Joker batman series#
Joker even had his own nine-issue series from 1975 to 1976 in which he faces off against a variety of foes, both superheroes and supervillains. Steve Englehart, in his short but well-received run on the book, added elements deepening the severity of the Joker's insanity. This take on the character has taken prominence since. Beginning in Batman #251, with the story "The Joker's Five Way Revenge", the Joker becomes a homicidal maniac who casually murders people on a whim, while enjoying battles of wits with Batman. In 1973, the character was revived and profoundly revised in the Batman comic stories by Dennis O'Neil and Neal Adams. The use of the character lessened somewhat by the late 1950s, and disappeared almost entirely when Julius Schwartz took over editorship of the Batman comics in 1964. He quickly became the most popular villain and was used frequently during the Golden Age of Comic Books. As the Batman comics softened their tone, the Joker shifted towards a harmless, cackling nuisance.
At this point, the editors decided that only one-shot villains should commit murder, so as to not make Batman look impotent in his inability to punish such recurring foes as the Joker or the Penguin. While the Joker was back, he was decidedly less deadly than previous engagements. Ironically, the turning point came in "Joker Walks the Last Mile" ( Detective Comics #64), when the Joker was actually executed in the electric chair only to be chemically revived by henchmen. In these first dozen adventures, the Joker killed close to three dozen people, impressive for a villain who didn't use giant robots, mutant monsters, or space lasers, as was the status quo between 1940 until around 1942. A hastily drawn panel, calculated to imply that the Joker was still alive, was subsequently added to the comic.Īlex Ross painted cover art for The Joker: The Greatest Stories Ever Toldįor the next several appearances, the Joker often escaped capture but suffered an apparent death (falling off a cliff, being caught in a burning building, etc.), from which his body was not recovered.
DC editor Whitney Ellsworth thought the Joker was too good a character to kill off, suggesting that he be spared. It is of note that in his second appearance he was actually slated to be killed off, with the final page detailing the villain accidentally stabbing himself, lying dead as Batman and Robin run off into the night. In his initial dozen or so appearances, starting with Batman #1 (1940), the Joker was a straightforward spree killer/mass murderer, with a bizarre appearance modeled after the symbol of the Joker known from playing cards. This influence was referenced in the graphic novel Batman: The Man Who Laughs, a retelling of the first Joker story from 1940. Finger found a photograph of actor Conrad Veidt wearing make-up for the silent film The Man Who Laughs, and it was from this photograph that the Joker was modeled. Kane, who started out as a gag artist, loved the concept and encouraged its production. Originally conceived as an evil "court-jester" type, the character was initially rejected by studio writer Bill Finger as being "too clownish," but he later relayed the idea to Bob Kane. The character has also become an icon in popular culture, usually through his portrayals in various media related to Batman and other DC properties. Joker is also considered one of DC Comics' most recognizable characters, with him also battling other heroes such as Superman and Wonder Woman. His characterization has changed over the years, with the most common incarnation being a criminal mastermind who commits crimes for his own entertainment. Widely considered Batman's arch-nemesis, the Joker has also been responsible for numerous tragedies in Batman's life, including the paralysis of Barbara Gordon and the death of Jason Todd, the second Robin. In recent years, the character has taken on the persona of an evil-incarnate, simply taking joy in tormenting Batman or trying to push him into villainy. Falling into obscurity by the 1960s, he was re-introduced in the 1970s as a more legitimate threat and one of the most infamous criminals within Gotham City. By the late 1940s, Joker had been reimagined as a harmless prankster. Initially intended to serve as a one-time appearances, Joker's instant popularity ensured that the character would continue to appear, becoming a frequent enemy of the Dark Knight and Robin, the Boy Wonder.
First introduced in Batman #1 (Spring 1940), he was originally a criminal mastermind with a devious sense of humor. The Joker is a supervillain and the archenemy of Batman. it's all a monstrous, demented gag! So why can't you see the funny side? Why aren't you laughing?" ―Joker " It's all a joke! Everything anybody ever valued or struggled for.
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