My Favorite Villains: Issue 3
I look into the profile of The Joker
Greetings everyone, somedude V3 here! And I'm able to give you the long overdue third issue of My Favorite Villains! In this issue, I'm going to take a trip into the fragile and twisted mind of Batman's greatest nemesis:
Base of Operations: Gotham City.
Who is he? Not much is known about The Joker. There have been different stories about his origins, about who he was before but all of it is up for debate. One states that he was a petty criminal known as "Red Hood" who robbed from the company he worked for, but got stopped by Bats and fell into chemicals that changed him forever. Another describes him as an engineer who worked at a chemical plant, but quit to pursue his dream job: standup comedy. Sadly, he failed at it, and he had a wife and future child coming so he joined two criminals to rob the plant. While they're planning, he finds out from a call by the police, that his wife tragically died from some home accident. Unable to leave, thanks to the two criminals, he enters the plant. However, they're quickly found and the two criminals, who forced him to go inside, are gunned down by Security. He tries to leave, but accidentally runs into Batman, who's investigating what happened. Not wanting to deal with Batman, he jumps over a rail and lands into a vat of chemicals, thus changing him forever.
As I said there are many different origin stories, but most of them have the identical end: Batman shows up, and The Joker goes into the chemicals.
What we do know is that he's a brilliant criminal mastermind, who kills people by using his own sinister versions of party gags: Exploding wind-up teeth, his Joy Buzzer, which will give you the "shock" of your life...err...Death. His flower that shoots anything but water, and his most dangerous weapon, The Joker Toxin (AKA: Smylex). He has an extreme hatred for Batman, and he doesn't work well with others. Most of the crimes he commits are done so the public eye is on him. He loves being in the limelight, and he hates it if anyone steals his thunder. From his appearance, he may look like someone to laugh at. But that's a deadly mistake. He has done some heartless deeds such as shooting Barbara Gordon (AKA: Batgirl, Oracle), making her paralyzed from the waist down, slaughtering Jason Todd (AKA: Robin II), and manipulating his psychiatrist, Dr. Harleen Quinzel, into falling for him, thus becoming Harley Quinn. So remember, if you run into him, just put on a happy face! Ah-ha-ha-ha-haaaa!!!
Position: Arch nemesis of Batman, Head Criminal of Gotham, and the apple of Harley's eye.
Loves: Crime, the limelight, Harley (sometimes), laughing, bad jokes, himself, Batman's failures.
Hates: Insolence, Batman taking his glory, Harley (most of the time), being laughed at, useless thugs, The IRS.
Age: Who knows? I'm not about to go and ask him!
Hair: Bright Green. Like Nickelodeon Slime.
AKA: Jack White, Jack Napier, The Clown Prince of Crime, The Harlequin of Hate, The Ace of Knaves.
Affiliates: Harley Quinn, nameless thugs, The Injustice Gang/League, Captain Clown
Danger Level: High
My Thoughts: What can I say about him that hasn't already been said? Since making his debut in 1940, The Joker has become one of comic's greatest Villains. He's changed throughout his history, from beginning as a straight out psychopath, to a funny, criminal mastermind with a love of dark humored crimes. Since his comic history spands over seventy years, it would be impossible to analyze everything he's done. However, let's take a look at his history throughout the Media of TV. Beginning with my fourth favorite version done by...
Show? Batman: The TV Series (1966-1968)
The first worldwide media view of The Joker played to greatness by Mr. Romero. It was over the top, crazy and always entertaining. However to most people nowadays, it's seen as just too corny. But I don't care. If I'm in the mood for just plain fun, this is the Joker I watch.
The Joker
Base of Operations: Gotham City.
Who is he? Not much is known about The Joker. There have been different stories about his origins, about who he was before but all of it is up for debate. One states that he was a petty criminal known as "Red Hood" who robbed from the company he worked for, but got stopped by Bats and fell into chemicals that changed him forever. Another describes him as an engineer who worked at a chemical plant, but quit to pursue his dream job: standup comedy. Sadly, he failed at it, and he had a wife and future child coming so he joined two criminals to rob the plant. While they're planning, he finds out from a call by the police, that his wife tragically died from some home accident. Unable to leave, thanks to the two criminals, he enters the plant. However, they're quickly found and the two criminals, who forced him to go inside, are gunned down by Security. He tries to leave, but accidentally runs into Batman, who's investigating what happened. Not wanting to deal with Batman, he jumps over a rail and lands into a vat of chemicals, thus changing him forever.
As I said there are many different origin stories, but most of them have the identical end: Batman shows up, and The Joker goes into the chemicals.
What we do know is that he's a brilliant criminal mastermind, who kills people by using his own sinister versions of party gags: Exploding wind-up teeth, his Joy Buzzer, which will give you the "shock" of your life...err...Death. His flower that shoots anything but water, and his most dangerous weapon, The Joker Toxin (AKA: Smylex). He has an extreme hatred for Batman, and he doesn't work well with others. Most of the crimes he commits are done so the public eye is on him. He loves being in the limelight, and he hates it if anyone steals his thunder. From his appearance, he may look like someone to laugh at. But that's a deadly mistake. He has done some heartless deeds such as shooting Barbara Gordon (AKA: Batgirl, Oracle), making her paralyzed from the waist down, slaughtering Jason Todd (AKA: Robin II), and manipulating his psychiatrist, Dr. Harleen Quinzel, into falling for him, thus becoming Harley Quinn. So remember, if you run into him, just put on a happy face! Ah-ha-ha-ha-haaaa!!!
Position: Arch nemesis of Batman, Head Criminal of Gotham, and the apple of Harley's eye.
Loves: Crime, the limelight, Harley (sometimes), laughing, bad jokes, himself, Batman's failures.
Hates: Insolence, Batman taking his glory, Harley (most of the time), being laughed at, useless thugs, The IRS.
Age: Who knows? I'm not about to go and ask him!
Hair: Bright Green. Like Nickelodeon Slime.
AKA: Jack White, Jack Napier, The Clown Prince of Crime, The Harlequin of Hate, The Ace of Knaves.
Affiliates: Harley Quinn, nameless thugs, The Injustice Gang/League, Captain Clown
Danger Level: High
My Thoughts: What can I say about him that hasn't already been said? Since making his debut in 1940, The Joker has become one of comic's greatest Villains. He's changed throughout his history, from beginning as a straight out psychopath, to a funny, criminal mastermind with a love of dark humored crimes. Since his comic history spands over seventy years, it would be impossible to analyze everything he's done. However, let's take a look at his history throughout the Media of TV. Beginning with my fourth favorite version done by...
Mr. Cesar Romero
Show? Batman: The TV Series (1966-1968)
The first worldwide media view of The Joker played to greatness by Mr. Romero. It was over the top, crazy and always entertaining. However to most people nowadays, it's seen as just too corny. But I don't care. If I'm in the mood for just plain fun, this is the Joker I watch.
(Broken YouTube Link Removed)
Now, we move to 1989, where my third favorite Joker was done by...
Mr. Jack Nicholson
Movie? Batman (1989)
Jack Nicholson did a tremendous job as Joker. He had some of the goofiness from Romero's version, but he was taken more seriously. From roasting a mob man to a crisp with his Joy Buzzer, to poisoning people with Joker Toxin. I loved it because he was funny and his evil laugh was great.
But as good as Jack's laugh was, it was no match for my favorite version of Joker done by...
Mr. Mark Hamill
Shows, Movies and Video Games? WAY too many to put here.
Years as The Joker: (1992-2011)
No matter who comes and goes, there will always be one true Joker, and this is him. He was the first Joker I ever saw, and no one will ever take his place. Joker's laugh, his humor and his sinister side was perfectly mixed together by Mr. Hamill. I'm saddened that he's hanging up the purple suit after the upcoming game, Batman: Arkham City, but his legacy as the Clown Prince of Crime shall live forever.
Moment of Respect
Now since it was done in 2008, The Dark Knight is not retro, therefore I can't talk about it. However, I want to tip my hat to Mr. Heath Ledger, who did a near perfect Job as The Joker. His dark and serious version was chilling to me, and I enjoyed every moment of it. That's why on my list, I'm proud to put him as my second favorite Joker of all time.
P.S. John DiMaggio as Joker in Batman: Under the Red Hood. Great Job!
Well, that's about it for this issue of My Favorite Villains!
Till next time!
-somedude V3
P.P.S. Oh, how could I forget?! Here are three photos of Harley for all you Quinn fans!
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