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  1. #1
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    Default The (post-Crisis) Joker Chronology

    Hi!

    I thought it might be fun to create a post-Crisis Joker reading order. The list isn't complete by any means and I wanted to share to see if anyone could point out what may be missing, what's out of order, etc.

    The list is pretty solid from the beginning through "Joker: Last Laugh" but then gets pretty sketchy. Help!

    The following sites were fantastic sources…

    https://www.jokeruniverse.com/?page_id=409

    https://therealbatmanchronologyproject.com/

    Batman: The Man Who Laughs

    (Notes - First chronological appearance of the post-Crisis Joker; the last two pages occur after Batman: Confidential # 25)

    Batman: Confidential # 22-25

    (Notes - This storyline is an interquel to The Man Who Laughs, taking place before the last two pages of that book; Gordon is referred to as "Lieutenant" throughout but is actually "Captain"; page 7 of issue # 22 must be omitted entirely)

    Batman: The Long Halloween # 3-4

    Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight # 105-106

    Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight # 65-68

    (Notes - Joker escapes at the end of Legends # 106 and is still on the loose at the beginning of Legends # 65, tying these storylines together nicely; ignore the beginning of issue # 65 when Batman states he's fought Joker twice and Joker's "died" twice)

    Batman: Confidential # 29-30

    (Notes - again, Gordon is "Captain" or even "Commissioner", not "Lieutenant" as he is referred to throughout)

    Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight # 200

    Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight # 162-163

    (Notes - Joker escapes at the end of Confidential # 30, is still on the loose at the beginning of Legends # 200, escapes at the end of Legends # 200, is still on the loose at the beginning of Legends # 162 which ties this up as an acceptable trilogy)

    Batman: Batgirl # 1

    Batman # 251

    Batman # 408 pgs 1-6

    Detective Comics # 475-476

    Legends of the DC Universe # 26-27

    Superman # 9

    (Notes - Joker escapes at the end of DC # 27, and is still loose at the beginning of Superman # 9)

    Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth

    World's Finest # 1-3

    (Notes - This book is published two years after Joker cripples Barbara Gordon and kills Jason Todd but because there is zero mention of these events within the story, it fits here nicely)

    Justice League International Annual # 2

    (Notes - Joker escapes at the end of WF # 3, and is still on the loose at the beginning of JLI Annual # 2)

    Batman: The Killing Joke

    (Notes - At the end of JLI Annual # 2, a newspaper article states The Joker has been apprehended and is back at Arkham but a few moments later it is revealed Joker is still on the loose, which Batman finds out when he visits "fake Joker" at the beginning of Killing Joke)

    Batman # 426-429

    Detective Comics # 617

    Batman # 450-451

    Robin 2 # 1-4

    Detective Comics Annual # 5

    Batman Annual # 16

    Batman # 491

    Batman # 494

    Batman # 496

    Showcase '94 # 1-2

    Detective Comics # 671-673

    Wonder Woman # 96-97

    (Notes - Even though it looks like Diana straight up murders the Joker in issue # 97, it's stated that Joker escapes in issue # 98; this story can come before or after Shadow # 37-38 but because Joker says "Batman's gotten mean", I'm going to assume he is referring to Az-Bats whom he faced in Detective # 671-673)

    Batman: Shadow of the Bat # 37-38

    Action Comics # 714

    Deathstroke # 58

    The Joker: Devil's Advocate

    Action Comics # 719

    Aztek: The Ultimate Man # 6-7

    (Notes - One of the few times the Joker is on the loose at the beginning of an issue and I don't know how he got there)

    Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight # 142-145

    Azrael # 27-28

    The Spectre # 51

    Batman # 544-546

    Batman: Joker's Apprentice # 1

    Impulse # 50

    (Notes - The comic states this issue takes place before the quake, so I'll put it directly before the quake)

    "Interview: The Joker" excerpt from Batman Villains Secret Files # 1

    Batman: Arkham Asylum - Tales of Madness # 1

    Detective Comics # 726

    Catwoman # 63-65

    Batman: Shadow of the Bat # 80-82

    Batman: Harley Quinn

    Batman # 570, Detective Comics # 737

    Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight # 126, Batman # 574, Detective Comics # 741

    Anarky # 8

    Birds of Prey # 15-17

    Action Comics # 765

    (Notes - This issue takes place somewhere between Birds of Prey # 15-17, and even references issue # 16, but makes most sense after # 15)

    Superman: Emperor Joker # 1, Superman # 160-161, Adventures of Superman # 582-583, Superman: The Man of Steel # 104-105, Action Comics # 769-770

    Harley Quinn # 1

    Robin # 85

    Joker: Last Laugh Secret Files # 1, Joker: Last Laugh # 1-6

    DC 1st: Batgirl/Joker # 1

    Harley Quinn # 25

    Batman # 614

    Outsiders # 3

    Gotham Central # 12-15

    Batman # 650

    Detective Comics # 826

    Batman # 663

    Detective Comics # 833-834

    Birds of Prey # 121-124

    Batman: Cacophony # 1-3

    The Brave and the Bold # 31

    Batman and Robin # 13-16

    Detective Comics vol. 2 # 1

    Batman vol. 2 # 13-17

    Batman vol. 2 # 35-40
    Last edited by Emanresu; 10-16-2019 at 02:18 PM.

  2. #2
    Astonishing Member Tzigone's Avatar
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    There's also dcuguide's chronology, though I have never looked into the Joker's.

  3. #3
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    Where's Batman #408 (June 1987) , in which he's "killed" (actually only severely injured) Robin (Richard Grayson) enough for Batman to "retire" it, until Jason Todd?
    Last edited by ngroove; 09-19-2019 at 09:14 PM.

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    I left that out because Joker only appears for the first 6 pages.

    However, this issue is important in the fact that it shows the impact Joker has on the Bat family. In addition, there are zero Dick Grayson as Robin/Joker stories on this list, and since this also acts as an origin for JT, I will put this and 409 back in.

    This will be placed between Batman: Batgirl # 1 and Legends of the DCU # 26.

    Thanks! Anyone else?

  5. #5
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    Some issues are part of a larger storyline but I chose to include only the issues where Joker is featured heavily.

    I feel comfortable with the Long Halloween issues being included without the main storyline, but I wonder about others.

    For example, Joker is heavily featured in the final issue of "Under the Red Hood", so that's the only issue I included. Would it be better to include the entire arc?

  6. #6
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    A true Joker chronology is and should be one that includes Joker in ALL then-continuity appearances, including cameos of him sitting in Arkham Asylum.

    Let's see - how about - Batman Villains Secret Files and Origins (1998)? Not only mainly an awesome book that had a chockful of Who's-Who-like profiles, but also has an entertaining two-page interview with Joker, that cleverly ended with Joker killing the interviewer via knowledge of his nut allergies. Never accept brownies baked by Joker, hahaha.

  7. #7
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    Please make a bullet list, it's much much much more readable !

    You need to add the greatest Joker of them all, the graphic novel by Brian Azzarello: Joker.

    You also missed all the "children stories":
    1. Batman Adventures #3 - Joker's Late Night Lunacy
    2. Batman Adventures #16 - The Killing Book
    3. Batman Adventures #28 - Twelve Days of Madness
    4. Batman & Robin Adventures #1 - Two Timer
    5. Batman & Robin Adventures #5 - Second Banana
    6. Batman & Robin Adventures #17 - But a Dream
    7. Batman & Robin Adventures #18 - Joker's Last Laugh
    8. Gotham Adventures #1 - With A Price On His Head!
    9. Gotham Adventures #10 - Mightier Than The Sword
    10. Gotham Adventures #14- Masks of Love: A Harley Quinn Romance
    11. Gotham Adventures #31 - Madness and Chaos and All 'cause of Me!
    12. Gotham Adventures #37 - Images
    13. Gotham Girls #3 - Harlequinade
    14. Harley & Ivy #3 - Hooray For Harleywood!
    15. Harley and Ivy: Love on the Lam
    16. Batman Adventures vol.2 #3 - My Boyfriend's back
    17. Batman Adventures vol.2 #17 - A Wedding to Die for


    I would also add the stories from Li'l Gotham:
    1. Li'l Gotham #1 - Halloween
    2. Li'l Gotham #3 - Christmas
    3. Li'l Gotham #5 - Valentine's Day
    4. Li'l Gotham #6 - Lunar New Year
    5. Li'l Gotham #7 - Saint Patrick's Day
    6. Li'l Gotham #8 - Easter
    7. Li'l Gotham #9 - April Showers
    8. Li'l Gotham #16 - Tropical Getaway
    9. Li'l Gotham #18 - Labor Day!
    10. Li'l Gotham #19 - Ivy in the Fall
    11. Li'l Gotham #24 - The Grand Finale
    Last edited by jb681131; 09-20-2019 at 01:01 PM.

  8. #8
    A Wearied Madness Vakanai's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ngroove View Post
    A true Joker chronology is and should be one that includes Joker in ALL then-continuity appearances, including cameos of him sitting in Arkham Asylum.
    Then the chronology would be hopelessly huge, and full of stories fans of the Joker would be disappointed by (oh look, he appears in the background of one panel!), making such a chronology largely useless to most people interested in Joker's chronology. A certain streamlining is necessary to get any use out of a chronology of a popular character with so many appearances. At least that is my opinion.

    Quote Originally Posted by jb681131 View Post
    Please make a bullet list, it's much much much more readable !

    You need to add the greatest Joker of them all, the graphic novel by Brian Azzarello: Joker.

    You also missed all the "children stories":
    1. Batman Adventures #3 - Joker's Late Night Lunacy
    2. Batman Adventures #16 - The Killing Book
    3. Batman Adventures #28 - Twelve Days of Madness
    4. Batman & Robin Adventures #1 - Two Timer
    5. Batman & Robin Adventures #5 - Second Banana
    6. Batman & Robin Adventures #17 - But a Dream
    7. Batman & Robin Adventures #18 - Joker's Last Laugh
    8. Gotham Adventures #1 - With A Price On His Head!
    9. Gotham Adventures #10 - Mightier Than The Sword
    10. Gotham Adventures #14- Masks of Love: A Harley Quinn Romance
    11. Gotham Adventures #31 - Madness and Chaos and All 'cause of Me!
    12. Gotham Adventures #37 - Images
    13. Gotham Girls #3 - Harlequinade
    14. Harley & Ivy #3 - Hooray For Harleywood!
    15. Harley and Ivy: Love on the Lam
    16. Batman Adventures vol.2 #3 - My Boyfriend's back
    17. Batman Adventures vol.2 #17 - A Wedding to Die for


    I would also add the stories from Li'l Gotham:
    1. Li'l Gotham #1 - Halloween
    2. Li'l Gotham #3 - Christmas
    3. Li'l Gotham #5 - Valentine's Day
    4. Li'l Gotham #6 - Lunar New Year
    5. Li'l Gotham #7 - Saint Patrick's Day
    6. Li'l Gotham #8 - Easter
    7. Li'l Gotham #9 - April Showers
    8. Li'l Gotham #16 - Tropical Getaway
    9. Li'l Gotham #18 - Labor Day!
    10. Li'l Gotham #19 - Ivy in the Fall
    11. Li'l Gotham #24 - The Grand Finale
    I wouldn't include out of continuity stories like Joker in a Joker chronology. A comics recommendations list yes, a chronology no. I'm also dubious about the continuity status of children's stories and Li'l Gotham, but I've never read those.

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by jb681131 View Post
    Please make a bullet list, it's much much much more readable !

    You need to add the greatest Joker of them all, the graphic novel by Brian Azzarello: Joker.

    You also missed all the "children stories":
    1. Batman Adventures #3 - Joker's Late Night Lunacy
    2. Batman Adventures #16 - The Killing Book
    3. Batman Adventures #28 - Twelve Days of Madness
    4. Batman & Robin Adventures #1 - Two Timer
    5. Batman & Robin Adventures #5 - Second Banana
    6. Batman & Robin Adventures #17 - But a Dream
    7. Batman & Robin Adventures #18 - Joker's Last Laugh
    8. Gotham Adventures #1 - With A Price On His Head!
    9. Gotham Adventures #10 - Mightier Than The Sword
    10. Gotham Adventures #14- Masks of Love: A Harley Quinn Romance
    11. Gotham Adventures #31 - Madness and Chaos and All 'cause of Me!
    12. Gotham Adventures #37 - Images
    13. Gotham Girls #3 - Harlequinade
    14. Harley & Ivy #3 - Hooray For Harleywood!
    15. Harley and Ivy: Love on the Lam
    16. Batman Adventures vol.2 #3 - My Boyfriend's back
    17. Batman Adventures vol.2 #17 - A Wedding to Die for


    I would also add the stories from Li'l Gotham:
    1. Li'l Gotham #1 - Halloween
    2. Li'l Gotham #3 - Christmas
    3. Li'l Gotham #5 - Valentine's Day
    4. Li'l Gotham #6 - Lunar New Year
    5. Li'l Gotham #7 - Saint Patrick's Day
    6. Li'l Gotham #8 - Easter
    7. Li'l Gotham #9 - April Showers
    8. Li'l Gotham #16 - Tropical Getaway
    9. Li'l Gotham #18 - Labor Day!
    10. Li'l Gotham #19 - Ivy in the Fall
    11. Li'l Gotham #24 - The Grand Finale
    Does not count. Post Crisis Batman means mainstream Batman / DC Earth titles late 1986 - late 2011.

    Animated Universe is kind of an "Elseworld" without being labelled "Elseworld"; you can count it in its own continuity in its own "Universe", but will not hold relevance in BATMAN, DETECTIVE COMICS, JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA, maybe AMBUSH BUG or BOOSTER GOLD, but not SUPERMAN or SWAMP THING either.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Vakanai View Post
    Then the chronology would be hopelessly huge, and full of stories fans of the Joker would be disappointed by (oh look, he appears in the background of one panel!), making such a chronology largely useless to most people interested in Joker's chronology. A certain streamlining is necessary to get any use out of a chronology of a popular character with so many appearances. At least that is my opinion..
    But however, just my opinion, can be useful, in cases of a previous major Joker story that apparently ended in his death, like the end of Detective Comics #476. His next appearance, for all I knew, was on issue 486, a single cameo in Arkham, while the scene was actually just visiting Maxie Zeus. Just one cameo, Joker is alive!

    Just my cent on it.

    They are still live Joker appearances, whether he's out gassing people to death on the streets of Gotham, or playing cards with Edward Nigma and Jonathan Crane behind padded walls.

    Oh yeah, Batman #442, the shadowy one-page clue that he is alive after the events of #429, and goaded Two-Face in A LONELY PLACE OF DYING, is missing on list.
    Last edited by ngroove; 09-20-2019 at 04:44 PM.

  11. #11
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    ngroove - I don't think I'd want to include every last cameo appearance.

    Still, I'm loving what you're bringing to the table. Batman Villains 1998, is Joker in the Asylum for this interview I'm presuming? Also if it's '98, that must be during or shortly before the quake. What's the cover date? Does Joker mention the quake in the interview?

  12. #12
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    jb68 - As others have pointed out, while technically post-Crisis, I'm looking for non Elseworlds works.

    Is Azzarello's Joker in continuity?

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by Emanresu View Post
    ngroove - I don't think I'd want to include every last cameo appearance.

    Still, I'm loving what you're bringing to the table. Batman Villains 1998, is Joker in the Asylum for this interview I'm presuming? Also if it's '98, that must be during or shortly before the quake. What's the cover date? Does Joker mention the quake in the interview?
    Batman Villains Secret Files & Origins (October 1998) - Joker was in Arkham. I'd fit it pre-Cataclysm, before things got worse, as in the definition of "Joker in Arkham" is meaning that I'd assume one set of guards escorted Joker back to his cell after interview.....while another set of guards cleaned up the interviewer's dead body.
    Last edited by ngroove; 09-20-2019 at 07:00 PM.

  14. #14
    A Wearied Madness Vakanai's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Emanresu View Post
    jb68 - As others have pointed out, while technically post-Crisis, I'm looking for non Elseworlds works.

    Is Azzarello's Joker in continuity?
    It is not.

  15. #15
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    Last edited by ngroove; 09-20-2019 at 07:23 PM.

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