The Joker #10: The Completed Comic That Was Shelved for 43 Years

In 1975, DC Comics made a bold move: giving the Joker , Batman's archenemy, his own series. It was a first: never before had a supervillain had a regular title as the protagonist.

The series lasted a short time, just nine issues , between 1975 and 1976. But what few know is that there is a tenth issue , completely written, drawn and ready to be published... which, however, never saw the light of day. Until 2019.

The Joker #10 was to be the first installment of a new multi-part storyline, in which the Prince of Crime faced off against none other than the Justice League of America . The writers involved were well-known names of the time, including Martin Pasko on the script and Irv Novick on the art.

Everything was ready, but suddenly DC decided to shut down the title for commercial reasons. The tenth issue was shelved and forgotten. Only a handful of proof copies circulated among collectors and industry insiders.

For over four decades , fans referred to Joker #10 as a "lost comic." The myth was fueled when Martin Pasko himself put photocopies of the script and art up for sale online.

Finally, in 2019 , DC Comics decided to include the complete issue in the celebratory volume The Joker: The Bronze Age Omnibus . After 43 years, the public was able to read that story that had been locked away in a drawer since 1976.

The Joker #10 isn't just a vintage comic. It's a perfect example of how the publishing world sometimes leaves complete works in the shadows, only to rediscover them years later as hidden gems . And in this case, the Joker legend has been enriched with an additional chapter, albeit a few decades late.