“ | Without Batman, crime has no punchline. | „ |
~ The Joker believing that Batman has died. |
“ | You know, kids; a lot has changed since your old Uncle Joker's been away. New Gotham, new rules... even a new Batman. But now I'm tanned, I'm rested and I'm ready to give this old town a wedgie again! | „ |
~ Joker to his goons |
The Joker is the secondary antagonist of the DC Animated Universe, appearing as the main antagonist of Batman: The Animated Series and Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, a supporting antagonist of Superman: The Animated Series, the main antagonist of The New Batman Adventures, a major antagonist of Justice League, a supporting antagonist of Static Shock, a posthumous antagonist of Batman Beyond and the titular main antagonist of Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker.
He is a maniacal supervillain from Gotham City who seeks to cause chaos, destruction and misery wherever he goes. Originally serving Salvatore Valestra's mob, this individual was then later accidentally knocked by Gotham's vigilante Batman, becoming his mortal archenemy and the one rogue who still personally presence him even after death. Throughout Batman's crusade, the Joker often tried to defeat him in a spectacular way, even if that meant allying with other villains, becoming a rogue of the Justice League in the process. He is also the "boyfriend" and Boss of Harley Quinn and the former associate of Lex Luthor as well as the Latter's Injustice League.
He was voiced by Mark Hamill, who also portrayed three other Batman villains, Tony Zucco, Solomon Grundy, and Ferris Boyle, as well as Chucky in the 2019 remake of Child's Play, Skeleton King in Super Robot Monkey Team Hyper Force Go!, Fire Lord Ozai in Avatar: The Last Airbender, John Smith in Totally Spies, Alvin the Treacherous in Dragons: Riders of Berk, Chaunakah Zombie in Futurama: Bender's Big Score, Flint in Buzz Lightyear of Star Command, Maximus in the Fantastic Four animated series, Adrian Ripburger in Full Throttle, Stickybeard in Codename: Kids Next Door, Py-Ro in Crash Bandicoot, Dictatious Maximus Galadrigal in Trollhunters, Darth Bane in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Kavaxas in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Cock Knocker in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Trickster in the 1990 TV series The Flash (as well as his Arrowverse incarnation), The Moth in Spongebob Squarepants, Agent Goodman in Recess!: School's Out, John Curtis in Criminal Minds, Vuli in Elena of Avalor, and the Green Goblin in Spider-Man: The Animated Series.
Personality[]
“ | Terry McGinnis: It's funny. I know about all your other major enemies, but you never mentioned him. He was the biggest, wasn't he? Bruce Wayne: It wasn't a popularity contest. He was a psychopath, a monster. |
„ |
~ Terry McGinnis and Bruce Wayne, on The Joker. |
Even prior to his disfigurement, the Joker (once an unnamed Mafia hitman) was a psychopathic killer, he had no remorse for the murders he committed, and even intended to start his own criminal organization. He also made it clear that he kills for fun as much as he does money. After falling into a vat of chemicals and becoming the Joker, his insanity increased, making him among one of the most dangerous criminals in Gotham, attempting to commit mass murder and chaos all for the sake of jokes. He even has little regard for his own life or safety, even laughing in instances where his own death was inevitable such as when the fairgrounds were exploding around him alongside Phantasm's preparations to kill him and during a failed evacuation from the doomed LexWing when explosive marbles were rolling towards him. He even deliberately aimed his gun turret on an airplane he was using to try to escape a nuclear bomb he had set to detonate, knowing he will perish just to ensure Batman couldn't disarm it. The Joker also described the killing as "that kind of fun" when Batman came very close to kill him for the torture of Tim Drake, even stating he should have done it years ago. When the Joker returned from the dead and into the future, when he tried to kill Bruce, he admitted he despised and "hated his guts". He was best described by Bruce as a "psychopath, a monster" after Terry questioned him regarding his relationship with The Joker.
Despite his evident insanity, the Joker was also shown to be incredibly intelligent, which was best demonstrated with the Phantasm murders, where he very quickly deduced the Phantasm's true identity, Andrea Beaumont, just from hearing her name on a secretary's announcement, knowing it could not have been her father as he had personally made sure he was dead from his prior life as a mob hitman. Other demonstrations of his intelligence include his deliberately stealing the Laughing Dragon due to not only deducing Superman's fatal weakness to kryptonite, but also the fact that the infamous heirloom was made out of the material, and when he deliberately chose to forego his usual trademark gimmicks for his crimes and even sent a body double to the Iceberg Lounge while he went to rob the U.S. Mint of cash specifically to avoid having Batman track him down. Also, when the Injustice Gang managed to capture Batman, he repeatedly insisted that they kill Batman while they had the chance due to realizing just how much of a threat he posed to their plans. Even when he was "reborn" via Tim Drake, his intelligence hadn't died down, as evidenced by how he managed to deduce the true identity of the new Batman, as well as anticipating that the new Batman would deduce that Drake was in on his schemes. He also anticipated that Bruce Wayne had "monkey-wired" the new Batman and was monitoring everything they were saying at that point, even implying he was hoping for this in order to expose the truth to his old arch nemesis that Drake was literally under the Joker's control via a Cadmus chip.
The only thing equal to the Joker's insanity was his massive ego. He perceives himself as the greatest comedian in the world and the greatest nemesis of the Batman and will not hesitate to destroy anyone who claims or demonstrates otherwise. One example of this hubris is when he was booted out of a comedy show and got back at the ones responsible by hypnotizing them into becoming supervillains in order to cement himself as the "funniest man in all of Gotham", only to end a laughingstock afterwards. Another blow to his pride is when he was made to believe that he had inherited a massive fortune from a hated rival of his, only to learn that a majority of it was fake and it was a trick to get the last laugh on the Clown Prince of Crime, enraging the Joker beyond words. Another time is when Harley Quinn managed to successfully capture Batman so that she and the Joker can truly live together, but the Joker saw this as an insult to his profession and assaulted Harley, going as far as to push her out of a window to her possible death. Batman then admitted that he tricked Harley into calling the Joker because he knew that his ego would never allow another to kill Batman, further damaging the Joker's pride. This revelation leads up to one of the few times the Joker truly loses his cool.
Bruce Wayne would later reference this character trait of the Joker's when advising the new Batman on how to beat the Joker by referring to him as being "vain" and "loving to talk." Ultimately, it was this arrogance that led to the Joker's demise twice; the first was believing that Tim Drake, having been transformed into Joker Jr., was firmly under his control, only for the boy to resist and end up fatally shooting the Joker in the chest, with the clown using his last breath to remark his disappointment in the following events. The other time was when Terry McGinnis began insulting the Joker's sense of humor and relationship with the original Batman, causing the Joker to become even more dangerously insane and attempt to choke the boy with his bare hands, allowing Terry to destroy the chip on his neck and end his threat once and for all. Ironically, the latter instance came about after the new Batman decided, instead of blocking out Joker's taunts and powering on through (Bruce Wayne's original tactic of dealing with him), to beat Joker at his own taunts due to realizing that the new Batman himself also "liked to talk."
Owing to his more clown-like appearance, he generally uses more comedy-based elements in his crimes and plans. As such, he also tended to use abandoned or otherwise defunct toy/candy factories or warehouses with some sort of comedy/clown theme as hideouts, like Laffco Toy Factory, the defunct World of the Future Fair fairgrounds, Funnibone Shipping, and the Jolly Jack Candy Factory.
Abilities and Equipment[]
Throughout the years, the Joker used a wide variety of instruments to exact his comedic homicides. He is as brilliant as he is insane and he has sufficient expertise in chemistry and physics to be able to invent gadgetry and concoct elaborate schemes. His equipment included card-shaped blades, guns [of the trick and real variety], joy buzzers [which electrocuted the victim], a wide variety of laughing gases [which incapacitated the victim with laughter], and his deadly Joker Venom. Most famously, the Joker had a flower attached to his suit. This flower emitted a wide variety of chemicals, depending on the situation and the Joker's mood. Laughing gas and acid were popular variants, but the possibilities were limited only to the Joker's mind.
The Joker also seemed to have a strange relationship with death, constantly surviving and coming back from potentially fatal things-including long falls, explosions, and even being psychically mind-wiped, to name a few-that should by all rights have ended his career, although the last aspect may have been due to the complexity of the Joker's own mind. Even when he was killed by the brainwashed Tim Drake, the Joker still managed to cheat death through Tim himself, surviving long enough to come into conflict with the new Batman but was destroyed once and for all after Terry destroyed his chip.
Originally, the Joker possessed little more than average physical strength, albeit enough to regularly hold his own against the original Batman. But upon inhabiting Tim Drake's mind, he acquired the training, conditioning, and knowledge of the original Batman and Robin, allowing him to easily outmatch the new Batman in a fistfight. Even before then, the Joker was strong, fast, and skilled enough to almost kill Batman during several of their fights.
Revamp[]
Along with the rest of the cast, the Joker underwent a revamp when Batman: The Animated Series streamlined into The New Batman Adventures. The Joker's change was relatively minor; however, he lost his trademark red lips, his hair was almost black but retains the green highlight in his hair, his eyes were turned black with white pupils, and he was made to appear physically smaller and thinner. His outfit was changed from having an orange shirt, peach flower and blue bow-tie (similar to the color scheme of Jack Nicholson's Joker from the 1989 Batman movie) to a light green shirt, light green flower and dark purple bow-tie (similar to the mainstream comics' counterpart's color scheme in the Golden Age and Silver Age comics). Audio commentary on the DVD release of Superman: the Animated Series episode World's Finest and one of the first appearances of the Joker's new style, reveals that the producers of the DCAU regret the stylistic change, and admit that removing the Joker's red lips was a mistake and that doing so was Glen Murakami's idea.
The Joker was once again redesigned for Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, keeping the same outfit from The New Batman Adventures but with a face that was a cross between the two previous designs: Some of the colors from ‘’The Animated Series’’’ design was restored, as were the now-wine-red lips and the whites of his eyes. Curiously, the irises of his eyes would also be occasionally red. This design would be used in all subsequent DCAU shows, including Justice League and Static Shock.
Relationships[]
Friends and Allies[]
- Two-Face- Friend and Ally. Sometimes enemy/rival.
- Penguin - Friend and Ally. Sometimes enemy/rival
- Mad Hatter - Friend and Ally.
- Ventriloquist & Scarface - Friends and Allies.
- Killer Croc - Ally.
- Lex Luthor - Greatest Ally and Former Enemy.
- Cheetah - Ally and Teammate.
- Solomon Grundy † - Ally and Teammate.
- Copperhead † - Ally and Teammate.
- Shade † - Ally and Teammate.
- The Jokerz - Minions ('Batman Beyond' Timeline).
- Royal Flush Gang - Allies, Minions, and Pawns.
- Hotstreak - Henchman
- Shiv - Henchman
- Talon - Henchwoman
- Kangor - Henchman
Neutral[]
- Poison Ivy - Usually Enemy and Occasional Ally.
- Harley Quinn - Girlfriend, Sidekick and Lover and Occasional Enemy.
- Catwoman - Occasional Ally and Enemy
Enemies[]
- Batman - Arch-nemesis and Greatest Foe.
- Nightwing - Enemy.
- Batgirl - Enemy.
- Robin - Enemy, First Killer and Host.
- James Gordon - Enemy and Attempted Victim.
- Harvey Bullock - Enemy and Hostage.
- Superman - Enemy
- Lois Lane - Enemy and Hostage.
- Daniel Turpin † - Enemy.
- Wonder Woman - Enemy.
- The Flash - Enemy.
- Static - Enemy.
- Creeper - Enemy.
- Phantasm - Second Greatest Foe
- Terry McGinnis - Enemy from the Future, second killer.
- Dana Tan - Enemy from the Future, attempted victim.
- Ace the Dog - Enemy from the Future.
- Justice League - Enemies.
- Sal Valestra †- Former Ally and Employer turned Victim.
- Chuckie Sol † - Former Ally.
- Buzz Bronski †- Former Ally.
- Arthur Reeves - Victim.
- Hugo Strange - attempted Victim Former Ally.
Quotes[]
“ | (singing) Jingle Bells, Batman smells. Robin laid an egg. The batmobile lost a wheel and the Joker got away! (rocket tree takes off) Crashing through the roof, in a one-horse open tree. Busting out I go, laughing all the wheeeee! Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha! | „ |
~ Joker singing "Jingle Bells". |
“ | Joker: Come, have a seat, Sal. Tell me what's on your so-called mind. Salvatore Valestra: It's Batman. He's gone nuts. First he whacked Chuckie Sol, then Buzz, and now he's after me. Joker: You know, I've been reading lately how old guano-man is wound tight enough to snap. Ooh, wouldn't it be great if I've finally driven him off the deep end? Salvatore Valestra: This isn't a joke! Batman's knocking us off, and you're the only one who can take him down. Look, 5 million up front, with whatever you want to finish him off. Joker: What do I look like, pest control? Salvatore Valestra: Think, you fool! Once he gets me, how long 'til he gets you? You know what I'm talking about. Your hands are just as dirty. Dirtier! |
„ |
~ Joker and Salvatore Valestra. |
“ | That's it! That's what I want to see. A nice big smile. | „ |
~ Joker to Salvatore Valestra. |
“ | Whoops! Ha! I guess the joke's on me. You're not Batman after all. Looks like there's a new face in Gotham and soon his name will be all over town... to say nothing of his legs, and feet, and spleen, and head... | „ |
~ Joker discovers that Batman is not responsible for the murderes. |
“ | Joker: Tsk, tsk. And to think those tax money would pay these jerks. Arthur Reeves: You! Joker: That's right, Artie. Bring in the press, why don't you. What a photo op! The councilman and his wacky pal. Arthur Reeves: You're no friend of mine. Joker: Oh, Artie, I'm crushed! How and ho the mighty forget. Don't you remember? You, me, Sally and the gang? Arthur Reeves: What are you talking about? I never met them or you. I work for Beaumont. I didn't know what he was doing. Joker: But you knew it afterwards and put it to good use, eh? Arthur Reeves: What do you want? Joker: To find out who's iced the old gang. Arthur Reeves: Haven't you read the papers? It's Batman. Joker: Wrong. It ain't the bat. Nope, nope, nope. I've seen the guy. He looks more like the Ghost of Christmas Future. Nowhere near as cute as Batboy. Arthur Reeves: You're saying it was someone else? Joker: Yeah, someone wouldn't mind seeing our old pals out of the way. |
„ |
~ Joker and Arthur Reeves. |
“ | Now ain't that a co-inky-dink? Here we are discussing the old man when the spawn of his loins just happens to call! Makes you want to laugh, doesn't it, Artie? (laughs maniacally) | „ |
~ Joker gives Arthur Reeves an injecting of his toxin. |
“ | [when Batman picks up the phone in Andrea's apartment] Hello, anybody home? Listen, boopsie, even though you never call and never write, I still got a soft spot for you. So I'm sending you a fun gift, airmail! And there's no use jumping out the window this time, toots... [Batman looks out the window and sees a toy Joker plane flying in carrying a bomb] The plane of the future is going to make you history! [Batman throws a Batarang, exploding the bomb outside the window; the blast knocks him back against the wall, and the phone is left dangling] [laughing] Hello? Hello, operator? I believe my party's been... disconnected! HA-HA-HA-HA-HAAAAA! | „ |
~ Joker blows up the apartment of Andrea Beaumont. |
“ | I'm impressed, lady. You're harder to kill than a cockroach on steroids. | „ |
~ Joker to Andrea Beaumont. |
“ | You're too late, Batman. There are twenty miles of tunnels under this place, and they're all filled with high explosives. In five minutes, everything goes up. | „ |
~ Joker tells Batman that the place will soon blow up. |
“ | Joker: Ooh! Rich Corinthian leather. Lex Luthor: What do you want? Joker: I sense we are kindred spirits, you and I. Oh, there are differences, to be sure, like hair. But underneath it all, we're both entrepreneurs, men of vision. We see an opportunity we grab it. Am I right? Right. But in the past few weeks, I've had a run of bad luck. Bad luck that wears a cape. Thanks to that miserable, pointy-eared rodent Batman, all my operations in Gotham City have been shut down. But you, too, have an overgrown bully in long underwear, which brings me to my little proposition. Lex Luthor: I'm listening. Joker: Pay me one billion, and I'll kill Superman. Lex Luthor: [chuckling] What makes you think you can kill Superman when you can't even handle a mere mortal in a Halloween costume? Joker: There's nothing mere about that mortal. Besides, I've read up on your flyboy. I know his weakness. [showing Lex the statue he stole] See? Solid kryptonite. Lex Luthor: You know I can't be connected to this in any way. Joker: Oh, you'll be Mr. Clean. I promise. Deal? Lex Luthor: (shaking Joker's hand) Deal. |
„ |
~ Joker and Lex Luthor joining forces. |
“ | Joker: And what's wrong with that? It's done wonders for me. Lex Luthor: Get out of here. Joker: Oh, Lexy, I'm hurt. How could you have this little party without inviting me? Lex Luthor: It's not a party. Grundy, get rid of him. [Joker blows an air horn in Grundy's face, which releases knockout gas] But seriously, Lex, you need me. Lex Luthor: Like I need a skin-rash. Joker: Maybe, but I know something you don't know. [pats Luthor on the shoulder - then holds up a bat-shaped homing device] I know how the Bat thinks. |
„ |
~ Joker and Lex Luthor joining forces once more. |
“ | Joker: You're not going to leave him like this, are you? Lex Luthor: Why? Joker: HELLO? He's still alive. Lex Luthor: And he's going to stay that way until I say we don't need him anymore. Joker: Lex, Lex, listen to someone who knows. (whispers) Don't wait... do it now. Lex Luthor: You don't like my decisions? Leave. Joker: And they say I'm crazy. |
„ |
~ Joker tries to convince Lex Luthor to kill Batman while they still have the chance. |
“ | Joker: [wheeling a TV into Batman's cell] Showtime, everybody. Live and in color - the end of the Justice League. Batman: Don't make me laugh. Joker: It's no joke. There's a surprise hidden in your little clubhouse. [turns on the TV, showing the Watchtower] And once your chums get there... kablooey! [holds up a box] Popcorn? [Batman is silent] Oh, well, more for me. Ultra-Humanite: Joker, you nauseate me. [then leaves) Joker: Ohh, he's going to miss the show. And the sequel. Batman: What sequel? Joker: After the bomb gets your friends, I get you. |
„ |
~ Joker to the captured Batman. |
“ | Solomon Grundy: Luthor not want you alone with him. Joker: Oh, come on, Grundy, old pal. What's a couple of nicks between friends? Solomon Grundy: Go away. Joker: [leaving] Party pooper. |
„ |
~ Solomon Grundy stops Joker from killing Batman. |
“ | Whoopsie! Time to run. But there is still one unfinished piece of business. | „ |
~ Joker plans to kill Batman before escaping. |
“ | Joker: No fair! How did you get free? Batman: I could have escaped anytime, but I thought I'd stick around to keep an eye on you clowns. [then punches Joker) Joker: You're dethpicable. [then faints) |
„ |
~ Joker gets defeated by Batman once more. |
“ | I know you're trying to cheer me up Harley, but you see, any time I blow a billion dollar deal... IT REALLY KILLS MY APPETITE!!! | „ |
~ Joker shouting at Harley Quinn. |
“ | Now, look, my rude friend, we can't have people cursing at each on the freeway. It's simply not polite! I'm just going to have to teach you some manners. | „ |
~ Joker to Charlie Collins. |
“ | Joker: Hello, Charlie. Charlie Collins: Wrong number, pal. My name's Don. Joker: Oh, no, no, no. This IS the right number, Charles Michael Collins. Oh, I don't know why you changed your name to Don Wallace and moved your family to 12 Marigold Lane, Springdale, Ohio. One might think you were trying to skip out on our little deal. Charlie Collins: How did you find me? Joker: Oh, I never lost you, Chaz. You've become my... hobby! [cackling] Now, listen up, Charlie Brown. You're booked on the next flight to Gotham. Tell the family you have to visit a sick friend. Oh, and let's keep this to ourselves, 'kay? Bad things happen to people who gossip. Capisce, Carlo? |
„ |
~ Joker and Charlie Collins. |
“ | Penguin: Naturally, I had flew the coup by the time he escaped. Still, I almost got im! Joker: Not even close! You see, the thing you're forgetting, is there are all sorts of ways to get someone! Tame my latest run-in with Batsy! It was just last night! As the entire country was tuning in to it's favorite talk show! |
„ |
~ Joker and Penguin discussing Batman. |
“ | Harley Quinn: It's late night Gotham live! And here's the man who puts a smile on your face, whether you want it or not, the Joker. Joker: Good evening, folks, I'm the Joker! Living proof that you don't have to be crazy to host this show — but it helps! We've got a real treat for you kids. I ran into my first guest last night while making a withdrawal from the bank. You know him as The Dark Knight, but we prefer to think of him as history. Here he is, the one and only, Batman. We're back! With my extra special guest. So, how's Robin? [Batman remains stoically silent] Oh, moving right along... you know, kids, we've got an item here no home should be without. The laughter-activated electric chair. Yes, sir, the merest titter or guffaw starts the chair's generator revving up towards maximum zappage. Harley? Harley Quinn: [slowly] Ha ha ha. [then starts torturing Batman] Joker: But for a real demonstration, we're pumping our studio audience full of my patented laughing gas. These yahoos will laugh at anything now. Even the phone book. Harley Quinn: Martin Abnett 555-8976. Yarold Adams 555-9011. Adison 555- [then gets attacked by Catwoman] Hey. [Catwoman frees Batman] Catwoman: Show's over, Joker. Joker: [buried under his talk show set] Catwoman, ladies and gentlemen! Let's hear it for her. Two-Face:: [in the present] Almost got 'im. Penguin: Yes, if not for that infatuated feline. Joker: Oh, but that's the best part! [flashback] Once the chair went up, I was out of there tout de suite. [Catwoman captures Joker] Miss Kitty still wanted to play cat and mouse. Never dreaming I still had an ace up my sleeve [Catwoman gets knocked out by Harley Quinn]. [in the president] And by golly speaking of aces, lookey 'ere. Two-Face:: I can't believe his luck. Penguin: Let me see those cards. Joker: Now, now. No sore losers. Croc: Hey, I don't get it. You just knocked out Catwoman and left her? Ah, c'mon, Crockers, didn't I say there's more than one way to get someone? Even as I speak, Catwoman is being trussed up at the Pussykins Pet Food Factory. First thing tomorrow I'm sending a lovely case of cat food to Batman. HA HA HA HA HA HA HA! |
„ |
~ Joker tells Penguin, Two-Face, Killer Croc [Batman in disguise] and Poison Ivy on how he almost got Batman. |
“ | Joker: Try your luck, friend? Bruce Wayne: Why not? Joker: Say, don't I know you... Sure! Bruce Wayne! So this is how your family made all those billions. Heh heh heh! Bruce Wayne: The secret's out. And you are...? Joker: Just a nameless clown, shuffling my life away! Bruce Wayne: Too bad it has to be in such gruesome surroundings. Joker: Eh? - Don't care for the decor? Bruce Wayne: Not hardly. All those horrible faces grinning at me. That would do things to my mind after awhile. Joker: Who says you have one? Bruce Wayne: Yeah, I'd be ready for the laughing academy if I had to stare at that ugly clown all day. |
„ |
~ Joker and Bruce Wayne meet each other at the Joker's Casino. |
“ | Oh, trying to cheat the Joker, are you? Well, we'll see who has the last laugh. You have until midnight to change your mind, Francis, or you'll be the poorest fish of all. | „ |
~ Joker threatens G. Carl Francis. |
“ | Joker: No, we didn't get the diamond! The Dork Knight showed up before we even got to the museum! I had a great shot at him, too. Except... my dear little Harley Quinn handed me the wrong gun! Harley Quinn: But puddin', it was kinda funny watching you shoot at him with the BANG flag. Joker: Funny? You presume to tell me what I should think is funny? In fact, when have you ever contributed a worthwhile idea to this gang? Harley Quinn: Well, I... I did get us away from Batman. Joker: Oh, huzzah! The kid gets lucky, and she wants a medal. Maybe I should just let you run the gang. Maybe you're a better crook than the rest of put together. Harley Quinn: Maybe. [cowering at his glare] Not. |
„ |
~ Joker kicks Harley Quinn out of the house. |
“ | Joker: HARLEY! This place is going to blinking blue blazes. Anybody seen my socks? Harley! [his hyenas growl at him] They snapped at me! What's going on, Roc? The place is a mess, no one's fed the hyenas, and I can't find my socks. Where's Harley? Rocco: Y-Y-You canned her, boss, remember? Joker: So? She's always come back before. Rocco: Gee, uh, I-I guess you ain't seen the papers, then. Joker: Papers? What are you babbling about? [seeing an article about Harley and Poison Ivy's crime spree] AAAAAHHHHHHH! |
„ |
~ Joker discovers that Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy have joined forces together. |
“ | Joker: Welcome, Sidney! Please, allow me the honor of shaking hands with the man who did the impossible. The man who... killed Batman. - Oops! Sorry, force of habit! You know, there's just one thing bothering me about your story, Sid. No body. No batus delecti so to speak. We need to pull a job tonight, just to make sure! Murphy: Make sure of what, boss? Joker: Why, that old bats's bought the cave, of course. And one more thing, Murphy... don't ask stupid questions. |
„ |
~ Joker bids Sidney Debris welcome and then plans to make sure that Batman is truly gone for good. |
“ | Where is he? He's never been this late before. There's a certain rhythm to these things. I cause trouble, he shows up, we have some laughs, and the game starts all over again. Only now thanks to you... I have this terrible feeling he's really not coming... | „ |
~ Joker begins to think that Batman really has been killed. |
“ | Dear friends...Today is the day that the clown cried. And he cries not for the passing of one man, but for the death of a dream. The dream that he would someday taste the ultimate victory over his hated enemy. For it was the Batman who made me the happy soul I am today. How I agonized over the perfect way to thank him for that. Perhaps with a cyanide pie in the face. Or an exploding whoopee cushion playfully planted in the Batmobile. But those dreams were dashed by the weaselly little gunsel sitting there in our midst. The cowardly insignificant ganef who probably got lucky when Batman slipped on the slime trail this loser left behind him. This mound of diseased hyena filth who's not fit to lick the dirt from my spats!... But I digress. The time for sorrow has passed. It's time to look ahead to a future filled with smiles. And I'll be smiling again just as soon as we take that man there and slap him in that box there, and roll him into that vat of acid there! | „ |
~ Joker holds memorial speech for Batman and then tries to execute Sidney Debris. |
“ | Superman: We need to see one of the inmates. Joker: Why, certainly, Superman. Right this way. Oh, one little thing. Today's password? J'onn J'onzz: [reading his mind, he passes it on telepathically] Applesauce. Superman: Applesauce. Joker: Right. But Wonder Woman was supposed to say it. (Joker activates an alarm and runs away) |
„ |
~ Joker tricks the Justice League in the Justice Lords' universe. |
“ | Ah, ah, ah! Don't touch that remote. I know it's heartbreaking to have your favorite shows preempted, but look what you're getting instead: me! And a whole truckload of mindless violence and wanton property damage, everything that makes TV great! So stay tuned - you won't believe your eyes. | „ |
~ Joker in the opening of "Wild Cards, Part 1". |
“ | Here's how we do this little tango. I've tucked away a great, big time bomb somewhere on the Vegas Strip. Only the Justice League can stop it, 'cause if anyone else tries, I press this. And kablooie, no waiting. Now, I know you'll want to see the big bomb hunt from the best possible angles, so... I've set up hundreds of cameras all over town. The League won't be able to burp without us looking in on them. | „ |
~ Joker warns that only the Justice League are allowed to try and stop his evil plot. |
“ | Uh, Harl, sorry to interrupt, but I think I see one of our stars approaching the red carpet. And he's in black - always chic. But here come the fashion disasters... I'm surprised their mommies let them out of the house looking like that. | „ |
~ Joker sees that the Justice League has arrived. |
“ | That's more like it. But I'll bet you folks at home are wondering who these wild cards are. Let's go up-close and personal. The tale of the Royal Flush Gang begins in the Arizona desert at a secret facility where five innocent children were taken after being snatched from their families by the government. They promised to educate the kids, give them a home, but they wanted something in return, because, you see, each of these kids was born with a mysterious power. Ten feels no pain... [in a flashback, he's shot at with a flamethrower but comes out unscathed] Literally. And he's every bit as strong as Stupidman. King's a real ball of fire. Jack's just a flexible kind of guy. *Very* flexible. And Queen has a magnetic personality. That just leaves Ace. Poor, lonely Ace. [patting her on the head] More on you later, my dear. The government said it was protecting them, but what it really wanted was to make them into human weapons. And they would have gotten away with it, too, if not for me meddling with the kids. I made an arrangement with their headmaster. [in flashback, he gasses the man with the flower on his lapel] He seemed happy enough with it. And so did the kids. They were so grateful for their freedom, they've stuck to me like flypaper ever since. The playing-card thing was something I thought of off the top of my head. It made them into one big, happy family. | „ |
~ Joker describing the Royal Flush Gang. |
“ | Joker: I wouldn't do that if I were you. The bomb's got a motion detector. If you try to move it, it'll blow. You have to defuse it to take it out of play. No cheating. Flash: How do I know you're telling the truth? Joker: Maybe I'm lying. Try me. |
„ |
~ Joker tries to stop Flash from disable a bomb. |
“ | Whew! Is it just me, or is there something going on between those two? Will Green Lantern ever admit to his true feelings? Will Hawkgirl ever stop sublimating her passions with that big honking mace? Will true love conquer all? Not on my show! (presses his detonator) | „ |
~ Joker tries to kill Green Lantern and Hawkgirl. |
“ | Was that great or what? Let's give a big hand to the Justice League for foiling my bomb plot. Come on! You know, our show was picked up by all the news channels. And the last fifteen minutes or so has been running on the broadcast networks. According to my projections, we've got somewhere between sixty and seventy people watching right now. And that was the point all along. This whole thing was a stunt to get as many of you watching as possible, and it worked! My Royal Flush Gang provided the conflict, the Justice League brought the star power. And I brought the shocking surprise ending. Everyone watching the show right now is witness to my greatest joke ever. In just over five minutes, you'll all be hopelessly, incurably insane. | „ |
~ Joker about to use Ace for his plans. |
“ | Can't stop looking, can you? I wish I could say it's my animal magnetism, but it's really my little Ace in the hole. Different, they called her. Some even said she was a monster. Is this a monster? I ask you. Uh, purely rhetorically, of course. Condemned for something she could barely comprehend, our little Ace soon found herself a guest of the Government. But even they were afraid of her strange power. Fortunately for them their nasty little headband made her as harmless as a drowned kitten. | „ |
~ Joker tells the background story of Ace. |
“ | My poor, poor, Acey. All your life, people have been recoiling in fear from you. Oh, can I relate. Maybe that's why I'm the only one who's never been scared of you. You see, Ace can send out thought waves that alter perception. But enough with the jargon, she can make you crazy, just by looking at you, in person, or on TV. Even as I speak, millions of you slack-jawed couch potatoes are losing your grip on reality - which in my opinion is highly overrated anyway. But you can't look away, even though you know something's terribly wrong. And the best part, I'm immune to all this, because I'm already crazy. Turn it up, baby! | „ |
~ Joker using Ace to hypnotize the people. |
“ | Joker: It's only a matter of time now, a few more minutes and millions of people are going to go... [flips his lips] "b-b-b-b-b-b-b." and it's all because of you. [Leans close to Ace] The best sidekick a homicidal maniac ever had. Harley Quinn: What about me? Joker: Harley! Harley Quinn: Yeah, Harley, you worthless two timing piece... Joker: Wait! Wait. We can't let everything we have be ruined by a silly misunderstanding. Harley Quinn: And what is it that I'm not understanding? Joker: That we're two of a kind, that you'll always come back to me. Harley Quinn: Yeah, I guess I do, don't I? But... Joker: Like the swallows in Capistrano, and there's one other thing you're not getting. Harley Quinn: What? Joker: That you led Batman right to my doorstep! [then knocks her unconscious] |
„ |
~ Joker and Harley Quinn. |
“ | Big old Bats has fallen down! On the ground! Mind unsound! Big old Bats has fallen down! I'm so happy! | „ |
~ Joker singing a tune in "Wild Cards". |
“ | I've never seen you this determined, Bats. But as they say, all good things must come to an end. | „ |
~ Joker beats up Batman. |
“ | Ace: I'm not afraid of you. Joker: [backs away] Wait, please... Ace: I know what it's like to frighten other people. That's why I'm not afraid of you. I'm the only one. |
„ |
~ Joker loses control of Ace. |
“ | Except you had to EXPLAIN it to me! If you have to explain a joke, there IS no joke! | „ |
~ The Joker berating Harley for explaining one of his plans she modified. |
“ | Joker: You know, Bats, we've been doing this little runaround of ours for years. It's been loads of laughs, but the sad fact is, none of us are getting any younger. Harley Quinn: That old clock's a-tickin'. Joker: Quite right, Pooh. And Harley and I were thinking it was time to start a family. Add a Joker Jr. to our merry brood. Harley Quinn: But rather than go through all the joy of childbirth, we decided to adopt. Joker: We couldn't do it legally, but then we remembered you always had a few spare kids hanging around... so we borrowed one. He needed a little molding, of course. What kid doesn't? But in time, we came to love him as our own. Say hello, J.J. |
„ |
~ Joker reveals to have turned Robin into Joker Jr. |
“ | Batman: I'll break you in two... Joker: Oh, Batman, if you'd had the guts for that kind of fun, you'd have done it years ago! I, on the other hand... [draws a switchblade, slashes Batman across the chest and stabs him in the leg. Batman falls down the pile of building blocks and hits the ground hard. Joker jumps down beside him]. You've lost, Batman. Robin is mine. The last sound you'll hear will be our laughter. |
„ |
~ Joker and Batman during their final battle. |
“ | That's not funny...That's not... | „ |
~ Joker's last words in the uncut version. |
“ | Make him one of us. | „ |
~ Joker's last words in the edited version. |
“ | Hello, Gotham! Joker's back in town! | „ |
~ The Joker's grandest return. |
“ | Bruce Wayne: It can't be Joker: Oh, no. Your old eyes do not deceive you, Brucie! After all, who'd know me better than you? |
„ |
~ Joker and Bruce Wayne facing each other for the first time in more than 40 years. |
“ | Ah, the new boy. Ears are too long and I miss the cape. But not too shabby. Not too shabby at all. | „ |
~ Joker meeting Terry McGinnis. |
“ | That flabby oaf doesn't even realize I'm using him as a timeshare. Beneath this puckish exterior lies the mind of a genius, years ahead of my time. In the week's young Robin was under my tutelage, I used him as the subject of my greatest experiment. Utilizing cutting-edge genetics technology, which I have pinched here and there, I encoded my DNA of a microchip and set it into Bird Boy's bird brain. Here. Everything that was me has been asleep in all comfy and cozy inside of Tim Drake's subconscious. At first I had to limit the time I spent in Drake's body. He is not aware of what I do. Chalking up any lingering memories to bad dreams. If his family misses him, I simply call wifey and tell her. "I'm working late honey". The changes come at will now, but soon I will be strong enough to live in this body permanently. | „ |
~ Joker explaining to Terry how he survived. |
“ | So, where should I make Ground Zero? Gotham General, where our hero's dear little Dana is recuperating? Or here, in the happy garden of Mrs. Mary McGinnis? I always think it adds resonance to a hero's mission to have some defining element of tragedy in his background, don't you? Ahh! But the one and only kickoff point must be stately Wayne Manor. Gone in a flash before Brucie can hobble to safety or mount a rescue. Don't worry, though. I'll be hitting those other spots soon enough. | „ |
~ Joker threatens to use the satellite to anyone Terry cares about. |
“ | Adios, Brucie. I guess I should salute you as a worthy adversary and all that, but the truth is I really did hate your guts. | „ |
~ The Joker to Bruce Wayne as he plans to eradicate his laser towards his mansion. |
“ | C'mon, McGinnis! Laugh it up now, you miserable little punk. LAUGH! I can't hear you! | „ |
~ Joker's true last words. |
Trivia[]
- The Joker is also seen in many different video games based on the Batman: The Animated Series.
- The Joker's appearance in the DCAU is patterned after Jack Nicholson's portrayal of the character in the 1989 movie Batman.
- In Mad Love, The Joker makes a reference to his voice actor's role as Luke Skywalker.
- Tim Curry (who also portrayed It, Hexxus, and many other villains) was originally cast to play the Joker in Batman: The Animated Series. However, Curry was forced to drop out of the role after contracting bronchitis, and the role was eventually given to Mark Hamill.
- Also, while the producers thought Curry's portrayal was fantastic, they felt it was too scary for young viewers.
- Mark Hamill has also voiced Joker in other media, most notably the Batman: Arkham series, playing the character in Arkham Asylum, Arkham City, and Arkham Knight, as well as the version from the animated film adaptation of Batman: The Killing Joke. This Joker, while definitely his own character, also has distinct aspects of the character as seen in the DC Animated Universe. See here for the Arkham Joker or here for the version from The Killing Joke.
- The Joker's relationship with Harley Quinn is frequently shown as abusive and at times very pathetic, as the affection Harley feels is usually shown to be very one-sided; as Batman put it, the Joker is only capable of loving himself.
- Despite their interactions in "Almost Got 'Im", the Joker and Poison Ivy have a particular disliking for each other because of their different relationships with Harley Quinn, as the Joker wants Harley Quinn to follow him in his crooked schemes and uses her as an emotional outlet, whilst Ivy wants Harley to work with her as friends and encourages her to not follow the Joker (who would betray her on a whim).
- Despite being the secondary antagonist, Joker is the true villain in Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, and is actually responsible for the whole plot since he only ever killed Andrea Beaumont's father, which led her to be the serial killer known as the Phantasm and killed Chuckie Sol, which drove the plot.
- Given that his birth date has been hinted at being around 1948, and that Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker takes place around 2041, it can be deduced that hadn't his physical body died at the hands of Tim Drake, the Joker would have been around 93 years old by this time.
- While not as obsessed as Calendar Man, the Joker is fond of unleashing schemes on holidays, notably April Fools' Day, Christmas, and New Year's.
- The name 'Jack Napier' was used in Tim Burton's 1989 Batman film and later utilized in the DCAU as well. Dr. Bartholomew refers to him by this name in "Dreams in Darkness", and the name can be seen in a file about him in "Joker's Wild". Later in "Beware the Creeper", it is mentioned that his true identity is unknown and that he operated under a variety of aliases during his criminal career, implying that the man did indeed use a number of aliases and that 'Jack Napier' was simply used the longest or at least the one used before his accident.
External Links[]
- Joker on the Villains Wiki
- Joker on the Pure Evil Wiki
- Joker on the DC Animated Universe Wiki
- Joker on the DC Wiki
- Joker on the Batman Wiki
- Joker on the VS Battles Wiki
[]
![]() | ||
Animated Features Live-Action Films Animated Television Live-Action TV Video Games Shorts Music See Also |
![]() | ||
Batman: The Animated Series and The New Batman Adventures Superman: The Animated Series Batman Beyond Static Shock The Zeta Project |
![]() | ||
Comics Theatrical Movies Direct-to-video Movies Television 1970s Filmation series Batman: The Animated Series and The New Batman Adventures The Batman (2004) Batman: The Brave and The Bold Beware the Batman Harley Quinn Video Games Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham Injustice See Also |
![]() | ||
Comics Television |
![]() | ||
Comics Theatrical Movies Direct-to-video Movies Television Superman: The Animated Series Krypton Superman & Lois Video Games See Also |