Every legendary hero has an opposite number. The other side of the coin. The darkness to their light. These reflections of evil, death and menace bring out the best in our champions – if they can survive the experience.

But none compare to The Joker – the deadliest, most frightening villain ever to grace the comic book page.

The Joker makes his horrifying return in THE JOKER: DEATH OF THE FAMILY. Batman’s deadliest foe arrives back in Gotham City in a complex, dangerous and disturbing masterpiece that is sure to become one of the seminal Joker events of our time.

“Death of the Family” is an enveloping saga that brings together every ally Batman can muster to fend off a scheme so murderous and dangerous that it threatens all aspects of Batman’s life – and will shake the Bat-family to its very core.

Behind it all is the Joker – the bloodthirsty, grinning psychopath who sports a new, disturbing visage and will make sleeping without a night-light very difficult.

THE JOKER: DEATH OF THE FAMILY collects BATMAN #17, CATWOMAN #13 -14, BATGIRL #14 -16, BATMAN AND ROBIN #15 -17, NIGHTWING #15 -16, DETECTIVE COMICS #16 -17, RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #15 -16, TEEN TITANS #15 - 16, and SUICIDE SQUAD #14 -15. Written by Scott Snyder, Ann Nocenti, Gail Simone, Adam Glass, Peter J. Tomasi, Kyle Higgins, John Layman, Scott Lobdell, and Fabian Nicieza, and featuring art by Greg Capullo, Rafael Sandoval, Jordi Tarrogona, Ed Benes, Daniel Sampere, Fernando Dagnino, Patrick Gleason, Tomas Giorello, Eddy Barrows, Jason Fabok and Brett Booth, THE JOKER: DEATH OF THE FAMILY hits comic book shelves on Wednesday and bookstores everywhere on October 22. In the gallery above, take a look at a preview of this must-have collection.

And if you live in New York, don’t miss writer Scott Snyder and artist Greg Capullo signing copies of THE JOKER: DEATH OF THE FAMILY tonight at 7 PM (EST) at the Barnes & Noble in Union Square! For more details about this event, click here.