Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #163

Roger Langridge's cover for Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #163 is a gleefully chaotic scene, packing Batman and a cackling mob of villains — the Joker front and center, flanked by what appear to be the Penguin, Two-Face, the Riddler, and at least one more grinning menace — into a wonderfully cartoonish, almost anarchic composition. The exaggerated expressions and bold linework give the whole thing an energy that feels closer to a funhouse mirror than a typical Dark Knight adventure, which fits perfectly for "Auteurism," Part Two of Two. Written by John Arcudi with art and lettering by Langridge, this 2003 installment promises a conclusion as distinctive as its striking cover.