Few comic book villains have achieved the same level of fame as Gotham’s Clown Prince of Crime. Debuting back in the very first issue of Batman, the Joker has been written in a variety of ways. He’s been a crime boss, a prankster, a sadistic comedian, an agent of chaos, and the self-proclaimed archnemesis of the Dark Knight. Many people love to see this villain appear in a Batman story in any medium. But why is that? Why are so many people fans of this violent lunatic who has committed so many acts of cruelty? That’s what I want to explore. To figure out the root causes of this adoration to see why, in some respects, this character has earned this kind of attention. But more importantly, explain why he ultimately should still be despised.
When it comes to the Golden Age of Comics, it’s easy to see how Joker became popular. Visually, he was a good contrast to Batman. And his constant smiling while committing crimes made us want to see him be defeated even more. In the Silver Age, Joker was turned into a sillier version of himself. He was still a criminal, but his schemes were more outlandish and were more in keeping with his clown persona. He was a prankster with a mean streak! Highly entertaining to watch but still satisfying to see the Caped Crusader stop Joker in his tracks. Any current reader could look back on comics from either era and be amused by Joker’s antics.
However, once we move past the Silver Age, we see the clown be written with more thematic focus. The Joker took more interest in using his plans to point out the hypocrisy of the world and made fun of how society constantly fails to be what it promises to people. Such as when Joker brutally murdered Jason Todd but then was offered a job within the Iranian government. Then with The Killing Joke where we got a potential origin for Joker, this character became the personification of Nihilism. There is no deeper meaning to life, it’s all just one big joke. That all it takes to turn you into someone like him is one bad day.
It is through this perspective we get a clear picture of his relationship with Batman. Bruce Wayne is meant to represent order while Joker is meant to be an agent of chaos. Doing things because he feels like it. Killing and causing damage just for the sake of it. More recent years have tried to show us that Joker’s viewpoint is valid to an extent. As many comic readers grew into adulthood, I think we all realized just how crazy and incomprehensible our real world can be. I can only speak for myself but I can confirm that I’m often depressed and frustrated with what I see on the news. And I think some people - at least in the fictional DCU - see Joker as someone who can help them make sense of their suffering. When he wants to be, he can be quite charming. It’s how he managed to get Harleen Quinzel to fall in love with him. It’s how Alexis Kaye became convinced that acting like him is the only sane thing to do in an insane world. As for us in the real world? We tend to applaud when he points out the very real ways the world has failed us and we get behind him when he calls out those in authority. There is a lot of anger right now and the Joker lets us know it’s justified.
When you look at him with a modern-day lens, it makes sense why he has so many fans. However, it is important to remember that even if you want to tear down society and burn it to ash, you can still be a moral person. And the Joker is not that. He kills his henchmen just because they might talk too much. He tricks a woman into falling in love with him just for his benefit, leading to years of abuse and punishment. He takes naked pictures of a father’s bleeding daughter, wounded from a bullet the Joker fired at her while taking away the use of her legs, just to try and push him over the edge. There isn’t a person alive that he sees as an actual living being worthy of life. The Joker is a narcissist who keeps coming back to Batman just so he can break his mind and soul. Whatever the Joker might have said to get you to empathize or sympathize with him is a complete lie. The Joker is cruel, twisted, unfeeling, and pathetic. He might have been broken by one bad day. But Batman has survived MANY bad days and remains who he is. While I have criticized him for many decisions, I will always respect The Bat for holding onto the ideals he stands for, as opposed to descending into the pit and becoming unrecognizable.
With all of that said, we are left to answer one question…
Here is where I stand on the Joker. I enjoy him strictly as a villain, which is what he was always meant to be. His characterization at times might touch on real issues that reflect our real world. And there are alternate versions/takes on the character that slightly lean toward a more sympathetic light. But in the end, the Joker is a reprehensible figure who will say anything to distract you from the reality of who he is. A monstrous figure who thinks he’s more important than he is. The curtains have fallen on his performance, it’s time to kick him off stage.
