DC Finest: The Joker – The Last Ha Ha. This is not just a random collection. It’s a carefully stacked lineup of stories that shows how The Joker evolved from a prankster with gimmicks into the full-on nightmare we know today.
You’re getting heavy hitters like Batman #251, which is often pointed to as the moment the Joker snapped back into something far more dangerous. Then it keeps rolling with issues like Batman #260, #286, #291-#294, and #321, plus key appearances across Detective Comics, Justice League of America, and Wonder Woman. It’s not just Batman’s problem here. The Joker spreads chaos everywhere.
What really makes this collection pop for me is the inclusion of those off-the-beaten-path titles. Stuff from The Brave and the Bold, Wonder Woman, and especially The Joker. That 1975 solo run is a weird, fascinating piece of history. DC is trying to give the Joker his own spotlight and somehow make him both entertaining and completely unhinged at the same time.
This book really captures that shift out of the campy Silver Age vibe and into something darker. Not quite the fully realized chaos agent he becomes later, but you can see it forming. The jokes get sharper. The stakes get higher. The body count… yeah, that starts creeping up, too.
If you’re into comic history or just want to see how one of the greatest villains ever actually evolved on the page, this is an easy pickup. It’s not just nostalgia. It’s a turning point.
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