The Joker appears throughout the animated series The Batman, voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson. Richardson was nominated twice for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program. Most notably, in the finale of Season 1, the Joker transforms Ethan Bennett into Clayface using "Joker-putty," which helps Yin change her view on the Batman and the two become allies. In the 2005 direct-to-video spin-off, The Batman vs. Dracula (2005), 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.
History[]
At the beginning of his crime career, Joker went into Arkham Asylum and released all inmates from there. Batman encountered him at the asylum during his investigation. Joker fought well but escaped with the intention of spreading deadly laughing gas around Gotham City. Batman confronted him at his headquarters, planning to take him down and stop the deadly gas. Batman fought him while they were aboard his gas-filled Blimp which was heading towards a sharp point on a statue. Batman defeated Joker and sent him into the ocean with his Blimp, leaving the defeated Joker to be captured by the police. Once in jail, he laughed about how he had "bats in his Belfry" and swears revenge on Batman.
After that incident, Joker planned to get revenge on those who did him wrong including Batman and Police Detectives Ellen Yin and Ethan Bennett. He used a gun which could imprison victims in life-sized playing cards and a criminal named Nolan who disguised as Joker to get those victims while the Clown Prince of Crime escapes from Arkham Asylum while confusing Batman. Batman eventually discovered his plan while visiting him in Arkham: to imprison those who he wants revenge on in life-sized playing cards to make a full deck and then drown them in the Gotham River. Batman saves one of his prisoners and then battles Joker on the roof. While Joker attempted to imprison Batman with his gun, Batman turned the tables by using it on the crazed criminal, then he was sent back to the asylum.
Joker later has obtained a special weapon which allows him to melt anything and anyone in addition to gaining two new henchmen named Punch and Judy. He melts a Vault at the Bank, robbing the money, and then goes to a large statue to change its face as a joke but Batman and Detectives Ethan Bennett and Ellen Yin come to stop him. Joker and his goons escape but soon kidnaps Bennett with the intentions of driving him insane. While making him laugh crazily, Joker then tries to use his weapon on Ethan, but Batman uses his Batarang to destroy it, but gas comes out, infecting Ethan. Joker then has a fight with Batman and is knocked out with a punch to the face. Ethan later becomes Clayface thanks to Jokers putty.
Tired of being an insane criminal who gets beat up by Batman, Joker dresses as Batman to claim himself as Gotham City's protector. Joker also uses his Joker Venom on Batman, planning to finally kill him in 24 Hours so he can permanently take his place. Joker uses Batman's gadgets as well as his Utility Belt and Batsuit, and uses his laughing gas against criminals and people who've committed minor crimes such as littering, jaywalking, and speeding. He also uses the toxins on the Mayor's wife and threatens Gotham will pay if he doesn't get paid for his services. Batman desperately chases Joker so he can find the cure to survive. The crazed clown later confronts Penguin who he plans to stop since Penguin is a criminal. Batman also joins in, fighting the two off with Batman and Joker more or less working together, and Penguin is accidentally injected with the venom but is left hanging by a lamppost by Batman. Batman soon defeats Joker and manages to cure himself as well as telling the villain a joke, which makes Joker want to give up being Batman and instead continue as Joker spreading chaos.
The evil clown escapes Arkham once again after being attacked by Clayface and finds Detective Ethan Bennett which he planned to drop from a building to kill. Bennett then revealed to be Clayface and the two fought, but Batman interrupted to tell Bennett to stop which allowed Joker to escape. Joker then began robberies again at Wayne Industries but Clayface soon found him and wanted to get his revenge on him once again. Joker then convinces Ethan to become a criminal which he does by stealing Joker's art that he stole. Batman stops him and Clayface is apprehended while Joker escapes.
Joker later broadcasts his crimes on television as entertainment to the people of Gotham City. He dresses as a cop to kidnap and use his laughing gas on the Mayor, planning to take him hostage as well as rob a Bank. Batman fails to stop Joker while his driving in his car, then manages to kidnap Detective Cash Tankinson and use laughing gas on him too. Batman confronts Joker in a ring, but there's a twist, there is a tower which is making several canisters release laughing gas around Gotham which will make everyone in the city die laughing as well as the Mayor and Cash being tied up as hostages at the tower. Batman attempts to destroy the tower's signal with his Grappling Hook but Joker sent out his goons, Punch and Judy, to stop him. Batman outsmarts them and defeats them by leaving them hanging from the tower by their feet, then destroys the signal. Joker attempts to finish off Batman but is hand-cuffed to the tower thanks to Yin leaving them all for the police to capture.
Joker kidnaps Detective Ellen Yin to get revenge on Batman and ties her to a Jack N' the Box which will explode in 8 hours. Batman apprehends the clown taking him to Arkham and then both Batman and Hugo Strange go into his insane mind with a device made by Strange to try and find out where she is. They found out that Joker had his own Gotham City within his own mind filled with Joker's. From there, he planned on driving the two completely insane and breaking their minds. Batman encountered Jack Napier who worked in Joker's Idea Factory but he was disposed of when he secretly told Batman some clues to find Yin. Joker cut through the floor with a saw and made him fall into a vat of chemicals, Joker then came up and said "Water's warm Batman, dive in." He then went to the opera where Joker and a large crowd of Jokers attacked him. Batman soon becomes laughing uncontrollably into insanity. Alfred Pennyworth helped him and Batman eventually managed to get Joker into his mind thanks to learning it was a two-way transmitter. Batman then managed to find Ellen Yin and saved her before the Jack N' The Box could explode.
As Joker attempts to control Gotham, both Penguin and Riddler get in the way with their attempts to take control of Gotham City. Joker then agrees with the other criminal masterminds that whoever defeats Batman will get to take over Gotham. As Joker and Penguin chase after Batman and Yin, they are confronted by Riddler's goons and they eliminated his henchmen and then turn their attention to Riddler. Batman soon arrived to defeat each one of them. Batman defeated Joker by throwing an Explosive Batarang at the pipes he was underneath, destroying them and causing the pipes to fall on Joker, knocking him out. All three of them are later arrested.
Later Joker, Penguin, and Scarface are shown as members of Hugo Strange's therapy season. Joker says he can't hear the voices in his head.
Joker later stole Bane's Venom because he wants to become stronger and more powerful than Batman. The Clown Prince of Crime easily defeated Batgirl at the Circus and then robbed the gold ball which is Gotham's new Landmark. GCPD Officers blockade the streets and attempt to get the gold ball back from him but Joker simply throws the ball at them. Joker then fought Batman, who tried to destroy the venom several times but failed as Joker was too powerful. Alfred Pennyworth sent in the Bat-Bot as backup to help defeat "Brawn". Batgirl used the Bat-Bot to fight Joker but was nearly destroyed and Joker took Batman to another location where he'll die. Batgirl used the Bat-Bot once again against the crazed clown. Joker's venom was destroyed and he turned back to normal. Joker still claimed to be bigger than Batgirl, Batman then said he isn't bigger than him and knocked him out with a punch to the face.
During Catwoman's attempt to try and steal two black tigers, Joker arrives to steal them and then kidnapped Catwoman to try and kill her with giant chattering teeth. Catwoman is saved by Batman and Batgirl while Joker arrives at the home of a hunter named Killgore Steed who wants the tigers. Joker gives him the tigers and then is given two laughing hyenas for him as pets. Joker then said if he can see if they can laugh "at a joke" which confuses Killgore. Punch and Judy take out both of Killgore's bodyguards and then Joker gasses Killgore with Joker Gas to betray him. Batman, Batgirl, and Catwoman arrive to save the tigers and Joker decides to put them into a giant maze filled with deadly traps. He steals their equipment by threatening to kill the tigers and then sends out a deadly spider to go into the maze making it more dangerous. Joker then goes in with his new pets and finds Catwoman. He orders them to kill Catwoman but they soon become friendly to her to Joker's anger. Joker then attempts to kill her with an acid-filled gun but fails and is defeated later by Batman.
Joker later attempted to assassinate the Mayor once again by gassing him with Joker Gas through a firetruck. However, Batman and Batgirl stopped him but Joker escaped and returned to his hideout. Joker, wanting a sidekick of his own, found a young kid who just wanted to make others laugh like himself. The insane criminal soon manipulated him into becoming Prank, Joker's sidekick. During their scheme, they launched life-sized gumballs at buildings and stuck police officers to them. Joker eventually knocked out Batgirl with his Boxing Glove Arm and attached her to one of the gumballs, planning to make Prank kill her but he refused because he doesn't want to hurt anyone, angering Joker and causing them to retreat back to their hideout. Joker intended to disfigure him by matching his on accident, by being throwing him into a vat of chemicals. Batman and Batgirl confronted Joker and saved Prank but Joker got Batgirl on the ledge too. While rescuing Batgirl, Batman and her then looked at Joker who had a gun, planning to shoot them. Prank, angered at what Joker did and is attempting to do, punched him. Joker was knocked out and it was revealed that his gun was fake.
Joker was among the many villains the Penguin tried to recruit into Team Penguin. However he declined the offer.
During a scheme to try and infect every dog with Joker Venom, Punch and Judy are revealed to be Clayface. Joker tries to run away from him but is stopped when Clayface covers him in clay. Batman and Robin arrive to apprehend both Joker and Clayface. Clayface then turns himself in and the two are sent to Arkham Asylum. Joker later appears playing Chess with Basil Karlo and tells him that he still has some of his Clayface powers which was proven true.
Joker robbed an art museum with Punch and Judy, only for the Bat-Family to stop him. Joker then escaped back to his lair to watch Heart 2 Heart with Harley, while Punch and Judy got arrested. After Harleen Quinzel is fired from her job as a TV pop host and he fails getting art from the museum. Joker recruits her into becoming Harley Quinn because he feels like he could relate to her. They have a night out in town killing squirrels and playing harmless yet annoying pranks on people. Batman arrives to put a stop to this and is shocked when he sees Harley is really Harleen. After escaping Joker later helps her try and get revenge on the people responsible for firing her but Batman stops the clowns. In a resulting explosion which knocks out Quinn, Joker escapes and Quinn is captured and taken to prison. but she still remains the clowns' girlfriend after Joker sends her a love message telling her to keep smiling.
Before Rumor came to be, Joker attacked Paul Karon and wanted to steal his latest invention which was capable of destroying buildings. Batman arrives to stop Joker but fails to save Karon from being crippled. Mario, Paul Karon's bodyguard, then became Rumor to seek revenge for his boss by kidnapping Joker and every single criminal in Gotham City to execute them. Joker remained in his hideout and ordered thugs he hired to defend him from Rumor, but they failed, and Joker was kidnapped. As he was going to kill Joker and the rest, Batman and Robin stopped Rumor but accidentally released all the villains who wanted to get revenge on Mario. The heroes took down the villains. As the fight reached its end Joker and Harley Quinn fought them in hand-to-hand combat. Batman knocked out Joker by smashing him into ice which Mr. Freeze created then they all get arrested.
When The Joining started to invade Earth, Joker, Bane, Penguin, and Mr. Freeze started to assist the police in destroying the alien forces after Arkham gets attacked. While using his gas gun on the aliens, Joker says he only gets to cause terror in Gotham and exclaimed the town has gone mad upon seeing Gordon and Freeze work together while laughing insanely about it.
One day, Joker used a new kind of laughing gas to control people in throwing valuable goods into the water. Batman Batgirl and Robin soon found out Joker's plan and pursued him on his train which he was going to use to blow up Gotham. The kids fought Punch and Judy while Batman fought Joker who was acting as the train's conductor. Batman managed to defeat Joker by removing his battery allowing the police to apprehend him again.
Joker, escaped from the asylum again, and hires school dropout Marty Slacker to help him try and get more money without getting caught. Slacker built an invention which allowed the Clown Prince of Crime to download money illegally. Batman eventually confronted Joker and his henchmen to put a stop to their plan, but Batman accidentally damages the invention while it was connected to his mind. Joker was then placed in Hospital and another Joker escaped using Wayne Industries nanobots. Joker used these to his advantage by gaining the ability to shape-shift, taking heavy damage, and flight. Joker escaped from the Hospital and attempted to backstab his better counterpart, but failed and was betrayed by his own henchmen for Joker 2.0 Joker 2.0 then tried to kill the real Joker, Batman, and Robin but Joker survived thanks to Batman saving them all and was subdued by Robin. Joker manages to cut himself free with his Razor playing card and then knocks out Robin with his Joy Buzzer, although Robin later ties up Joker and his gang. After Joker 2.0 was destroyed by Batman, Joker and his henchmen were arrested. Harley tells him to cheer up by saying that Marty has more ideas. Joker then wonders if Penguin has problems with his own henchmen.
After successfully stealing money while both Wrath and Scorn fight Batman, Joker alongside Penguin, the Ventriloquist/Scarface and Killer Croc attempted to become rich with Wrath and Scorn's help but they failed and was instead promised of Batman's true identity. After being defeated, Wrath and Scorn were arrested. As they swore they'd tell the police who he really is, Joker gassed them with Joker Gas and claimed he's the only one who could defeat Batman then escaped with Harley Quinn. At some point afterwards Joker was captured and returned to Arkham Asylum. When Batman, Robin, and Green Arrow go there to confront Hugo Strange about working with the Joining, They quickly pass by Joker's cell where he simply looks back and smiles knowing he will likely escape once again.
Powers and Abilities[]
Powers[]
- Joker Venom Immunity
Abilities[]
- Gadgetry: 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.
- Chemistry
- Martial Arts: The Joker also moves and fights with a Monkey Kung Fu-like style using his feet as dexterously as his hands, and often hangs from the walls and ceilings (as the series progresses, these abilities do not appear as much).
- Singing: Joker has shown adept skills in singing when he once sang Harley Quinn a love song.[1]
Weaknesses[]
- Insanity
Paraphernalia[]
Equipment[]
- Joker Venom
Weapons[]
- Joker's Joy Buzzer
Appearances[]
Season 1[]
- The Bat in the Belfry
- The Man Who Would Be Bat (cameo in newspaper)
- Topsy Turvy
- Bird of Prey (mentioned)
- The Rubberface of Comedy
- The Clayface of Tragedy (impersonated by Clayface;flashback)
Season 2[]
- JTV
- Meltdown
- Strange Minds
- The Butler Did It (credits only)
- Grundy's Night (Halloween costume only)
- The Laughing Bat
- Night and the City
Season 3[]
- A Fistful of Felt
- Brawn
- The Laughing Cats
- The Apprentice
- Gotham's Ultimate Criminal Mastermind (photo)
Season 4[]
- Team Penguin (cameo in photo)
- Clayfaces
- Strange New World (mentioned)
- The Breakout (mentioned)
- Two of a Kind
- Rumors
- The Joining, Part 2
Season 5[]
- White Heat (mentioned)
- Joker Express
- Ring Toss (mentioned)
- The Metal Face of Comedy
- The End of the Batman
- Lost Heroes, Part One (cameo)
Movies[]
The Batman vs. Dracula
The Batman Strikes![]
- Issue 2 " City of Bats" (cameo)
- issue 3 "Outlaw and Disorder"
- Issue 9 " Sanity Plea"
- Issue #15: The Lost Ones (mentioned)
- Issue 16 "Hit and Run"
- Issue 24 "Waiting to Prowl" (mentioned)
- Issue 26 " Escape" (cameo)
- Issue 28 "The Comic and the Straight Man"
- Issue 32 " How to Take Out A Room Full Of Goons"
- issue 34 " Shtick Shift" (cameo on Batman's trap)
- Issue 35 " The Clown Prince Of Late Night"
- Issue 39 " Hostile Takeover"
- Issue 40 "The Burning Question"
- Issue 41 " Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!" (mentioned)
- Issue 43 " Grounded (cameo)
- Issue 47 " :20 Minutes"
- Issue #48: Ice Age (mentioned)
Toys[]
- Hammer Strike Joker
- Crazy Cut-Up Joker
- Card Attack Joker
- Card Attack Joker (Shadow Tek)
- Strangle Sleeves Joker
Notes[]
- This version of the character is exclusive to the continuity of the television series The Batman, related film, and the tie-in comic The Batman Strikes!. It is an adaptation of the Joker. The original character was created by Jerry Robinson, Bob Kane, and Bill Finger and first appeared in Batman #1.
- Joker was voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson.
Trivia[]
- Joker's line expressing how men are easily driven insane and how he became what he is after only "one rotten day" is based off a monologue about the entire world in comparison to the Joker in Batman: The Killing Joke.
- According to season 4 Joker's favorite shows are Heart 2 Heart with Harley and World's deadliest disasters.
- The long dreadlocked hairstyle of Joker is inspired by the Jester's Hat, which are quite associated with The Joker or even The Fool.
- Basil Karlo, at the end of his first episode "Clayfaces", shows that he has somewhat of a friendship with the Joker. Ironically, the original Clayface Ethan has a gigantic grudge against the clown.
- Ethan's hostility towards Joker for making him into Clayface is similar to the 1960's comic story entitled "The Great Clayface-Joker Feud," which also depicted Joker and Clayface as rivals.