Joker War Reading Guide

Overview:

Joker War is a 2020 crossover event in DC Comics’ Batman series, written by James Tynion IV with art from Jorge Jiménez. It follows a high-stakes battle between Batman and his long-time nemesis, the Joker. In this storyline, Joker executes one of his most devastating schemes yet, seizing control of Bruce Wayne’s resources to wreak havoc on Gotham City.

The story places Batman in a particularly vulnerable position, as his adversary now holds both financial and psychological power over him. Alongside Batman, key characters such as Batgirl, Nightwing, and Harley Quinn take center stage in trying to stop the chaos, while the Joker is aided by his loyal new ally, Punchline.

While some appreciated the high-octane action and the exploration of Batman’s psyche, others felt it didn’t push boundaries as much as previous Joker-centered tales. However, Jiménez’s dynamic and detailed artwork was widely praised, adding a vibrant and intense visual style to the series.

Joker War stands as an important chapter in Batman’s ongoing struggle against Gotham’s most dangerous villain. It builds on Joker’s legacy while pushing Batman to his limits.

Best Way To Read:

• The Joker War Saga
  • Collects: Batman (vol. 3) #95-100, Batgirl (vol. 5) #47, Detective Comics #1025, Red Hood: Outlaw #48, Nightwing (vol. 4) #74, The Joker War Zone #1 and material from Harley Quinn (vol. 3) #75 and Catwoman (vol. 5) #25
• Batman Vol. 2: The Joker War
  • Collects: Batman (vol. 3) #95-100
• Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 5: The Joker War
  • Collects: Detective Comics #1020-1027, Batman: Pennyworth R.I.P., Detective Comics Annual #3
• Nightwing: The Joker War
  • Collects: Nightwing (vol. 4) #70-77, Nightwing Annual #3
• Batgirl Vol. 8: The Joker War
  • Collects: Batgirl (vol. 5) #45-50

For crossover and significant events, I typically only read the main story the first time I encounter it. Trying to read all of the tie-ins with the story tends to make them increasingly convoluted and are not crucial to the main narrative. However, I think they are important to read, as many series-shifting plotlines can happen.

For the tie-in issues, I only read them as they come up in the reading guide that I am working through. This can become problematic because the tie-in issues are not always included in collected editions of the event. So you may need to hunt for them.

Reading Order:

References:

• Wikipedia
• Comic Book Herald
• Comic Book Reading Orders

Feature image from Batman #97 cover art by Guillern March and Tomeu Morey