Even more popular than Batman by some accounts, the DC Comics villain ‘The Joker’ is not only one of the most famous villains of all time but might also be the greatest as well. The character’s sheer influence and notoriety is hard to ignore and each subsequent iteration of the character has only increased his importance in the cultural zeitgeist. So why do audiences continue to identify with the Clown Prince of Crime and what makes him the greatest comic book villain of all time, let’s find out.
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The character, conceived by Bill Finger, Bob Kane, and Jerry Robinson, made its initial appearance in the inaugural issue of the comic book Batman on April 25, 1940. The inspiration for the character can be traced to actor Conrad Veidt’s Gwynplaine in The Man Who Laughs (1928). From that film, it becomes clear that Veidt's unique grinning visage inspired the Joker’s signature smile. While comic books are filled with villains who have unlimited power, part of Joker’s appeal has always been due to the fact that he has no special powers whatsoever. Relying on close quarter weapons and a penchant for double crossing and surprise attacks, the Joker overpowers his foes due solely to his wit and charm.
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The Joker’s origin story has undergone many revisions since his 1940 debut. The most common one is that of a man who, while disguised as the criminal Red Hood, is pursued by Batman and falls into a vat of toxic chemicals. This accident manages to bleach his skin, colors his hair green and his lips red, and also drives him completely crazy. The reasons why the Joker was disguised as the Red Hood and his identity before his transformation have changed over time. Each iteration has a different origin story and in some famous versions, such as the Christopher Nolan Dark Knight one, the Joker continues to purposefully misdirect everyone on how he came to be the way he is.
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Since Batman does not kill and the Joker does so without remorse, this interesting dynamic has set in motion quite a rivalry in comic book history that continues to this day. Aptly described as an ‘unstoppable force meeting an immovable object’, the Joker-Batman dynamic is part of the reason why the character remains so popular. In time, efforts have been made to introduce a love interest to the Joker. The most famous of these, Harley Quinn, was a psychologist tasked with treating the Joker in Arkham Asylum. Driven crazy by her patient, Quinn became as unhinged as the Clown Prince of Crime.
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The Joker’s widespread appeal can also be gleaned from the fact that seminal comic book writer Alan Moore (of Watchmen and V for Vendetta fame) decided to put his own little twist on the character as well. Widely considered to be one of the best one shot Batman-Joker stories ever conceived, his story sees Joker as a family man and failed comedian who goes insane after one bad day.
Why Is The Joker The Greatest Comic Book Villain Of All Time?
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A great point to ponder in this regard is that Joker has always attracted some of the best actors in the business. From Heath Ledger to Joaquin Phoenix and from Jared Leto to Barry Keogan, every Batman iteration warrants a strong Joker outing and thus, the best in the business have always said yes (without fail) to putting their own stamp on the character. Let’s not forget Jack Nicholson here (one of the greatest actors of his generation) who effortlessly played the character in Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman. Why do the best actors continue to tackle the character? The Joker character has a unique mix of carnage and chaos to bring and every thespian wants a chance to crack the code. Heath Ledger famously locked himself in a hotel room for weeks to come up with mannerisms for the character, using isolation to drive himself insane.
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It was indeed Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix whose Jokers have had the most influence culturally. Both received Academy Awards for their performances (the only Oscars to be given for acting in comic book films) and both managed to impress the audiences so much that their performances became part of the cultural zeitgeist. Also interesting is the fact that both their Joker films managed to do a billion dollars in ticket sales, a stunning feat on its own.
Why Is The Joker The Greatest Comic Book Villain Of All Time?
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On the animation and video game side of things, it is veteran Star Wars alum Mark Hamill who has managed to create a unique version of the Joker. Providing his voice talents to the character in dozens of animated projects and the famed Batman Arkham series video games, Hamill has immortalized the animated Joker in the same way that Ledger managed to do for live action.
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The Joker has class, he is unpredictable and his penchant for chaos and mayhem means that he can more than hold his own against foes way more powerful than him. Equally impressive is the fact that the Joker does not work to gain either power or money; these superficial ideals are to him a distraction. Rather, he wants to burn the world down for the sake of it, ensuring that he causes as much death and destruction as possible. Since Batman refuses to take his life, this increases his penchant for chaos even further. The Joker is famous for taking a bad situation and making it infinitely worse for the heroes and since he does not easily fit in the mold of what a comic book villain should be, this resonates with audiences the world over.
Why Is The Joker The Greatest Comic Book Villain Of All Time?
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With five live action film performances, two live action TV performances and quite a few memorable outings in the animated sphere of things, the Joker has remained timeless. Audience interest in the character continues to remain quite high and each new Joker iteration is received with much fanfare and critical acclaim. In the entire history of comic books and films in general, there remains no other example of any other villain who continues to command this much adoration and adulation. With a new Joker sure to be casted for James Gunn’s DCU, it is certain that we are in for a treat yet again.
