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Batman: Gotham Nights #4"Dragnet"
May 2020
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Batman: Gotham Nights #6"Balyushka!"
May 2020
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Nightwing #70"From the Darkness"
May 2020
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Nightwing #71"War For the Mind!"
Aug 2020
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Nightwing #72"Welcome To the New Family!"
Sep 2020
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Nightwing #73"Son of the Joker!"
Oct 2020
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Nightwing #74"Crystal Cleared"
Nov 2020
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Nightwing #94"The Battle for Blüdhaven’s Heart, Part 3"
Sep 2022
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