As Gotham City continues to rebuild, following Bane‘s brutal takeover (during CITY OF BANE, 2019-2020), Bruce Wayne unveils a children’s hospital built in Alfred Pennyworth‘s honour. But Bruce has bigger and better designs for Gotham.
To complicate matters, both the Joker and Two-Face know Bruce Wayne is the man beneath the Batman‘s cowl. And Nightwing has lost his memory and now functions as Talon (aka, Ric Grayson) while the vigilante group called the Nightwings struggle to fill his boots.
And so begins the journey to THE JOKER WAR!
Related Events: The events in the various Bat-Femily books all converge in the build-up to the Joker War.
Must-Reads: In the Quick List, essential chapters are in bold; in the Full Reading Order and the Fallout section, story arcs/issues marked with a ✔ are essential reading.
Spoilers: The issue descriptions and fallout section contain spoilers, so be warned!
Previous events that directly impact this story:
- ENDGAME (2014-2015) – Joker learns Batman’s secret identity
- BEASTS OF BURDEN (2018-2019) – Nightwing loses his memory
- CITY OF BANE (2019) – Bane takes over Gotham City
Want to keep it simple? Here’s the chronological reading order without story descriptions, or spoilers; bold issues are ‘must-reads’:
- Batman #85 [2/2]
- Joker 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular #1 [2/9]
- Detective Comics #1020-1022 (tie-in)
- Nightwing #70
- Batman #86
- Batman Secret Files #3
- Nightwing #71
- Batman #87-94
- Nightwing #72
- Detective Comics #1023-1024
| Must Read | Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| Batman Secret Files #3 [1/5] The assassin Cheshire is hired to kill Karl Fogle, a man who uses his wealth to expose corruption in Gotham City. Batman fails to convince her to use her abilities for the better. But Fogle is already dead by Cheshire’s hand. She just wanted to test the Batman. | |
| Batman Secret Files #3 [2/5] Having been made aware that the dark archer Merlyn has been hired to kill him, Batman turns to Green Arrow for intel. Merlyn sets a fire in the Gotham Children’s Museum. Batman rescues the young hostages while taking shots from Merlyn. Batman and Green Arrow take Merlyn down together. | |
| Batman Secret Files #3 [3/5] Batman faces Mister Teeth for the first time. | |
| Batman Secret Files #3 [4/5] Batman has his first encounter with Gunsmith who manipulates people into becoming weapons to turn against the Batman. | |
| ✔ | Batman #85 [2/2] The news that reporter Clark Kent is really Superman (see THE TRUTH REVEALED, 2020) inspires the Joker to use his knowledge of Batman’s identity in his next scheme… |
| ✔ | Joker 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular #1 [2/9] Student Alexis Kaye kills Dean Bob with Joker Venom to prove to the Joker she’s not just a fangirl. She joins the Joker’s cause as Punchline! 1st appearance: Punchline/Alexis Kaye (named) |
| Detective Comics #1020 (tie-in) Joker finds a broken set of Talon goggles. Two-Face kills the DeMarco Brothers. While hunting his old foe, Batman comes across a group who are trying to cover Two-Face’s trail and who are willing to die for him. They commit suicide rather than allow Batman to capture them. Two-Face starts a cult. 1st appearance: Versa (unnamed), Vice (unnamed), Church of the Two | |
| Detective Comics #1021 (tie-in) Two-Face is convincing terminally-ill criminals to join his Church of the Two, manipulating them into blind loyalty. With Harvey Dent in control – and a exhibiting a worrying head-wound – Two-Face shows up outside the Batcave. ‘Harvey Dent’ is struggling to keep Batman’s identity a secret from ‘Two-Face’. Batman finds the Church of the Two under the Gotham Courthouse. Two-Face escapes the Batmobile and shoots Batman several times! 1st appearance: Versa (named), Vice (named), | |
| Detective Comics #1022 (tie-in) Two-Face lowers Batman into a vat of acid. But Batman escapes, spilling the vat of the acid so it will destroy the Church. Batman prevents Two-Face’s follower Vice from blowing up a new wing at the Children’s Hospital. Instead, Vice explains how he and Versa found Two-Face with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and how the Joker and Hugo Strange planted an explosive in Vice’s head. Elsewhere, the Joker unearths the vault of the Court of Owls. |
| Must Read | Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| ✔ | Detective Comics #1023 (pp.1-6) Joker finds the Tomb of the Unworthy – the resting place of the undead Talons – and wakes Lincoln March… |
| ✔ | Batman #86 [1/2] (pp.1-14) Deathstroke leads a crew consisting of Cheshire, Gunsmith, Merlyn and Mister Teeth into Gotham City. Fully prepared, Batman takes them down, knowing they’re a distraction. Lucius Fox tries to support Batman the way Alfred Pennyworth used to… 1st appearance: Mayor Dunch, Gunsmith/Douglas Worth, Mister Teeth, Nightclimber |
| ✔ | Batman Secret Files #3 [5/5] A month earlier, the Joker and Punchline approached Deathstroke and told him Bruce Wayne is Batman. Deathstroke tells Batman he wants to face off against a great man before he loses everything. Batman defeats Deathstroke! |
| ✔ | Batman #86 [1/2] (pp.15-20) Catwoman deals with the real threat, while intending to destroy Bruce Wayne’s plans for the city. Those plans are safe, but they may mean Gotham City no longer needs a Batman… |
| ✔ | Batman #86 [2/2] But another plan is in place. Joker’s goons kill a number of hostages in Amusement Mile. But the Joker killed them all so no one knows his plans! |
| ✔ | Nightwing #70 For some time now, Nightwing (Dick Grayson) believed he was really Talon (Ric Grayson) with an entirely different history thanks to manipulative Court of Owls operative Dr Isabella Haas (since BEASTS OF BURDEN, 2018-2019). Meanwhile, Joker targets Nightwing Prime of the vigilante Nightwings. He follows Ric to Bea Bennett’s bar and takes Dr Haas’ memory crystal. |
| Nightwing #71 Joker lures Ric out of the bar by helping Tusk escape custody. Talon defeats Tusk and saves Bea from the Joker. But Joker uses the memory crystal to mess Ric’s memories up even further, making him believe he was raised by the Joker himself! | |
| ✔ | Batman #87 Riddler obsessively monitors Gotham’s current criminal activity. Commissioner Harvey Bullock sends the five assassins to the Black Block. Batman realises Cheshire is a clay double. He locates the real Cheshire in Gotham and defeats her. The rest of Deathstroke’s crew almost escape the Black Block, but the Penguin won’t let them leave. 1st appearance: Bat-Shot |
| ✔ | Batman #88 Catwoman believed the Joker was dead. Catwoman digs up the grave and finds the body’s still there. Riddler taunts Catwoman over the secrets she’s keeping from Batman. Joker’s goons bury her alive, but Harley Quinn comes to her rescue. Bullock informs Batman that the assassins have been taken from the Black Block. Batman finds the Penguin trying to buy the assassins out. Deathstroke cuts the Penguin’s throat so Batman will focus on getting him medical attention while Deathstroke’s crew escapes. Penguin tells Batman the Designer’s real target is Bruce Wayne! |
| ✔ | Batman #89 After dropping Penguin off at the hospital, Batman chases down Gunsmith and Mister Teeth. When he arrives at Riddler’s hideout, Batman sees his foe on Riddler’s security cameras. Merlyn and Cheshire go after Catwoman and Harley, observed by a mystery woman who reports in to the Joker who’s planning attacks on all the Bat-Family, and knows their identities. Batman sends his Batspawn drones after Deathstroke. Catwoman and Harley show up at Riddler’s place and finds Batman. 1st appearance: Designer, Punchline/Alexis Kaye (unnamed), Batspawn |
| Must Read | Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| ✔ | Batman #90 Catwoman tells Batman about the deal she made years earlier with the Riddler, Penguin and the Joker when they were summoned by the Designer. But the hours the Designer spent with the Joker drove him mad until the Joker shot the Designer in the head. But the Designer is back, somehow. Batman realises Catwoman had planned to steal the worth of Wayne Enterprises on the Designer’s behalf! 1st appearance: Cassander Wycliffe Baker |
| ✔ | Batman #91 The Designer sends his undead minions after Catwoman and Harley Quinn. Deathstroke sides with Batman when it becomes clear that the Designer won’t be paying him. Riddler emerges, revealing he’s siding with the Designer! |
| ✔ | Batman #92 Riddler turns Gotham City into a massive crossword, with answers that unlock parts of the city. Batman leads Deathstroke below ground while solving the riddles with ease. In the sewers, Catwoman and Harley fight the Designer’s zombie cops. Harley fights her way past Punchline – the Joker’s new girlfriend – while Catwoman convinces the Underbroker to help her. Batman finds the Riddler in Bruce Wayne’s office. After sedating him, the Designer refers to Batman by his real name! 1st appearance: Underbroker/Harlan Graves |
| ✔ | Batman #93 Batman and the Designer engage in a sword fight! Elsewhere, Catwoman forces the Underbroker to drain Bruce Wayne’s accounts and make her rich. Punchline slashes Harley Quinn’s throat while accusing her of trying to water the Joker down. Batman unmasks the Designer, revealing him to be the Designer’s zombie corpse controlled by the Joker. Deathstroke skewers Batman’s leg with his sword. Catwoman empties the Wayne accounts, but they don’t transfer to her. Punchline shoots Catwoman. Joker is now worth over $100 billion dollars! |
| Nightwing #72 (pp.1-11) Bea sets up a signal in Gotham Park to call in Batman’s help, which Barbara Gordon answers. It seems Ric’s personality has been warped by the Joker. In Blüdhaven, the Nightwings are given bad news about Nightwing Prime’s condition… | |
| ✔ | Batman #94 Years ago, Bruce Wayne was trained by Cassander Wycliffe Baker, the detective who was defeated by the Designer. Now, Lucius Fox comes to Batman’s aid, explaining that Wayne Manor has been seized by lawyers and Bruce Wayne is wanted for embezzling. Lucius resumes his role as Wayne Enterprises CEO. Catwoman is rushed to hospital due to her injuries. As the assassins depart, Deathstroke takes one last look at Gotham City. Batman is surrounded by the Joker’s goons, but escapes. Catwoman has been taken to the safety of Penguin’s private lounge, the Cool Room. The Joker takes control of Gotham City and puts it in lockdown! |
| Nightwing #72 (pp.12-20) Talon finds Batgirl first, but Punchline interrupts their strange reunion. Talon turns on Batgirl and knocks her out. Joker emerges and reunites with his new ‘family’. | |
| ✔ | Detective Comics #1023 (pp.7-20) Resuming his search for Two-Face, Batman finds Hugo Strange and Mad Hatter. He forces them to admit what they did to Two-Face and uses their locator to find him at the Gotham Police Armoury. Two-Face uses the Superheavy Batsuit against Batman. Just as Two-Face is defeated, an army of Talons emerge ready to face the Bat! |
| ✔ | Detective Comics #1024 (pp.1-17) Two-Face and his disciples side with Batman against the Talons who’ve been infused with Joker Serum, while the Joker watches on a monitor. Batman freezes Mad Hatter & Two-Face and blows up the remaining Talons. Batman subdues Two-Face and destroys the chip in his brain to restore Harvey Dent. |
| ✔ | Detective Comics #1024 (pp.18-20) Later (after THE JOKER WAR, 2020-2021), Batman disguises himself as Matches Malone and enters Blackgate Prison to check on Harvey Dent’s progress. |
| Must Reads | Issue(s) & Fallout | Event / Crossover |
| ✔ | Harley Quinn #75 (2020) Harley Quinn regains consciousness and sews up her own neck. | THE JOKER WAR |
| Nightwing #73 (2020) Red Hood: Outlaw #48 (2020) Nightwing #74 (2020) Red Hood is lured to Batgirl’s location by Punchline; Dick Grayson’s memories are restored. | THE JOKER WAR | |
| ✔ | Batman #95-99 (2020) The Joker initiates his own ‘design’ against the Batman; Bruce Wayne’s ’embezzlement’ is made public; Catwoman struggles with the guilt of costing Bruce his fortune; Batman gives Nightwing his costume back; the Joker customises Batman’s vehicles into ‘Jokerized’ versions; Punchline creates her own Punchline Venom; Harley Quinn clashes with Punchline. Catwoman #25 (2020) Catwoman betrays the Underbroker to help Bruce Wayne. Batman #99-101 (2020-2021) Mayor Dunch turns against the Bat-Family; Harley Quinn and Batman have their showdown with the Joker; Punchline’s identity becomes public; with no Batcave or Bat-arsenal and no connection to Wayne Enterprises, Batman sets up a headquarters in the centre of Gotham; Batman and Catwoman decide to part ways for a year to get their lives back in order. | THE JOKER WAR |
| ✔ | Punchline #1 (2021) More information on Punchline’s origin is revealed; Punchline is forced to stand trial for her actions in Gotham City, though she claims she was coerced by the Joker. | |
| Batman #102-105 (2021) Following Batman’s repeated failures, Ghost-Maker makes his bid to become Gotham’s new protector. | ||
| Nightwing #83 (2021) Nightwing uses the money left to him by Alfred Pennyworth to set up the Alfred Pennyworth Foundation; Nightwing and Batgirl rekindle their past feelings. | ||
| ✔ | Task Force Z #2-3 (2022) Task Force Z learn that ‘Director Crispin’ – the man who’s had a hand in the formation of the ‘Zombie Suicide Squad’ – is actually the restored Two-Face. | |
| Deathstroke Inc #7 (2022) Gunsmith goes on to join Deathstroke’s Secret Society of Super-Villains. | THE LAZARUS TOURNAMENT | |
| Robin #13 (2022) Batman next faces Deathstroke… or does he? | SHADOW WAR | |
| ✔ | Batman #149 (2024) Bruce Wayne regains his fortune thanks to Zur-En-Arrh. | DAWN OF DC |
| ✔ | Batman #152 (2024) Batman and Catwoman are reunited; Gunsmith dies at the hands of Darkseid. | ABSOLUTE POWER |
| Collected Edition Title | Collects… |
| Batman: Their Dark Designs (vol.1) | Batman #86-94 Batman Secret Files #3 |
| Batman – Detective Comics: The Joker War (vol.5) | Detective Comics #1020-1026 Detective Comics #1027 [part] Detective Comics Annual #3 Batman: Pennyworth R.I.P. #1 |
| Batman by James Tynion Omnibus vol.1 | Batman #85 [part] Batman #86-100 Batman #107-111 [part] Batman 2021 Annual Batman Annual #5 Batman: Pennyworth RIP #1 Batman Secret Files #3 Batman: The Joker War Zone #1 [1/5] Batman: The Joker War Zone #1 [4/5] Batman: The Joker War Zone #1 [5/5] Infinite Frontier #0 [part] Joker #14 [part] Joker 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular #1 [part] |
| Nightwing: The Joker War | Nightwing #70-77 Nightwing Annual #3 |
| Collected Edition Title | Includes… |
| Batman: 80 Years of the Bat Family | Joker 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular #1 |
Reading Order © Omniverse Comics Guide 2025
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