History Characters / BatmanTheJoker

** ''Series/{{Gotham}}'' sees [[spoiler:neither Valeska escape this. After his death in season 2, Jerome (the proto-Joker) ends up resurrected in season 3, but because Dwight thinks his attempt to revive him failed, Dwight ends up cutting off Jerome's face ala ''ComicBook/DeathOfTheFamily'' and Jerome ends up stapling it on when he catches up with Dwight and while he later has it properly reattached, there's still scars from what happened. Jeremiah, Jerome's twin and the show's true Joker, ends up with the "perma-clown" appearance due to Jerome having the Scarecrow brew something up to spray in Jeremiah's face, but season 5 sees his fateful fall at Ace Chemicals badly scar his face and sear off most of his hair with only stringy patches left]].

* ElectricJoybuzzer: One of his signature weapons, a lethal variation, most memorably used in ''Film/Batman1989''. He ended up HoistByHisOwnPetard when trying to use it on ComicBook/{{Static}}.

** Part of the reason Gordon takes over the post of Commissioner in both ''Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy'' and ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamSeries'' is due to the Joker killing Gillian Loeb. Additionally, the first game in the latter series, ''[[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum Asylum]]'', he sees several of Arkham's guards killed by him and his men.

** ''Film/TheDarkKnight'' reworks it into Driving Gotham To Senseless Violence with wanton acts of destruction or terrorism, just to prove everyone's as bad as him deep down.
--->'''Joker:''' When the chips are down, these... these "civilized" people, [[HumansAreBastards they'll eat each other]]. See, I'm not a monster. I'm just ahead of the curve.

** While ''Film/TheDarkKnight'' is one of the few times the Joker's clown-like appearance is the result of make-up, he does sport a GlasgowGrin.

* TooKinkyToTorture: The Joker has shown a proclivity for this over the years. At one point, the Joker berated a man who'd captured him for only hitting him in the face and ''Film/TheDarkKnight'' similarly sees the Joker berate Batman during the the latter's beating of him. He also enjoyed his and Bruce's final fight in ''ComicBook/TheDarkKnightReturns''. ''ComicBook/SalvationRun'' had established the Joker's been in constant pain since he took his fateful dive into the vat of chemicals that altered his appearance and not only had gotten used to it, but grew to enjoy it. This quote from ''The Dark Knight'' sums it up perfectly:

** Terry [=McGinnis=] uses a BoringInsult against the clown in ''Return of the Joker'' so he'll have a VillainousBreakdown and [[spoiler:be defeated for good]].

* BoringInsult: While the Joker has used it a few times on others, he mostly does it to hear the sound of his own voice as the people he usually slings this insult at don't really care whether or not they're boring. On the other hand, he gets really furious when others ''intentionally'' use it against him. Terry exploits this flaw with glee and even rubs it in his face in ''Return of the Joker''. For a comedian, the only thing worse than [[ToughRoom silent glares]] is TheHeckler.
* BreakTheComedian: A sure way to determined if things have gotten real, even for the Joker, is if he isn't laughing or joking. A famous example involved the Joker being frightened during the events of Creator/AlanMoore's ''ComicBook/SwampThing'' run, when he was horrified by Arcane's actions. Also, he can't stand being the punchline of someone else's joke in ''Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker''.

** Bruce deconstructs this notion in ''Return of the Joker'', noting that it wasn't a "popularity contest." Terry also deduces that Bruce's stoicism made Joker even more determined to make Batsy laugh at all costs.

** The Future Joker look from ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyondReturnOfTheJoker'' which went with a mime look (black body suit, slicked-back hair) is also quite distinct and unique.

** For all his snark about others' misery, the clown ''really'' hates being the punchline in some adaptations such as ''Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker''.

** In ''Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker'', he flips out when Terry [[BoringInsult mocks him]] for his fixation with Batman.

** In ''Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker'', he blows a raspberry after admitting he didn't view Batman a WorthyOpponent. After Terry belittles his fixation with Batman, the clown has a VillainousBreakdown that's more or less a temper tantrum.

** ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight'' takes this even further by revealing that [[spoiler:being forgotten is the only thing the Joker truly fears]].

** ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity'' ended with him covering The Platters' "Only You (and You Alone)", ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamOrigins'' had him cover Music/HankWilliams' "Cold, Cold, Heart" and ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight'' had him provide an original composition, "Can't Stop Laughing".

* AdaptationOriginConnection: Several, in fact, depending on the adaption.
** In ''Film/Joker2019'', his starting of numerous riots across Gotham leads to [[spoiler:the death of the Waynes.]]
** The {{Elseworld}} ''ComicBook/BatmanLobo'' establishes that he and Batman are [[RelatedInTheAdaptation twin brothers]] and that he went down the path of crime because Joe Chill kidnapped him the night their parents were killed.

* VillainProtagonist: He was the star of his own nine-issue self-titled series from 1975 to 1976. In order to adhere to the Comics Code Authority, TheBadGuyWins was never in effect - while he usually managed to get one over on other villains, each issue would end the Joker being apprehended for his crimes. He also got [[Film/Joker2019 his own movie]] in which Batman didn't even ''exist'' yet, delving deep into what someone would have to go through to become the Joker.

** In ''Series/Batwoman2019'', he hijacked a school bus full of kids and rammed the Kane family car off the road, forcing Batman to grapple their car to a bridge to keep it from falling off while he went after his foe. Unfortunately, the grapple hit a defective door handle, causing it to fall and kill Mrs. Kane, while Beth was presumed dead and left in the hands of a psychopath to become Alice in her later years. All of this drives Kate to eventually become Batwoman. But that's not all! Season 2 reveals he made a painting out of people's guts one time--said painting is being investigated by Kate, but [[spoiler:Black Mask]] shoots down her plane as part of his scheme, causing her Batsuit to fall into the hands of homeless girl Ryan Wilder, who takes up the mantle in Kate's stead. Oh, and that school bus? Season 3 reveals that Ryan was left an orphan because Joker zapped one of the kids on the bus with his joy buzzer for the hell of it. Said kid was [[spoiler: her brother Marquis, who went insane and led Ryan's mother to give her up for adoption for her own safety. And did we mention that Marquis is the new Joker?]]

** In ''Film/Batman1989'', he [[spoiler:killed the Waynes before his transformation, causing Bruce to become Batman.]]

* MadArtist: The Joker is a performer who commits his crimes as much for the theatrics as any sadism or profit. He once referred to Batman as the StraightMan in their act, and in the 1989 movie described himself as a "homicidal artist" who made art until someone died. He even tried making a SnuffFilm titled "The Death Of Batman", acting like a PrimaDonnaDirector in the process.

* PoisonIsEvil: The Joker is famous for his Joker Venom, which not only kills people but leaves them with a ghastly smile. He's also quite fond of DeadlyGas depending on the work, such as the Smylex gas favored by Creator/JackNicholson's Joker in ''Film/Batman1989''.

** ''Film/Batman1989'' takes it a step further by showing him as the apparently sane (but still very, ''very'' evil) Jack Napier prior to his transformation. In between the vicious murders he committed as Napier and then as the clown he becomes, Joker "punches out" two television sets with an ExtendoBoxingGlove, blows into a birthday-party noisemaker, obsessively cuts up photographs to make collages of them, hosts a parade with giant cartoon-character balloons, makes funny sound effects with his mouth, and sends the woman he's [[VillainousCrush stalking]] a note written in crayon.

** In the animated series, he claims to have been beaten as a child when interviewed by Harley Quinn. It is unknown if this is true. According to Batman, he's simply making it up.
--->'''Harley Quinn:''' Joker told me things, secret things he never told anyone...\\
'''Batman:''' What did he tell you, Harley? Was it the line about the abusive father, or the one about the alcoholic mom? Of course, the runaway orphan story is particularly moving, too. He's gained a lot of sympathy with that one. What was it he told that one parole officer? Oh, yes... 'There was only one time I ever saw dad really happy. He took me to the ice show when I was seven...'\\
'''Harley:''' ''(crying)'' Circus... He told me it was the circus.\\
'''Batman:''' He's got a million of them, Harley.

* OnceDoneNeverForgotten: In the story "Joker's Millions," Joker decides to retire after inheriting rival mob boss "King" Barlowe's fortune and spends his money freely, only to find out too late that most of it was CounterfeitCash. Joker is now torn between admitting a dead man conned him and becoming Gotham's ButtMonkey (which he won't do), getting jailed for tax evasion (which he won't do either), or returning to crime so he can save his reputation from being sullied. This was later adapted into an episode for ''Batman: The Animated Series''.

** Batman lampshades this to Harley in the animated series, thinking it's another lie to gain sympathy.

* {{Troll}}: Most incarnations of the Joker dress up as being a lethal one of these. The best example is his DC Animated Universe version, who tailored each of his schemes as a joke or a prank, and sometimes even lectured his underlings on the importance of proper buildup and delivery when telling a joke. Batman in particular is the Joker's preferred victim, and many a Joker has refused to kill or unmask a Batman dead to rights simply because it would spoil the fun of trolling him. But when others use this against him, he really goes nuts, as it's his main Berserk Button[[note]]probably because he feels it's his domain and others upstaging him is something he won't tolerate due to his [[AttentionWhore narcissistic ego]][[/note]].
** In ''Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker'', Terry [=McGinnis=] exploits this by delivering an epic BoringInsult so the clown will have a VillainousBreakdown.
** King Barlowe proved to be a big one in his ThanatosGambit in the episode "Joker's Millions" of ''The New Batman Adventures''. In a [[SpitefulWill spiteful]] VideoWill, he gives the clown his millions, revealing in his tape that most of it was fake. Expecting the clown to splurge on it, he won't have enough to pay off the IRS, allowing Barlowe to get the "last laugh" after his death without Joker coming after him.

* FromNobodyToNightmare: While most of Batman's rogues gallery have a FreudianExcuse, the key thing about Joker's MultipleChoicePast is that nobody really knows who he was before he put on the Red Hood and fell into a vat of acid. As such, he was literally a nobody... who turned into the DC Universe's scariest villain and who at times has upstaged even ''Brainiac or'' '''Darkseid'''. In "Underworld Unleashed," Trickster even states that whenever the Clown Prince of Crime joins a league of villains, the other baddies tend to keep him at an arm's length.

'''''[[EvilLaugh AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAA!]]'''''

The most famous origin stories for the Joker are ''The Man Behind the Red Hood'' by Bill Finger and ''ComicBook/TheKillingJoke'' by Creator/AlanMoore. In the former, the Joker was an infamous thief known as "the Red Hood" who, while robbing a chemical plant, jumped into a vat of chemicals while running from Batman, giving him white skin, green hair, and a permanent smile. The origin put forth in ''The Killing Joke'' is fairly similar, with the main change being that the Joker was actually a [[FromNobodyToNightmare harmless failed comedian]] that was blackmailed into donning the Red Hood and committing the robbery. The accident at the chemical plant happened the same day as his pregnant wife died, and the trauma of this "one bad day" drove the Joker completely mad.

The most famous origin stories for the Joker are ''The Man Behind the Red Hood'' by Bill Finger and ''ComicBook/TheKillingJoke'' by Creator/AlanMoore. In the former, the Joker was an infamous thief known as "the Red Hood" who, while robbing a chemical plant, was accidentally knocked into a vat of chemicals by Batman, giving him white skin, green hair, and a permanent smile. The origin put forth in ''The Killing Joke'' is fairly similar, with the main change being that the Joker was actually a [[FromNobodyToNightmare harmless failed comedian]] that was blackmailed into donning the Red Hood and committing the robbery. The accident at the chemical plant happened the same day as his pregnant wife died, and the trauma of this "one bad day" drove the Joker completely mad.

[[caption-width-right:1000:''"Kid, I'm the Joker, I don't just randomly kill people. I kill people when [[ForTheEvulz it's funny]]."''[[note]]Art from DC artist Jason Fabok. Colored by DC colorist Brad Anderson[[/note]]]]

[[Characters/BatmanBane Bane]] | Characters/{{Catwoman}} ([[Characters/CatwomanSelinaKyle Selina Kyle]]) | [[Characters/BatmanClayface Clayface]] | Characters/HarleyQuinn ([[Characters/HarleyQuinnTheCharacter Harleen Quinzel]]) | '''The Joker''' | [[Characters/BatmanLadyShiva Lady Shiva]] | [[Characters/BatmanLeagueOfAssassins League of Assassins]] ([[Characters/BatmanRasAlGhul Ra's Al Ghul]] | [[Characters/BatmanTaliaAlGhul Talia Al Ghul]]) | [[Characters/BatmanThePenguin The Penguin]] | [[Characters/BatmanPoisonIvy Poison Ivy]] | [[Characters/BatmanTheRiddler The Riddler]] | [[Characters/BatmanTheScarecrow The Scarecrow]] | [[Characters/BatmanTwoFace Two Face]] | [[Characters/BatmanRoguesGalleryPart1 A-H]] | [[Characters/BatmanRoguesGalleryPart2 J-R]] | [[Characters/BatmanRoguesGalleryPart3 S-Z]]\\

* CutShort

** ''ComicBook/TheBraveAndTheBold'' #111 and #191 have him team up with Batman to clear his name after being framed for several murders. The first instance turned out to simply be a framing the guilty part occasion but the second instance was actually genuine on Joker's part (except the person Joker seemingly murdered turned out to be faking their death).

* HumanoidAbomination: In some stories, like ''ComicBook/DarkseidWar'' or ''Batman/Endgame'' it's hinted that the Joker could be Really700YearsOld and some sort of unrivaled force of chaos and death.

* StrawNihilist: The poster child for this. He claims that everything in life is just "one big joke," death is the ultimate punchline, and that "a bad day" is more than enough for anyone to turn out like him. This is shown notably in ''ComicBook/TheKillingJoke''.

* LaughablyEvil: DependingOnTheWriter, the Joker can be quite humorous in spite of being a murderous psychopath, especially in more lighthearted stories where he's more of a kooky prankster whose misdeeds tend to be more of a bizarre nuisance than a serious threat.

** The idea that Joker is the yin to Batman's yang, his perfect Manichaean foil, did not begin to emerge until the late 1980s at the earliest. The ''Film/Batman1989'' popularized the idea moreso than the comics.