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Ledger was allowed to shoot and mostly direct the videos the Joker sends out as warnings. Each take Ledger made was different from the last. Nolan was impressed enough with the first video shoot that he chose to not be present when Ledger shot the video with a kidnapped reporter ([[Anthony Michael Hall]]).<ref>{{cite news|title=Nolan Talks DARK KNIGHT Blu-Ray, a 100,000 Person Screening of the Film (Featuring Live Q & A w/ Nolan), TDK Sequel, and More!!|author="Merrick" (pseudonym)|work=[[Ain't It Cool News]]|date=December 5, 2008|url=http://www.aintitcool.com/node/39348|accessdate=December 6, 2008}}. [http://www.webcitation.org/5xLwpPIh8 WebCitation archive].</ref> On January 22, 2008, after he had completed filming ''The Dark Knight'', Ledger died of an accidental [[drug overdose|prescription drug overdose]], leading to intense press attention and memorial tributes. "It was tremendously emotional, right when he passed, having to go back in and look at him every day [during editing]," Nolan recalled. "But the truth is, I feel very lucky to have something productive to do, to have a performance that he was very, very proud of, and that he had entrusted to me to finish."<ref name="Carroll" /> All of Ledger's scenes appear as he completed them in the filming; in editing the film, Nolan added no "digital effects" to alter Ledger's actual performance posthumously.<ref name="Brown">{{cite news|first=Scott|last=Brown|title=Dark Knight Director Shuns Digital Effects for the Real Thing|url=http://www.wired.com/entertainment/hollywood/magazine/16-07/ff_darknight?currentPage=all|work=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]|date=June 24, 2008|accessdate=June 24, 2008}}</ref> Nolan has dedicated the film in part to Ledger's memory.<ref name="Hough">{{cite news|title=Dark Knight Dedicated to Ledger|work=BBC News |date=June 27, 2008|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7477095.stm|accessdate=June 27, 2008}}</ref><ref name="Jolin2">{{Cite journal|first=Dan |last=Jolin|title=The Dark Knight|journal=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]|volume=228|date=July 2008|pages=92–100 |publisher=[[Bauer Media Group|Bauer Verlagsgruppe]]}}</ref>
Ledger was allowed to shoot and mostly direct the videos the Joker sends out as warnings. Each take Ledger made was different from the last. Nolan was impressed enough with the first video shoot that he chose to not be present when Ledger shot the video with a kidnapped reporter ([[Anthony Michael Hall]]).<ref>{{cite news|title=Nolan Talks DARK KNIGHT Blu-Ray, a 100,000 Person Screening of the Film (Featuring Live Q & A w/ Nolan), TDK Sequel, and More!!|author="Merrick" (pseudonym)|work=[[Ain't It Cool News]]|date=December 5, 2008|url=http://www.aintitcool.com/node/39348|accessdate=December 6, 2008}}. [http://www.webcitation.org/5xLwpPIh8 WebCitation archive].</ref> On January 22, 2008, after he had completed filming ''The Dark Knight'', Ledger died of an accidental [[drug overdose|prescription drug overdose]], leading to intense press attention and memorial tributes. "It was tremendously emotional, right when he passed, having to go back in and look at him every day [during editing]," Nolan recalled. "But the truth is, I feel very lucky to have something productive to do, to have a performance that he was very, very proud of, and that he had entrusted to me to finish."<ref name="Carroll" /> All of Ledger's scenes appear as he completed them in the filming; in editing the film, Nolan added no "digital effects" to alter Ledger's actual performance posthumously.<ref name="Brown">{{cite news|first=Scott|last=Brown|title=Dark Knight Director Shuns Digital Effects for the Real Thing|url=http://www.wired.com/entertainment/hollywood/magazine/16-07/ff_darknight?currentPage=all|work=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]|date=June 24, 2008|accessdate=June 24, 2008}}</ref> Nolan has dedicated the film in part to Ledger's memory.<ref name="Hough">{{cite news|title=Dark Knight Dedicated to Ledger|work=BBC News |date=June 27, 2008|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7477095.stm|accessdate=June 27, 2008}}</ref><ref name="Jolin2">{{Cite journal|first=Dan |last=Jolin|title=The Dark Knight|journal=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]|volume=228|date=July 2008|pages=92–100 |publisher=[[Bauer Media Group|Bauer Verlagsgruppe]]}}</ref>

While little information is given about the Joker's backstory, no one knows who he really is, and no traces could be found on his fingerprints, dental records, or DNA matches against the [[Gotham City Police Department|GCPD]]'s databases. The Joker's own testimony, while normally quite true when it came to carrying out threats, seemed at times contradictory, and he was known to give conflicting accounts at times when describing past events in his life, more specifically how he got the scars of his characteristic Glasgow smile. He is said to have been born in the parentage of an extremely abusive and alcoholic father who, after coming home "crazier than usual" and attack his wife with a kitchen knife that she tries to defend herself with, then turns the blade on the son of his who would later become the Joker, creating his severely injured smile. The Joker and referenced his hatred of his own father was when threatening a man who looked kinda like him.<ref>http://whatculture.com/film/8-theories-origins-heath-ledgers-joker.php/5</ref> Another story told about the Joker was when his gambling wife got her face carved by enforcers of loan sharks. In a desperate effort to assure her that he did not care about the damage to her appearance, he took a razor to his cheeks to produce his Glasgow smile into maching hers. But the disturbing image instead caused his wife to leave him, damaging his psyche.<ref>http://whatculture.com/film/8-theories-origins-heath-ledgers-joker.php/7</ref> t is not revealed to what degree these stories hold truth, if any. It is possible that the Joker himself is unaware of or doesn't remember his true origins.<ref>http://whatculture.com/film/8-theories-origins-heath-ledgers-joker.php/6</ref> Some psychological profiles on him indicate that he is insane to such an extent that he literally reinvents both his own psyche and history on a daily basis. It is therefore possible that, if neither story is true, he genuinely believed them both as he told them. In a report filed by the GCPD, there are three theories presented for the Joker's origin and identity. The first was that the Joker was an escaped patient from Arkham Asylum. However, this theory is debunked on the basis that his identity has no basis within any records.<ref>http://whatculture.com/film/8-theories-origins-heath-ledgers-joker.php/3</ref> The second theory was that the Joker is a former disgruntled employee at the Haley Brothers Circus, which is documented to have connections with the mob, explaining the clown makeup he wears on his face while committing crazy chaotic crimes.<ref>http://whatculture.com/film/8-theories-origins-heath-ledgers-joker.php/4</ref> The third theory presented was that the Joker is a former soldier suffering from acute PTSD, explaining his cool demeanor and familiarity with weapons, as well as his devastating effectiveness in various forms of combat.<ref>http://whatculture.com/film/8-theories-origins-heath-ledgers-joker.php/2</ref>

Eight months before the main plot begins, the Joker has been rumored to have committed armed robbery and double homicide with a taste of theatrics, leaving a Joker playing card as a calling card at the crime scenes. [[Batman]] promises to investigate his activities. Some time later, the Joker orchestrates the theft of a large shipment of ammonium nitrate from the Gotham Docks. In addition, he also frequently attends the various heists and crimes his gang commits while disguised as one of the accomplices, which is believed to be at least partially where he got his name from (another being that he wears clown makeup to scare people). The last of the activities he was reported to have carried out is sending six of the clown-masked accomplices (Bozo, Grumpy, Chuckles, Happy, Dopey and an unnamed buss driver) to rob the mob-owned Gotham National Bank. During the heist, the robbers kill each other off in a sequence until the pone remaining is Bozo, who reveals himself as the Joker to the bank manager ([[William Fichtner]])


====''Suicide Squad'' (2016)====
====''Suicide Squad'' (2016)====

Revision as of 18:36, 19 October 2015

Adaptations of the Joker in other media
Created byJerry Robinson (concept)
Bill Finger
Bob Kane
Original sourceComics published by DC Comics
First appearanceBatman #1 (Spring 1940)
Films and television
Film(s)Batman (1966)
Batman (1989)
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993)
The Dark Knight (2008)
Suicide Squad (2016)
Television
show(s)		Batman (1966)
The Adventures of Batman (1968)
The New Adventures of Batman (1977)
Batman: The Animated Series (1992)
The Batman (2004)
Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2008)

Although Batman's archenemy, the Joker, originated as a comic book character, he has appeared in several other media. WorldCat (a catalog of libraries in 170 countries) records over 250 productions featuring the Joker as a subject, including films, books, and video games.[1] The Joker has been portrayed by Cesar Romero in the Batman television series, Jack Nicholson in Tim Burton's Batman, Heath Ledger in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight, and will soon be portrayed by Jared Leto in the upcoming film Suicide Squad. Throughout the years, Larry Storch, Lennie Weinrib, Frank Welker, Mark Hamill, Michael McKean, Allen Enlow, Kevin Michael Richardson, Jeff Bennett, Steve Blum, Michael Dobson, John Kassir, Richard Epcar, John DiMaggio, Corey Burton, Brent Spiner, Christopher Corey Smith, Michael Emerson, Troy Baker and Dee Bradley Baker have all provided the voice for the character in animated, motion comic, and video game form.

Live-action

Television

Cesar Romero (standing) in his role as Joker in Batman

Cesar Romero portrays the character in the 1960s Batman television series. Romero refused to shave his distinctive mustache for the role, and it is partially visible beneath his white face makeup.[2] His performance captures how the character was portrayed in comics in the 1960s, which is more of an elaborate prankster than one prone to violent rampage.[3] As a parody of Batman, the Joker develops his own "utility belt" and "Jokermobile." The only information on his past life is a remark by Batman that the Joker had been a hypnotist in his youth.

Of the six Batman OnStar commercials that ran from 2000 to early 2002, the Joker appears in one commercial played by Curtis Armstrong.[4]

Roger Stoneburner makes a cameo appearance as the character in an episode of the 2002–03 series Birds of Prey. Mark Hamill, who voiced the Joker in various animated shows throughout the 1990s, provides Joker's voice in the scene, and he is the only one of the two actors to be credited.[5]

Film

Batman (1966)

Main article: Batman (1966 film)

Cesar Romero, along with most of the other villains from the 1960s television series, reprises his role in the 1966 film Batman. The Joker is a member of the United Underworld, a gathering of four of the most powerful villains in Gotham City which also includes the Penguin, Riddler and Catwoman.

Batman (1989)

Main article: Batman (1989 film)
Jack Nicholson portrayed the Joker in the 1989 film to critical acclaim

The Joker appears in the 1989 Batman film, portrayed by Jack Nicholson, who received critical acclaim for his performance; Newsweek's review of the film stated that the best scenes in the movie are due to the surreal black comedy portrayed in this character.[6] In 2003, American Film Institute named Nicholson's performance #45 out of 50 greatest film villains.[7] Hugo Blick also plays the Joker in a flashback.[8]

In the film, the Joker starts out as Jack Napier, a gangster employed as the right-hand man of mob boss Carl Grissom (Jack Palance), who becomes disfigured during a confrontation with Batman (Michael Keaton) in a chemical factory when shot through the cheeks by a ricochet from his own pistol before falling into a vat of chemicals, which turns his hair green, his skin chalk white and his lips bright red. A questionable surgeon that Napier sees following the incident leaves him with a permanent rictus grin after he lifts the skin around his mouth to cover the holes. Driven completely insane, the Joker kills Grissom and takes over his syndicate, launching a crime wave designed to outdo Batman, who he feels is getting too much press. Bruce Wayne confronts the Joker and later recognizes him as the mugger who murdered his parents. During Batman and Joker's final battle, they discover each other's identities and realize that they "made each other." As the Joker is about to escape in a helicopter, Batman ties a grappling hook onto the Joker's leg and attaches it to a stone gargoyle, but the Joker falls to his death when the gargoyle breaks loose of its moorings.

He describes himself as "the world's first fully functional homicidal artist" who makes avant-garde "art" by killing people with cosmetics laced with Smilex, which leaves its victims with a grotesque grin similar to his own.[9] New York Magazine claims the film went too far when the Joker defaces his girlfriend (Jerry Hall) in the same manner.[10] In what Newsweek describes as the best scene, the Joker also defaces several prominent paintings of Western art. He saves only one: Francis Bacon's Figure with Meat, telling his henchman, "I kind of like this one, Bob. Leave it."[6]

Jack Napier appears briefly in a flashback in the 1995 film Batman Forever, the third film in the series, portrayed by David U. Hodges. The flashback is a re-creation of the death of Bruce Wayne's parents from the 1989 film.

The Joker was one of the villains to appear in Batman Triumphant, the fifth film planned for the Batman series, with Nicholson reprising his role from the first film.[11] He was to return as a hallucination in Batman's mind caused by the Scarecrow's fear toxin. Harley Quinn was to appear as the Joker's daughter trying to get revenge on Batman for her father's death.[12] Due to the poor reception by critics and fans of Batman & Robin, the fourth film in the series, Batman Triumphant was cancelled.

The Dark Knight (2008)

Main article: The Joker (The Dark Knight)

The Joker appears in The Dark Knight, portrayed by Heath Ledger, who was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance,[13] ultimately winning the Oscar.[14] Intending to portray the character as a "psychopathic, mass-murdering, schizophrenic clown with zero empathy"[15] and with a "more chaotic" interpretation (unlike the 1989 Batman incarnation), Ledger lived alone in a hotel room for a month, formulating the character's posture, voice, and personality, and kept a diary in which he recorded the Joker's thoughts and feelings.[16][17] He and Nolan both explained seeing eye-to-eye on the Joker's appearance in the film, sharing common reference points for who the character was going to be.[18] Based on philosophical ideas of anarchy and chaos, they looked at art by Francis Bacon for visual reference and they talked about Malcolm MacDowell's performance as Alex in Stanley Kubrick's film A Clockwork Orange and also the character Alex in Anthony Burgess's novel of the same name.[19] Ledger was given Alan Moore's graphic novel Batman: The Killing Joke for preparation for the role. He also read Grant Morrison's graphic novel Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth, which he "really tried to read and put it down."[20] In an interview with MTV, Ledger said he regarded the experience playing the Joker as the most fun he ever had "and probably will ever have."[21] Ledger also cited A Clockwork Orange and Sid Vicious as "a very early starting point for Christian [Bale] and I [sic]. But we kind of flew far away from that pretty quickly and into another world altogether."[22][23] "There's a bit of everything in him. There's nothing that consistent," Ledger said, and added, "There are a few more surprises to him."

Ledger was allowed to shoot and mostly direct the videos the Joker sends out as warnings. Each take Ledger made was different from the last. Nolan was impressed enough with the first video shoot that he chose to not be present when Ledger shot the video with a kidnapped reporter (Anthony Michael Hall).[24] On January 22, 2008, after he had completed filming The Dark Knight, Ledger died of an accidental prescription drug overdose, leading to intense press attention and memorial tributes. "It was tremendously emotional, right when he passed, having to go back in and look at him every day [during editing]," Nolan recalled. "But the truth is, I feel very lucky to have something productive to do, to have a performance that he was very, very proud of, and that he had entrusted to me to finish."[23] All of Ledger's scenes appear as he completed them in the filming; in editing the film, Nolan added no "digital effects" to alter Ledger's actual performance posthumously.[25] Nolan has dedicated the film in part to Ledger's memory.[26][27]

While little information is given about the Joker's backstory, no one knows who he really is, and no traces could be found on his fingerprints, dental records, or DNA matches against the GCPD's databases. The Joker's own testimony, while normally quite true when it came to carrying out threats, seemed at times contradictory, and he was known to give conflicting accounts at times when describing past events in his life, more specifically how he got the scars of his characteristic Glasgow smile. He is said to have been born in the parentage of an extremely abusive and alcoholic father who, after coming home "crazier than usual" and attack his wife with a kitchen knife that she tries to defend herself with, then turns the blade on the son of his who would later become the Joker, creating his severely injured smile. The Joker and referenced his hatred of his own father was when threatening a man who looked kinda like him.[28] Another story told about the Joker was when his gambling wife got her face carved by enforcers of loan sharks. In a desperate effort to assure her that he did not care about the damage to her appearance, he took a razor to his cheeks to produce his Glasgow smile into maching hers. But the disturbing image instead caused his wife to leave him, damaging his psyche.[29] t is not revealed to what degree these stories hold truth, if any. It is possible that the Joker himself is unaware of or doesn't remember his true origins.[30] Some psychological profiles on him indicate that he is insane to such an extent that he literally reinvents both his own psyche and history on a daily basis. It is therefore possible that, if neither story is true, he genuinely believed them both as he told them. In a report filed by the GCPD, there are three theories presented for the Joker's origin and identity. The first was that the Joker was an escaped patient from Arkham Asylum. However, this theory is debunked on the basis that his identity has no basis within any records.[31] The second theory was that the Joker is a former disgruntled employee at the Haley Brothers Circus, which is documented to have connections with the mob, explaining the clown makeup he wears on his face while committing crazy chaotic crimes.[32] The third theory presented was that the Joker is a former soldier suffering from acute PTSD, explaining his cool demeanor and familiarity with weapons, as well as his devastating effectiveness in various forms of combat.[33]

Eight months before the main plot begins, the Joker has been rumored to have committed armed robbery and double homicide with a taste of theatrics, leaving a Joker playing card as a calling card at the crime scenes. Batman promises to investigate his activities. Some time later, the Joker orchestrates the theft of a large shipment of ammonium nitrate from the Gotham Docks. In addition, he also frequently attends the various heists and crimes his gang commits while disguised as one of the accomplices, which is believed to be at least partially where he got his name from (another being that he wears clown makeup to scare people). The last of the activities he was reported to have carried out is sending six of the clown-masked accomplices (Bozo, Grumpy, Chuckles, Happy, Dopey and an unnamed buss driver) to rob the mob-owned Gotham National Bank. During the heist, the robbers kill each other off in a sequence until the pone remaining is Bozo, who reveals himself as the Joker to the bank manager (William Fichtner)

Suicide Squad (2016)

File:Jared Leto Joker Suicide Squad Official.jpeg
The Joker (Jared Leto), in promotional material for Suicide Squad (2016)
Main article: Suicide Squad (film)

Academy Award-winning actor and musician Jared Leto will portray the Joker in the DC Extended Universe. The Joker will make his debut in the 2016 film Suicide Squad, directed by David Ayer.[34]

Theatre

The Joker appears in the 2011 theatrical production, Batman Live (portrayed by Mark Frost), in which the character masterminds a plot to defeat Batman by uniting several of the superhero's greatest foes, including Harley Quinn, Riddler, Penguin, Two-Face, Poison Ivy, and Scarecrow.[35][36] The show is an adaptation of the Batman property, drawing inspiration from the 1966 television series, the 1989 series of Batman films, and the 1992 animated series, among others.[35][37][38]

Animation

Television

DC animated universe (1992–2006)
Mark Hamill provided the voice of the Joker in the DC Animated Universe.

The Joker appears in several animated shows in the DC animated universe, voiced by Mark Hamill:

  • The Joker appears in Batman: The Animated Series. He first appearance was in "Christmas with the Joker" where he escapes Arkham Asylum on Christmas Eve. In the feature film Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, it is revealed that he was once a hit man for mobster Salvatore Valestra. Later episodes reveal that he went on to start his own gang with the first target being the Ace Chemicals plant where Batman foils the robbery and knocks him into a vat of acid, and that his real name is Jack Napier. However, later in The New Batman Adventures it is suggested that this may only be an alias.[citation needed] The series is notable for introducing Harley Quinn.
  • The Joker also appears in the follow-up series The New Batman Adventures. He is also featured prominently as one of the main villains in the crossover with Superman: The Animated Series when he travels to Metropolis and makes a deal with Lex Luthor to kill Superman in exchange for one billion dollars. With Superman no match for the Joker's cunning and Batman outclassed by Luthor's superior technology, Batman and Superman join forces to take the Joker and Luthor down. The Joker is apparently killed when the flying wing he is wrecking Metropolis in is destroyed, although his body is not found. He later appeared in several subsequent episodes.
  • The Joker also appeared in Static Shock. In the episode "The Big Leagues", he comes to Dakota and recruits Hot-Streak, Kangor, Shiv and Talon into starting a crime spree but are foiled by Static.
  • The Joker appears in Justice League. In the episode "Injustice for All", he forces his way into Lex Luthor's Injustice Gang. In the episode "A Better World", an alternate version appeared who was lobotomized by Superman of the Justice Lords at one point and is now the superintendent of Arkham. In his most prominent episode "Wild Cards", he plants a multitude of bombs across Las Vegas and televises the attempts to find and disarm them in a mockery of reality television. To add drama to the broadcast, he pits the Justice League against five superpowered teens. The bombs turn out to be a ruse to attract viewership so the psychic Ace can render everyone watching the broadcast insane. The plan backfires when Ace turns her powers on the Joker, rendering him temporarily catatonic.
  • The Joker is responsible for inspiring a motorcycle gang known as the Jokerz in Batman Beyond. The Joker is featured in the DCAU film Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, in which he mysteriously returns to Gotham after having been presumed dead for many years. A flashback revealed that the Joker had kidnapped and tortured Tim Drake, turning Robin into an insane, miniature version of himself dubbed Joker Junior (voiced by Andrea Romano). While under the Joker's power, Robin had revealed Batman's secret identity. After the Joker ordered Joker Junior to kill Batman, Joker Junior ultimately killed the villainous clown himself. It is revealed that the Joker's future incarnation is actually Tim Drake, because the Joker had implanted a microchip into Tim's brain which contained his DNA, memories and personality, transforming Drake into a genetic duplicate of himself with his own mind in control. Batman (Terry McGinnis) ultimately destroys the chip, ending the Joker's influence on Tim Drake.
The Batman (2004–2008)

The Joker appears in the animated series The Batman, voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson in English and Naoki Tatsuta in Japanese. Upon first being introduced he sports a purple and yellow straitjacket, fingerless gloves, bare feet. He has large green dreadlocks that are based off a Jester's hat, and red irisless eyes. His appearance becomes somewhat refined later in the series, where he adopts the more traditional garb of a purple suit and spats. In "Clayface of Tragedy - Part 1", he is responsible of transforming Ethan Bennett into Clayface by mutating him using his "Joker-putty". In "Strange Mind", Batman and Hugo Strange travel into the Joker's mind and find the villain's former self, a low-level office worker who dreams of "making people laugh." In "The Laughing Bat", after tiring of being constantly thwarted by Batman, he decides to become Batman himself and disposes of the real Batman by administering him with Joker venom, driving him to the verge of insanity. In "Two of a Kind," the Joker says the same thing to Harley Quinn when she attempts therapy.

In the 2005 direct-to-video movie based on The Batman TV series, The Batman vs. Dracula, the Joker escapes from Arkham and unwittingly becomes a vampire under control of Count Dracula. Batman cures the Joker of his vampirism in order to learn the location of Dracula's lair in Gotham Cemetery.

Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2008–2011)

The Joker appears on Batman: The Brave and the Bold, voiced by Jeff Bennett.

The first incarnation that appears is a heroic alternative reality version known as the Red Hood.[43] Red Hood was disfigured when he fell into a chemical vat after being actively dropped in by Owlman, leaving his sanity 'bent' but not 'broken'.[43] The second incarnation is the Joker himself. This version's appearance and personality is very similar to the Silver Age version as drawn by Dick Sprang.[44] He makes his debut in the episode "Game Over for Owlman!" when Batman is now a wanted fugitive. He later appears in "Emperor Joker!" along with Harley Quinn. In the Scooby-Doo crossover created by Bat-Mite, a new incarnation (voiced by Corey Burton) appears.

Young Justice (2010–2013)

The Joker appears in the Young Justice cartoon series, voiced by Brent Spiner.[45]

Other appearances

Film

John DiMaggio voiced the Joker in Batman: Under the Red Hood

Video games

See also: List of Batman video games

As Batman's nemesis, the Joker has appeared in several Batman-related video games.

Early appearances (1988–2003)

The Joker's earliest video game appearance is in Batman: The Caped Crusader (1988), developed by Ocean Software. The game also features the Penguin, and allows the player to complete its two independent storylines in any order.[48] The character returned in a series of games based on the 1989 film that featured the Joker as a central character, including Batman, Batman: The Video Game, Batman, and Batman (1990).[citation needed] In 1991, Batman: Return of the Joker (also known as Batman: Revenge of the Joker) featured the Joker in a platforming shoot-em-up game.[48] In 1993, the Joker next appeared in the Konami-developed Batman: The Animated Series based on the eponymous television series.[citation needed] The Adventures of Batman and Robin (1994) was based on the 1992 animated series and included the Joker alongside other characters. The game was released for the Super Nintendo as an action adventure platformer, while the Sega Genesis version was a side-scrolling shooter.[48]

The only game based on the Batman Beyond franchise, Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000) was released as a companion game to the animated film of the same name, set in a world where Batman has been forced to retire due to his age, and a new Batman has risen to take his place.[48] 2001's Batman: Vengeance and Batman: Chaos in Gotham are based on The New Batman Adventures, and starring its voice cast, including Mark Hamill as the Joker, he and Harley Quinn mastermind a plan to destroy Gotham City once and for all using an explosive, flammable compound consisting of Joker Toxin and a new substance called Promethium. The Joker is a villain in Justice League: Injustice for All (2002) and Batman: Dark Tomorrow (2003), voiced by Allen Enlow. He kidnaps Commissioner Gordon and leaves a deck of cards with no jokers in it, in Gordon's office for Batman to find. This leads Batman to fight through a rampage at Arkham Asylum to find him. Joker is the last boss in Arkham but isn't actually fought in the game. He sends a number of lunatics down to fight you instead. He also cameos in Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu.

Lego series

Main article: Lego Batman

The Joker is a playable character in Lego Batman: The Videogame, with his vocal effects provided by Steven Blum.[49] where he leads a group of villains in a mission to spread Joker toxin to all of Gotham City. He has dual Uzis, and can kill enemies using a lethal joybuzzer, which can also be used to power generators. He has a helicopter with a grappling hook. He leads a group of villains consisting of himself, Harley Quinn, Mad Hatter, Scarecrow and Killer Moth. His plan is to fill Gotham cathedral with his laughing gas and then blow the cathedral up to spread the gas all over Gotham. An unlockable alternate version of the character has the tropical costume worn during Batman: The Killing Joke.

The Joker returned in Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes, with Christopher Corey Smith taking over the role from Steven Blum.

The Joker appears as a playable character in Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham, with Christopher Corey Smith reprising his role. He joins Lex Luthor's Legion of Doom, but then helps fight Brainiac. He temporarily gets hit with violet energy, filling him with love, until his personality is restored when Superman uses a crystal to absorb the Lanterns' powers to return Earth back to its rightful size. Joker gets sent to jail with Lex and a miniature Brainiac at the end, also acting as the only one who is satisfied to be arrested again, implying that it would have been worse if he and Luthor were shrunk like Brainiac. His mocking of Brainiac soon turns into cowardice when he accidentally releases the alien villain from the bottle, as he and Luthor shiver in panic, Brainiac prepares to vengefully beat them up. The character has several incarnations that appear as separate playable characters: the original version, the 1960s television series version, The Dark Knight incarnation (via downloadable content) and the Batman Beyond era version (via downloadable content).

Batman: Arkham

Main article: Batman: Arkham
Troy Baker took over Mark Hamill's voice of the Joker for Arkham Origins.
    • The Joker appears as the main antagonist of the 2009 video game Batman: Arkham Asylum, voiced once again by Mark Hamill. In the first game set in the Batman: Arkham video game universe, he takes over Arkham Asylum in an elaborate trap set for Batman, and combines the "Titan formula" (a more potent version of Bane's Venom) with his army of thugs to create "an army of a thousand Banes". After foiling the other villains' agendas, Batman confronts a Titan-enhanced Joker atop Arkham. In the game's PlayStation 3 version, players are able to actually play the Challenge Maps as the Joker with thugs replaced by Arkham guards.[50][51]
    • The Joker appears as one of the main antagonists in the 2011 sequel Batman: Arkham City, voiced again by Mark Hamill. The Joker is locked up in the new city sized prison "Arkham City" operated by Hugo Strange and is involved in a gang war against the Penguin and Two-Face. It is revealed that he is slowly dying as a result of his exposure to the Titan formula. The Joker eventually succumbs to his disease and dies with a smile on his face. During the credits, he can be heard singing Only You (And You Alone). The Joker also appears in Batman: Arkham City Lockdown. The Batman: Arkham City version of Joker was awarded the 2011 Spike Video Game Awards "Character of the Year" award.[52]
    • The Joker appears as the main antagonist in the 2013 prequel Batman: Arkham Origins, voiced by Troy Baker. This game is a prequel in the Batman: Arkham video game universe which focuses on the first meeting between Batman and the Joker as well as their conflicting philosophies. Before the game's plot, the Joker kidnaps and poses as Black Mask (Roman Sionis), planning to send Gotham into anarchy. To rid himself of Batman, "Black Mask" hires eight assassins to kill Batman. When Batman goes after Sionis at Gotham Merchants Bank, the Joker finally reveals himself. During the credits, he can be heard singing Cold, Cold Heart while being returned to his cell at Blackgate. The Joker is playable in the Batman: Arkham Origins multiplayer mode. If a player controlling a Joker Elite gets to an entry gate as the Joker is demanding they let him in, the thug is replaced with Joker. He has a lethal joybuzzer melee attack and two guns, The Ace of Spades (a large revolver) and The King of Hearts (a rapid-fire gun that shoots small explosives). The Joker returns in Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate. He is among the three criminal kingpins that takeover Blackgate following Toyman being blown up. The Batman: Arkham Origins depiction of the Joker has been widely praised. Critics have lauded the voice acting and the exploration of the Joker and Batman's relationship.
    • Despite his death in Arkham City, the Joker returns in Batman: Arkham Knight, voiced once again by Mark Hamill as a hallucination. After reducing the blast radius of Scarecrow's fear toxin at ACE Chemicals, Batman begins to hallucinate his nemesis due to the residue of his blood in him combined with being exposed to Scarecrow's fear toxin. Other than having the Joker in his head commenting on every action he makes throughout the game, Batman is also forced to relive Joker's memories of his crippling of Barbara and his torture of Jason Todd. It's also shown that Joker's blood affected four other people, with each of them slowly taking on each aspect of the Joker's personality (Christina Bell having his obsession with Batman, Albert King having his violent nature, Johnny Charisma inheriting his showmanship, and Henry Adams his intellect). In the final encounter with Scarecrow, Bruce is injected with fear toxin and has a nightmare where he becomes Joker himself and kills all of Batman's friends and foes, destroying Gotham in the process. However, Batman is eventually able to break free by showing the Joker his greatest fear: being forgotten after his death. Batman then defeats the Joker and locks him in an Arkham-esque prison within his mind, conquering his biggest fear of becoming the Joker. Joker also appears in the Batgirl: A Matter of Family DLC story content. Set before the events of Arkham Asylum, Joker kidnaps Commissioner Gordon on Valentine's Day, holding him hostage on an abandoned amusement park built on top of an oil rig, forcing Batgirl and Robin to attempt to rescue him.

Fighting games

Richard Epcar has voiced the character in several fighting games
Main articles: Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe and Injustice: Gods Among Us

The Joker is also a playable character in Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, voiced by Richard Epcar.[53] The Joker sports an array of magically endowed trick (but often lethal) weapons and fatalities and (storywise) he is also reasonably stronger due to the rage caused by the merging universes. Once he realizes that, he breaks from the mission Lex Luthor gave him and goes after Batman. He also easily defeats Sonya Blade and interrupts a fight between Deathstroke and Kano so he can kill the latter himself. Later in the story, the Joker turns on Deathstroke just for the fun of it and defeats him as well. As the two worlds separate, the Joker discovers that he has retained his new powers and manages to take over Gotham, crowning himself "Mayor Joker." Under his rule, the city quickly falls into chaos. the Joker now holds tournaments where contests fight to the death for his amusement, with the winner fighting him.

The Joker appears as a playable character in the DC fighting game Injustice: Gods Among Us, with Richard Epcar reprising his role from Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe. In an alternate universe, Joker tricked Superman into destroying Metropolis with a nuclear weapon, killing the residents, including Lois Lane (pregnant with Superman's child). Superman killed Joker in retaliation, losing moral compass and turns into a tyrant. In the normal universe, Joker was fighting Batman when they were accidentally recruited along with the heroes to stop Superman's Regime; Joker allies with Harley Quinn's heroic counterpart and her Joker clan to defeat Superman's alternate version, although an attempt at killing her after she was defeated by Lex Luthor's heroic counterpart as well as his being beaten by Luthor had her giving up on him, as well as being forced back to his dimension. Joker also appears in two different endings for the Classic Battle mode. In his own ending, although he failed to retain control of the Joker Clan in the Regime Universe, Joker nonetheless became convinced that a similar cult could be formed at his own universe, and was implied to have succeeded by causing enough terrorist attacks to force the people to make him ruler and create a dystopia under his rule. During other playable modes, Joker many alternate outfits: his 'mainstream' attire, his 'alternate' attire, his design from Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City, and the two attires (his tropical outfit and his Red Hood outfit) from Batman: The Killing Joke.

Online games

Main articles: DC Universe Online and Infinite Crisis (video game)

Mark Hamill once again reprises his role for DC Universe Online. In the game's trailer, he is shown with Harley Quinn using a rocket launcher to initially attack The Flash. After an explosion set off by Black Adam kills both the Flash and Green Lantern, the Joker wakes up and pushes Quinn's corpse aside (whether she protected him willingly or the Joker used her as a shield is left up to debate) as he coughs from the smoke. He looks through his goggles to see Deathstroke hitting a suspended Batman with a bent steel pole. Claiming the sole right to kill Batman, the Joker promptly picks up the rocket launcher and fires it. Batman is shown later as having survived the attack, but Deathstroke is killed. Joker and Lex Luthor are the only survivors. In present Gotham City, he takes over a decrepit amusement park with Harley. In the hero campaign, the players help Batman in fighting the Joker who attacks the Special Crimes Unit’s inaugural ball in the Regal hotel. The player defeat the Joker who manages to escape. The Joker later collaborates with T.O. Morrow in order to develop a new type of Joker Venom and pays Deathstroke to dispose of Riddler. Besides Harley, the Joker is served by Joker Anarchists, Joker Hiding Schizos, Jokandroids, Joker Dawgs, Joker Derangers, Joker Lunatics, Joker Madcaps, Joker Stooges, Joker Wags, Joker Wisecrackers, J1N1 Robots, Lefty, Righty, and Fullhouse.

The Joker can also be used in Legends PVP matches, a form of short player versus player matches where the players use the weapons, powers and abilities of iconic DC heroes or villains. The Joker is available for 70 Marks of Legends, and is the only character that can switch between two movement sets: acrobatics, in which he fights with a crowbar and using the One Handed fighting skill, or flying, in which he uses dual pistols to fight. The Joker, as Batman, can be used with two skins: his normal appearance and Arkham Joker, dressed with a torn asylum immate uniform and a slightly grittier look. If a player using the Joker defeats an enemy player using Robin while using the crowbar, the player will get a feat, as he or she has "recreated" Jason Todd´s murder at the hands of the Joker.

The Joker will appear as a playable character in the multiplayer online battle arena game Infinite Crisis, voiced again by Richard Epcar. The Gaslight Earth version of the character is voiced by Fred Tatasciore, and the Atomic Earth version is voiced by Nolan North.[citation needed]

Prose

Prolific science fiction anthologist Martin H. Greenberg edited The Further Adventures of The Joker (1990), an anthology of short stories collected as a tie-in following the success of Tim Burton's Batman film.[54] Craig Shaw Gardner's tie-in novelisation for the same film expanded on several plot lines, including giving the Joker more depth, and spent much of 1989 near the top of New York Times' bestseller list.[55]

References

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