Who is the JOKER? The JOKER is an agent of chaos known for his purple three-piece suit and insidious smile, he has caused Batman more suffering than any other villain he has ever faced. His origin and true motivations are shrouded in mystery.
The JOKER is a serial killer and a super-villain, a dangerous madman who dresses like a clown and commits violent crimes. In addition to being a deadly and unpredictable physical combatant, he is a brilliant and ruthless criminal mastermind. His crimes require no motivation other than his sadistic desire to show people the meaninglessness of life through pain and death, and the narcissism to see the world remade in his own image. He is constantly adapting his personality and his psychosis to respond to the world around him, sometimes a harmless trickster and at others a brutal mass-murderer. The JOKER was created by Jerry Robinson, Bill Finger and Bob Kane, first appearing in Batman #1. (1940)
JOKER's first appearance: JOKER's look was based on Gwynplaine, a character from the 1928 silent film, The Man Who Laughs. He was played by German actor Conrad Veidt.
It will take a decade later before we get an origin tale for the JOKER. In his origin it was revealed that the JOKER started his criminal career as the man known as Red Hood, but little is known prior to that.
By the 1970s, the JOKER had become pretty much toothless. In part due to the effect of the 1966 TV show on the comics, the JOKER was no longer an insane figure of fear and menace, but rather an outlandish buffoon out to carry out larger-than-life spectacles of crime.
But by 1973 the JOKER returned to his roots as a homicidal maniac who murders people on a whim, while enjoying battles of wits with Batman. This is the time we see his "greatests hits": the crippling of Batgirl, Barbara Gordon and the fatal beating of the 2nd Robin, Jason Todd.
In the "Killing Joke" - JOKER shot Barbara, hitting her spine and making her wheelchair bound In "Death in the Family" - The JOKER murdered Jason Todd
Emperor Joker In a guess stint at Superman comics, the JOKER stole technology belonging to Mr. Mxyzptlk which could distort reality. With his new found powers, he depopulated China and killed Lex Luthor over and over again for his own personal entertainment. He also killed Batman every day in order to bring him back and do it over again. He eventually was defeated by Superman.
In Batman #655 the JOKER was shot in the face by a deranged police officer who was impersonating Batman. This left JOKER disabled for a time.
The JOKER did return, to wreak havoc many more times. And in one of this times, he went under the guise of British journalist/detective Oberon Sexton, and at the same time he operated as the Domino Killer.
JOKER The JOKER - Giving you one more reason to fear Clowns LIVE MEDIA APPEARANCES Cesar Romero Cesar Romero portrays the character in the 1960s Batman television series. The JOKER of this series is characterized by a cackling laugh and comedy-themed crimes.
Jack Nicholson In the 1989 film Batman, the JOKER was played by Jack Nicholson. In the film, the character is a psychopathic gangster named Jack Napier, the right-hand man of crime boss Carl Grissom. Napier is disfigured during a confrontation with Batman in a chemical factory; he is shot in the face by a ricochet from his own pistol, which severs the nerves in his face muscles, before falling into a vat of chemicals. Although there are many versions of the JOKER's origins, the filmmakers decided to use one loosely resembling the origin established in the 1988 graphic novel Batman: The Killing Joke. The chemicals bleach his skin and turn his hair green and lips red. His trademark grin is the result of botched plastic surgery in the immediate aftermath of the accident.
Curtis Armstrong During the OnStar "Batman" ad campaign, the JOKER appears in one commercial, played by Curtis Armstrong.
Roger Stoneburner JOKER made a cameo in the TV series Birds of Prey, he was played by Roger Stoneburner with Mark Hamill voicing the character.
Heath Ledger In the 2008 film The Dark Knight, the JOKER is portrayed by Heath Ledger. Ledger played the character as a "psychopathic, mass murdering, schizophrenic clown with zero empathy." In this film, he is a bank robber targeting Mafia-owned banks, whom Gotham's crime families reluctantly hire to kill Batman after he brazenly offers them his services. It is gradually revealed that he desires to upset social order through crime, and that he defines himself by his battle with Batman.
POWERS & ABILITIES Note: Due to the nature of comicbooks being an on-going tale, the character's powers along with his appearance, is in a constant state of flux. The JOKER possesses no known superhuman powers.
Though some state he has adapted certain beyond average endurances due to his original chemical submergence. The following are such noted enhancements:
Pain Resistance: It is speculated that the JOKER's exposure to chemicals may have heightened his resistance to pain. It is also implied that he is masochistic in nature, and thus enjoys any pain received, making it an ineffective way of dealing with him.
Tainted Blood: JOKER's blood is tainted. It has been said that "being an avid consumer of his products, JOKER's immunity to poisons has been built up over years of dedicated abuse.
Enhanced Intellect: Due to his chemical submergence.
Cheating Death: The JOKER has cheated death numerous times, even in seemingly inescapable and lethal situations. He has been, among other things, caught in explosions, electrocuted, shot repeatedly (including point-blank in the face by a corrupt police officer masquerading as Batman), and dropped from great heights, but he always returns to once again wreak havoc.
"Comic Awareness": The JOKER has, at times, shown to be fully aware of being a comic book character, even directly talking to the reader. However, most characters ignore this, due to the fact that he is criminally insane.
AbilitiesInventive Skill: The JOKER commits crimes with countless "comedic" weapons (such as razor-sharp playing cards, acid-spewing flowers, cyanide pies, and lethally electric joy buzzers) and JOKER venom.
Genius-level Intellect: The JOKER is also very skilled in the fields of chemistry, genetics, and nuclear engineering. He also seems capable of mastering whatever he puts his twisted mind to when he wants to.
Skilled Combatant: Although he pales in comparison to any real fighter like those of the Batman Family, the JOKER has frequently proven himself to be an excellent hand-to-hand combatant. While apparently of frail body, his ability to withstand seemingly any amount of pain, and the agility granted him by his insanity and willpower makes him a fearsome physical foe. He fights nearly completely unpredictably, and always has tricks up his sleeves for if he's losing.
Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joker_(comics) : http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Joker_(New_Earth) : http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Joker : http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Joker_(New_Earth)/Gallery : http://www.comicvine.com/joker/29-1702/ : http://www.asitecalledfred.com/comics101/46.html
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