The 3 essential Joker crossovers: A Death in the Family (murder of Jason Todd, Batman #428), Death of the Family (Snyder/Capullo, the Joker with his face torn off) and Endgame (the immortal Joker, final confrontation with Batman).
The Joker does not participate in crossovers as just another villain. He generates them. Every big Joker event is a personal trauma inflicted on Batman and his family, a surgical attack that leaves permanent narrative scars. The death of Jason Todd, the paralysis of Barbara Gordon, the face being torn off: these moments define Gotham's history as much as Batman's heroics.
For a collector, Joker crossovers produce the key issues the most popular in the Batman universe. The combination of an iconic character, shocking moments and a lasting impact on continuity makes each Joker event a top investment. This guide lists the essential arcs and their priority numbers.
A Death in the Family (1988-1989). The Murder of Jason Todd
Jim Starlin and Jim Aparo deliver a 4-issue arc (Batman #426-429) where the Joker beats Jason Todd (Robin II) to death with a crowbar. The reader voted by telephone to decide the character's fate. Batman #428 (death of Robin) is an absolutely major key issue: €200-600 in 9.8 CGC depending on the market.
This arc defined the Joker's darkness for decades to come and left Batman with lasting trauma. For the Joker key numbers, A Death in the Family is the pinnacle in terms of value and narrative impact.
Death of the Family (2012-2013). The Face of Evil
Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo orchestrate the return of the Joker after a year of absence. He recovers his face (ripped off in Detective Comics #1 New 52) and attacks each member of the Bat-Family individually. Batman #13-17 form the heart of the event, with a Joker more terrifying than ever. Batman #13 (die-cut face cover) is an emblematic key issue: €25-70 in 9.8.
Essential tie-ins
Batgirl #14-16, Nightwing #15-16, Red Hood and the Outlaws #15-16. Each tie-in shows the Joker targeting a different family member. Batman #17 (conclusion with the covered board): €20-50 in 9.8.
Endgame (2014-2015). The Immortal Joker
Snyder and Capullo take the concept to the extreme: the Joker may be immortal, an eternal force of chaos. Batman #35-40 form this arc which concludes with the apparent death of the two enemies. Batman #40 (common death Batman/Joker) is a major key issue of the New 52 era, between €20 and €50 in 9.8. The arc explores the existential question of the Batman/Joker relationship with rare ambition.
No Man's Land (1999). The Joker claims Gotham
In this year-long event where Gotham is devastated by an earthquake and abandoned by the government, the Joker remains silent for months before striking. He murders Sarah Essen (Commissioner Gordon's wife) in the last act. Detective Comics #741 is the key issue of this final confrontation. No Man's Land is an 80+ issue event, but the Joker outcomes are targeted and identifiable.
Joker War (2020): Wayne's Stolen Fortune
James Tynion IV launches a 6-issue event (Batman #95-100) where the Joker seizes the Wayne fortune and turns Batman's gadgets against Gotham. The event marks a new status quo: Batman loses his fortune and must operate without his usual resources. Batman #100 (conclusion, 80 pages) trades between €15 and €40 in 9.8.
Summary of Joker Values
Batman #428 (Death in the Family): €200-600 (9.8). Batman #13 (Death of the Family): €25-70. Batman #40 (Endgame): €20-50. Batman #100 (Joker War): €15-40. Detective Comics #741 (No Man's Land): €20-45. Joker key issues are among the most stable on the DC market.
Complete your Joker collection event by event. Every arc, every tie-in, every variation: track it all with My Comics Collection.
Manage my Joker collectionReading and Collecting the Joker Events in Order
The major Joker events span more than thirty years, and each answers a different editorial context. In chronological order: A Death in the Family (1988-1989, Batman #426-429), No Man's Land (1999), Death of the Family (2012-2013), Endgame (2014-2015) and then Joker War (2020). Reading them in this order shows how the character was reinvented by each generation of writers, from Jim Starlin to James Tynion IV by way of Scott Snyder.
Watch out for repeating issue numbers
The key issues of these events carry very common numbers. Batman #13, Batman #40 and Batman #100 exist in several successive Batman series: the 2011 series for Death of the Family and Endgame, the series launched in 2016 for Joker War, and the original series for A Death in the Family. Before any purchase, check the series year and the cover, not just the number. This confusion is the most frequent mistake among beginning collectors, and it leads to buying an issue unrelated to the event you wanted.
A focused event or a sprawling one?
Not all events are collected the same way. A Death in the Family fits in four issues of a single series, so it is easy to complete. Death of the Family has a core of five issues (Batman #13-17) but extends into side series, with Batgirl #14-16, Nightwing #15-16 and Red Hood and the Outlaws #15-16. No Man's Land runs to more than 80 issues, but only a few involve the Joker, with Detective Comics #741 at the top. Draw up a checklist before starting, so you do not buy a whole event when only a handful of issues interest you.
Fragility and condition of the landmark issues
The die-cut cover of Batman #13, which cuts out the Joker's face, is more exposed to creases, nicks and tears than a standard cover: inspect it closely before buying, or favor a graded copy. For Batman #428, an older and highly sought issue, condition and any sign of restoration weigh heavily on its value.
Where to start
If you only want one issue per event, take the one that carries the turning point: Batman #428 for the death of Jason Todd, Detective Comics #741 for the murder of Sarah Essen, Batman #13 for the Joker's return, Batman #40 for the conclusion of Endgame and Batman #100 for the stolen Wayne fortune. Then fill in arc by arc, starting with the shortest events, which require the least searching.
Frequently asked questions
Three arcs stand out: A Death in the Family (the murder of Jason Todd, Batman #428), Death of the Family (Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo, the Joker with his face torn off) and Endgame (the immortal Joker, final confrontation with Batman). No Man's Land and Joker War complete the list.
Jim Starlin and Jim Aparo deliver a four-issue arc (Batman #426-429) in which the Joker beats Jason Todd, the second Robin, to death with a crowbar. Readers voted by phone to decide the character's fate. Batman #428 is the arc's major key issue.
The core of the event is Batman #13-17. Batman #13, with its die-cut face cover, is the emblematic key issue, and Batman #17 is the conclusion. The essential tie-ins are Batgirl #14-16, Nightwing #15-16 and Red Hood and the Outlaws #15-16.
Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo push the idea that the Joker may be immortal, an eternal force of chaos. The arc runs from Batman #35 to #40 and ends with the apparent death of both enemies. Batman #40 is the major New 52 key issue for this subject.
In this six-issue event (Batman #95-100) written by James Tynion IV, the Joker seizes the Wayne fortune and turns Batman's gadgets against Gotham. Batman loses his fortune and must operate without his usual resources, creating a new status quo.