The Joker's origin story remains shrouded in mystery even 80 years after the villain's original debut, but that may change soon. In the grand tradition of Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli's Batman: Year One, DC will publish a new storyline called Joker: Year One.
Joker: Year One is a three-issue story arc that will appear in the pages of DC's flagship monthly Batman series. The story will be written by regular Batman writer Chip Zdarsky, with the art team including Giuseppe Camuncoli, Stefano Nesi, Andrea Sorrentino, Alejandro Sánchez and Dave Stewart.
Joker: Year One picks up immediately after the origin story chronicled in Alan Moore and Brian Bolland's graphic novel Batman: The Killing Joke, as readers learn what happened after the former Red Hood emerged from the vat of chemicals. Year One will trace Joker's first year as a costumed villain in Gotham City and how the legend surrounding the Clown Prince of Crime was born. However, these three issues also feature a secondary storyline set in the present day, as the new revelations surrounding the origin of the Joker wind up impacting Batman in the present.
It's also worth noting that recent issues of Batman have acknowledged the existence of the Three Jokers, hinting that the series will offer its own take on that surprising plot twist separate from Geoff Johns and Jason Fabok's Batman: Three Jokers series (which was part of DC's non-canon Black Label line). Will Year One offer its own explanation as to why there are three different versions of Joker and what it means for Batman? Let us know in the comments what you think about a potential Three Jokers reboot.
Joker: Year One will play out in the pages of Batman #142-144, which will be released weekly in February 2024.
Joker: Year One comes after DC solved another major Joker-related mystery by revealing the villain's real name.
Elsewhere in the world of comics, Peter Parker and Miles Morales are starring in Greg Weisman's Spectacular Spider-Men, and Rick and Morty is getting its own comic book event.
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