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Superman (1987) #160-161
Superman: Emperor Joker
When Batman's greatest nemesis, the Joker, reshapes reality, Superman becomes the world's greatest dangerous criminal, Bizarro is the world's greatest hero, and chaos and death reign.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
33 people are currently reading
521 people want to read
About the author
Jeph Loeb
1,589 books1,374 followersJoseph "Jeph" Loeb III is an Emmy and WGA nominated American film and television writer, producer and award-winning comic book writer. Loeb was a Co-Executive Producer on the NBC hit show Heroes, and formerly a producer/writer on the TV series Smallville and Lost.
A four-time Eisner Award winner and five-time Wizard Fan Awards winner (see below), Loeb's comic book career includes work on many major characters, including Spider-Man, Batman, Superman, Hulk, Captain America, Cable, Iron Man, Daredevil, Supergirl, the Avengers, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, much of which he has produced in collaboration with artist Tim Sale, who provides the comic art seen on Heroes.
A four-time Eisner Award winner and five-time Wizard Fan Awards winner (see below), Loeb's comic book career includes work on many major characters, including Spider-Man, Batman, Superman, Hulk, Captain America, Cable, Iron Man, Daredevil, Supergirl, the Avengers, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, much of which he has produced in collaboration with artist Tim Sale, who provides the comic art seen on Heroes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
September 12, 2017
Pretty silly and damned ugly artwork.
May 12, 2020
A outlandish, bizarre collection across the Superman books and in a one-shot special where the most powerful person in the universe is… the Joker. Often surreal and sometimes very dark. 6 out of 12.
December 17, 2018
I know not all were fans of this blocky, cartoony art but all I've got to say is
BLACK SUIT! BLACK SUIT! BLACK SUIT!
Ahem. Where was I?
There was a time I associated DC with all things goofy about comics and, while I now see much less difference between their line of titles and those of their marvellous competitor's I liked how this compilation made me feel insofar as the story was completely ridiculous, and was knowingly, even lovingly, written as such. I wasn't that much a fan of the denouement but at the same time ending such a wacked out arc with anything remotely plausible would have felt like a cop out of sorts as well, I guess?
This one perhaps is not for all tastes, but I do recommend it to DC lore-ists, particularly those with a sense of humour, knowwhattimean?
(OK that just got really dark...but still a fun series?)
BLACK SUIT! BLACK SUIT! BLACK SUIT!
Ahem. Where was I?
There was a time I associated DC with all things goofy about comics and, while I now see much less difference between their line of titles and those of their marvellous competitor's I liked how this compilation made me feel insofar as the story was completely ridiculous, and was knowingly, even lovingly, written as such. I wasn't that much a fan of the denouement but at the same time ending such a wacked out arc with anything remotely plausible would have felt like a cop out of sorts as well, I guess?
This one perhaps is not for all tastes, but I do recommend it to DC lore-ists, particularly those with a sense of humour, knowwhattimean?
(OK that just got really dark...but still a fun series?)
June 28, 2019
So, I’m still not sure what exactly I read or what happened here.
The Joker creates a world of his own and tortures the entire JL within it. The story revolves around Clark - which is a first for me. A Joker story where Clark’s the protagonist, not Batsy. Superman is the only person aware of what the world used to be and I’m not entirely sure why that is? It may have been explained amidst the 5,000 puns and double entendres. I didn’t know whether to roll my eyes or be impressed. It read like someone just recorded their thoughts after drinking 6 Red Bull’s.
Anyway, what actually worked for me was the Clark and Bruce of it all. I don’t think I’ve ever read a story where Bruce suffered quite like this. He was in really bad shape living out a version of Prometheus’ story. It was actually a bit hard to read. In the end, Clark just can’t watch him suffer anymore.
So, that really worked for me. It was really intriguing.
Unfortunately, the rest of this comic was completely batshit insane.
The Joker creates a world of his own and tortures the entire JL within it. The story revolves around Clark - which is a first for me. A Joker story where Clark’s the protagonist, not Batsy. Superman is the only person aware of what the world used to be and I’m not entirely sure why that is? It may have been explained amidst the 5,000 puns and double entendres. I didn’t know whether to roll my eyes or be impressed. It read like someone just recorded their thoughts after drinking 6 Red Bull’s.
Anyway, what actually worked for me was the Clark and Bruce of it all. I don’t think I’ve ever read a story where Bruce suffered quite like this. He was in really bad shape living out a version of Prometheus’ story. It was actually a bit hard to read. In the end, Clark just can’t watch him suffer anymore.
So, that really worked for me. It was really intriguing.
Unfortunately, the rest of this comic was completely batshit insane.
May 30, 2013
This was another great story from Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness. I really liked how it was up to Superman to save the day as well as Steel, Superboy, and Supergirl. I also liked how in the end, Superman was willing to take all the painful memories away that Joker had caused for Batman and carry the burden for him so he could stay sane. This really touched me as a true act of friendship and shows how strong their relationship really is! Plus, it was really cool and scary to see Joker as the supreme ruler of the universe! He really twisted reality, especially by turning the Justice League of America, into the Joker League of Anarchy!
February 2, 2012
Despite the flagrantly bad artwork, the story is so fascinating, that you can't help but marvel at the way this story was put together.
November 25, 2015
DNF I had hoped that because this featured the Joker it would be good. Not even a quarter into it and it's too painfully stupid to read.
April 19, 2014
I would love to see Grant Morrison, Mark Waid or Scott Snyder reimagine this story and give it the execution it deserves. The concept of Emperor Joker seemed truly exciting; The Joker tricks Mr. Mxyzptlk into revealing his imp name and as a consequence steals 99% of his reality-altering powers. How great is this idea ?
Unfortunately, there is absolutely nothing exciting about this book. The portrayal of the Joker was messy and uninteresting, which is very shameful given the incredible potential that the idea had. Moreover, this incarnation of Superman is probably the worst I have ever come across - Very passive and borderline obnoxious. The cartoonish artwork and the lame dialogues, jokes and "puns" also justify the one-star rating.
Unfortunately, there is absolutely nothing exciting about this book. The portrayal of the Joker was messy and uninteresting, which is very shameful given the incredible potential that the idea had. Moreover, this incarnation of Superman is probably the worst I have ever come across - Very passive and borderline obnoxious. The cartoonish artwork and the lame dialogues, jokes and "puns" also justify the one-star rating.
July 31, 2025
The monsoons came heavy in 2009. The kind that blurred the world into a soft watercolor of grey and green, as if the skies themselves had decided to grieve. It was during one such rain-darkened afternoon that I read Superman: Emperor Joker. And it was the first time I picked up a comic after losing my father.
That year felt split in two. The first half was still touched by his voice — light, teasing, and always full of stories.
He was the one who led me into the comic world, holding up the Phantom like scripture, or showing me how Mandrake the Magician used illusions not just to trick but to teach. We devoured Rip Kirby's sleek logic, flew with Flash Gordon across galaxies, and argued about whether Marvel was secretly more philosophical than people gave it credit for. Comics weren’t just books in our home — they were inheritance. They were legacy. They were him.
He passed away in the early winter of 2009. The cold had come early that year, just as his breath had grown short and his voice quieter.
The house fell into a hush I couldn’t break for months. But the rains came again in the monsoons, bold and unrelenting — and with them, strangely, so did the comics. I reached for Emperor Joker not out of desire, but out of habit. The habit he had left in my hands.
At first glance, Emperor Joker is exactly what it advertises: a comic book odyssey where Joker gains godlike powers and remakes the universe in his own image. The plot is pure chaos: Joker steals Mr. Mxyzptlk’s fifth-dimensional powers, reshapes reality into his personal playground of absurdity and horror, and turns Superman into the butt of a never-ending cosmic joke. It could’ve been gimmicky, a popcorn read, a sideshow.
But it wasn’t. Not in that moment. Not for me.
Because what Loeb and McGuinness created wasn’t just a world gone mad — it was a meditation on grief, meaning, and identity under siege. I just didn’t realise it until I was halfway in, eyes blurring from both tears and rain outside the window.
In this Joker-ruled reality, nothing makes sense. Lex Luthor flips burgers. Lois Lane doesn’t know Superman’s name. The Justice League is twisted beyond recognition. And Batman — that unbreakable force of vengeance — is caught in an eternal cycle of death and resurrection, murdered in new horrific ways each day, only to return and be killed again. The entire universe is an echo chamber of Joker’s madness, and the only sane person left is Superman — powerless, confused, and losing grip on his memories.
And that, right there, was what hit hardest.
Superman doesn’t battle with strength here. He battles with memory. With the scraps of who he once was. He clings to the idea of Lois, of Bruce, of right and wrong, even as the world tries to laugh it all away. It felt eerily familiar.
Because that was me. Alone in a quiet house. Trying to remember what his laugh sounded like. Clinging to the smell of his pipe, the way he’d nudge me with an elbow when Mandrake pulled off a particularly clever trick. The way he’d grin when he handed me a new issue and say, “This one’s got soul.”
Emperor Joker, for all its bombast, is a deeply psychological story. It masquerades as comedy but is actually a horror tale about losing your grip on reality. Joker is not funny here — he’s terrifying. Given godhood, he doesn’t heal the world or make it weirder in fun ways. He breaks it down. His version of humour is cruelty stretched across time. And yet, the horror is never gratuitous. It’s crafted. Intentional. Almost literary in its madness.
McGuinness’s art is perfect for this — bold, kinetic, rubbery where it needs to be and jagged where it shouldn’t be. The colours pop like bubblegum in a funeral home. Everything is exaggerated, everything twisted. And yet, at the centre of it all is Superman — drawn not as a symbol of hope here, but as a man overwhelmed, grieving the loss of logic, love, and light.
It became clear to me, somewhere around the midpoint of the book, that Emperor Joker wasn’t a story about chaos. It was about what survives after chaos. What remains when the pillars of your world collapse. For Superman, it’s identity. For me, it was memory. My father’s memory.
There’s a scene that I’ve never forgotten — Superman is asked why Joker would go through all this cosmic trouble, why create a universe just to torment one man. And Superman, broken and weary, says, “Because even with all the power in the universe… he still couldn’t be me.” That line cut like a blade.
It’s not just about Joker’s madness. It’s about envy. Longing. A desire to become what you can never be. And, somehow, that line brought me closer to understanding my father’s own complexities. He was brilliant, often stubborn, always searching — for knowledge, for meaning, for ways to be remembered. He read comics with the same passion he read history books: not as escape, but as echo. As mirror. Superman, to him, wasn’t just an alien — he was the best version of us.
By the time I reached the final pages, the rains outside had softened. The windows were fogged with the breath of the season. Inside, something had cracked open gently within me. I wasn’t healed — that’s not how grief works. But I was no longer holding it alone. This ridiculous, surreal, technicolor comic had offered me a place to sit with the grief. Not fight it. Just... sit with it.
Even as Mxyzptlk restores the universe, and Joker is returned to his padded hell, Superman remains changed. Not visibly. Not dramatically. But you feel it. He’s a little quieter. A little sadder. He remembers what others have forgotten. And he carries that memory — not as a burden, but as a vow.
That, to me, was the heart of the book. Not the reality-warping, not the chaos, not even the brilliant satire of comic tropes. It was the act of remembering.
That monsoon, with thunder humming like a drumbeat in the distance, I remembered my father with every page. I remembered his voice explaining why Flash Gordon’s space politics were far more sophisticated than people thought. I remembered his disdain for cheap storytelling. I remembered how he called comics “modern mythology” and said, “One day, you’ll teach someone else what these stories meant.”
I haven’t yet. But maybe I will.
And maybe that, too, is the Superman in me.
That year felt split in two. The first half was still touched by his voice — light, teasing, and always full of stories.
He was the one who led me into the comic world, holding up the Phantom like scripture, or showing me how Mandrake the Magician used illusions not just to trick but to teach. We devoured Rip Kirby's sleek logic, flew with Flash Gordon across galaxies, and argued about whether Marvel was secretly more philosophical than people gave it credit for. Comics weren’t just books in our home — they were inheritance. They were legacy. They were him.
He passed away in the early winter of 2009. The cold had come early that year, just as his breath had grown short and his voice quieter.
The house fell into a hush I couldn’t break for months. But the rains came again in the monsoons, bold and unrelenting — and with them, strangely, so did the comics. I reached for Emperor Joker not out of desire, but out of habit. The habit he had left in my hands.
At first glance, Emperor Joker is exactly what it advertises: a comic book odyssey where Joker gains godlike powers and remakes the universe in his own image. The plot is pure chaos: Joker steals Mr. Mxyzptlk’s fifth-dimensional powers, reshapes reality into his personal playground of absurdity and horror, and turns Superman into the butt of a never-ending cosmic joke. It could’ve been gimmicky, a popcorn read, a sideshow.
But it wasn’t. Not in that moment. Not for me.
Because what Loeb and McGuinness created wasn’t just a world gone mad — it was a meditation on grief, meaning, and identity under siege. I just didn’t realise it until I was halfway in, eyes blurring from both tears and rain outside the window.
In this Joker-ruled reality, nothing makes sense. Lex Luthor flips burgers. Lois Lane doesn’t know Superman’s name. The Justice League is twisted beyond recognition. And Batman — that unbreakable force of vengeance — is caught in an eternal cycle of death and resurrection, murdered in new horrific ways each day, only to return and be killed again. The entire universe is an echo chamber of Joker’s madness, and the only sane person left is Superman — powerless, confused, and losing grip on his memories.
And that, right there, was what hit hardest.
Superman doesn’t battle with strength here. He battles with memory. With the scraps of who he once was. He clings to the idea of Lois, of Bruce, of right and wrong, even as the world tries to laugh it all away. It felt eerily familiar.
Because that was me. Alone in a quiet house. Trying to remember what his laugh sounded like. Clinging to the smell of his pipe, the way he’d nudge me with an elbow when Mandrake pulled off a particularly clever trick. The way he’d grin when he handed me a new issue and say, “This one’s got soul.”
Emperor Joker, for all its bombast, is a deeply psychological story. It masquerades as comedy but is actually a horror tale about losing your grip on reality. Joker is not funny here — he’s terrifying. Given godhood, he doesn’t heal the world or make it weirder in fun ways. He breaks it down. His version of humour is cruelty stretched across time. And yet, the horror is never gratuitous. It’s crafted. Intentional. Almost literary in its madness.
McGuinness’s art is perfect for this — bold, kinetic, rubbery where it needs to be and jagged where it shouldn’t be. The colours pop like bubblegum in a funeral home. Everything is exaggerated, everything twisted. And yet, at the centre of it all is Superman — drawn not as a symbol of hope here, but as a man overwhelmed, grieving the loss of logic, love, and light.
It became clear to me, somewhere around the midpoint of the book, that Emperor Joker wasn’t a story about chaos. It was about what survives after chaos. What remains when the pillars of your world collapse. For Superman, it’s identity. For me, it was memory. My father’s memory.
There’s a scene that I’ve never forgotten — Superman is asked why Joker would go through all this cosmic trouble, why create a universe just to torment one man. And Superman, broken and weary, says, “Because even with all the power in the universe… he still couldn’t be me.” That line cut like a blade.
It’s not just about Joker’s madness. It’s about envy. Longing. A desire to become what you can never be. And, somehow, that line brought me closer to understanding my father’s own complexities. He was brilliant, often stubborn, always searching — for knowledge, for meaning, for ways to be remembered. He read comics with the same passion he read history books: not as escape, but as echo. As mirror. Superman, to him, wasn’t just an alien — he was the best version of us.
By the time I reached the final pages, the rains outside had softened. The windows were fogged with the breath of the season. Inside, something had cracked open gently within me. I wasn’t healed — that’s not how grief works. But I was no longer holding it alone. This ridiculous, surreal, technicolor comic had offered me a place to sit with the grief. Not fight it. Just... sit with it.
Even as Mxyzptlk restores the universe, and Joker is returned to his padded hell, Superman remains changed. Not visibly. Not dramatically. But you feel it. He’s a little quieter. A little sadder. He remembers what others have forgotten. And he carries that memory — not as a burden, but as a vow.
That, to me, was the heart of the book. Not the reality-warping, not the chaos, not even the brilliant satire of comic tropes. It was the act of remembering.
That monsoon, with thunder humming like a drumbeat in the distance, I remembered my father with every page. I remembered his voice explaining why Flash Gordon’s space politics were far more sophisticated than people thought. I remembered his disdain for cheap storytelling. I remembered how he called comics “modern mythology” and said, “One day, you’ll teach someone else what these stories meant.”
I haven’t yet. But maybe I will.
And maybe that, too, is the Superman in me.
November 23, 2020
Дуже слабенький кросовер вийшов, при доволі непоганій ідеї, автори видали максимальну нудну і розривисту історію. Сюжет дуже повільно розвивається на початку, показуючи спроби Кларка дізнатися, що ж сталося, далі все стає куди цікавіше коли з'являється сам антагоніст, однак фінальний акт історії зводить нанівець будь-які цікаві моменти.
June 1, 2016
I tried to like this, I really did, but it just isn't my cup of tea. This story is 8-10? issues long and almost all of it is Superman stumbling through the world so the writers can show what the Joker has done to it. And because it's the Joker, it's manic, insane, irrational just as you would expect. The problem is, it goes on and on and on. Slowly Superman starts to figure things out but it takes forever. This story also falls into the group "With all that power why don't they just get rid of the hero?" I can't get past that idea so the rest was just really annoying to me.
February 17, 2018
Well that was very silly.
Plot was non existent, but I enjoyed the silliness immensely.
Plot was non existent, but I enjoyed the silliness immensely.
March 25, 2020
2.5/5.
That was... a big "meh" for me. I had great expectations for this comic, and I'd heard nice things about it, but other than the amazing premise, I didn't find enough material in it to make it stand out.
First of all, I didn't like the visual style at all. Yeah, its lightness and cartoonish look fit a Joker story perfectly... but at the same time, there were too many grim and dark things played so lightly here, and part of the problem was the style. I get why someone would like it, but I didn't feel it was the right one for this story.
Other than that, there's a lot of room for improvement in the developement of the plot. A few things are confusing, and some others, like the ending, poorly written. The heroes triumph basically because the writer wants them to triumph, and there's not much internal coherence to some of the characters.
I don't know, I didn't feel it was a bad comic, but it wasn't great either. Some people might really enjoy it, but for me it was waaaaaaay too long and mediocre. Pass.
That was... a big "meh" for me. I had great expectations for this comic, and I'd heard nice things about it, but other than the amazing premise, I didn't find enough material in it to make it stand out.
First of all, I didn't like the visual style at all. Yeah, its lightness and cartoonish look fit a Joker story perfectly... but at the same time, there were too many grim and dark things played so lightly here, and part of the problem was the style. I get why someone would like it, but I didn't feel it was the right one for this story.
Other than that, there's a lot of room for improvement in the developement of the plot. A few things are confusing, and some others, like the ending, poorly written. The heroes triumph basically because the writer wants them to triumph, and there's not much internal coherence to some of the characters.
I don't know, I didn't feel it was a bad comic, but it wasn't great either. Some people might really enjoy it, but for me it was waaaaaaay too long and mediocre. Pass.
May 24, 2024
Book 36/101 for 2024. I've been meaning to check out this turn-of-the-millennium Superman storyline for quite a while, and I'm glad I finally did. Definitely had its moments of comic book lunacy, and while it's not exactly an airtight clockwork genius bit of narrative, at the very least it doesn't succumb to Bad Ending Syndrome wherein the superhero wins the day by either (a) punching harder than they've ever punched before, or (b) never ever ever giving up, or (c) believing in the power of friendship. I don't want to spoil the conclusion, but it is moderately more clever than the Bad Ending variants, and that's rare enough in super-comics that I do appreciate it quite a bit.
October 14, 2024
Superman: Emperor Joker
Superman is the world's greatest criminal, having killed Lex Luthor in cold blood. Every night, he escapes from Arkham Asylum and every night, Bizarro captures him and sends him back. Has Superman gone mad? Or is he the only same man left in reality?
An interesting storyline, which makes Mxyzptlk relevant and relatable. The artwork is outstanding and Loeb uses all versions of the characters well.
Superman is the world's greatest criminal, having killed Lex Luthor in cold blood. Every night, he escapes from Arkham Asylum and every night, Bizarro captures him and sends him back. Has Superman gone mad? Or is he the only same man left in reality?
An interesting storyline, which makes Mxyzptlk relevant and relatable. The artwork is outstanding and Loeb uses all versions of the characters well.
November 26, 2016
A decent but fun and humorous read.
The story has some fun parts and good moments. The artwork is good; a bit cartoonish but still clean and bold. The story starts off great, with the Joker stealing Mr. Mxyzptlk’s powers and transforming Metropolis into a sort of acid-trip Disney World with him as the emperor. The Flab is the fastest fat man alive, the Yellow Paper Lantern wreaks havoc with an army of shadow puppets, and Wonder Woman is a housemaid who hates men. And so on. The violence borders on sadistic at times, such as how the Joker treats Lex Luthor and Batman, although, fortunately, the rest of the world forgets the ordeal by the end of the story. Bizarro as a good guy is hilarious, as is the punchline regarding the dead Robins. The more comfortable he becomes with his new powers, the more abilities Joker gains. And, of course, he also eats the entire population of China.
Unfortunately, the jokes are repetitive, and I never had any idea Mxyzptlk was actually that powerful. Some parts don’t make much sense when you first read them, and for some reason the story never even explains how the Joker was even able to trick Mxyzptlk. The story seems too drawn out for such a simple premise. The story does deliver, if a bit inconsistently; it also bogs down at times or drags. The Bizarro dialogue and Joker monologues get a bit tiresome. The story is both odd and straightforward in a way that makes it easy to put down. There aren’t even any real stakes.
Funny and touching enough, though.
The story has some fun parts and good moments. The artwork is good; a bit cartoonish but still clean and bold. The story starts off great, with the Joker stealing Mr. Mxyzptlk’s powers and transforming Metropolis into a sort of acid-trip Disney World with him as the emperor. The Flab is the fastest fat man alive, the Yellow Paper Lantern wreaks havoc with an army of shadow puppets, and Wonder Woman is a housemaid who hates men. And so on. The violence borders on sadistic at times, such as how the Joker treats Lex Luthor and Batman, although, fortunately, the rest of the world forgets the ordeal by the end of the story. Bizarro as a good guy is hilarious, as is the punchline regarding the dead Robins. The more comfortable he becomes with his new powers, the more abilities Joker gains. And, of course, he also eats the entire population of China.
Unfortunately, the jokes are repetitive, and I never had any idea Mxyzptlk was actually that powerful. Some parts don’t make much sense when you first read them, and for some reason the story never even explains how the Joker was even able to trick Mxyzptlk. The story seems too drawn out for such a simple premise. The story does deliver, if a bit inconsistently; it also bogs down at times or drags. The Bizarro dialogue and Joker monologues get a bit tiresome. The story is both odd and straightforward in a way that makes it easy to put down. There aren’t even any real stakes.
Funny and touching enough, though.
June 17, 2018
For fans of the Joker, this is a must have. The story begins with Superman breaking out of Arkham, which is now in Metropolis, and being chased down and returned by BIZARRO. This is only the start of a wild re-imagining of the DC Multiverse in which everything is completely insane to the point of being painful. I thought it would be funny, but I must say that I found myself at times horrified of this cruel new world. When the New Gods get together with Darkseid, who has called them all because of an unstoppable cosmic threat, you know that the proverbial s*** has hit the fan. As much as people are always talking about Batman being able to take down the Justice League and kill Superman, Batman is so totally outclassed that only an inhuman force of alien power such as Superman can even begin to challenge the new universal order.
Complaint: I thought that the ending was unconvincing. There's no way, after everything that happens, that this is a satisfactory explanation for the return to normalcy. But this was so good, despite the unbelievable ending, that I had to give it five stars, regardless.
Complaint: I thought that the ending was unconvincing. There's no way, after everything that happens, that this is a satisfactory explanation for the return to normalcy. But this was so good, despite the unbelievable ending, that I had to give it five stars, regardless.
December 5, 2025
Did not realize just how much the Brave and the Bold episode condensed this story down and made it pop so much more. To be fair, the original book has much more scope, showing the full expanse of a universe changed and controlled by The Joker. But this scope is across 9 long, tedious issues. The first 4 issues are absolutely exhausting because, if you're reading the story in this format, you already know it's a Joker story. So it's a long tease around a mystery you already know the answer to, but also the tease isn't really that entertaining in its own right.
The back 5 issues are slightly better, but still not our thing. The different writers across the 4 books that this story jumped between have an inconsistent tone (the artists, on the other hand,manage to keep a pretty consistent styling), and the constant throwing out of cliffhangers means it's unsatisfying as a long-form narrative. There's a big deal made about the fact that Joker has put bombs all over Earth that seem like it's building up to a race to extinguish them, but they're just a stylistic choice that doesn't matter. The whiplash between goofy Joker moments and the darker story beats are constant. There's some genuinely good moments in here about the unbeatable hope of Superman, and they were the few times when we found ourselves enjoying the book.
Finally....why is this a Superman story? Why isn't it a Superman villain, or alternately, a Justice League or Batman/Superman story? There's reasons it doesn't really make sense as just Batman, but also the book barely cares about most of Superman's supporting cast and ultimately this is a Joker story more than a Supes story. Bizarre choice. Didn't enjoy this and would sooner recommend watching the BatB episode and then flipping through some of the art here then actually reading the story entire.
The back 5 issues are slightly better, but still not our thing. The different writers across the 4 books that this story jumped between have an inconsistent tone (the artists, on the other hand,manage to keep a pretty consistent styling), and the constant throwing out of cliffhangers means it's unsatisfying as a long-form narrative. There's a big deal made about the fact that Joker has put bombs all over Earth that seem like it's building up to a race to extinguish them, but they're just a stylistic choice that doesn't matter. The whiplash between goofy Joker moments and the darker story beats are constant. There's some genuinely good moments in here about the unbeatable hope of Superman, and they were the few times when we found ourselves enjoying the book.
Finally....why is this a Superman story? Why isn't it a Superman villain, or alternately, a Justice League or Batman/Superman story? There's reasons it doesn't really make sense as just Batman, but also the book barely cares about most of Superman's supporting cast and ultimately this is a Joker story more than a Supes story. Bizarre choice. Didn't enjoy this and would sooner recommend watching the BatB episode and then flipping through some of the art here then actually reading the story entire.
December 22, 2017
This was a... strange read. While there were elements I enjoyed, the story overall stretched my suspension of disbelief a little farther than I like. And the Joker's universe, while understandably Joker, was just a little... much. I've learned that, while many Joker stories are fantastic, there are others that just don't work. The best ones always have balance. Basically, a little bit of Joker goes a long way. In addition, I wasn't a huge fan of this particular art style. However, this story did have some nice Superman/Batman friendship moments, and those were enjoyable. Since I've started reading DC, I've enjoyed seeing how those two interact: Each being so different and yet also so similar. And, ultimately, they have immense mutual respect for each other. Like I said, that relationship shone through in this comic, but the other elements just didn't quite hit it for me.
February 6, 2023
On the face of it, Joker being a Superman villain makes not sense. However, Jeph Loeb manages to create a story where the only superhero who can take on Joker is Supes.
'Emperor Joker' tells a story where Joker has tricked Mister Mxyzptlk into giving Joker his powers. With his seemingly immortal powers, Joker reimagines the Earth into a place where the JLA heroes are all but forgotten, the villains are the saviors (with Bizzaro taking the place of Superman), and where Superman and Batman are subjected to their own specific brand of torture every day.
This is possible one of the darkest takes on Joker, which could have been a lot better. We are shown multiple possibilities, but barely get to see any of them pan out. I am also not a big fan of the artwork. However, I would still recommend this as a good read for comic book fans.
'Emperor Joker' tells a story where Joker has tricked Mister Mxyzptlk into giving Joker his powers. With his seemingly immortal powers, Joker reimagines the Earth into a place where the JLA heroes are all but forgotten, the villains are the saviors (with Bizzaro taking the place of Superman), and where Superman and Batman are subjected to their own specific brand of torture every day.
This is possible one of the darkest takes on Joker, which could have been a lot better. We are shown multiple possibilities, but barely get to see any of them pan out. I am also not a big fan of the artwork. However, I would still recommend this as a good read for comic book fans.
February 18, 2025
This is a weird book. I get the premise is basically a Q episode of TNG. Magic Imp dude gives Joker god level powers. What does the crazy man dude with unlimited power... not much exciting. I wanted more chaos like all chickens worldwide turn into rubber chickens. All living beings in the universe are stick figures ... something more chaotic. I did not like the whole we beat Jokes with "hope" and learning the rules of his craziness. Also very confused with the power scaling in the DC universe. Arent there other magic IMPs (other Q's)? Shouldnt the other "Gods" of DC stopped this before it happened? Why was Supergirl a Angel? Lots of things left me confused. I get Jokes is insane with unlimited power but he also seemed very STUPID for knowing everything.
Marvel did this story type much better in Secret Wars II (OG) where a god became mortal. Or even with Thanos getting the gauntlet.
Marvel did this story type much better in Secret Wars II (OG) where a god became mortal. Or even with Thanos getting the gauntlet.
January 8, 2019
Superman: Emperor Joker has one of the roughest starts I’ve ever read. I was slogging through it and it was only until 100 pages in when Mxplkz has revealed he gave his power to Joker that this really became very good. I’m unable to give it five stars but it was a hell of a ride.
The basic story is Joker has taken control of the world using Mxplkz’ powers and Superman is the one to realize this because Batman is Joker’s play thing.
And the story goes from their.
It ultimately suffers from each chapter being written by a different person and the artist switches almost every issue too. The comic suffers for this but is strong enough in what it does that’s it’s worth the read.
A reluctant 4 stars but I really enjoyed it after the first 100 pages.
The basic story is Joker has taken control of the world using Mxplkz’ powers and Superman is the one to realize this because Batman is Joker’s play thing.
And the story goes from their.
It ultimately suffers from each chapter being written by a different person and the artist switches almost every issue too. The comic suffers for this but is strong enough in what it does that’s it’s worth the read.
A reluctant 4 stars but I really enjoyed it after the first 100 pages.
November 6, 2022
Habiendo leido la versión española de ECC cuenta dos arcos argumentales:
- Los aliados de Superman (Steel, Superboy, Supergirl y Atom) se introducen literalmente dentro del Hombre de Acero para curarlo de su envenenamiento por Kryptonita.
-El Joker se hace con los poderes de Mxy, el duende de la 5ta dimensión y crea una o varias realidades a su gusto donde Bizarro es el héroe mayor de la ciudad, entre otros.
Los diferentes equipos creativos se van mezclando para contar estas historias destacando el dibujo de Ed McGuinness y Joe Kelly en los guiones por nombrar un par.
Esperaba más, esas historias de realidades alternativas donde todo esta mal hasta que de un plumazo todo se arregla no me dejan mucho.
- Los aliados de Superman (Steel, Superboy, Supergirl y Atom) se introducen literalmente dentro del Hombre de Acero para curarlo de su envenenamiento por Kryptonita.
-El Joker se hace con los poderes de Mxy, el duende de la 5ta dimensión y crea una o varias realidades a su gusto donde Bizarro es el héroe mayor de la ciudad, entre otros.
Los diferentes equipos creativos se van mezclando para contar estas historias destacando el dibujo de Ed McGuinness y Joe Kelly en los guiones por nombrar un par.
Esperaba más, esas historias de realidades alternativas donde todo esta mal hasta que de un plumazo todo se arregla no me dejan mucho.
August 30, 2022
In this twisted story The Joker obtains infinite power and takes over the World, dubbing himself Emperor Joker. As you can only imagine suffering and chaos ensues.
The JLA is dismantled and the heroes don't even remember who they really are, in this bizarro world they are the criminals. On some deep level Superman knows something is not right and is trying to break free in order to piece together what is happening.
In a world where Joker rules all one can only wonder, Where is Batman?
The story had me hooked, it was twisted enough to keep me intrigued. The artwork didn't really keep me hooked, wanting to capture each image like some of the Graphic novels I've read.
The JLA is dismantled and the heroes don't even remember who they really are, in this bizarro world they are the criminals. On some deep level Superman knows something is not right and is trying to break free in order to piece together what is happening.
In a world where Joker rules all one can only wonder, Where is Batman?
The story had me hooked, it was twisted enough to keep me intrigued. The artwork didn't really keep me hooked, wanting to capture each image like some of the Graphic novels I've read.
December 28, 2023
Just went looney reading this. Absolutely insane from start the finish and that’s to be expected as it is emperor joker. I first got introduced to this story from the Batman The Brave and The Bold adaptation, and the real deal comic storyline did not disappoint. I did few at times I was missing context for some of the characters, like specifically what happened with supergirl near the start and the ending moved quite fast, but overall quite good. And don’t get me started on the burden Superman took on himself so Batman could live on unburdened. I was stunned that even the man of steel could take that on.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 19, 2018
Collects Emperor Joker issue #1, Superman issues #160-161, Man of Steel issues #104-105, Action Comics issues #769-770, and Adventures of Superman issues #582-583
I tried, but this story is just horrible. Of the 9 issues this story collects, I read through 5 before I decided to start skimming. The Joker isn't even mentioned until the end of the forth issue, so that felt odd. It may be that this story was really rooted to the time period that it came out in (pre-Flashpoint), but I felt disconnected from almost Page #1.
I tried, but this story is just horrible. Of the 9 issues this story collects, I read through 5 before I decided to start skimming. The Joker isn't even mentioned until the end of the forth issue, so that felt odd. It may be that this story was really rooted to the time period that it came out in (pre-Flashpoint), but I felt disconnected from almost Page #1.
September 22, 2019
Meh. I mostly just like the Ed McG art, and it was one of the main reasons that I picked it up. That being said, the story was just kind of Meh to me. I don't know, Superman really isn't my kind of hero, and I haven't ever been the biggest DC fan. If you're like me, you probably won't care for this particular tale. If you're just dipping your toe into the world of Superman, I would suggest just picking up some of the already established classics and going from there. I guess that it my way of saying that I do not see this one as a Superman classic.
November 5, 2019
I'm not the biggest Superman fan, so take this review with a grain of salt. I want to give Superman a shot, and I figured this would be a good place to start because I loved his appearance in Batman: Hush
This was bizarre. Pun intended. Joker is expected good, as I figured, but I feel out of the loop here. Like things were left out. I had highish expectations, and they were met I s'pose. It does make me wanna read more Superman. I'll give it that.
This was bizarre. Pun intended. Joker is expected good, as I figured, but I feel out of the loop here. Like things were left out. I had highish expectations, and they were met I s'pose. It does make me wanna read more Superman. I'll give it that.
March 14, 2022
Maybe the worst graphic novel I've ever read. Lots of random, unfunny, nasty nonsense happens because the Joker has stolen Mr Myxyzptlk's powers and none of it matters a jot because we know it'll all be reset at the end. Might have been mildly diverting as a 24pp story but it just goes on and on. Can't think of anything positive to say about it other than that Superman looked quite cool drawn Howard Chaykin-style in the Joker's fake flashbacks. Lots of talented creators involved; this must have been the nadir of all their careers.
June 11, 2023
This was so much worse than it had any reason to be. It combined all the annoying, unfunny parts of a Mr. Mxyzptlk with a low-end Saturday morning cartoon. The main crux of the plot made no sense and the resolution less so. In a world where alternate universe stories are popular and creative, this all-star creative team grabbed some low-hanging fruit and called it a day. The only saving grace was there was some spectacular artwork scattered among the pointlessness. Overall, flip through, don't read, and definitely don't buy.
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