Stacked Deck: The Greatest Joker Stories Ever Told #[nn]

In this 1990 tale from *Stacked Deck: The Greatest Joker Stories Ever Told*, Batman confronts a chilling new villain who targets iconic men, murdering them and taking their most prized possessions—leaving each corpse with a grin. The mystery deepens as the killer’s signature smile becomes a grim calling card, pushing the Dark Knight to the edge of obsession.

In "The Man Behind the Red Hood!" from *Stacked Deck: The Greatest Joker Stories Ever Told* (1990), Batman steps in as a guest instructor at State University, where students take on the decade-old mystery of the Red Hood. As they dissect the case using criminology, their investigation unexpectedly draws the elusive criminal from the shadows—forcing Batman to confront a past that refuses to stay buried.

In "The Joker's Crime Costumes!", the Clown Prince of Crime turns the tables on Batman with a bizarre criminal spree, donning disguises inspired by legendary fictional comedians. With each heist, he channels a different iconic comic persona, turning Gotham into a stage for his chaotic performances.

In "The Joker's Utility Belt!" from *Stacked Deck: The Greatest Joker Stories Ever Told*, the Joker's plan to effortlessly capture Batman and Robin backfires when the Dark Knight uses his utility belt to turn the tables. Fueled by humiliation, the Joker vows to outshine Batman by crafting his own, far more chaotic utility belt—complete with gadgets designed to turn Gotham’s chaos into his ultimate playground.

In "The Crimes of Batman!", the Joker, humiliated after Batman outsmarts a criminal using one of his own schemes, sets out to corrupt the Dark Knight by threatening to harm Robin unless Batman commits a series of crimes. With the stakes rising, Batman must confront the chilling prospect of becoming the very thing he fights against—forced to break his own code in a twisted game of moral endurance.

In "The Crazy Crime Clown!", the Joker stages a string of absurd, senseless crimes that leave even Gotham baffled—until he surrenders, only to be locked away in an asylum. Batman, never one to trust the Joker’s motives, quietly keeps watch, knowing that beneath the madness, something far more dangerous might be brewing.

When Lex Luthor and the Joker team up to build a fleet of indestructible Mechano-Men, Superman and Batman must unravel their twisted partnership—before the robots turn the city into a playground of chaos. The duo’s unlikely alliance raises more questions than answers, and with danger lurking in every gear, the Dark Knight and the Man of Steel race to uncover the real mastermind behind the machines.

In "Crime-of-the-Month Club!", Batman follows a trail of stolen flowers to uncover a shocking scheme: the Joker isn't just committing crimes—he's selling detailed plans for them to other villains, turning his chaotic antics into a twisted business. With the stakes rising and the city on edge, Batman must outthink a criminal mastermind who's turned crime into a subscription service.

When Clayface rises as the nation’s top criminal, the Joker can’t resist stepping in—turning a string of high-stakes heists into a personal war of chaos. As the feud escalates, Batman, Robin, Batwoman, and Bat-Girl find themselves caught in a clash of egos that’s as unpredictable as it is deadly.

In "The Joker Jury!", the Clown Prince of Crime orchestrates a citywide chaos, turning police, fire, and other public services into his twisted playground. When the Caped Crusaders confront him, they’re ambushed and forced to stand trial—on the Joker’s own terms.

In "The Joker's Happy Victims!", the Clown Prince of Crime targets a series of wealthy victims—including Bruce Wayne—after they laugh at him and refuse to press charges. But their laughter was just the beginning of a twisted game, as the Joker has secretly blackmailed them into compliance, turning their amusement into a dangerous, orchestrated scheme.

In "The Joker's Five-Way Revenge!" from *Stacked Deck: The Greatest Joker Stories Ever Told*, the Joker’s latest escape sets off a deadly game of survival as he targets five former associates who betrayed him—each a piece in his twisted puzzle of vengeance. With Batman racing to protect them, the line between hunter and hunted blurs in a story where every move could be the last.

In "Death Has the Last Laugh," a family's brutal murder points to the Joker—until Batman uncovers clues that suggest a deeper deception. With the line between villain and victim blurring, Batman reluctantly teams up with the Joker to uncover the truth behind the crime.

In "The Laughing Fish!" from *Stacked Deck: The Greatest Joker Stories Ever Told*, the Joker turns Gotham’s waters into a grotesque gallery of grinning fish, then tries to trademark the twisted creatures—forcing Batman to defend city officials from the Clown Prince of Crime’s absurd, toxic scheme.

In "Sign of the Joker!", Hugo Strange turns the tables on Rupert Thorne, Silver St. Cloud faces a pivotal choice about her future, and Batman finally unravels the Joker’s latest twisted plan—before it’s too late.

In "Dreadful Birthday, Dear Joker...!", the Joker throws a very personal party—inviting Gotham’s elite to witness his grand, explosive celebration, with Batman’s closest allies among the guests. With time running out, the Caped Crusader must race against the clock to stop the chaos before the fireworks ignite.

In "Last Laugh," the Joker turns Gotham's impending demolition of General Station into his ultimate canvas, using the city's own technology to preserve the facade as a twisted monument. With his usual flair for chaos and a mind bent on leaving a lasting impression, he sets his sights on making Gotham remember him—forever.

In "Catch as Catscan," the Joker’s latest scheme unfolds with a cryptic clue leading Batman, Robin, and Catwoman to the Gotham Public Library, where the chaos is just beginning. With the library’s stacks hiding more than just books, the trio must unravel the riddle before the Joker’s next move goes off the rails.

In "The Last Laugh!", Batman and Robin race through the shadows of Gotham’s underworld, hunting for a clue that could expose the Joker’s latest scheme. With time slipping away, they face a chilling alliance as the Joker teams up with Dr. Moon to manipulate Catwoman’s past—pushing her toward a path she may not be able to escape.