The Joker
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Real Identity: Unknown
Appearances (BTAC Comics): The Darker Knight, Red Son Rising Part 1, Red Son Rising Part 2, Red Son Rising Part 3, Secret Santa, Mayor Mayhem Part Three, Crack-Up! Part One, Crack-Up! Part Two, and Crack-Up! Part Three
Skills: Planning, Manipulation, Chemical Engineering and Weaponry
A nameless hit man in the Gotham City criminal underworld attempted to form his own gang and staged a robbery at the Ace Chemical Plant. It was during this robbery that he first met Batman. He escaped capture by jumping into a nearby drainage vat of chemical waste and found his way to the river. However, the chemicals had an adverse effect on him. His hair was dyed green, his skin bleached white and his lips were stretched into a permanent grin. The change further fractured his sadistic nature. As the Joker, he vowed to show the world the triumph of his comic genius. And so began the career of one of history's worst mass murdering psychopaths. The Joker's plans were always prevented by the center of his obsession, Batman. His appearance masks an off kilter genius capable of planning, weaponry and a range of witty retorts. Professor Hugo Strange tried to sell Batman's secret identity to Joker, Penguin, and Two-Face but it turned out to be a con. Strange and Joker had an unpleasant history at Arkham Asylum.
The Joker and Harley Quinn initiated their plan to capture the second Robin and set off a public break up at Amusement Mile under the guise of celebrating the anniversary of their first heist together. Harley pretended to be upset about the lack of romance and was further angered when Joker presented her with a Beppo doll to snuggle with. She remarked she got more affection from deworming Bud and Lou and declared they were done then stormed off. Joker yelled she would come crawling back like always. Joker was about to set off for the whack-a-mole when Harley returned atop a bulldozer. Joker was forced to jump off the wharf. Harley then went about destroying every place the couple ever went to together in hopes of luring Robin out. She was attacked before she would blow up Nate-mans with a crate of dynamite. She swung her mallet and called him a boy scout. Robin was amused by her ignorance and drop kicked her then gave her a backhand. He teased they wanted the same thing, to get rid of the Joker.
Robin demanded his location and he promised her she would only end up in the emergency room. Joker sneaked up on Robin and used his electric joy buzzer. Joker presented a bouquet of flowers to Harley as Robin collapsed. Harley was touched. Joker decided the flowers were more fitting for Robin and threw them on his body as he passed out. Robin was taken to a warehouse near a lighthouse and tied to a wooden board affixed to a clown themed parade float. Joker claimed he wanted a cheerful environment for their play date. He noted how busy but unhappy Robin had been lately. Robin retorted he would feel better when his hands were around Joker's neck. Joker pointed out his pent-up hostility and concluded he was obviously in need of help. Harley Quinn, wearing a lab coat, announced the doctor was in, insane and bent down to look at Robin. Robin promised her she was dead. She hopped off and concluded he had violent psychotic tendencies due to a history of acting out destructive power fantasies which were no doubt the effect of a very toxic home environment. Joker concurred.
Harley thought it was Batman's obsession with building a vigilante dynasty that drove him to make anyone a so-called Robin, even an unhinged maniac like the current one. Joker was in complete agreement with her diagnosis. One of the goons handed Joker a crowbar. He concluded they were faced with a case of self-preservation and cited what Robin did to Penguin, Clock King, and Killer Croc just recently. He proclaimed to have the cure then proceeded to beat and bludgeon Robin to death with his crowbar. Harley eventually interceded. Joker acknowledged he was being selfish and offered her the crowbar. Harley noted roughing up Robin was one thing but killing him was another. Joker was annoyed she thought they were going to let him go after giving Robin a love tap. He pointed out Robin wouldn't stop his reign of terror until every villain was dead so he was practically begging for the beating. She wouldn't comply so Joker ordered her to be removed.
Joker announced Robin as the failed hero who tried to bring down the bad guys, a lame joke that was about to be erased. Batman arrived and objected. Joker tried to get Batman to admit Robin was asking for it. Batman ordered him to get away from Robin. Joker ordered his goons to open fire and assured them the tanks only contained Hydrogen so they wouldn't explode. He had it confused with Helium and they all exploded. Joker ran for his car but the explosions launched it in the air and it landed on him. Batman freed Robin. Robin pleaded with him to end the Joker for him, for everyone he's hurt, and for everyone he's going to hurt if he lives. Batman told him they can't become what he is. Robin told him he would never become the Joker. He handed Batman the crowbar. To Robin's dismay, Batman used the crowbar to pry the car away from Joker. He tossed the unconscious Joker over his shoulder. Robin pleaded with him not to save Joker and used some tanks to stand up. Robin was caught up in another explosion. Batman ran Joker outside then returned and searched the rubble in vain. Robin was gone.
Somehow, Joker learned of the U.S. Army's super-soldier program Project Samson. He intervened on Captain Carl Finley's session with Professor Strange's Psi-Ber Helmet, which was in reality designed to brainwash the program candidates to be completely loyal to select generals by projecting their images and voices into the premotor cortices. Joker substituted his image and voice. It worked and Finley thought he was Joker's sidekick Straightman.
Four years later, Jason Todd sneaked onto Amusement Mile and hid on a Ferris Wheel while he spied on the Joker, who was in the House of Mirrors with his playing cards. Todd admitted to himself it wasn't always easy for him to work with allies and bitter experience taught him to appreciate them while he could. The Joker noticed someone on the Wacky Wheel ferris wheel and notified his goon, Straightman of the incursion. Joker joked he was curious why their visitor came in the dead of the night when it was so cold out. While doing a curl rep with a barbell, Straightman asked how cold it was. Joker was amused and poked the back of his head and he explained the visitor was packing heat. Todd's thoughts were interrupted when Straightman started bashing the base of the ferris wheel with his barbell. After the wheel fell onto the ground, Straightman lifted up one of the passenger cars and tossed it at Todd. Joker drove by in a bumper car and tossed a grenade at him. He grabbed the back of Straightman's collar and yanked him along as he drove out of Amusement Mile. Joker quipped it was time to say "Good night, Gracie." Straightman asserted that was his line. Joker was amused and laughed. He was last seen on Jean Street, heading for the turnpike.
The Joker met with Penguin in his office at the Iceberg Lounge. Joker wanted to borrow a couple hundred thousand dollars to go out on the circuit with his goon Straightman. Penguin was suspicious and asked where Harley Quinn was. Joker revealed they were seeing other people but mused she could have said so without a mallet to his forehead. He recalled she was with Poison Ivy last he heard. Penguin wasn't buying his act and knew someone was after him. He preferred to see how it played out. Joker summoned Straightman to explain the situation better. Mr. Wing burst into the office and fought Straightman. Both talked about their henchman's origins. The fight spilled outside and Wing was knocked out. Joker declared he and Straightman were a classic comedy duo. Red Hood retorted except as always, he was the only one laughing. Joker took offense to being heckled and implored him to step up to the mic. Red Hood darted Joker repeatedly then Straightman. He declared he was breaking up the act and took out Straightman with Penguin's prized chandelier. Red Hood collected Joker and told Penguin to tell Batman he came.
Some time later, Batman regained consciousness and awoke to the Joker. Joker feigned relief and yelled at him to get him out. Batman realized he was in the sewer lair. Joker was chained to a pipe and Robin was up to his knees in water in a glass tank filling up. Red Hood told Batman he was patient and was a believer in second chances, pointing out he was the second Robin, was better than the first, and was willing to go above and beyond to wipe out scum like the Joker. Joker picked the locks and freed himself then realized he was the former Robin. Red Hood revealed his escaped certain death by grabbing onto a parade balloon. Joker thought the story was fantastic, surprising Hood. Joker was lying, of course, and excused himself. Red Hood shot his left arm and explained Batman had one chance to fix things: kill the Joker with a crowbar. Batman stated he knew he would not. Hood declared he would watch the third Robin die instead. Batman continued with his mind games and asserted Robin would escape.
Hood pointed out the tank was escape-proof. Batman quipped it was for a weak, immature Robin. Joker was shocked. Batman told him to be quiet. Hood didn't believe him and threw a gun to Joker to make it easier. Joker found the self-defense idea zero fun and tossed the gun aside. Hood shot at his shoes and demanded he pick the gun up. Joker told him to wake up because he ran out of threats. He mused Batman would just get another Robin at a bargain rate. Robin bided his time in the tank. It was close to bursting. Joker goaded Hood to shoot him because Batman would haul him to the police and his unmasking would complicate things even further. Joker called it his final victory and went right up to Hood's gun. He was interrupted by beeping. Straightman homed in on Joker and burst through the floor of the sewer lair Red Hood was using. Joker remembered the homing device in Straightman's skull. Straightman grabbed Red Hood by the face and slammed him down on the ground.
Joker applauded his perfect timing and picked up a hand gun, intending to kill the Robin of the past and present. He noticed Robin was gone and got hit in the back of the head with a crowbar. Batman tricked Straightman into causing a cave-in. Straightman was knocked out by huge debris and was carried off by the current with Joker and Red Hood. Joker screamed he told him never to ad-lib. A search failed to locate Joker, Straightman, or Red Hood. During the holidays, Joker and Straightman hid out at a Ha Ha Hide-Away club. Straightman read one of Joker's punchlines but didn't get it, "Your money or your life" and Joker tells them they're too late and mows them down with an AK-47. Joker was aghast he had to explain comedy but was already beside himself after he hacked Harley's computer only to learn he wasn't invited to a Christmas party. He shot the laptop. He noted even Arnold Wesker was invited. Straightman had no idea who that was. Joker suddenly got an idea and started laughing with glee.
The Straightman stormed Arkham Asylum and stole the Scarface doll for Joker. Joker and Straightman crashed the party. After Harley screamed at Joker to leave, Joker claimed he only came bearing naught but goodwill and a present for their gift exchange. Harley assumed the present was going to blow up. She paused and wished Straightman a Merry Christmas. Straightman wished her a Happy Hanukkah. Knute Brody claimed he was supposed to be at the Gotham Orphanage but went to the wrong address. No one suspected he was really Batman. Joker had him give out his gift. Knute misread the tag on purpose and called out Roxy Rocket. Straightman shoved her aside. Joker tried to give his out himself but Knute agreed to help speed things up and threw out all the presents. Joker was knocked over in the chaos. On the sly, Batman told Robin to call in the "diversion." Robin called up Commissioner Gordon and tipped him off about the party. Knute slipped away with Arnold Wesker. After they parted ways, Knute was clubbed on the head from behind by Straightman.
Joker scolded Knute for pinching presents and was still resolved in getting Scarface back to Wesker. Straightman then asked what to do with him. Joker "consulted" Scarface then ordered him to crush Knute's larynx and break both legs. Luckily, the police arrived. Joker and Straightmen fled the scene. Wesker returned home to find Scarface, Joker, and Straightman waiting for him. Scarface felt two-timed and called him pathetic then demanded he lose his sock puppet. Joker helped himself to Wesker's food. Straightman placed Scarface back with Wesker. Scarface admonished Wesker but was happy to learn Straightman spruced him up with lemon scented furniture polish. Scarface joked he might trade mooks with Joker. Wesker was uneasy about trusting Joker but Scarface pointed out Joker was the one who freed him. He led them to Santa Town, where the rest of the CX explosives were stored in the giant candy canes that adorned the big sign.
Joker was delighted to learn he and Scarface had the same idea to blow up Gotham Center at midnight on New Year's Eve though he was unsure about Wesker. Scarface assured him Wesker was under his thumb. Wesker pointed out the police would be watching his apartment. Joker offered them the nightclub to stay at in the meantime. After laying low for a week, the villains went to the 55th Street Subway Station in a joker-styled railcar to plant the explosives and set it to detonate on New Year's. Joker relished in bringing a new year of dread early to thousands of losers at Gotham Center. After he set the five minute timer, Scarface asked about the ransom. Joker admitted he never called one in and gassed Wesker with his lapel flower. Just as Joker was ready to leave, Straightman pointed out Batman and Robin arrived. Robin went to save Wesker from being run over by the holiday express lane while Batman disabled Joker's rail car. He narrowly avoided Straightman's punch then flipped him over the track right on time. Joker removed the Batarang and looked for the reverse but realized he was too late. The express line plowed Straightman and reduced his rail car to pieces. The police later found Joker and arrested him.
About a year later, on Election Day, Joker was intrigued by Batman and Robin's interrogation of Officer Hanson over his claims of seeing Clayface in his cell. Joker started to watch rather than sit through another episode of "Law and Order." Batman took Hanson's earphone away and Hanson no longer saw Clayface in his cell. Robin put it on and saw Clayface attacking Batman from behind. He threw out three Batarangs but luckily, they missed Dr. Leland. Batman grabbed Robin and removed the earphone. Later that day, Mad Hatter and Emerson Mayfield took over Arkham. Mayfield promised his first act as mayor would be to close down Arkham and give them all pardons if they killed Batman for him. The Joker, still in his patient garb, found politics boring and predictable. He hit a soda machine, drank a Soder, stated he stabbed someone face to face so he could laugh at his victims, and went back to his cell. Batman and Robin arrived soon after and dispatched everyone. They heard Joker's laughter.
Batman went to him while Robin freed the guards. Joker was laughing over the election results and informed Mayfield he lost. Mayfield was shocked. Joker was tickled he used dirty tricks, a smear campaign, and mind control and still didn't win. He mockingly congratulated Mayfield, who he called "Mayor Mayhem." Mayfield was infuriated and grabbed Joker by the neck spouting off Gotham was his, his legacy and his destiny. Batman came between them and the guards hauled Mayfield away while he blamed Batman. Joker called him a sore loser. He vowed he would see Batman dead. Joker mused politics were entertaining and thought about running for mayor next time. He was locked back up swiftly. Around spring, Straightman broke Joker out of Arkham. He wanted to announce his return on a grand scale. They occupied the Simon Trent Theater and killed the ventriloquists set to perform at a comedy event. Straightman relived a part of his past in a dream and accidentally walked through a wall into the dressing room used by Joker.
Joker joked he was not changing a word in the script. Straightman told him he was having another crazy dream. Joker instructed him to focus on their routine and powdered him. The audience was restrained to their seats and exposed to Joker Toxin in gas form. Joker posed as a ventriloquist and Straightman as the dummy and they performed. Joker noted he heard no applause then remembered the wristbands. He retorted they could have stomped their feet then asked if they were expecting something like The Music Man. He produced a tommy gun but Batman swung in and drop kicked him. He used Joker's acid squirting flower but Straightman did not flinch when it touched his arm. Batman cuffed Joker then tried to punch Straightman out in vain. The battle spilled out into the alley and Task Force X entered the fray. Joker threw out smoke bombs and fled the theater in a Joker-themed motorcycle with Straightman stashed in the sidecar. Joker checked in on Straightman and was choked. Straightman eventually woke up from his dream and apologized. Joker readied a "booster shot" to cure his nightmares. Joker and Straightman stayed mobile and only stayed at a hideout for no more than a day. Batman and Colonel Hastell independently tracked the duo to the defunct Sunshine Hotel but they were already gone.
Joker and Straightman invaded Camp Finger, a U.S. Army base, and confronted Professor Hugo Strange in his office after the latter drifted off. He was overcome by a feeling he had been to the base before. Joker gave Strange a hug. Strange demanded to be let go. Joker teased he was almost ready to forgive him for trying to con him, Penguin, and Two-Face into buying Batman's secret identity. Strange ordered Gretchen Gallway to call the military police. Joker noticed Gallway and informed them they already took care of them. Joker requested the "happy helmet" but Strange refused. Joker was crestfallen then ordered Straightman to break Gallway's neck on the count of three. Colonel Haslett intervened and ordered him to stand down. Straightman recognized her and released Gallway. Joker stated he was the one that gave orders then took a right cross from Haslett. Joker ordered him to kill everyone. Strange desperately asked Haslett to do something. Haslett ordered Straightman to snap out of it. Straightman couldn't think and ran through the wall into the city. Joker was aghast and shouted he worked solo better anyway. He unleashed his Joker Toxin then fled the base, too.
Professor Strange heeded Batman's warning about Joker and had the Psi-Ber Helmet moved to a safer location. A sergeant assigned to the transport checked in with Strange to confirm they were ahead of schedule. The Joker somehow infiltrated the transport and took over driving then flooded with with his Joker Toxin gas. Strange panicked and ordered them in vain to return to base. Joker called him a spoilsport and declared he wasn't ruining their night. He told the Jokerized guard sitting up front with him to keep watch his hands. Task Force X arrived at the Pizza Clown Family Restaurant. Captain Boomerang was ready to inform Amanda Waller they found another dead end. King Shark saw a whoopee cushion and sat on it. Harley could not warn him in time and a bomb was detonated. Joker stepped into the room and was grateful the early warning system still worked. He was delighted to see Harley and asked what brought her back to the old stomping grounds. He joked it wasn't the pizza. Harley agreed they sucked more than his jokes and took a weak swing with the little energy she had left. Joker easily ducked and she lost consciousness. Joker surveyed Task Force X and declared he had his own army.
Harley came to, tied to a kiddie ride, and watched as Joker used the helmet on her teammates one by one and renamed them J-Team. Joker told her he wanted to win her back with his charms to her disgust. They commandeered a S.W.A.T. van, took police hostages, and were headed to Camp Finger. The south entrance was breached. Dressed as a general, Joker commanded the brainwashed Task Force X to attack soldiers. He thought the army life was fun and spotted a tank. He used it to blow a hole in the side of the main building. Haslett had enough and pulled her handgun. Joker signaled Deadshot who shot her right shoulder. Robin jump kicked Deadshot while Batgirl provided cover with gas balls. Joker told the Task Force X team there were weekend passes for whoever got the first kill. Straightman suffered a seizure. Strange believed there was nothing they could do since he was in the first state of a bicameral breakdown and would devolve into utter schizophrenia without the helmet. He found it a shame they couldn't record it. Joker arrived and joked he admired his bedside manner then smacked Strange with a gun. He placed the helmet on Finley.
Gallway pleaded in vain for Finley to be spared. Strange told her not to be an idiot. Joker advised her to listen to the professor. Batman kicked the door down. Joker grabbed Gallway and held her at gunpoint. Finley became enraged, grabbed Joker, and slammed him like a ragdoll. Haslett got him to stop by telling him "at ease." Harley remarked she was enjoying the show. Days later, Joker remained in intensive care. Months later, he was at Arkham Asylum.