The Joker
Back to Villains Main > The Joker
Real Identity: Unknown
Powers/Skills: Strategy, Manipulation, Chemistry, and Engineering
Voiced By: John DiMaggio
A petty thief, rumored to be a struggling comedian, agreed to take on the mantle of the Red Hood, a costumed figurehead for organized crime. During an attempted robbery of the Ace Chemical Plant in Gotham City, botched by Batman, he attempted to exonerate himself by removing his mask but fell into a vat of chemicals. This was perhaps Batman's first great failure in his career but not his last. He survived and discovered his skin was bleached, hair dyed green, and lips fixed in a smile. He became the Joker. The Joker engaged in psychopathic crimes but wanted to prove his genius to the world by defeating Batman. Some are not convinced the Joker is a normal psychopath but one who treads the line that separates sanity and insanity. He still is a murderer but his actions are planned, calculated, and executed like a showman with a certain flair and sophistication.
The Joker devised a series a prop gags as weapons; a shocking joy buzzer or acid-squirting boutonniere. His most vile creation is a nerve toxin named Joker Venom which leaves its victims with death rictuses, almost like a signature left by the Clown Prince of Crime. Luckily, Batman, the object of his obsession, has stopped him at every turn.
Eager to distract Batman and Robin, Ra's Al Ghul hired the Joker. However, Al Ghul underestimated his insanity. In Sarajevo, Bosnia, they crossed paths. During a robbery, the Joker kidnapped and took Robin to an isolated warehouse and beat him mercilessly with a crowbar. When the time came, Joker abandoned the site and locked Robin in with a bomb. Unable to escape nor be rescued in time, Robin was killed in the explosion. Batman responded by beating the Joker so badly, he had to wear a body cast for six months. Then some time later, he shot Barbara Gordon through the spine and photgraphed her bleeding body as part of a plan to drive Commissioner Gordon insane. Five years after the death of Jason Todd, a new Red Hood appeared and began taking over various criminal rackets associated with Black Mask. Batman and Nightwing paid a visit to Arkham Asylum Inmate #11940, the Joker. While disgusted by the new Hood's fashion statement, the Joker was amused the duo thought he had anything to do with it.
The Red Hood's attacks drove Black Mask to play into his plans and extract Joker from Arkham. He soon resurfaced at the Gotham Bridge with a delivery truck filled with Mask, his assistant, and several drug lords. This was all an attempt to draw out Red Hood but as a showman, the Joker aimed to light the mobsters all on fire. Batman happened to be returning to Gotham aboard the Batwing and dumped flame retardant all over the Joker and his stolen delivery truck. He was unable to extract Joker and lost him to Hood. Red Hood took Joker to Crime Alley and challenged Batman to stop him. In the meantime, Hood beat Joker repeatedly with a crowbar and put his final phase into action, avenge his death as Robin. Hood issued an ultimatum to Batman, if he didn't kill Joker with a handgun, Hood would. Batman refused and disarmed him with a miniature Batarang. Joker was amused and allowed Red Hood to detonate the room. Batman returned Joker to Arkham Asylum after searching the debris.