This 2005 prestige format one-shot by Ed Brubaker and Doug Mahnke reimagines Joker's first appearance (see entry No. While future creators have played around a bit with Joker's origin, Killing Joke's immense popularity has more or less made this the definitive 'year one' Joker story. Of course Killing Joke has the added benefit of some of the most brilliant artwork you'll ever see from Bolland, including the iconic panel of Joker emerging from the chemicals, complete with his Cheshire Cat grin.

The future Joker is dressed in a red hood for the heist and jumps into a vat of chemicals to escape Batman a la the Golden Age origin. The man then attempts to back out of the deal when his wife tragically dies in an accident, but is strong-armed into making the robbery anyway. When his stand-up career fails, he makes a desperate deal with the mob to rob a chemical plant. Flashback sequences show the Joker as a young man attempting to make it as a stand-up comedian as a way to provide for he and his pregnant wife. Rather than paint the Joker as just a nihilistic madman, Killing Joke actually attempts to create some sympathy for the character. While Batman #1 lacks the sophistication of some of the modern age attempts to shine a light on the Joker's character, it certainly lays the foundation for many of the great stories that followed. The fact that Joker is so cold blooded and psychotic in her very first appearance gives credence to the fact that the character didn't become more campy and goofy until the Silver Age, when Batman, across the board, softened around the edges (that Batman live-action television series certainly fed into that as well). He even impersonates the police chief in order to kill a Gotham City judge. His very first victim, a wealthy socialite named Henry Claridge, died with an unnerving smile on his face – something that would go on to become a trademark for the 'Clown Prince of Crime.' For his subsequent victims, Joker publicly declares his intentions to rob and kill these people before successfully doing so (despite Batman and Robin trying to stop him).

Even by Golden Age standards, Bob Kane and Bill Finger's Joker is a whirling dervish of chaos and anarchy.

Doug mahnke red hood