There is no definitive answer to the question of who killed the Joker in DC Comics, as the character has been written and re-written by various authors and artists over the years, and the stories surrounding his death are often left open to interpretation. That being said, there have been a number of instances in DC Comics where the Joker has died or been presumed dead, often as a result of the actions of other characters in the DC Universe.
One of the most well-known instances of the Joker’s death occurred in the graphic novel “Batman: The Dark Knight Returns” by Frank Miller. In this story, an older Batman comes out of retirement to fight crime once again, and confronts the Joker in a brutal showdown. During the fight, the Joker appears to suffer a fatal heart attack, although it is left ambiguous as to whether Batman had a hand in his death or if it was a natural occurrence.
In the 1988 graphic novel “Batman: A Death in the Family” by Jim Starlin and Jim Aparo, the Joker is responsible for the death of Batman’s sidekick, Jason Todd (the second Robin). In revenge, Batman brutally beats the Joker and leaves him for dead in a warehouse explosion. While it is initially presumed that the Joker was killed in the blast, subsequent stories reveal that he survived and continued to terrorize Gotham City.
In the 2003 storyline “Batman: Death of the Family” by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo, the Joker once again meets his end at the hands of Batman. In this story, the Joker has returned to Gotham City after a year-long absence and launches a series of attacks on Batman’s allies and loved ones. In the final confrontation between Batman and the Joker, it is revealed that the Joker has been using a series of chemical compounds to make himself immune to death, and that his ultimate goal is to force Batman to kill him. In the end, Batman is forced to stab the Joker with a batarang, but it is left unclear whether or not the Joker actually dies.
There have also been instances in which the Joker has been killed by other characters in the DC Universe. In the 2008 storyline “Final Crisis” by Grant Morrison and J.G. Jones, the Joker is killed by Darkseid (one of the primary villains in the DC Universe) after he is infected with a toxin that turns him into a mindless, zombie-like creature. In the 2011 storyline “Flashpoint” by Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert, the Joker is killed by Batman’s father, Thomas Wayne, after he murders Bruce Wayne instead of Thomas and Martha Wayne.
It is worth noting that in many instances where the Joker appears to die or be killed, he often returns to life or reappears in subsequent stories. This is in part due to the nature of comic book storytelling, which often features characters being resurrected or coming back from the dead.
In conclusion, there have been numerous instances in DC Comics where the Joker has been killed or presumed dead, often as a result of the actions of other characters in the DC Universe. However, the circumstances surrounding his death are often left open to interpretation, and the Joker has a tendency to come back to life or reappear in subsequent stories. Ultimately, the question of who killed the Joker in DC Comics is a complex and multi-faceted one that has yet to be definitively answered.
