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{{Redirect|The Joker|other characters or uses of (The) Joker|Joker (disambiguation){{!}}Joker}}
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{{short description|Fictional character in the DC Universe}}
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{{Infobox comics character
| character_name = The Joker
| image = Joker (DC Comics character).jpg
| caption = Art by [[Alex Ross]]
| real_name = <!--Please do not replace with anything else. The mainstream comics have never given a real name.-->
| publisher = [[DC Comics]]
| debut = ''[[Batman (comic book)|Batman]]'' #1 (April 25, 1940)<ref name="Debut2"/>
| creators = {{plainlist|
* [[Bill Finger]]
* [[Bob Kane]]
* [[Jerry Robinson]]
}}
| alliances = {{plainlist|
* [[Injustice League]]
* [[Injustice Gang]]
}}
| aliases = [[Red Hood]]<ref name="ImpactCBR"/>
| powers = *Criminal mastermind
* Expert chemist
* Uses weaponized props and toxins
| cat = super
| subcat = DC Comics
| hero =
| villain = y
| sortkey = The Joker
}}
The '''Joker''' is a <!-- Do not add "fictional" as it is tautological; supervillains (and characters in general) are by definition implied to be fictionalized to some extent.-->[[supervillain]] created by [[Bill Finger]], [[Bob Kane]], and [[Jerry Robinson]] who first appeared in the debut issue of the [[American comic book|comic book]] ''[[Batman (comic book)|Batman]]'' (April 25, 1940), published by [[DC Comics]]. Credit for the Joker's creation is disputed; Kane and Robinson claimed responsibility for the Joker's design while acknowledging Finger's writing contribution. Although the Joker was planned to be killed off during his initial appearance, he was spared by editorial intervention, allowing the character to endure as the archenemy of the superhero [[Batman]].
In his comic book appearances, the Joker is portrayed as a criminal mastermind. Introduced as a [[Psychopathy|psychopath]] with a warped, sadistic sense of humor, the character became a goofy prankster in the late 1950s in response to regulation by the [[Comics Code Authority]], before returning to his darker roots during the early 1970s. As Batman's nemesis, the Joker has been part of the superhero's defining stories, including the murder of [[Jason Todd]]—the second [[Robin (character)|Robin]] and Batman's ward—and the paralysis of one of Batman's allies, [[Barbara Gordon]]. The Joker has had various possible origin stories during his decades of appearances. The most common story involves him falling into a tank of chemical waste that bleaches his skin white and turns his hair green and lips bright red; the resulting disfigurement drives him insane. The antithesis of Batman in personality and appearance, the Joker is considered by critics to be his perfect adversary.
The Joker possesses no superhuman abilities, instead using his expertise in chemical engineering to develop poisonous or lethal concoctions and thematic weaponry, including razor-tipped [[playing card]]s, deadly [[joy buzzer]]s, and acid-spraying lapel flowers. The Joker sometimes works with other [[Gotham City]] supervillains, such as the [[Penguin (character)|Penguin]] and [[Two-Face]], and groups like the [[Injustice Gang]] and [[Injustice League]], but these relationships often collapse due to the Joker's desire for unbridled chaos. The 1990s introduced a romantic interest for the Joker in his former psychiatrist, [[Harley Quinn]], who becomes his villainous sidekick. Although his primary obsession is Batman, the Joker has also fought other heroes, including [[Superman]] and [[Wonder Woman]].
One of the most iconic characters in popular culture, the Joker has been listed among the greatest comic book villains and fictional characters ever created. The character's popularity has seen him appear on a variety of merchandise, such as clothing and collectible items, inspire real-world structures (such as theme park attractions), and be referenced in a number of media. The Joker has been adapted to serve as Batman's adversary in live-action, animated, and video game incarnations, including <!-- DO NOT ADD ANY OTHER ACTORS HERE UNLESS INDEPENDENTLY NOTABLE, IT IS NOT FEASIBLE TO LIST ANYONE WHO EVER PORTRAYED THE JOKER EVER-->the 1960s ''[[Batman (TV series)|Batman]]''<!-- DO NOT ADD ANY OTHER ACTORS HERE WITHOUT TALK PAGE DISCUSSION, IT IS NOT FEASIBLE TO LIST ANYONE WHO EVER PORTRAYED THE JOKER EVER--> television series played by [[Cesar Romero]] and in films by [[Jack Nicholson]]<!-- DO NOT ADD ANY OTHER ACTORS HERE WITHOUT TALK PAGE DISCUSSION, IT IS NOT FEASIBLE TO LIST ANYONE WHO EVER PORTRAYED THE JOKER EVER--> in ''[[Batman (1989 film)|Batman]]''<!-- DO NOT ADD ANY OTHER ACTORS HERE UNLESS INDEPENDENTLY NOTABLE, IT IS NOT FEASIBLE TO LIST ANYONE WHO EVER PORTRAYED THE JOKER EVER--> (1989) and by [[Heath Ledger]]<!-- DO NOT ADD ANY OTHER ACTORS HERE WITHOUT TALK PAGE DISCUSSION, IT IS NOT FEASIBLE TO LIST ANYONE WHO EVER PORTRAYED THE JOKER EVER--> in ''[[The Dark Knight (film)|The Dark Knight]]'' (2008).<!-- DO NOT ADD ANY OTHER ACTORS HERE UNLESS INDEPENDENTLY NOTABLE, IT IS NOT FEASIBLE TO LIST ANYONE WHO EVER PORTRAYED THE JOKER EVER--> The character was adapted into his own standalone film, ''[[Joker (2019 film)|Joker]]'', in 2019 starring [[Joaquin Phoenix]] in the role. [[Mark Hamill]],<!-- DO NOT ADD ANY OTHER ACTORS HERE WITHOUT TALK PAGE DISCUSSION, IT IS NOT FEASIBLE TO LIST ANYONE WHO EVER PORTRAYED THE JOKER EVER--> [[Troy Baker]], and others<!-- DO NOT ADD ANY OTHER ACTORS HERE UNLESS INDEPENDENTLY NOTABLE, IT IS NOT FEASIBLE TO LIST ANYONE WHO EVER PORTRAYED THE JOKER EVER--> have provided the character's voice.<!-- DO NOT ADD ANY OTHER ACTORS HERE WITHOUT TALK PAGE DISCUSSION, IT IS NOT FEASIBLE TO LIST ANYONE WHO EVER PORTRAYED THE JOKER EVER-->
==Creation and development==
===Concept===
{{multiple image
| direction = horizontal
| footer = (''left'') [[Jerry Robinson]]'s 1940 concept sketch of the Joker. (''right'') Actor [[Conrad Veidt]] in character as Gwynplaine in ''[[The Man Who Laughs (1928 film)|The Man Who Laughs]]'' (1928). Veidt's grinning visage inspired the Joker design.
| image1 = Jerry-Robinson-Joker-Sketch-Card.jpg
| width1 = 150
| alt1 = Sketch of a playing card with a grinning Joker
| image2 = The-Man-Who-Laughs-(1928)-Gwynplaine.png
| width2 = 150
| alt2 = A young man looks away from the camera with a stretched-wide smile
}}
[[Bill Finger]], [[Bob Kane]], and [[Jerry Robinson]] are credited with creating the Joker, but their accounts of the character's conception differ, each providing his own version of events. Finger's, Kane's, and Robinson's versions acknowledge that Finger produced an image of actor [[Conrad Veidt]] in character as Gwynplaine (a man with a disfigured face, giving him a perpetual grin) in the 1928 film ''[[The Man Who Laughs (1928 film)|The Man Who Laughs]]'' as an inspiration for the Joker's appearance, and Robinson produced a sketch of a [[Joker (playing card)|joker playing card]].<ref name="ImpactCBR"/><ref name="Creation1"/>
Robinson claimed that it was his 1940 card sketch that served as the character's concept, and that Finger associated with Veidt's portrayal.<ref name="ImpactCBR"/> Kane hired the 17-year-old Robinson as an assistant in 1939, after he saw Robinson in a white jacket decorated with his own illustrations.<ref name="Creation4"/><ref name="Creation3"/> Beginning as a [[letterer]] and background inker, Robinson quickly became primary artist for the newly created ''[[Batman (comic book)|Batman]]'' comic book series. In a 1975 interview in ''[[The Amazing World of DC Comics]]'', Robinson said he wanted a supreme arch-villain who could test Batman, not a typical crime lord or gangster designed to be easily disposed of. He wanted an exotic, enduring character as an ongoing source of conflict for Batman (similar to the relationship between [[Sherlock Holmes]] and [[Professor Moriarty]]), designing a diabolically sinister-but-clownish villain.<ref name="Creation5"/><ref name="Origin3"/>{{sfn|Tollin|1975|pp=2–3}} Robinson was intrigued by villains; his studies at [[Columbia University]] taught him that some characters are made up of contradictions, leading to the Joker's sense of humor. He said that the name came first, followed by an image of a playing card from a deck he often had at hand: "I wanted somebody visually exciting. I wanted somebody that would make an indelible impression, would be bizarre, would be memorable like the [[Hunchback of Notre Dame]] or any other villains that had unique physical characters."<ref name="Creation7"/><ref name="Creation8"/> He told Finger about his concept by telephone, later providing sketches of the character and images of what would become his iconic Joker playing-card design. Finger thought the concept was incomplete, providing the image of Veidt with a ghastly, permanent [[Risus sardonicus|rictus grin]].<ref name="Creation5"/>
Kane countered that Robinson's sketch was produced only after Finger had already shown the Gwynplaine image to Kane, and that it was only used as a card design belonging to the Joker in his early appearances.<ref name="Creation1"/> Finger said that he was also inspired by an image in [[Steeplechase Park]] at [[Coney Island]] that resembled a Joker's head, which he sketched and later shared with future editorial director [[Carmine Infantino]].<ref name="Creation2"/> In a 1994 interview with journalist [[Frank Lovece]], Kane stated his position:
{{quote|Bill Finger and I created the Joker. Bill was the writer. Jerry Robinson came to me with a playing card of the Joker. That's the way I sum it up. [The Joker] looks like Conrad Veidt&nbsp;– you know, the actor in ''The Man Who Laughs'', [the 1928 movie based on the novel] by [[Victor Hugo]].&nbsp;... Bill Finger had a book with a photograph of Conrad Veidt and showed it to me and said, 'Here's the Joker.' Jerry Robinson had absolutely nothing to do with it, but he'll always say he created it till he dies. He brought in a playing card, which we used for a couple of issues for him [the Joker] to use as his playing card.<ref name="Creation101"/><ref name="KaneLovece"/>|sign=|source=}}
Robinson credited himself, Finger, and Kane for the Joker's creation. He said he created the character as Batman's larger-than-life nemesis when extra stories were quickly needed for ''Batman'' #1, and he received credit for the story in a college course:<ref name="Creation102"/>
{{quote|In that first meeting when I showed them that sketch of the Joker, Bill said it reminded him of Conrad Veidt in ''The Man Who Laughs''. That was the first mention of it&nbsp;... He can be credited and Bob himself, we all played a role in it. The concept was mine. Bill finished that first script from my outline of the persona and what should happen in the first story. He wrote the script of that, so he really was co-creator, and Bob and I did the visuals, so Bob was also.<ref name="Creation103"/>}}
Finger provided his own account in 1966:
{{quote|I got a call from Bob Kane.... He had a new villain. When I arrived he was holding a playing card. Apparently Jerry Robinson or Bob, I don't recall who, looked at the card and they had an idea for a character ... the Joker. Bob made a rough sketch of it. At first it didn't look much like the Joker. It looked more like a clown. But I remembered that Grosset & Dunlap formerly issued very cheap editions of classics by [[Alexandre Dumas]] and Victor Hugo ... The volume I had was ''The Man Who Laughs'' — his face had been permanently operated on so that he will always have this perpetual grin. And it looked absolutely weird. I cut the picture out of the book and gave it to Bob, who drew the profile and gave it a more sinister aspect. Then he worked on the face; made him look a little clown-like, which accounted for his white face, red lips, green hair. And that was the Joker!<ref name="Batmania 14"/>}}
Although Kane adamantly refused to share credit for many of his characters (and refuted Robinson's claim until Kane's death), many comic historians credit Robinson with the Joker's creation and Finger with the character's development.<ref name="ImpactCBR"/><ref name="Creation1"/><ref name="Creation4"/><ref name="Creation2"/> By 2011, Finger, Kane, and Robinson had died, leaving the story unresolved.<ref name="Creation5"/><ref name="Creation2"/><ref name="GoldenAge6"/>
===Golden Age===
[[File:Comic Book - The Joker (1940).jpg|thumb|upright|left|alt=Comic book panel of the grinning Joker|From the Joker's debut in ''[[Batman (comic book)|Batman]]'' #1 (April 25, 1940)]]
The Joker debuted in ''Batman'' #1 (spring 1940) as the eponymous character's first villain, about a year after Batman's debut in ''[[Detective Comics]]'' #27 (May 1939). The Joker initially appeared as a remorseless serial killer, modeled after a joker playing card with a mirthless grin, who killed his victims with "Joker Venom," a toxin that left their faces smiling grotesquely.{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=21}} The character was intended to be killed in his second appearance in ''Batman'' #1, after being stabbed in the heart. Finger wanted the Joker to die because of his concern that recurring villains would make Batman appear inept, but was overruled by then-editor [[Whitney Ellsworth]]; a hastily drawn panel, indicating that the Joker was still alive, was added to the comic.<ref name="ImpactCBR"/><ref name="GoldenAge1"/><ref name="GoldenAge3"/> The Joker went on to appear in nine of ''Batman''{{'}}s first twelve issues.<ref name="GoldenAge2"/>
The character's regular appearances quickly defined him as the archenemy of the Dynamic Duo – Batman and [[Robin (character)|Robin]]; he killed dozens of people, and even derailed a train. By issue #13, Kane's work on the [[Print syndication|syndicated]] ''Batman'' newspaper strip left him little time for the comic book; artist [[Dick Sprang]] assumed his duties, and editor Jack Schiff collaborated with Finger on stories. Around the same time, DC Comics found it easier to market its stories to children without the more mature [[Pulp magazine|pulp]] elements that had originated many superhero comics. During this period, the first changes in the Joker began to appear, portraying him more as a prankster than threat; when he kidnaps Robin, Batman pays the ransom by check, meaning that the Joker cannot cash it without being arrested.{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=24, 27|quote="Not coincidentally, DC found it easier to market their comics to kids without the salacious overtones of the pulp magazines from which many superhero comics had sprung."}} Comic book writer [[Mark Waid]] suggests that the 1942 story "The Joker Walks the Last Mile" was the beginning point for the character's transformation into a more goofy incarnation, a period that [[Grant Morrison]] considered lasted the following thirty years.{{sfn|Weiner|Peaslee|2015|p=36}}
The 1942 cover of ''Detective Comics'' #69, known as "Double Guns" (with the Joker emerging from a genie lamp, aiming two guns at Batman and Robin), is considered one of the greatest superhero comic covers of the Golden Age and is the only image of the character using traditional guns. Robinson said that other contemporary villains used guns, and the creative team wanted the Joker—as Batman's adversary—to be more resourceful.<ref name="Creation7"/><ref name="DoubleGuns"/>
===Silver Age===
The Joker was one of the few popular villains continuing to appear regularly in Batman comics from the Golden Age into the Silver Age, as the series continued during the rise in popularity of mystery and romance comics. In 1951, Finger wrote an [[origin story]] for the Joker in ''Detective Comics'' #168, which introduced the characteristic of him formerly being the criminal [[Red Hood]], and his disfigurement the result of a fall into a chemical vat.<ref name="SilverAge1"/>
By 1954, the [[Comics Code Authority]] had been established in response to increasing public disapproval of comic book content. The backlash was inspired by [[Frederic Wertham]], who hypothesized that mass media (especially comic books) was responsible for the rise in [[juvenile delinquency]], violence and homosexuality, particularly in young males. Parents forbade their children from reading comic books, and there were several mass burnings.<ref name="ImpactCBR"/> The Comics Code banned gore, innuendo and excessive violence, stripping Batman of his menace and transforming the Joker into a goofy, thieving trickster without his original homicidal tendencies.<ref name="GoldenAge1"/>{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=171}}
The character appeared less frequently after 1964, when [[Julius Schwartz]] (who disliked the Joker) became editor of the Batman comics.<ref name="ImpactCBR"/><ref name="GoldenAge1"/><ref name="GoldenAge5"/> The character risked becoming an obscure figure of the preceding era until this goofy prankster version of the character was adapted into the 1966 television series ''[[Batman (TV series)|Batman]]'', in which he was played by [[Cesar Romero]].<ref name="ImpactCBR"/><ref name="GoldenAge1"/> The show's popularity compelled Schwartz to keep the comics in a similar vein. As the show's popularity waned, however, so did that of the ''Batman'' comics.<ref name="ImpactCBR"/><ref name="GoldenAge5"/> After the TV series ended in 1968, the increase in public visibility had not stopped the comic's sales decline; editorial director Carmine Infantino resolved to turn things around, moving stories away from schoolboy-friendly adventures.{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=173|quote="Because the surge in public visibility hadn't helped stop Batman's comic book slide, editorial director Carmine Infantino vowed to turn things around&nbsp;... and moved even further away from schoolboy-friendly adventures."}} The Silver Age introduced several of the Joker's defining character traits: lethal [[joy buzzer]]s, acid-squirting flowers, trick guns, and goofy, elaborate crimes.<ref name="Personality2"/><ref name="JokerGadgets"/>
===Bronze Age===
[[File:Comic Book - Batman 251 Cover (1973).jpg|thumb|upright|alt="Batman" cover, with the Joker holding an ace of spades with Batman on it|Cover of ''Batman'' #251 (September 1973) featuring "The Joker's Five-Way Revenge", which returned the Joker to his homicidal roots. Art by Neal Adams.]]
In 1973, after a 4-year disappearance,<ref name="ImpactCBR"/> the Joker was revived (and revised) by writer [[Dennis O'Neil]] and artist [[Neal Adams]]. Beginning with ''Batman'' #251's "The Joker's Five-Way Revenge", the character returns to his roots as an impulsive, homicidal maniac who matches wits with Batman.<ref name="ImpactCBR2"/><ref name="BronzeAge6"/> This story began a trend in which the Joker was used, sparingly, as a central character.<ref name="BronzeAge10"/> O'Neil said his idea was "simply to take it back to where it started. I went to the DC library and read some of the early stories. I tried to get a sense of what Kane and Finger were after."<ref name="BronzeAge8"/> O'Neil's 1973 run introduced the idea of the Joker being legally insane, to explain why the character is sent to [[Arkham Asylum]] (introduced by O'Neil in 1974 as Arkham Hospital) instead of to prison.<ref name="BronzeAge20"/> Adams modified the Joker's appearance, changing his more average figure by extending his jaw and making him taller and leaner.<ref name="BronzeAge9"/>
DC Comics was a hotbed of experimentation during the 1970s, and in 1975 the character became the first villain to feature as the title character in a comic book series, ''[[The Joker (comic book)|The Joker]]''.{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=176}} The series followed the character's interactions with other supervillains, and the first issue was written by O'Neil.<ref name="1975JokerComic"/> Stories balanced between emphasizing the Joker's criminality and making him a likable protagonist whom readers could support. Although he murdered thugs and civilians, he never fought Batman; this made ''The Joker'' a series in which the character's villainy prevailed over rival villains, instead of a struggle between good and evil.{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=177}} Because the Comics Code Authority mandated punishment for villains, each issue ended with the Joker being apprehended, limiting the scope of each story. The series never found an audience, and ''The Joker'' was cancelled after nine issues (despite a "next issue" advertisement for an appearance by the [[Justice League]]).<ref name="1975JokerComic"/>{{sfn|Duncan Smith|2013|p=380}}{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=177}} The complete series became difficult to obtain over time, often commanding high prices from collectors. In 2013, DC Comics reissued the series as a graphic novel.{{sfn|Weiner|Peaslee|2015|p=XVI}}
When [[Jenette Kahn]] became DC editor in 1976, she redeveloped the company's struggling titles; during her tenure, the Joker would become one of DC's most popular characters.{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=177}} While O'Neil and Adams' work was critically acclaimed, writer [[Steve Englehart]] and [[penciller]] [[Marshall Rogers]]'s eight-issue run in ''Detective Comics'' #471–476 (August 1977 – April 1978) defined the Joker for decades to come<ref name="ImpactCBR2"/> with stories emphasizing the character's insanity. In "The Laughing Fish", the Joker disfigures fish with a rictus grin resembling his own (expecting [[copyright]] protection), and is unable to understand that copyrighting a [[natural resource]] is legally impossible.<ref name="BronzeAge6"/><ref name="BronzeAge20"/><ref name="Bio101"/><ref name="BronzeAge7"/> Englehart and Rogers' work on the series influenced the 1989 film ''[[Batman (1989 film)|Batman]]'', and was adapted for 1992's ''[[Batman: The Animated Series]]''.<ref name="BronzeAge20"/><ref name="BronzeAge4"/> Rogers expanded on Adams' character design, drawing the Joker with a fedora and trench coat.<ref name="BronzeAge9"/> Englehart outlined how he understood the character by saying that the Joker "was this very crazy, scary character. I really wanted to get back to the idea of Batman fighting insane murderers at 3 a.m. under the full moon, as the clouds scuttled by."<ref name="GoldenAge1"/>
==={{anchor|Modern age}}Modern Age===
Years after the end of the 1966 television series, sales of ''Batman'' continued to fall and the title was nearly canceled. Although the 1970s restored the Joker as an insane, lethal foe of Batman, it was during the 1980s that the ''Batman'' series started to turn around and the Joker came into his own as part of the "Dark Age" of comics: mature tales of death and destruction. The shift was derided for moving away from tamer superheroes (and villains), but comic audiences were no longer primarily children.{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=182}}<ref name="ImpactCBR2"/> Several months after ''[[Crisis on Infinite Earths]]'' launched the era by killing off Silver-Age icons such as [[Flash (comics)|the Flash]] and [[Supergirl]] and undoing decades of continuity,{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=183|quote="DC birthed the Dark Age with the twelve-part Crisis on Infinite Earths. Not only did the series kill off Silver Age icons the Flash and Supergirl, it cleared out decades of continuity bramble..."}} [[Frank Miller (comics)|Frank Miller]]'s ''[[The Dark Knight Returns]]'' (1986) re-imagined Batman as an older, retired hero<ref name="ModernAge2"/> and the Joker as a lipstick-wearing celebrity<ref name="BronzeAge9"/>{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=183}} who cannot function without his foe.<ref name="ModernAge4"/> The late 1980s saw the Joker exert a significant impact on Batman and his supporting cast. In the 1988–89 story arc "[[Batman: A Death in the Family|A Death in the Family]]", the Joker murders Batman's sidekick (the second Robin, [[Jason Todd]]). Todd was unpopular with fans; rather than modify his character, DC opted to let them vote for his fate and a 72-vote plurality had the Joker beat Todd to death with a crowbar. This story altered the Batman universe: instead of killing anonymous bystanders, the Joker murdered a core character in the ''Batman'' fiction; this had a lasting effect on future stories.<ref name="ModernAge5"/>{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=108}} Written at the height of tensions between the United States and Iran, the story's conclusion had Iranian leader [[Ruhollah Khomeini|Ayatollah Khomeini]] appoint the Joker his country's ambassador to the United Nations (allowing him to temporarily escape justice).<ref name="InfoDoG1"/>
[[Alan Moore]] and [[Brian Bolland]]'s 1988 graphic novel ''[[Batman: The Killing Joke|The Killing Joke]]'' expands on the Joker's origins, describing the character as a failed comedian who adopts the identity of Red Hood to support his pregnant wife.<ref name="SilverAge1"/><ref>Greenberger and Manning, p. 38: "Offering keen insight into both the minds of the Joker and Batman, this special is considered by most Batman fans to be the definitive Joker story of all time."</ref> Unlike ''The Dark Knight Returns'', ''The Killing Joke'' takes place in mainstream continuity.{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=188}} The novel is described by critics as one of the greatest Joker stories ever written, influencing later comic stories (including the forced retirement of then-[[Barbara Gordon|Batgirl]] Barbara Gordon after she is paralyzed by the Joker) and films such as 1989's ''Batman'' and 2008's ''[[The Dark Knight (film)|The Dark Knight]]''.<ref name="ModernAge10"/><ref name="ModernAge11"/><ref name="ModernAgeCBR"/> Grant Morrison's 1989 ''[[Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth]]'' explores the psychoses of Batman, the Joker and other rogues in the eponymous facility.<ref name="ModernAge12"/><ref name="ModernAge13"/>
The 1992 animated series introduced the Joker's female sidekick: [[Harley Quinn]], a psychiatrist who falls for—and ends up in an abusive relationship with—the Joker, becoming his [[supervillain]] accomplice. The character was popular, and was adapted into the comics as the Joker's romantic interest in 1999.<ref name="ModernAge15"/> In the same year, [[Alan Grant (writer)|Alan Grant]] and [[Norm Breyfogle]]'s comic book ''[[Anarky (comic book)|Anarky]]'' concluded with the revelation that [[Anarky|the titular character]] was the Joker's son. Breyfogle conceived the idea as a means to expand on Anarky's characterization, but O'Neil (by then the editor for the ''Batman'' series of books) was opposed to it, and only allowed it to be written under protest, and with a promise that the revelation would eventually be revealed incorrect. However, the ''Anarky'' series was cancelled before the rebuttal could be published.<ref name="Anarky"/> The Joker's first major storyline in [[The New 52]], DC Comics' 2011 reboot of story continuity, was 2012's "[[Death of the Family]]" by writer [[Scott Snyder]] and artist [[Greg Capullo]]. The story arc explores the [[Symbiosis|symbiotic relationship]] between Joker and Batman, and sees the villain shatter the trust between Batman and his adopted family.<ref name="GoldenAge2"/><ref name="ModernAge14"/> Capullo's Joker design replaced his traditional outfit with a utilitarian, messy, and disheveled appearance to convey that the character was on a mission; his face (surgically removed in 2011's ''Detective Comics'' #1) was reattached with belts, wires, and hooks, and he was outfitted with mechanics overalls.<ref name="ModernAgeDOTF"/> The Joker's face was restored in Snyder's and Capullo's "[[Batman: Endgame|Endgame]]" (2014), the concluding chapter to "Death of the Family".<ref name="NewsaramaEndgame"/><ref name="Guardian"/>
=={{anchor|Fictional character biography}}Character biography==
The Joker has undergone many revisions since his 1940 debut. The most common interpretation of the character is that he is disguised as the criminal Red Hood and pursued by Batman. The Joker falls into a vat of chemicals that bleaches his skin, colors his hair green and his lips red, and drives him insane. The reasons why the Joker was disguised as the Red Hood, and his identity before his transformation have changed over time.<ref name="GoldenAge1"/>
The character was introduced in ''Batman'' #1 (1940), in which he announces that he will kill three of Gotham's prominent citizens (including Mayor Henry Claridge). Although the police protect Claridge, the Joker had poisoned him before making his announcement and Claridge dies with a ghastly grin on his face; Batman eventually defeats him, sending him to prison.<ref name="JokerBioGeek2"/> The Joker commits whimsical, brutal crimes for reasons that, in Batman's words, "make sense to him alone".<ref name="Bio101"/> ''Detective Comics'' #168 (1951) introduced the Joker's first origin story as Red Hood: a criminal who, during his final heist, vanishes after leaping into a vat of chemicals to escape Batman. His resulting disfigurement led him to adopt the name "Joker", from the playing card figure he came to resemble.<ref name="SilverAge1"/> The Joker's Silver-Age transformation into a figure of fun was established in 1952's "The Joker's Millions". In this story the Joker is obsessed with maintaining his illusion of wealth and celebrity as a criminal folk hero, afraid to let Gotham's citizens know that he is penniless and was tricked out of his fortune.{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=27}} The 1970s redefined the character as a homicidal psychopath. "The Joker's Five-Way Revenge" has the Joker taking violent revenge on the former gang members who betrayed him;<ref name= "BronzeAge10"/> in "The Laughing Fish," the character chemically adds his face to Gotham's fish (hoping to profit from a copyright), killing bureaucrats who stand in his way.<ref name="BronzeAge6"/>
[[File:Alan Moore (2).jpg|thumb|upright|left|alt=An older caucasian male with long, thick hair and matching beard, sits facing the camera.|''The Killing Joke'' author [[Alan Moore]] in 2008. The novel has been described as the greatest Joker story ever told.<ref name="ModernAge10"/><ref name="ModernAge11"/><ref name="ModernAgeCBR"/>]]
''Batman: The Killing Joke'' (1988) built on the Joker's 1951 origin story, portraying him as a failed comedian pressured into committing crime as the Red Hood to support his pregnant wife. Batman's interference causes him to leap into a chemical vat, which disfigures him. This, combined with the trauma of his wife's earlier accidental death, causes him to go insane and become the Joker.<ref name="SilverAge1"/> However, the Joker says that this story may not be true, as he prefers his past to be "multiple choice".<ref name="TKJ"/> In this graphic novel, the Joker shoots and paralyzes Barbara Gordon and tortures her father, [[James Gordon (comics)|Commissioner James Gordon]], to prove that it only takes one bad day to drive a normal man insane.{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=188}} After Batman rescues Gordon and subdues the Joker, he offers to rehabilitate his old foe and end their rivalry. Although the Joker refuses, he shows his appreciation by sharing a joke with Batman.<ref name="PersonalityTKJ"/> Following the character's maiming of Barbara, she became a more important character in the DC Universe: Oracle, a data gatherer and superhero informant, who has her revenge in ''[[Birds of Prey (comics)|Birds of Prey]]'' by shattering the Joker's teeth and destroying his smile.{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=188}}
In the 1988 story "A Death in the Family," the Joker beats Jason Todd with a crowbar and leaves him to die in an explosion. Todd's death haunts Batman, and for the first time he considers killing the Joker.<ref name= "ModernAge5"/> The Joker temporarily escapes justice when Ayatollah [[Ruhollah Khomeini]] appoints him the Iranian ambassador to the [[United Nations]], giving him diplomatic immunity; however, when he tries to poison the UN membership, he is defeated by Batman and [[Superman]].<ref name= "ImpactCBR2"/>
In the 1999 "[[No Man's Land (comics)|No Man's Land]]" storyline, the Joker murders Commissioner Gordon's second wife, [[Sarah Essen Gordon|Sarah]], as she shields a group of infants.<ref name="ComicNoManLand"/> He taunts Gordon, who shoots him in the kneecap. The Joker, lamenting that he may never walk again, collapses with laughter when he realizes that the commissioner has avenged Barbara's paralysis.<ref name="DetectiveComic741"/> This story also introduced the Joker's girlfriend, Harley Quinn.<ref name="ModernAge15"/>
The 2000s began with the [[Fictional crossover|crossover]] story "Emperor Joker", in which the Joker steals [[Mister Mxyzptlk]]'s reality-altering power and remakes the universe in his image (torturing and killing Batman daily, before resurrecting him). When the supervillain then tries to destroy the universe, his reluctance to eliminate Batman makes him lose control, and Superman defeats him.<ref name= "JokerBioGeek3"/> Broken by his experience, Batman's experiences of death are transferred to Superman by [[Spectre (comics)#Hal Jordan, Spirit of Redemption|the Spectre]] so he can heal mentally.<ref name= "ComicEmperorJoker"/> {{anchor|Last_Laugh}} In "[[Last Laugh (comics)|Joker: Last Laugh]]" (2001), the doctors at [[Arkham Asylum]] convince the character that he is dying in an attempt to rehabilitate him. Instead, the Joker (flanked by an army of "Jokerized" supervillains) launches a final crime spree. Believing that Robin ([[Tim Drake]]) has been killed in the chaos, [[Dick Grayson]] beats the Joker to death (although Batman revives his foe to keep Grayson from being a murderer), and the villain succeeds in making a member of the Bat-family break their rule against killing.<ref name="ImpactCBR2"/><ref name="JokerBioGeek2"/>
In "[[Batman: Under the Hood|Under the Hood]]" (2005), a resurrected Todd tries to force Batman to avenge his death by killing the Joker. Batman refuses, arguing that if he allows himself to kill the Joker, he will not be able to stop killing other criminals.<ref name= "ComicUndertheHood"/> The Joker kills [[Alexander Luthor, Jr.|Alexander Luthor]] in ''[[Infinite Crisis]]'' (2005) for excluding him from the [[Secret Society of Super Villains]], which considers him too unpredictable for membership.<ref name="ComicInfiniteCrisis7"/><ref name="DoGIC"/> In Morrison's "[[Batman and Son]]" (2006), a deranged police officer who impersonates Batman shoots the Joker in the face, scarring and disabling him. The supervillain returns in "The Clown at Midnight" (2007) as a cruel, enigmatic force who awakens and tries to kill Harley Quinn to prove to Batman that he has become more than human.{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=195}}<ref name= "ImpactCBR2"/> In the 2008 story arc "[[Batman R.I.P.]]" the Joker is recruited by the Black Glove to destroy Batman, but betrays the group, killing its members one by one.<ref name= "JokerBioGeek2"/> After Batman's apparent death in "[[Final Crisis]]" (2008), Grayson investigates a series of murders (which leads him to a disguised Joker).<ref name="ComicBatmanRobin12"/> The Joker is arrested, and then-Robin [[Damian Wayne]] beats him with a crowbar, paralleling Todd's murder. When the Joker escapes, he attacks the Black Glove, burying its leader [[Simon Hurt]] alive after the supervillain considers him a failure as an opponent; the Joker is then defeated by the recently returned Batman.<ref name="InfoCA1"/><ref name="InfoCA2"/><ref name="ComicBatmanRobin16"/>
In DC's New 52, a 2011 relaunch of its titles following ''[[Flashpoint (comics)|Flashpoint]]'', the Joker has his own face cut off.<ref name="JokerBioGeek"/> He disappears for a year, returning to launch an attack on Batman's extended family in "Death of the Family" so he and Batman can be the best hero and villain they can be.<ref name="DotF1"/> At the end of the storyline, the Joker falls off a cliff into a dark abyss.<ref name="DotF1"/><ref name= "DOTFGuardian"/> The Joker returns in the 2014 storyline "Endgame" in which he brainwashes the Justice League into attacking Batman, believing he has betrayed their relationship.<ref name="IGNEndgame"/><ref name="IGNEndgame2"/> The story implies that the Joker is immortal—having existed for centuries in Gotham as a cause of tragedy after exposure to a substance the Joker terms 'dionesium'—and is able to regenerate from mortal injuries. "Endgame" restores the Joker's face, and also reveals that he knows Batman's secret identity.<ref name= "NewsaramaEndgame"/> The story ends with the apparent deaths of Batman and the Joker at each other's hands, though it is revealed that they were both resurrected in a life-restoring [[Lazarus Pit]], without their memories.<ref name= "Guardian"/><ref name="PostEndGameRama"/>
At the conclusion of the "Darkseid War" storyline, Batman used [[Metron (comics)|Metron]]'s Mobius Chair to know the Joker's true name. The Mobius Chair revealed there are "three separate versions" of him on the loose.<ref>''Justice League'' Vol. 2 #50 (2016). DC Comics.</ref>
==={{anchor|Various origins}}Origins===
{{Quote box|width=27%|align=right|quote= "They've given many origins of the Joker, how he came to be. That doesn't seem to matter—just how he is now. I never intended to give a reason for his appearance. We discussed that and Bill [Finger] and I never wanted to change it at that time. I thought—and he agreed—that it takes away some of the essential mystery."|source=– Jerry Robinson, the Joker's creator{{sfn|Langley|2012|p=180}}|style=padding:10px; background-color: #EFEFEF;}}
Though a number of [[backstory|backstories]] have been given, a definitive one has not yet been established for the Joker. An [[unreliable narrator]], the character is uncertain of who he was before and how he became the Joker: "Sometimes I remember it one way, sometimes another&nbsp;... if I'm going to have a past, I prefer it to be multiple choice!"<ref name= "Origin3"/><ref name="TKJ"/> A story about the Joker's origin appeared in ''Detective Comics'' #168 (February 1951), nearly a decade after the character's debut. Here, the character is a laboratory worker who becomes the Red Hood (a masked criminal) to steal a million dollars from his employer and retire. He falls into a vat of chemical waste when his heist is thwarted by Batman, emerging with bleached white skin, red lips, green hair and a permanent grin.<ref name="Origin1"/><ref name= "Origin2"/>
This story was the basis for the most often-cited origin tale, Moore's [[One-shot (comics)|one-shot]] ''The Killing Joke''.<ref name= "ModernAge11"/> The Joker quits his job as a lab assistant, becoming a stand-up comedian to support his pregnant wife. Unsuccessful, he agrees to help mobsters with a robbery and dons the Red Hood. The heist goes awry; the comedian leaps into a chemical vat to escape Batman, surfacing disfigured. This, combined with the earlier accidental death of his wife and unborn child, drives the comedian insane and he becomes the Joker.<ref name="SilverAge1"/><ref name="ImpactCBR2"/> This version has been cited in many stories, including ''[[Batman: The Man Who Laughs]]'' (in which Batman deduces that the Red Hood survived his fall and became the Joker), ''Batman'' #450 (in which the Joker dons the Red Hood to aid his recovery after the events in ''A Death in the Family'', but finds the experience too traumatic) and "Death of the Family."<ref name="Origin2"/> Other stories have expanded on this origin; "[[Batman: Gotham Knights|Pushback]]" explains that the Joker's wife was murdered by a corrupt policeman working for the mobsters,<ref name="OriginPushback"/> and "Payback" gives the Joker's first name as "Jack."<ref name="Origin2"/>
However, the Joker's unreliable memory has allowed writers to develop other origins for the character.<ref name="Origin2"/> "Case Study," a [[Paul Dini]]-[[Alex Ross]] story, describes the Joker as a sadistic gangster who creates the Red Hood identity to continue the thrill of small-time criminality. He has his fateful first meeting with Batman, which results in his disfigurement. It is suggested that the Joker is sane, and feigns insanity to avoid the death penalty. In ''[[Batman Confidential]]'' (#7–12), the character, Jack, is a talented criminal who is bored with his work. He encounters (and becomes obsessed with) Batman during a heist, embarking on a crime spree to attract his attention. After Jack injures Batman's girlfriend, Batman scars Jack's face with a [[Glasgow smile|permanent grin]] and betrays him to a group of mobsters, who torture him in a chemical plant. Jack escapes, but falls into an empty vat as gunfire punctures chemical tanks above him. The flood of chemicals (used in [[anti-psychotic]] medication) alters his appearance and completes his transformation.<ref name="ComicBatmanConfidential"/> The superhero [[Atom (comics)|Atom]] sees the Joker's memory of burning his parents alive (after they find him killing animals) in ''[[The Brave and the Bold]]'' #31,<ref name="BraveandBold31Review"/> and Snyder's "[[Batman: Zero Year|Zero Year]]" (2013) suggests that the pre-disfigured Joker was a criminal mastermind leading a gang of Red Hoods.<ref name="IGNEndgame"/><ref name="OriginZeroYear"/>
The Joker has claimed a number of origins, including being the child of an abusive father who broke his nose, and the long-lived jester of an Egyptian pharaoh. As Batman says, "Like any other comedian, he uses whatever material will work."{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=136}}
===Alternative versions===
{{Main|Alternative versions of Joker}}
A number of [[parallel universe (fiction)|alternate universes]] in DC Comics publications allow writers to introduce variations on the Joker, in which the character's origins, behavior, and morality differ from the mainstream setting.<ref name="Multiverse"/> ''The Dark Knight Returns'' depicts the final battle between an aged Batman and Joker; others portray the aftermath of the Joker's death at the hands of a number of characters, including Superman.<ref name="JokerBioGeek3"/><ref name="OtherInjustice"/> Still others describe distant futures in which the Joker is a computer virus or a hero trying to defeat the era's tyrannical Batman.{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=38}} In some stories, the Joker is someone else entirely; "[[Flashpoint (comics)|Flashpoint]]" features Batman's mother [[Martha Wayne]] as the Joker in response to her son's murder,<ref name="OtherFlashpoint"/> and in ''[[Superman: Speeding Bullets]]'', [[Lex Luthor]] becomes the Joker in a world where Superman is Batman.<ref name="OtherSpeeding"/>
==Characterization==
Renowned as Batman's greatest enemy,<ref name="ImpactRama2013"/><ref name="GRadarGreatest"/><ref name="IGNRogues"/><ref name="DOGGreatest"/> the Joker is known by a number of nicknames, including the Clown Prince of Crime, the Harlequin of Hate, the Ace of Knaves, and the Jester of Genocide.<ref name="IGNRogues"/><ref name="Nicknames"/> During the evolution of the [[DC Universe]], interpretations and versions of the Joker have taken two forms. The original, dominant image is that of an extreme [[Psychopathy|psychopath]],{{sfn|Langley|2012|p=130}} with genius-level intelligence and a warped, sadistic sense of humor.<ref name="CrackingUp"/><ref name="ComicsComix"/> The other version, popular in comic books from the late 1940s to the 1960s and in the 1960s television series, is an eccentric, harmless prankster and thief.{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=69}} Like other long-lived characters, the Joker's character and cultural interpretations have changed with time, however unlike other characters who may need to reconcile or ignore previous versions to make sense, more than any other comic book character, the Joker thrives on his mutable and irreconcilable identities.{{sfn|Weiner|Peaslee|2015|p=33}} The Joker is typically seen in a purple suit with a long-tailed, padded-shoulder jacket, a string tie, gloves, striped pants and [[Spats (footwear)|spats]] on pointed-toe shoes (sometimes with a wide-brimmed hat). This appearance is such a fundamental aspect of the character that when the 2004 animated series ''[[The Batman (TV series)|The Batman]]'' placed the Joker in a straitjacket, it quickly redesigned him in his familiar suit.{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=69}}
The Joker is obsessed with Batman, the pair representing a yin-yang of opposing dark and light force; although it is the Joker who represents humor and color and Batman who dwells in the dark.{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=37}} No crime – including murder, theft, and terrorism – is beyond the Joker, and his exploits are theatrical performances that are funny to him alone. Spectacle is more important than success for the Joker, and if it is not spectacular it is boring.{{sfn|Weiner|Peaslee|2015|p=XIX}} Although the Joker claims indifference to everything, he secretly craves Batman's attention and validation.{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=105}}<ref name="BronzeAge6"/> The character was described as having killed over 2,000 people in ''[[The Joker: Devil's Advocate]]'' (1996). Despite this body count, he is always found [[Insanity defense|not guilty by reason of insanity]] and sent to Arkham Asylum, avoiding the death penalty.<ref name="JokerDevilsAdvocate"/>{{sfn|Langley|2012|p=162–163}} Many of the Joker's acts attempt to force Batman to kill; if the most orderly and self-controlled of humans can murder, anyone is capable of becoming a monster like the Joker. The villain displays no instinct for self-preservation, and is willing to die to prove his point.<ref name="ImpactMoral3"/> The Joker is the "personification of the irrational," and represents "everything Batman [opposes]."<ref>{{cite book|first=Bill|last=Boichel|chapter=Batman: Commodity as Myth|title=The Many Lives of the Batman: Critical Approaches to a Superhero and His Media|publisher=[[Routledge]]|location=London, England|date=1991|ISBN=978-0-85170-276-6|pages=6–7}}</ref>
===Personality===
[[File:ComicCon2008jerryrobinson.jpg|upright|thumb|alt=Smiling, bearded white-haired man|Joker co-creator [[Jerry Robinson]] in 2008; he conceived the Joker as an exotic, enduring arch-villain who could repeatedly challenge Batman.]]
The Joker's main characteristic is his apparent insanity, although he is not described as having any particular psychological disorder. Like a psychopath, he lacks empathy, a conscience, and concern over right and wrong. In ''Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth'', the Joker is described as capable of processing outside sensory information only by adapting to it. This enables him to create a new personality every day (depending on what would benefit him) and explains why, at different times, he is a mischievous clown or a psychopathic killer.{{sfn|Langley|2012|pp=180–181}} In "The Clown at Midnight" (Batman #663, 2007), the Joker enters a meditative state where he evaluates his previous selves to consciously create a new personality, effectively modifying himself for his needs.{{sfn|Weiner|Peaslee|2015|p=217}}
''The Killing Joke'' (in which the Joker is the [[unreliable narrator]]) explains the roots of his insanity as "one bad day": losing his wife and unborn child and being disfigured by chemicals, paralleling Batman's origin in the loss of his parents. He tries (and fails) to prove that anyone can become like him after one bad day by torturing Commissioner Gordon, physically and psychologically.<ref name="Personality2"/>{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=188}} Batman offers to rehabilitate his foe; the Joker apologetically declines, believing it too late for him to be saved.<ref name="PersonalityTKJ"/> Other interpretations show that the Joker is fully aware of how his actions affect others and that his insanity as merely an act.{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=37}} Comics scholar [[Peter Coogan]] describes the Joker as trying to reshape reality to fit himself by imposing his face on his victims (and fish) in an attempt to make the world comprehensible by creating a twisted parody of himself. Englehart's "The Laughing Fish" demonstrates the character's illogical nature: trying to copyright fish that bear his face, and not understanding why threatening the copyright clerk cannot produce the desired result.{{sfn|Langley|2012|pp=183–184}}<ref name="BronzeAge20"/>
The Joker is alternatively depicted as sexual and asexual.{{sfn|Duncan Smith|2013|p=379}} In ''The Dark Knight Returns'' and ''Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth'', the Joker is seductive toward Batman; it is uncertain if their relationship has [[homoerotic]] undertones or if the Joker is simply trying to manipulate his nemesis. Frank Miller interpreted the character as fixated on death and uninterested in sexual relationships, while Robinson believes that the Joker is capable of a romantic relationship.{{sfn|Duncan Smith|2013|p=379}} His relationship with Harley Quinn is abusively paradoxical; although the Joker keeps her at his side, he heedlessly harms her (for example, throwing her out a window without seeing if she survives). Harley loves him but the Joker does not reciprocate her feelings, chiding her for distracting him from other plans.{{sfn|Langley|2012|pp=177–180}}
Snyder's "Death of the Family" describes the Joker as in love with Batman, although not in a traditionally romantic way. The Joker believes that Batman has not killed him because he makes Batman better, and he loves the villain for that.<ref name="ModernAge14"/><ref name="CharacterDOTF"/> ''Batman'' comic book writer [[Peter Tomasi]] concurred, stating that the Joker's main goal is to make Batman the best that he can be.{{sfn|Weiner|Peaslee|2015|p=XXI}} The Joker and Batman represent opposites: the extroverted Joker wears colorful clothing and embraces chaos, while the introverted, monochromatic Batman represents order and discipline. The Joker is often depicted as defining his existence through his conflict with Batman. In 1994's "Going Sane," the villain tries to lead a normal life after Batman's (apparent) death, only to become his old self again when Batman reappears; in "Emperor Joker", an apparently omnipotent Joker cannot destroy Batman without undoing himself. Since the Joker is simply "the Joker," he believes that Batman is "Batman" (with or without the costume) and has no interest in what is behind Batman's mask, ignoring opportunities to learn Batman's secret identity.{{sfn|Manning|2011|pp=37–38}}<ref name="JokerBioGeek3"/> Given the opportunity to kill Batman, the villain demurs; he believes that without their game, winning is pointless.{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=105}} The character has no desire for typical criminal goals like money or power; his criminality is designed only to continue his game with Batman.<ref name="JokerBioGeek"/>
The Joker is portrayed as having no fear; when fellow supervillain [[Scarecrow (DC Comics)|Scarecrow]] doses him with fear toxin in ''[[Batman: Knightfall|Knightfall]]'' (1993), the Joker merely laughs and says, "Boo!"<ref name="DetectiveComic664"/> The villain has been temporarily rendered sane by several means, including [[telepathy|telepathic]] manipulation by the [[Martian Manhunter]]<ref name="PersonalityTKJ"/> and being resurrected in a Lazarus Pit (an experience typically inducing temporary insanity in the subject). At these moments, the Joker is depicted as expressing remorse for his acts;<ref name="ComicLotDarkKnight145"/><ref name="ComicJLA15"/> however, during a medically induced period of partial sanity in ''[[Batman: Cacophony]]'' he tells his opponent, "I don't hate you 'cause I'm crazy. I'm crazy 'cause I hate you," and confirms that he will only stop murdering when Batman is dead.<ref name="CraveCacophony"/><ref name="ComicCacophony"/>
===Skills and equipment<!--'Joker venom' redirects here-->===
The Joker has no inherent superhuman abilities.<ref name="ImpactWhatCulture"/> He commits crimes with a variety of weaponized thematic props such as a deck of razor-tipped playing cards, rolling marbles, [[jack-in-the-box]]es with unpleasant surprises and exploding cigars capable of leveling a building. The flower in his lapel sprays acid, and his hand often holds a lethal joy buzzer conducting a million volts of electricity, although both items were introduced in 1952 as harmless joke items.{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=70}}<ref name="JokerGadgets"/> However, his chemical genius provides his most-notable weapon: Joker venom, a liquid or gaseous toxin that sends its targets into fits of uncontrollable laughter; higher doses can lead to paralysis, coma or death, leaving its victim with a ghoulish, pained rictus grin. The Joker has used venom since his debut; only he knows the formula, and is shown to be gifted enough to manufacture the toxin from ordinary household chemicals. Another version of the venom (used in "Joker: Last Laugh") makes its victims resemble the Joker, susceptible to his orders.<ref name="BronzeAge6"/><ref name="JokerBioGeek2"/><ref name="WeaponsVenom"/>{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=69, 124}} The villain is immune to venom and most poisons; in ''Batman'' #663 (2007), Morrison writes that being "an avid consumer of his own chemical experiments, the Joker's immunity to poison concoctions that might kill another man in an instant has been developed over years of dedicated abuse."<ref name="Batman663"/>{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=69}}
The character's arsenal is inspired by his nemesis' weaponry, such as [[batarang]]s. In "The Joker's Utility Belt" (1952), he mimicked [[Batman's utility belt]] with non-lethal items, such as Mexican jumping beans and sneezing powder.{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=70}} In 1942's "The Joker Follows Suit" the villain built his versions of the [[Batplane]] and [[Batmobile]], the Jokergyro and Jokermobile (the latter with a large Joker face on its hood), and created a Joker signal with which criminals could summon him for their heists.{{sfn|Manning|2011|pp=70,75}} The Jokermobile lasted for several decades, evolving with the Batmobile. His technical genius is not limited by practicality, allowing him to hijack Gotham's television airwaves to issue threats, transform buildings into death traps, launch a gas attack on the city and rain poisoned glass shards on its citizens from an airship.{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=75}}<ref name="IGNJokerStories"/>
The Joker is portrayed as skilled in [[melee]] combat, from his initial appearances when he defeats Batman in a sword fight (nearly killing him), and others when he overwhelms Batman but declines to kill him.{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=24, 37–38, 105}} He is talented with firearms, although even his guns are theatrical; his long-barreled revolver often releases a flag reading "Bang", and a second trigger-pull launches the flag to skewer its target.{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=70}}<ref name="Debut"/> Although formidable in combat, the Joker's chief asset is his mind.{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=38}}
===Relationships===
{{see also|List of Batman Family enemies}}
The Joker's unpredictable, homicidal nature makes him one of the most feared supervillains in the DC Universe; the [[Trickster (comics)|Trickster]] says in the 1995 mini-series ''[[Underworld Unleashed]]'', "When villains want to scare each other, they tell Joker stories."<ref name="BatmanUnauthorized"/><ref name="UnderworldUnleashed"/> Gotham's villains also feel threatened by the character; depending on the circumstances, he is as likely to fight with his rivals for control of the city as he is to join them for an entertaining outcome.{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=83}} The Joker interacts with other supervillains who oppose Batman, whether he is on the streets or in Arkham Asylum. He has collaborated with criminals like the [[Penguin (character)|Penguin]], the [[Riddler]] and [[Two-Face]], although these partnerships rarely end well due to the Joker's desire for unbridled chaos, and uses his stature to lead others (such as [[Killer Croc]] and the Scarecrow).{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=83, 86}} The Joker's greatest rival is the smartest man in the world, Lex Luthor. Although they have a friendly partnership in 1950's ''World's Finest Comics'' #88, later unions emphasized their mutual hostility and clashing egos.{{sfn|Manning|2011|pp=86,93}}
Despite his tendency to kill subordinates on a whim, the Joker has no difficulty attracting henchmen with a seemingly infinite cash supply and intimidation: they are too afraid of their employer to refuse his demands that they wear red clown noses or laugh at macabre jokes.{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=75}} Even with his unpredictability and lack of superhuman powers, the 2007 limited series ''Salvation Run'' sees hundreds of villains fall under his spell because they are more afraid of him than the alternative: Luthor.{{sfn|Manning|2011|pp=124, 126}} ''Batman'' #186 (1966) introduced the Joker's first sidekick: the one-shot character, Gaggy Gagsworth, who is short, and dressed like a clown; the character was later resurrected as an enemy of his replacement, Harley Quinn.<ref name="SidekickGaggy"/><ref name="SidekickGaggy2"/> Introduced in the 1992 animated series, Quinn is the Joker's former Arkham psychiatrist who develops an obsessive infatuation with him and dons a red-and-black [[harlequin]] costume to join him in the 1999 graphic novel ''Batman: Harley Quinn''. Although Quinn loves the Joker, he is obsessed with Batman and uses her to achieve his goals at her expense. Despite violent abuse, she returns to him.{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=143, 152}}<ref name="SidekickGaggy2"/> The Joker is sometimes shown to keep [[hyena]]s as pets; this trait was introduced in the 1977 animated series ''[[The New Adventures of Batman]]''.{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=75}} A 1976 issue of ''[[Batman Family]]'' introduced [[Duela Dent]] as the Joker's daughter, though her parentage claim was later proven to be false.{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=177}}
Although his chief obsession is Batman, the character has occasionally ventured outside Gotham City to fight Batman's superhero allies. In "To Laugh and Die in Metropolis" (1987) the character kidnaps [[Lois Lane]], distracting Superman with a nuclear weapon. The story is notable for the Joker taking on a (relative) god and the ease with which Superman defeats him—it took only 17 pages. Asked why he came to Metropolis, the Joker replies simply: "Oh Superman, why not?"{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=121}} In 1995, the Joker fought his third major DC hero: [[Wonder Woman]], who drew on the Greek god of trickery to temper the Joker's humor and shatter his confidence.{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=121–122, 124}} The character has joined supervillain groups like the [[Injustice Gang]] and the [[Injustice League]], to take on superhero groups like the Justice League.<ref name="Teamup1"/><ref name="Teamup2"/>
==Cultural impact and legacy==
[[File:Batman villains The Penguin The Riddler The Joker 1967.JPG|left|upright|thumb|alt=Three smiling live-action villains next to electronic equipment|[[Cesar Romero]] as the Joker in the 1966 movie ''Batman'' (based on the TV series of the same name), with [[Burgess Meredith]] (left) as the Penguin and [[Frank Gorshin]] as the Riddler]]
The Joker is considered one of the most-recognizable and iconic fictional characters in popular culture (Batman's arguable equal),<ref name="ImpactIGN2"/><ref name="ImpactComplex"/><ref name="LubbockOnline"/> one of the best comic villains, and one of the greatest villains of all time.<ref name="ImpactLATimes"/><ref name="ImpactIGNHero"/> The character was well-liked following his debut, appearing in nine out of the first twelve ''Batman'' issues, and remained one of Batman's most popular foes throughout his publication.<ref name="CBR75Greatest"/> The character is considered one of the four top comic book characters, alongside Batman, Superman, and [[Spider-Man]].<ref name="LubbockOnline"/> Indeed, when DC Comics released the original series of ''Greatest Stories Ever Told'' (1987–1988) featuring collections of stories about heroes like Batman and Superman, the Joker was the only villain included alongside them.{{sfn|Weiner|Peaslee|2015|p=XVIII}} The character has been the focus of ethical discussion on the desirability of Batman (who adheres to an unbreakable code forbidding killing) saving lives by murdering the Joker (a relentless dealer of death). These debates weigh the positive (stopping the Joker permanently) against its effect on Batman's character and the possibility that he might begin killing all criminals.<ref name="ImpactMoral3"/><ref name="ImpactMoral1"/><ref name="ImpactMoral2"/>
In 2006, the Joker was number one on ''[[Wizard (magazine)|Wizard]]'' magazine's "100 Greatest Villains of All Time."<ref name="ImpactWizard"/> In 2008 ''Wizard''{{'}}s list of "200 Greatest Comic Book Characters of All Time" placed the Joker fifth,<ref name="ImpactWizard2"/> and the character was eighth on ''[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]''{{'}}s list of "50 Greatest Comic Book Characters" (the highest-ranked villain on both lists).<ref name="ImpactEmpire"/> In 2009, the Joker was second on [[IGN]]'s list of "Top 100 Comic Book Villains,"<ref name="ImpactIGN"/> and in 2011, ''[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]'' named him "Comics' Greatest Supervillain."<ref name="ImpactWired"/> ''[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]'', [[CollegeHumor]], and WhatCulture named the Joker the greatest comic book villain of all time<ref name="ImpactComplex"/><ref name="ImpactWhatCulture"/><ref name="ImpactCHumor2013"/> while IGN listed him the top DC Comics villain in 2013,<ref name="ImpactIGN2013"/> and [[Newsarama]] as the greatest Batman villain.<ref name="ImpactRama2013"/>
The Joker's popularity (and his role as Batman's enemy) has involved the character in most ''Batman''-related media, from television to video games.<ref name="ImpactCBR"/><ref name="Origin3"/> These adaptations of the character have been received positively<ref name="GoldenAge2"/> on film,<ref name="ImpactAFI100" /><ref name="ImpactTime2013"/> television,<ref name="ImpactTVGuide"/> and in video games.<ref name="ImpactGRadar"/> As in the comics, the character's personality and appearance shift; he is campy, ferocious or unstable, depending on the author and the intended audience.<ref name="GoldenAge2"/>
The character inspired theme-park roller coasters ([[The Joker's Jinx]],<ref name="CulturalCoaster2"/><ref name="CulturalCoaster1"/> [[The Joker (Six Flags Mexico)|The Joker in Mexico]] and [[The Joker (Six Flags Discovery Kingdom)|California]],<ref name="CulturalCoaster5"/><ref name="CulturalCoaster10"/> and The Joker Chaos Coaster),<ref name="CulturalCoaster50"/> and featured in story-based rides such as Justice League: Battle for Metropolis.<ref name="CulturalCoaster50"/> The Joker is one of the few comic book supervillains to be represented on children's merchandise and toys, appearing on items including action figures, trading cards, board games, money boxes, pajamas, socks, and shoes.{{sfn|Weiner|Peaslee|2015|p=19}}<ref name="LubbockOnline"/> The Jokermobile was a popular toy; a Corgi [[Die-cast toy|die-cast metal]] replica was successful during the 1950s, and in the 1970s a Joker-styled, [[Flower power]]-era [[Volkswagen Type 2|Volkswagen microbus]] was manufactured by [[Mego Corporation|Mego]].{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=75}}  In 2015, "The Joker: A Serious Study of the Clown Prince of Crime" became the first academic book to be published about a supervillain.<ref name="LubbockOnline"/>
===Literary analysis===
[[File:Joker expo.jpg|thumb|alt=A large playing card bearing the Joker's face stands before a series of art works featuring the Joker|A 2015 art exhibition at the [[Barcelona International Comics Convention]] focused on the Joker, celebrating the character's 75th anniversary.<ref name="SalondeBarcelona"/>]]
Since the Bronze Age of Comics, the Joker has been interpreted as an archetypal [[trickster]], displaying talents for cunning intelligence, social engineering, pranks, theatricality, and [[idiom]]atic humor. Like the trickster, the Joker alternates between malicious violence and clever, harmless whimsy.{{sfn|Weiner|Peaslee|2015|p=109, 195}} He is amoral and not driven by ethical considerations, but by a shameless and insatiable nature, and although his actions are condemned as evil, he is necessary for cultural robustness.{{sfn|Weiner|Peaslee|2015|p=111}} The trickster employs amoral and immoral acts to destabilize the status quo and reveal cultural, political, and ethical hypocrisies that society attempts to ignore.{{sfn|Weiner|Peaslee|2015|p=109}} However, the Joker differs in that his actions typically only benefit himself.{{sfn|Weiner|Peaslee|2015|p=112}} The Joker possesses abnormal body imagery, reflecting an inversion of order. The trickster is simultaneously subhuman and superhuman, a being that indicates a lack of unity in body and mind.{{sfn|Weiner|Peaslee|2015|p=195}} In ''Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth'', the Joker serves as Batman's trickster guide through the hero's own psyche, testing him in various ways before ultimately offering to cede his rule of the Asylum to Batman.{{sfn|Weiner|Peaslee|2015|p=205}}
Rather than the typical [[anarchism|anarchist]] interpretation, others have analysed the character as a [[Marxism|Marxist]] (opposite to Batman's capitalist), arguing that anarchism requires the rejection of all authority in favor of uncontrolled freedom.{{sfn|Weiner|Peaslee|2015|p=95}} The Joker rejects most authority, but retains his own, using his actions to coerce and consolidate power in himself and convert the masses to his own way of thinking, while eliminating any that oppose him.{{sfn|Weiner|Peaslee|2015|p=21}} In ''The Killing Joke'', the Joker is an abused member of the [[Proletariat|underclass]] who is driven insane by failings of the social system.{{sfn|Weiner|Peaslee|2015|p=96}} The Joker rejects material needs, and his first appearance in ''Batman'' #1 sees him perpetrate crimes against Gotham's wealthiest men and the judge who had sent him to prison.{{sfn|Weiner|Peaslee|2015|p=98}} Batman is wealthy, yet the Joker is able to triumph through his own innovations.{{sfn|Weiner|Peaslee|2015|p=99}}
Ryan Litsey described the Joker as an example of a "[[Philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche|Nietzschean Superman]]," arguing that a fundamental aspect of [[Friedrich Nietzsche]]'s [[Übermensch|Superman]], the "will to power," is exemplified in all of the Joker's actions, providing a [[Master–slave morality|master morality]] to Batman's slave morality.{{sfn|Weiner|Peaslee|2015|p=22}} The character's indomitable "will to power" means he is never discouraged by being caught or defeated and he is not restrained by guilt or remorse.{{sfn|Weiner|Peaslee|2015|p=185}} Joker represents the master, who creates rules and defines them, who judges others without needing approval, and for whom something is good because it benefits him.{{sfn|Weiner|Peaslee|2015|p=185-6}} He creates his own morality and is bound only by his own rules without aspiring to something higher than himself, unlike Batman, the slave, who makes a distinction between good and evil, and is bound to rules outside of himself (such as his avoidance of killing), in his quest for justice.{{sfn|Weiner|Peaslee|2015|p=187-8}} The Joker has no defined origin story that requires him to question how he came to be, as like the Superman he does not regret or assess the past and only moves forward.{{sfn|Weiner|Peaslee|2015|p=189}}
The Joker's controlling and abusive relationship with Harley Quinn has been analyzed as a means of the Joker reinforcing his own belief in his power in a world where he may be killed or neutralized by another villain or Batman.{{sfn|Weiner|Peaslee|2015|p=83–84}} Joker mirrors his identity through Harley in her appearance, and even though he may ignore or act indifferent towards her, he continues to try to subject her to his control.{{sfn|Weiner|Peaslee|2015|p=83–84}} When Harley successfully defeats Batman in ''[[The Batman Adventures: Mad Love|Mad Love]]'' (1994), the Joker, emasculated by his own failure, severely injures her out of fear of what the other villains will think of him; however, while Harley recovers, the Joker sends her flowers, which she accepts, reasserting his control over her.{{sfn|Weiner|Peaslee|2015|p=86–87}}
Harley's co-creator, Paul Dini, describes their relationship as Harley being someone who makes the Joker feel better about himself, and who can do the work that he does not want to do himself.{{sfn|Weiner|Peaslee|2015|p=87}} In the 1999 one-shot comic ''Batman: Harley Quinn'', the Joker decides to kill Harley, after admitting that he does care for her, that their relationship is romantic, and that these feelings prevent him from fulfilling his purpose.{{sfn|Weiner|Peaslee|2015|p=85–86}} Removing the traditional male-female relationship, such as in the ''Batman: Thrillkiller'' storyline where the Joker (Bianca Steeplechase) is a female and involved in a [[lesbian]] relationship with Harley, their relationship lacks any aspects of violence or subjugation.{{sfn|Weiner|Peaslee|2015|p=90–91}}
===In other media===
{{Main|Joker in other media}}
{{multiple image
| direction = horizontal
| align = left
| footer = [[Mark Hamill]] voiced the Joker in animation and video games for two decades, and [[Heath Ledger]] won a posthumous Academy Award for [[The Joker (The Dark Knight)|his interpretation of the character]] in 2008's ''[[The Dark Knight (film)|The Dark Knight]]''.
| image1 = Mark Hamill by Gage Skidmore.jpg
| width1 = 131
| alt1 = Smiling, middle-aged man in black jacket and shirt
| image2 = Heath Ledger (Berlin Film Festival 2006) revised.jpg
| width2 = 146
| alt2 = Young man with short beard, looking past the camera
}}
The Joker has appeared in a variety of media, including television series, animated and live-action films. [[WorldCat]] (a catalog of libraries in 170 countries) records over 250 productions featuring the Joker as a subject, including films, books, and video games,{{sfn|Weiner|Peaslee|2015|p=19}} and Batman films featuring the character are typically the most successful.{{sfn|Weiner|Peaslee|2015|p=XXI}} The character's earliest on-screen adaptation was in the 1966 television series ''Batman'' and its film adaptation ''[[Batman (1966 film)|Batman]]'', in which he was played as a cackling prankster by Cesar Romero (reflecting his contemporary comic counterpart).<ref name="ImpactIGN2"/><ref name="Media4"/><ref name="Media66"/> The Joker then appeared in the animated television series ''[[The Adventures of Batman]]'' (1968, voiced by [[Larry Storch]]),<ref name="MediaStorch"/> ''The New Adventures of Batman'' (1977, voiced by [[Lennie Weinrib]])<ref name="MediaWeinrib"/> and ''[[The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians]]'' (1985, voiced by [[Frank Welker]]).<ref name="MediaWelker"/><ref name="MediaWelker2"/>
A darker version of the Joker (played by [[Jack Nicholson]]) made his film debut in 1989's ''Batman'', which earned over $400&nbsp;million at the worldwide box office. The role was a defining performance in Nicholson's career and was considered to overshadow Batman's, with film critic [[Roger Ebert]] saying that the audience must sometimes remind themselves not to root for the Joker.<ref name="Media3"/><ref name="MediaEbert"/> ''Batman''{{'}}s success led to the 1992 television series, ''[[Batman: The Animated Series]]''. Voiced by [[Mark Hamill]], the Joker retained the darker tone of the comics in stories acceptable for young children.<ref name="Media1"/><ref name="Media2"/> Hamill's Joker is considered a defining portrayal, and he voiced the character in spin-off films (1993's ''[[Batman: Mask of the Phantasm]]'' and 2000's ''[[Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker]]''), video games (2001's ''[[Batman: Vengeance]]''), related series (1996's ''[[Superman: The Animated Series]]'', 2000's ''[[Static Shock]]'' and 2001's ''[[Justice League (TV series)|Justice League]]''), action figures, toys and amusement-park voiceovers.<ref name="Media8"/><ref name="Media9"/><ref name="MediaSShock"/>{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=17}} A redesigned Joker, voiced by [[Kevin Michael Richardson]], appeared in 2004's ''The Batman''; Richardson was the first African-American to play the character.<ref name="MediaTheBatman"/><ref name="MediaTheBatman2"/>
After [[Christopher Nolan]]'s successful 2005 Batman film reboot, ''[[Batman Begins]]'', which ended with a teaser for [[The Joker (The Dark Knight)|the Joker]]'s involvement in a sequel, the character appeared in 2008's ''The Dark Knight'', played by [[Heath Ledger]] as an avatar of anarchy and chaos.<ref name="Media5"/><ref name="MediaTDK"/> While ''Batman Begins'' earned a worldwide total of $370&nbsp;million;<ref name="MediaTDK4"/> ''The Dark Knight'' earned over $1&nbsp;billion and was the highest-grossing film of the year, setting several box-office records (including highest-grossing midnight opening, opening day and opening weekend).<ref name="MediaTDK2"/><ref name="MediaTDK3"/> Ledger won a posthumous [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor]] for his performance, the first acting Oscar ever won for a superhero film.<ref name="Media6"/><ref name="Media7"/> The Joker has featured in a number of animated projects, such as 2009's ''[[Batman: The Brave and the Bold]]'' (voiced by [[Jeff Bennett]])<ref name="MediaTBatB"/> and 2011's ''[[Young Justice (TV series)|Young Justice]]'' (voiced by [[Brent Spiner]]),<ref name="MediaYJ"/> and comic book adaptations (including 2010's ''[[Batman: Under the Red Hood]]'', in which he is voiced by [[John DiMaggio]]). In 2012, [[Michael Emerson]] voiced the character in a two-part animated adaptation of ''[[Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (film)|The Dark Knight Returns]]''.<ref name="Media12"/><ref name="Media13"/> The television series ''[[Gotham (TV series)|Gotham]]'' (2014–2019) explores the mythology of the Joker through twin brothers "[[Jerome and Jeremiah Valeska]]" played by [[Cameron Monaghan]].<ref name="Gotham1" /> [[Jared Leto]] portrayed the Joker in ''[[Suicide Squad (film)|Suicide Squad]]'' (2016),<ref name="MediaSuicide"/> while [[Zach Galifianakis]] voiced him in ''[[The Lego Batman Movie]]'' (2017).<ref name="MediaTLBM"/> ''[[Joker (2019 film)|Joker]]'', a standalone film based starring [[Joaquin Phoenix]] as the eponymous character, was released in 2019. The film broke several box-office records and received critical acclaim for Phoenix's performance, and criticism for its portrayal of mental illness and violence.<ref name="WaPo: Divisive"/><ref name="THR: GoldenLion"/><ref name="THR: Critics"/><ref name="Joker2019BORecords"/>
The Joker has also been featured in video games. Hamill returned to voice the character in 2009's critically acclaimed ''[[Batman: Arkham Asylum]]'', its equally praised 2011 sequel ''[[Batman: Arkham City]]'' and the multiplayer ''[[DC Universe Online]]''.<ref name="MediaDCU"/> Hamill was replaced by [[Troy Baker]] for the 2013 prequel, ''[[Batman: Arkham Origins]]'', and the ''Arkham'' series' animated {{nowrap|spin-off}} ''[[Batman: Assault on Arkham]]'',<ref name="Media8"/><ref name="Media10"/><ref name="Media11"/><ref name="AssaultonArkham"/> while Hamill returned for the 2015 series finale, ''[[Batman: Arkham Knight]]''.<ref name="GameArkKnight"/> [[Richard Epcar]] voiced the Joker in the 2008 fighting game, ''[[Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe]]'',<ref name="MediaMKvsDCU"/> 2013's ''[[Injustice: Gods Among Us]]'',<ref name="MediaIGAU"/> and 2017's ''[[Injustice 2]]''.<ref name="MediaIJ2"/> The character also appeared in ''[[Lego Batman: The Videogame]]'' (2008), ''[[Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes]]'' (2012) and its [[Lego Batman: The Movie – DC Super Heroes Unite|animated adaptation]], and ''[[Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham]]'' (2014) (the latter three voiced by [[Christopher Corey Smith]]).<ref name="MediaLego1"/><ref name="MediaLego2"/><ref name="MediaLego3"/> [[Anthony Ingruber]] voices the Joker in ''[[Batman: The Telltale Series]]'' (2016)<ref name="GameTelltale"/> and ''[[Batman: The Enemy Within]]'' (2017).<ref name="GameTelltale2"/>
==References==
===Footnotes===
{{Reflist|30em|refs=
<ref name="1975JokerComic">{{cite web|first=Chris |last=Sims |title=Bizarro Back Issues: The Joker's Solo Series (1975) |url=http://comicsalliance.com/bizarro-back-issues-the-jokers-solo-series-1975/ |publisher=[[Townsquare Media|Comics Alliance]] |date=September 12, 2013 |accessdate=October 12, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014125131/http://comicsalliance.com/bizarro-back-issues-the-jokers-solo-series-1975/ |archivedate=October 14, 2013 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
<ref name="AssaultonArkham">{{cite web|title=Warner Bros. Brings "Batman: Assault On Arkham" To DVD/Blu-Ray August 14.|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=52661|website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |date=May 7, 2014|accessdate=May 7, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140507215216/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=52661|archivedate=May 7, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Anarky">{{cite web|first=Daniel |last=Best| title=Batman: Alan Grant & Norm Breyfogle Speak Out|url=http://ohdannyboy.blogspot.com/search/label/breyfogle.html |work=20th Century Danny Boy|publisher=[[Pandora Archive]] | date=January 6, 2007|accessdate=January 25, 2015 |archive-url=http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/108742/20091022-0041/ohdannyboy.blogspot.com/search/label/breyfogle.html |archivedate=October 22, 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Batmania 14">Finger in a panel discussion at New York Academy Convention, August 14, 1966, transcribed in {{cite journal|last1=Hanerfeld|first1=Mark|title=Con-Tinued|journal=Batmania|date=February 14, 1967|volume=1|issue=14|pages=8–9|url=http://comicbookplus.com/?dlid=11970|accessdate= August 1, 2017}} Page 8 [https://web.archive.org/web/20170817231436/http://images.furycomics.com/viewer/c3/c3383c064c6f811b7157c83a5fd71119/7.jpg archived] and Page 9 [https://web.archive.org/web/20170817231621/http://images.furycomics.com/viewer/c3/c3383c064c6f811b7157c83a5fd71119/8.jpg archived] from the originals on August 17, 2017.</ref>
<ref name="Batman663">{{cite comic | Writer = [[Grant Morrison|Morrison, Grant]] | Artist = Van Fleet, John | Story = The Clown at Midnight | Title = Batman | Issue = 663 | date = April 2007 | Publisher = [[DC Comics]] | Page = 16 | Panel = }}</ref>
<ref name="BatmanUnauthorized">{{cite book|last=Anders|first=Lou|title=Batman Unauthorized: Vigilantes, Jokers, and Heroes in Gotham City|publisher=[[BenBella Books]]|year=2008|page=29|chapter=Two of a Kind|isbn=978-1-935251-31-6|quote=By 2007, the Joker was indisputably one of the most dangerous and insane villains in DC's entire universe. This is evidenced in the 1995 three-issue ''Underworld Unleashed'', in which Flash-nemesis the Trickster said, 'When super-villains want to scare each other, they tell Joker stories.'}}</ref>
<ref name="Bio101">{{cite web|first=Peter |last=Sanderson| url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/2005/05/13/comics-in-context-84-dark-definitive?page=6 |title=Comics in Context #84: Dark Definitive|date=May 13, 2005|website=[[IGN]]|publisher=[[j2 Global]]|location=Los Angeles, California|accessdate=April 22, 2014 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140422182803/http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/05/13/comics-in-context-84-dark-definitive?page=6|archivedate=April 22, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="BraveandBold31Review">{{cite web|first=Dan |last=Phillips | url=http://comics.ign.com/articles/106/1062409p1.html |title=The Brave and the Bold #31 review |date=January 20, 2010 |website=[[IGN]]|publisher=[[j2 Global]]|location=Los Angeles, California|accessdate=February 20, 2014 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140220205205/http://www.ign.com/articles/2010/01/21/the-brave-and-the-bold-31-review |archivedate=February 20, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="BronzeAge4">{{cite web|url=http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=5&id=40748|title=Batman Artist Rogers is Dead|accessdate=May 2, 2008|date=March 28, 2007|quote=Even though their Batman run was only six issues, the three laid the foundation for later Batman comics. Their stories include the classic 'Laughing Fish' (in which the Joker's face appeared on fish); they were adapted for ''Batman: The Animated Series'' in the 1990s. Earlier drafts of the 1989 Batman film with Michael Keaton as the Dark Knight were based heavily on their work|publisher=Sci Fi|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411230610/http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=5&id=40748 |archivedate=April 11, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name="BronzeAge6">{{cite web|first=Daniel|last=Phillips|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/02/01/rogues-gallery-the-joker?page=2|title=Rogue's Gallery: The Joker|accessdate=November 18, 2013|date=January 18, 2008|website=[[IGN]]|page=2|quote=[T]he Joker decides to brand every fish product in Gotham with his trademark grin, going so far as to blackmail and murder copyright officials until he's compensated for his hideous innovation.| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140421064206/http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/02/01/rogues-gallery-the-joker?page=2 | archivedate = April 21, 2014| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="BronzeAge7">Greenberger and Manning, p. 163: "In this fondly remembered tale that was later adapted into an episode of the 1990s cartoon ''Batman: The Animated Series'', the Joker poisoned the harbors of Gotham so that the fish would all bear his signature grin, a look the Joker then tried to trademark in order to collect royalties."</ref>
<ref name="BronzeAge8">{{cite book|first1=Roberta E. |last=Pearson|first2=William|last2=Uricchio|chapter=Notes from the Batcave: An Interview with Dennis O'Neil.|title=The Many Lives of the Batman: Critical Approaches to a Superhero and His Media|publisher=[[Routledge]]|location=Abingdon, England|date=1991|page=18|isbn=978-0-85170-276-6}}</ref>
<ref name="BronzeAge9">{{cite web|first=Daniel |last=Phillips |url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/2008/12/08/why-so-serious-the-many-looks-of-joker?page=2 |title=Why So Serious?: The Many Looks of Joker (Page 2) |website=[[IGN]] |publisher=[[j2 Global]]|location=Los Angeles, California|date=December 8, 2008 |accessdate=October 12, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141011125815/http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/12/08/why-so-serious-the-many-looks-of-joker?page=2 |archivedate=October 11, 2014 |url-status=live |df= }}</ref>
<ref name="BronzeAge10">{{cite web |first=Seb|last=Patrick| url =http://www.denofgeek.com/books-comics/batman/11301/10-essential-joker-stories | title =10 Essential Joker Stories | website=[[Den of Geek]] | publisher=Dennis Publishing|location=London, England|date=July 15, 2008 | accessdate =October 12, 2013 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131014175129/http://www.denofgeek.com/books-comics/batman/11301/10-essential-joker-stories | archivedate = October 14, 2013| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="BronzeAge20">{{cite web | url =http://www.rocketllama.com/blog-it/2009/08/09/joker-steve-englehart-the-laughing-fish/ | title =Joker Panel Interview: Steve Englehart on The Laughing Fish | publisher =[[The Ongoing Adventures of Rocket Llama]] | date =August 9, 2009 | accessdate =October 18, 2013 | archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20131019084439/http://www.rocketllama.com/blog-it/2009/08/09/joker-steve-englehart-the-laughing-fish/ | archivedate =October 19, 2013 | url-status=dead | df =mdy-all }}</ref>
<ref name="CBR75Greatest">{{cite web|first=Brian|last=Cronin |title=75 Greatest Friends and Foes of Batman: Villains #5-1|url=http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2014/05/04/75-greatest-friends-and-foes-of-batman-villains-5-1/2/|website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |date=May 4, 2014|accessdate=February 8, 2015 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141203105637/http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2014/05/04/75-greatest-friends-and-foes-of-batman-villains-5-1/2/|archivedate=December 3, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="CharacterDOTF">{{cite web|first=Chris |last=Sims |title=Scott Snyder On 'Death of the Family': 'It'S A Love Letter To Batman From The Joker' [Interview] |url=http://comicsalliance.com/batman-death-of-the-family-scott-snyder-interview/ |publisher=[[Townsquare Media|Comics Alliance]] |date=November 29, 2012 |accessdate=October 17, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115064116/http://comicsalliance.com/batman-death-of-the-family-scott-snyder-interview/ |archivedate=November 15, 2013 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
<ref name="ComicBatmanConfidential">{{cite comic| Writer = [[Andy Diggle|Diggle, Andy]], [[Michael Green (writer)|Green, Michael]], [[Tony Bedard]] | Artist= [[Whilce Portacio|Portacio, Whilce]], Friend, Richard, [[Denys Cowan|Cowan, Denys]], [[Rags Morales|Morales, Rags]] | Title = Batman Confidential: Lovers & Madmen (#7–12)| Date = 2006 – present| Publisher = DC Comics| Panel = }}</ref>
<ref name="ComicBatmanRobin12">{{cite comic|Writer = [[Grant Morrison|Morrison, Grant]]|Title = [[Batman and Robin (comic book)|Batman and Robin]]|Volume = 1|Issue = 12|date = May 2010|Publisher = DC Comics}}</ref>
<ref name="ComicBatmanRobin16">{{cite comic|Writer = [[Grant Morrison|Morrison, Grant]]| artist=Stewart, Camerton, Burnham, Chris, Irving Frazer | colorist= Sinclair, Alex, Irving, Frazer | Title = [[Batman and Robin (comic book)|Batman and Robin]]|story=Black Mass | Volume = 1|Issue = 13|date = July 2010|Publisher = DC Comics |pages=27–28}}</ref>
<ref name="ComicCacophony">{{cite comic | Writer = [[Kevin Smith|Smith, Kevin]] | Penciller =Flanagan, Walt| Inker =Hope, Sandra| Story =Batman Cacophony: Part 3 – Baffles| Title =Batman Cacophony| Issue =3 | date =March 2009 | Publisher = [[DC Comics]] | Page =17–23| Panel =}}</ref>
<ref name="ComicEmperorJoker">{{cite comic | Writer = [[Jeph Loeb|Loeb, Jeph]] | Cowriters = [[J. M. DeMatteis|DeMatteis, J.M.]], [[Mark Schultz (comics)|Schultz, Mark]], [[Joe Kelly (comics)|Kelly, Joe]] | Penciller = [[Ed McGuiness|McGuiness, Ed]] | Copencillers =Miller, Mike, [[Doug Mahnke|Mahnke, Doug]], [[Kano (comics)|Kano]] | Inker = [[Cam Smith|Smith, Cam]], Marzan, Jose, Nguyen, Tom, [[John McCrea (comics)|McCrea, John]], Alquiza, Marlo, Durrurthy, Armando, various others | Coinkers = | Story = | Title = Superman: Emperor Joker | Volume = Superman #160–161, Adventures of Superman #582–583, Action Comics 769–770, Superman: The Man of Steel 104–105, and Emperor Joker. | date = January 2007 |Publisher=[[DC Comics]]|Page=224|ID = 9781401211936 }}</ref>
<ref name="ComicInfiniteCrisis7">{{cite comic | Writer = [[Geoff Johns|Johns, Geoff]] | Penciller = [[Phil Jimenez|Jimenez, Phil]], [[George Pérez|Pérez, George]], [[Ivan Reis|Reis, Ivan]], Bennet, Joe | Inker = [[Andy Lanning|Lanning, Andy]], [[George Pérez|Pérez, George]], [[Ivan Reis|Reis, Ivan]] [[Jerry Ordway|Ordway, Jerry]], Parsons, Sean, [[Art Thibert|Thibert, Art]] | Story = Infinite Crisis #7 | Title = Infinite Crisis #7 | Issue = 7 | date = June 2006 | Publisher = [[DC Comics]] | Page = 31 | Panel = 6–7 }}</ref>
<ref name="ComicJLA15">{{cite comic | Writer = [[Grant Morrison|Morrison, Grant]] | Penciller =Porter, Howard, Frank, Gary, Land, Greg| Inker =Dell, John, McLeod, Bob|colorist=Garrahy, Pat| Story =Rock of Ages: Part 6 – Stone of Destiny | Title =JLA | Issue =15 | date =February 1998 | Publisher = [[DC Comics]] | Page =26–28| Panel =}}</ref>
<ref name="ComicLotDarkKnight145">{{cite comic | Writer = [[Chuck Dixon|Dixon, Chuck]] | Penciller =[[Jim Aparo|Aparo, Jim]] | Inker = Cebollero, John | Story =The Demon Laughs: Part 4 – Mad About You | Title =Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight | Issue =145 | date =September 2001| Publisher = [[DC Comics]] | Page =9–12, 21| Panel =}}</ref>
<ref name="ComicNoManLand">{{cite web| first=Rob|last=Bricken | title=The Joker's 10 Craziest Kills |url=http://www.toplessrobot.com/2009/09/the_jokers_10_craziest_kills.php | work=Topless Robot |publisher=[[Village Voice Media]] |date=September 11, 2009 |accessdate=February 10, 2014 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131010050504/http://www.toplessrobot.com/2009/09/the_jokers_10_craziest_kills.php | archivedate = October 10, 2013| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="ComicUndertheHood">{{cite comic | writer = [[Doug Mahnke|Mahnke, Doug]]|cowriters= [[Judd Winick|Winick, Judd]], [[Paul Lee (artist)|Lee, Paul]] | Penciller = | Copencillers =
|Inker = | Coinkers = | Story = | Title = Batman: Under The Hood | Issue = 635–641 | date = November 2005 | Publisher = [[DC Comics]] | Page = 176
|Panel = | ID = {{ISBNT|9781401207564}} }}</ref>
<ref name="ComicsComix">{{cite book|last=Sabin|first=Roger|authorlink=Roger Sabin|title=Comics, Comix and Graphic Novels|page=61|isbn=978-0-7148-3008-7|publisher=Phaidon|year=1996|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/comicscomixgraph00sabi}}</ref>
<ref name="CrackingUp">{{cite book|title=Cracking Up: American Humor in a Time of Conflict|last=Lewis|first=Paul|year=2006|publisher=University of Chicago Press|isbn=978-0-226-47699-5|pages=31–34}}</ref>
<ref name="CraveCacophony">{{cite web|first=Joey|last=Esposito|title=Batman: Cacophony Hardcover Review|url=http://www.craveonline.co.uk/comics/reviews/143840-batman-cacophony-hardcover-review|publisher=[[CraveOnline]]|date=September 11, 2009 |accessdate=April 19, 2014| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419210756/http://www.craveonline.co.uk/comics/reviews/143840-batman-cacophony-hardcover-review|archivedate=April 19, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Creation1">{{cite news|first=Sean |last=O'Neal |title=R.I.P. Jerry Robinson, creator of the Joker |url=http://www.avclub.com/articles/rip-jerry-robinson-creator-of-the-joker,66257/ |newspaper=[[The A.V. Club]] |date=December 8, 2011 |accessdate=October 12, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014151511/http://www.avclub.com/articles/rip-jerry-robinson-creator-of-the-joker%2C66257/ |archivedate=October 14, 2013 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
<ref name="Creation2">{{cite web|first=Mark |last=Seifert |title="He Made Batman, No One Else. Kane Had Nothing To Do With It. Bill Did It All" – Carmine Infantino on Bill Finger | url=http://www.bleedingcool.com/2013/08/12/he-made-batman-no-one-else-kane-had-nothing-to-do-with-it-bill-did-it-all-carmine-infantino-on-bill-finger/ |publisher=[[Rich Johnston|Bleeding Cool]] |date=August 12, 2013 |accessdate=October 12, 2013 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131014074614/http://www.bleedingcool.com/2013/08/12/he-made-batman-no-one-else-kane-had-nothing-to-do-with-it-bill-did-it-all-carmine-infantino-on-bill-finger/ | archivedate = October 14, 2013| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Creation3">{{cite news|title=Cartoonist who drew Batman's arch enemy The Joker dies aged 89 | url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2072034/Jerry-Robinson-death-Cartoonist-drew-Batmans-arch-enemy-Joker-dies-aged-89.html |work=[[Daily Mail]] |publisher=[[Daily Mail and General Trust]]|accessdate=December 9, 2011 |location=London |date=December 9, 2011| archiveurl = https://archive.today/20111211064859/http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2072034/Jerry-Robinson-death-Cartoonist-drew-Batmans-arch-enemy-Joker-dies-aged-89.html | archivedate=December 11, 2011| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Creation4">{{cite news|title=Jerry Robinson| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/art-obituaries/8952039/Jerry-Robinson.html |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |publisher=[[Telegraph Media Group]]|date=December 12, 2011 |accessdate=October 12, 2013 |location=London| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131104023216/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/art-obituaries/8952039/Jerry-Robinson.html | archivedate =November 4, 2013| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Creation5">{{cite web|title=R.I.P. Jerry Robinson&nbsp;... | url=http://www.aintitcool.com/node/52287 |publisher=[[Ain't It Cool News]] |date= December 15, 2011|accessdate=October 12, 2013 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131014081013/http://www.aintitcool.com/node/52287 | archivedate =October 14, 2013| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Creation7">{{cite news|title=Holy Toledo that's expensive: 'Rarest' Superman and Batman covers set to go on sale for £1 Million | url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1328046/Rarest-Superman-Batman-covers-set-sale-1MILLION.html |work=[[Daily Mail]] |date=November 9, 2010 |accessdate=October 18, 2013 |location=London| archiveurl = https://archive.today/20131018210450/http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1328046/Rarest-Superman-Batman-covers-set-sale-1MILLION.html | archivedate =October 18, 2013| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Creation8">{{cite web|first=Charlie Jane |last=Anders|title=R.I.P. Jerry Robinson, Creator of Batman's Nemesis, the Joker |url=http://io9.com/5866373/rip-jerry-robinson-creator-of-batmans-nemesis-the-joker |publisher=[[io9]] |date=August 12, 2011 |accessdate=October 18, 2013 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140226072000/http://io9.com/5866373/rip-jerry-robinson-creator-of-batmans-nemesis-the-joker | archivedate =February 26, 2014| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Creation101">{{cite web|url=http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/13468/the-man-who-was-the-joker |title= The man who was The Joker |publisher=[[Dennis Publishing|Den of Geek]] | date =July 15, 2008 |accessdate=February 20, 2014 | archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20131015084635/http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/13468/the-man-who-was-the-joker <!-- original https://web.archive.org/web/20120905235103/http://franklovece.com/webexclusives.html --> | archivedate=October 15, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Creation102">{{cite web|url=http://www.rocketllama.com/blog-it/2009/07/21/interview-meet-the-jokers-maker-jerry-robinson/ |title=Meet the Joker's Maker, Jerry Robinson" (interview) | website=[[The Ongoing Adventures of Rocket Llama]] |date=July 21, 2009 | accessdate=February 20, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015081859/http://www.rocketllama.com/blog-it/2009/07/21/interview-meet-the-jokers-maker-jerry-robinson/ |archivedate=October 15, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Creation103">{{cite web|url=http://www.rocketllama.com/blog-it/2009/08/05/interview-the-jokers-maker-tackles-the-man-who-laughs |title=The Joker's Maker Tackles ''The Man Who Laughs''" (interview) | website=[[The Ongoing Adventures of Rocket Llama]]|date=August 5, 2009 | accessdate=February 20, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723035747/http://www.rocketllama.com/blog-it/2009/08/05/interview-the-jokers-maker-tackles-the-man-who-laughs/ |archivedate=July 23, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="CulturalCoaster1">{{cite news|first1=Scott|last1=Dance|first2=Matthew|last2=Hay Brown|title=Riders rescued from Six Flags roller coaster|url=http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2014-08-10/news/bs-md-coaster-rescue-20140810_1_roller-coaster-riders-flags|newspaper=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |publisher=[[Tribune Publishing]]|location=Baltimore, Maryland|date=August 10, 2014| accessdate=September 1, 2014 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140819153657/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2014-08-10/news/bs-md-coaster-rescue-20140810_1_roller-coaster-riders-flags| archivedate =August 19, 2014 | url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="CulturalCoaster10">{{cite news|title='The Joker' Roller Coaster Coming to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo|url=http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/The-Joker-Roller-Coaster-Coming-to-Six-Flags-Discovery-Kingdom-in-Vallejo-324268011.html|work=[[KNTV]] |date=September 3, 2015|accessdate=September 5, 2015| archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20150905223921/http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/The-Joker-Roller-Coaster-Coming-to-Six-Flags-Discovery-Kingdom-in-Vallejo-324268011.html| archivedate=September 5, 2015| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="CulturalCoaster2">{{cite web| title=Joker's Jinx – Six Flags America (Upper Marlboro, Maryland, USA) |url=http://rcdb.com/544.htm |website=[[Roller Coaster DataBase]] |accessdate=October 22, 2013 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131023060401/http://rcdb.com/544.htm?dt=126&d=34 | archivedate =October 23, 2013| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="CulturalCoaster5">{{cite news|first=Pam|last=Grout |title=Newest, biggest, baddest roller coasters for summer |url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/27/travel/roller-coasters-2013/ |website=[[CNN]] |publisher=[[Turner Broadcasting Systems]]|location=Atlanta, Georgia|date=July 6, 2013 |accessdate=February 16, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131223031343/http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/27/travel/roller-coasters-2013 |archivedate=December 23, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="CulturalCoaster50">{{cite news|title=The Joker And Harley Quinn Bring Havoc, Chaos, Twists And Spins As Two New Rides Open For The 2015 Season|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150522005369/en/JOKER-Harley-Quinn-Bring-Havoc-Chaos-Twists#.VV-n4k9VhBc|work=[[Business Wire]] |date=May 22, 2015|accessdate=May 22, 2015| archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20150530083502/http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150522005369/en/JOKER-Harley-Quinn-Bring-Havoc-Chaos-Twists| archivedate=May 30, 2015| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Debut">{{cite magazine|first=Jill |last=Lepore | authorlink = Jill Lepore| title =Batman's Gun | url =http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/comment/2012/07/gun-laws-and-batman.html | magazine= [[The New Yorker]]| publisher=[[Condé Nast]]|location=New York City|date=July 24, 2012 | accessdate =February 20, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131205183433/http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/comment/2012/07/gun-laws-and-batman.html | archivedate=December 5, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Debut2">{{cite news |first=Alex |last=Zalben |title=When Is Batman's Birthday, Actually? |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1725027/batman-75th-anniversary-birthday-date/ |website=[[MTV News]] |publisher=[[Viacom (2005–present)|Viacom]]|location=New York City|date=March 28, 2014 |accessdate=August 9, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726083747/http://www.mtv.com/news/1725027/batman-75th-anniversary-birthday-date/ |archivedate=July 26, 2014 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
<ref name="DetectiveComic664">{{cite comic | writer=[[Chuck Dixon|Dixon, Chuck]] | cowriters= | penciller=Nolan, Graham| copencillers= | inker=Hanna, Scott| coinker= |colorist=Roy, Adrienne | title=[[Detective Comics]] | story= Knightfall – Who Rules the Night| volume=1 | issue=664 | date=July 1993 | publisher=[[DC Comics]] | location=Burbank, California |ref={{SfnRef|Dixon|July 1993}}|}}</ref>
<ref name="DetectiveComic741">{{cite comic | writer=Rucka, Greg, Grayson, Devin | penciller=Scott, Damion, Eaglesham, Dale| copencillers= | inker=Parsons, Sean, Buscema, Sal, Hunter, Rob| coinker= |colorist=Rambo, Pamela | title=[[Detective Comics]] | story=No Man's Land – Endgame: Part 3 – Sleep in Heavenly Peace | issue=741 | date=February 2000 | publisher=[[DC Comics]] | location=Burbank, California |ref={{SfnRef|Rucka|February 2000}}|}}</ref>
<ref name="DOGGreatest">{{cite web |first=Vinny|last=Murphy| url =http://www.denofgeek.us/books-comics/the-joker/231615/the-joker-the-true-evil-of-batmans-greatest-foe| title =The Joker: The True Evil of Batman's Greatest Foe| website=[[Den of Geek]] | publisher=Dennis Publishing|location=London, England|date =April 26, 2015 | accessdate =August 4, 2015| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709035508/http://www.denofgeek.us/books-comics/the-joker/231615/the-joker-the-true-evil-of-batmans-greatest-foe|archivedate=July 9, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="DoGIC">{{cite web |first=Marc|last=Buxton| url =http://www.denofgeek.us/books-comics/the-joker/241406/almost-got-him-10-times-the-joker-almost-nailed-batman| title =Almost Got Him: 10 Times the Joker Almost Nailed Batman| website=[[Den of Geek]] | publisher=Dennis Publishing|location=London, England|date =December 4, 2014 | accessdate =January 25, 2015| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150430142514/http://www.denofgeek.us/books-comics/the-joker/241406/almost-got-him-10-times-the-joker-almost-nailed-batman|archivedate=April 30, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="DotF1">{{cite comic | writer=[[Scott Snyder|Snyder, Scott]] | cowriters= |artist=| penciller=[[Greg Capullo|Capullo, Greg]] | copencillers= | inker=Glapion, Jonathan | coinker= |colorist=FCO Plascencia | title=[[Batman (comic book)|Batman]] | story=Death of the Family – Knock Knock | issue= 13 | date=December 2012 | publisher=[[Detective Comics]] | location=New York, NY |ref={{SfnRef|Snyder|December 2012}}}}</ref>
<ref name="DOTFGuardian">{{cite news|first=Stuart| last=Kelly | url =https://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/feb/14/comics-fiction | title =Batman: Death of the Family #17 by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo – review| work=[[The Guardian]]| date =February 14, 2013 | accessdate =April 21, 2014| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140421133301/http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/feb/14/comics-fiction |archivedate=April 21, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="DoubleGuns">{{cite news|first=Justin| last=Sullivan| title =Batman 75: Marc Tyler Nobleman on 'uncredited co-creator' Bill Finger| url =http://herocomplex.latimes.com/comics/batman-75-marc-tyler-nobleman-on-uncredited-co-creator-bill-finger/#/11|work=[[Los Angeles Times]] | date=July 23, 2014|accessdate=August 10, 2014 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140801044604/http://herocomplex.latimes.com/comics/batman-75-marc-tyler-nobleman-on-uncredited-co-creator-bill-finger/|archivedate=August 1, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="GameArkKnight">{{cite web|first=Chris |last= Suellentrop|title=Batman: Arkham Knight: The Kotaku Review |url=http://kotaku.com/batman-arkham-knight-the-kotaku-review-1712988273|publisher=[[Kotaku]] |date=June 22, 2015 |accessdate=June 27, 2015| archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20150623123552/http://kotaku.com/batman-arkham-knight-the-kotaku-review-1712988273| archivedate =June 23, 2015| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="GameTelltale">{{cite web|first=Evan |last=Narcisse |title=A Very Familiar Smile Will Be Showing Up Next Week in the Telltale Batman Video Game |url=http://io9.gizmodo.com/a-very-familiar-smile-will-be-showing-up-next-week-in-t-1789095982 |publisher=[[io9]] |date=November 17, 2016 |accessdate=December 9, 2016 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20161209212336/http://io9.gizmodo.com/a-very-familiar-smile-will-be-showing-up-next-week-in-t-1789095982 |archivedate=December 9, 2016 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
<ref name="GameTelltale2">{{cite magazine| first=Nick |last=Romano |title=Riddler returns, Joker takes a selfie in Telltale's Batman: The Enemy Within trailer |url=http://ew.com/gaming/2017/08/03/batman-enemy-within-trailer-telltale/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=August 3, 2017 |accessdate=August 22, 2017 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20170821230145/http://ew.com/gaming/2017/08/03/batman-enemy-within-trailer-telltale/ |archivedate=August 21, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Guardian">{{cite news|first=Stuart|last=Kelly| url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/apr/30/has-dc-killed-batman-and-joker-endgame-scott-snyder|title=Has DC killed Batman and the Joker?|date=April 30, 2015|work=[[theguardian.com]]|accessdate=April 30, 2015| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529233646/http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/apr/30/has-dc-killed-batman-and-joker-endgame-scott-snyder|archivedate=May 29, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="GoldenAge1">{{cite news|first=Alex| last=Cohen | title =The Joker: Torn Between Goof And Evil | url =https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92572470 |website=[[NPR]] | date=July 16, 2008 |accessdate=October 12, 2013 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140408201428/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92572470 | archivedate =April 8, 2014| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="GoldenAge2">{{cite news|first=Geoff| last=Boucher | title =The Joker returns to 'Batman' pages, building on 72-year history | url =http://herocomplex.latimes.com/movies/the-joker-returns-to-batman-pages-building-on-72-year-history/#/8 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] | publisher=[[Tronc]]|location=Los Angeles, California|date=August 1, 2012 |accessdate=October 12, 2013 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131023005813/http://herocomplex.latimes.com/movies/the-joker-returns-to-batman-pages-building-on-72-year-history/ | archivedate =October 23, 2013 | url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="GoldenAge3">{{cite web| first=Simon |last=Gallagher | title =10 Terrible Mistakes That Almost Ruined Batman For Everyone | url =http://whatculture.com/comics/10-terrible-mistakes-that-almost-ruined-batman-for-everyone.php/11 |publisher = What Culture  | date =September 1, 2013 |accessdate=October 12, 2013 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131016123342/http://whatculture.com/comics/10-terrible-mistakes-that-almost-ruined-batman-for-everyone.php/11 | archivedate =October 16, 2013| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="GoldenAge5">{{cite web| first=J.C. |last=Macek III | title =Spotlight on The Dark Knight: 'The Smile on the Bat' | url =http://www.popmatters.com/post/168727-spotlight-on-the-dark-knight-the-smile-on-the-bat/ |work=[[PopMatters]] | date =February 26, 2013 |accessdate=October 12, 2013 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131021191014/http://www.popmatters.com/post/168727-spotlight-on-the-dark-knight-the-smile-on-the-bat/ | archivedate = October 21, 2013| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="GoldenAge6">{{cite news| first=George Gene |last=Gustines | title =The Joker in the Deck: Birth of a Supervillain | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/05/books/05robinson.html?_r=0 |work=[[The New York Times]]| date =October 4, 2010 |accessdate=October 18, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113033819/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/05/books/05robinson.html?_r=0 |archivedate=November 13, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Gotham1">{{cite news| first=Dominic|last=Patten | title =‘Gotham’ EPs On Tonight’s "Bittersweet" Series Finale, Potential Of More Batman & Their Pride In The Show | url=https://deadline.com/2019/04/gotham-spoilers-series-finale-batman-interview-danny-cannon-john-stephens-fox-dc-comics-1202602146/ |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]| date =April 25, 2019 |accessdate=April 27, 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426144127/https://deadline.com/2019/04/gotham-spoilers-series-finale-batman-interview-danny-cannon-john-stephens-fox-dc-comics-1202602146/ |archivedate=April 26, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="GRadarGreatest">{{cite web|first=George|last=Wales| title=50 Greatest Batman Villains |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/50-greatest-batman-villains/ |publisher=[[GamesRadar]] |date=July 18, 2012 |accessdate=August 4, 2015 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924021522/http://www.gamesradar.com/50-greatest-batman-villains/|archivedate=September 24, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="IGNEndgame">{{cite web|first=Joshua |last=Yehl |url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/2014/10/08/batman-writer-scott-snyder-addresses-huge-surprise?page=1 |title=Batman Writer Scott Snyder Addresses Huge Surprise |date=October 8, 2014 |website=[[IGN]] |accessdate=October 8, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141011081634/http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/10/08/batman-writer-scott-snyder-addresses-huge-surprise?page=1 |archivedate=October 11, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="IGNEndgame2">{{cite web|first=Joshua |last=Yehl |url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/2014/10/08/batman-writer-scott-snyder-addresses-huge-surprise?page=2 |title=Batman Writer Scott Snyder Addresses Huge Surprise (Page 2) |date=October 8, 2014 |website=[[IGN]] |accessdate=October 8, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010143903/http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/10/08/batman-writer-scott-snyder-addresses-huge-surprise?page=2 |archivedate=October 10, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="IGNJokerStories">{{cite web |first=Daniel|last=Phillips | url =http://uk.ign.com/articles/2009/12/14/ultimate-bookshelf-the-joker | title =Ultimate Bookshelf: The Joker | website=[[IGN]]| date = December 14, 2009| accessdate =February 16, 2014 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140216221149/http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/12/14/ultimate-bookshelf-the-joker |archivedate=February 16, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="IGNRogues">{{cite web |first=Daniel|last=Phillips | url =http://uk.ign.com/articles/2008/02/01/rogues-gallery-the-joker | title =Rogue's Gallery: The Joker| website=[[IGN]]| date=January 31, 2008| accessdate =February 14, 2014  | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140215000737/http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/02/01/rogues-gallery-the-joker |archivedate=February 15, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="ImpactAFI100">{{cite web|title=AFI's 100 Years&nbsp;... 100 Heroes & Villains |url=http://www.afi.com/100Years/handv.aspx|publisher=[[American Film Institute]] |date=June 2003|accessdate=February 3, 2014 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20120214195710/http://www.afi.com/100Years/handv.aspx | archivedate =February 14, 2012| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="ImpactCBR">{{cite web|first=Brian K.|last=Eason |title=Dark Knight Flashback: The Joker, Part I |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=17182  |website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |date=July 11, 2008 |accessdate=February 23, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223134810/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=17182 |archivedate=February 23, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="ImpactCBR2">{{cite web|first=Brian K.|last=Eason |title=Dark Knight Flashback: The Joker, Part II |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=17255 |website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |date=July 16, 2008 |accessdate=February 23, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110909195632/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=17255 |archivedate=September 9, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="ImpactCHumor2013">{{cite web|title=The 25 Greatest Comic Book Villains of All-Time |url=http://www.collegehumor.com/post/6872391/the-25-greatest-comic-book-villains-of-all-time/page:5 |publisher=[[CollegeHumor]] |date=February 20, 2013 |accessdate=February 16, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140216211833/http://www.collegehumor.com/post/6872391/the-25-greatest-comic-book-villains-of-all-time/page%3A5 |archivedate=February 16, 2014 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
<ref name="ImpactComplex">{{cite web|first=Jason |last=Serafino |title=The 25 Greatest Comic Book Villains of All Time |url=http://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2013/09/greatest-comic-book-villains/the-joker |work=[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]|date=September 8, 2013 |accessdate=October 11, 2013 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131106083444/http://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2013/09/greatest-comic-book-villains/the-joker | archivedate =November 6, 2013| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="ImpactEmpire">{{cite web|url=http://www.empireonline.com/50greatestcomiccharacters/default.asp?c=8 |title=The 50 Greatest Comic Book Characters |work=[[Empire (film magazine)|Empire]] |year=2008 |accessdate=December 26, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308180527/http://www.empireonline.com/50greatestcomiccharacters/default.asp?c=8 |archivedate=March 8, 2012 |url-status=live |df= }}</ref>
<ref name="ImpactGRadar">{{cite web|title=100 best villains in video games |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/top-100-villains-video-games/ |publisher=[[GamesRadar]] |date=January 27, 2014 |accessdate=February 16, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024084644/http://www.gamesradar.com/top-100-villains-video-games/ |archivedate=October 24, 2013 |url-status=dead |df= }}</ref>
<ref name="ImpactIGN">{{cite web |first=Daniel|last=Phillips | url =http://uk.comics.ign.com/top-100-villains/2.html | title =Top 100 Comic Book Villains – Number 2: The Joker | website=[[IGN]]|year=2009| accessdate =January 14, 2014  | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140116073602/http://uk.comics.ign.com/top-100-villains/2.html | archivedate = January 16, 2014| url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name="ImpactIGN2">{{cite web|first=Daniel |last=Phillips |url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/2008/12/08/why-so-serious-the-many-looks-of-joker |title=Why So Serious?: The Many Looks of Joker |website=[[IGN]] |date=December 8, 2008 |accessdate=October 12, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012122121/http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/12/08/why-so-serious-the-many-looks-of-joker |archivedate=October 12, 2013 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
<ref name="ImpactIGN2013">{{cite web |first=Jesse |last=Schedeen | url =http://uk.ign.com/articles/2013/11/23/the-top-25-villains-of-dc-comics?page=5 | title =The Top 25 Villains of DC Comics| website=[[IGN]]| date =November 22, 2013| accessdate =January 14, 2014 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219190816/http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/11/23/the-top-25-villains-of-dc-comics?page=5 |archivedate=February 19, 2014  |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="ImpactIGNHero">{{cite web |first=Joey |last=Esposito | url =http://uk.ign.com/articles/2011/12/10/hero-worship-the-appeal-of-the-joker | title =Hero Worship: The Appeal of the Joker | website=[[IGN]]| date =December 9, 2011| accessdate =January 16, 2014 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140216222719/http://www.ign.com/articles/2011/12/10/hero-worship-the-appeal-of-the-joker |archivedate=February 16, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="ImpactLATimes">{{cite news|first=Geoff| last=Boucher | title ='Joker' creator Jerry Robinson reflects on Gotham and the golden age | url =http://herocomplex.latimes.com/comics/joker-creator-jerry-robinson-reflects-on-gotham-and-the-golden-age/|work=Los Angeles Times | date =May 6, 2009 |accessdate=October 12, 2013 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140119073650/http://herocomplex.latimes.com/comics/joker-creator-jerry-robinson-reflects-on-gotham-and-the-golden-age/ | archivedate =January 19, 2014| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="ImpactMoral1">{{cite web|first=Lauren |last=Davis |title=Should Batman Kill The Joker? Perspectives From Five Famous Philosophers |url=http://comicsalliance.com/batman-kill-joker-philosophy/ |publisher=[[Townsquare Media|Comics Alliance]] |date=March 2, 2012 |accessdate=February 21, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221214641/http://comicsalliance.com/batman-kill-joker-philosophy/ |archivedate=February 21, 2014 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
<ref name="ImpactMoral2">{{cite news| first1=Mark D |last1=White |first2=Robert |last2=Arp| title =Should Batman kill the Joker? | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/25/opinion/25iht-edwhite.1.14793506.html?_r=0 |work=[[The New York Times]]| date =July 25, 2008 |accessdate=February 21, 2014  | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221220410/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/25/opinion/25iht-edwhite.1.14793506.html?_r=0 |archivedate=February 21, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="ImpactMoral3">{{cite news| first=Jesse |last=Richards | title =Why Doesn't Batman Just Kill The Joker?| url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/quora/why-doesnt-batman-just-ki_b_3686003.html |work=The Huffington Post | date =January 8, 2013 |accessdate=February 21, 2014  | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221221915/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/quora/why-doesnt-batman-just-ki_b_3686003.html |archivedate=February 21, 2014  |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="ImpactRama2013">{{cite news|first1=Albert |last1=Ching |first2=Lucas |last2=Siegel |title=The 10 Greatest Batman Villains of All Time! |url=http://www.newsarama.com/15456-the-10-greatest-batman-villains-of-all-time.html |work=[[Newsarama]] |date=October 10, 2013 |accessdate=March 3, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202092310/http://www.newsarama.com/15456-the-10-greatest-batman-villains-of-all-time.html |archivedate=February 2, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="ImpactTime2013">{{cite news|first=Gary | last=Susman  | title =Super Bad: 10 Best Movie Supervillains | url =http://entertainment.time.com/2013/05/07/super-bad-10-best-movie-supervillains/slide/the-joker/| work=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] | date =May 6, 2013|accessdate=February 16, 2014 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130808072516/http://entertainment.time.com/2013/05/07/super-bad-10-best-movie-supervillains/slide/the-joker/  |archivedate=August 8, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="ImpactTVGuide">Bretts, Bruce; Roush, Matt; (March 25, 2013). "Baddies to the Bone: The 60 Nastiest Villains of All Time". ''[[TV Guide]]''. pp.&nbsp;14–15.</ref>
<ref name="ImpactWhatCulture">{{cite web| title =100 Greatest Comic Book Villains of All Time | url =http://whatculture.com/comics/100-greatest-comic-book-villains-of-all-time.php/35|publisher = What Culture  | date =October 6, 2013 |accessdate=October 12, 2013 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140307154729/http://whatculture.com/comics/100-greatest-comic-book-villains-of-all-time.php/35 | archivedate =March 7, 2014| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="ImpactWired">{{cite news|first=Scott |last=Hill |title=Comics' Greatest Supervillain? No Joke, It's the Joker |url=https://www.wired.com/underwire/2011/10/joker/ |work=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |date=October 27, 2011 |accessdate=February 20, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915074054/http://www.wired.com/underwire/2011/10/joker/ |archivedate=September 15, 2012 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
<ref name="ImpactWizard">{{cite journal|author=<!--Staff--> |date=July 2006 |title=Top 100 Greatest Villains |journal=[[Wizard (magazine)|Wizard]] |volume=1 |issue= 177}}</ref>
<ref name="ImpactWizard2">{{cite web|url=http://www.wizarduniverse.com/05240810thgreatestcharacters2.html |title=The 200 Greatest Comic Book Characters of All Time |work=[[Wizard (magazine)|Wizard]] |date=May 23, 2008 |accessdate=April 19, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091003165505/http://www.wizarduniverse.com/05240810thgreatestcharacters2.html |archivedate=October 3, 2009}}</ref>
<ref name="InfoCA1">{{cite web|first=Chris |last=Sims |title=Roundtable Review: 'Batman And Robin' #13 |url=http://comicsalliance.com/roundtable-review-batman-and-robin-13/ |publisher=[[Townsquare Media|Comics Alliance]] |date=July 8, 2010 |accessdate=February 24, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224003034/http://comicsalliance.com/roundtable-review-batman-and-robin-13/ |archivedate=February 24, 2014 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
<ref name="InfoCA2">{{cite web|first=David |last=Uzumeri |title=Black Mass: Batman And Robin #16 [Annotations] |url=http://comicsalliance.com/batman-and-robin-16-annotations/ |publisher=[[Townsquare Media|Comics Alliance]] |date=November 3, 2010 |accessdate=February 24, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110160614/http://comicsalliance.com/batman-and-robin-16-annotations/ |archivedate=November 10, 2013 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
<ref name="InfoDoG1">{{cite web |first=Seb|last=Patrick| url =http://www.denofgeek.com/books-comics/batman/11325/batman-a-death-in-the-family| title =Batman: A Death In The Family | publisher=[[Dennis Publishing|Den of Geek]] | date =November 24, 2008 | accessdate =February 23, 2014 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223235903/http://www.denofgeek.com/books-comics/batman/11325/batman-a-death-in-the-family |archivedate=February 23, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Joker2019BORecords">{{cite news|first=Frank |last=Pallotta |title='Joker' becomes the highest-grossing R-rated film ever |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/10/25/media/joker-r-rated-box-office-record/index.html |website=[[CNN]] |publisher=[[Turner Broadcasting Systems]]|location=Atlanta, Georgia|date=October 25, 2019 |accessdate=October 31, 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026193710/https://edition.cnn.com/2019/10/25/media/joker-r-rated-box-office-record/index.html |archivedate=October 26, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="JokerBioGeek">{{cite web|first=Brian |last=Kroner |title=Geek'S 20 Greatest Joker Moments Ever, Part I |url=http://www.geekexchange.com/geeks-25-best-joker-moments-ever-part-i-29607.html |work=[[Geek Monthly|Geek Exchange]] |date=December 21, 2012 |accessdate=December 27, 2013 |archiveurl=http://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20130308143636/http://www.geekexchange.com/geeks-25-best-joker-moments-ever-part-i-29607.html |archivedate=March 8, 2013 |url-status=dead |df= }}</ref>
<ref name="JokerBioGeek2">{{cite web|first=Brian |last=Kroner |title=Geek'S 20 Greatest Joker Moments Ever, Part II |url=http://www.geekexchange.com/geeks-20-greatest-joker-moments-ever-part-ii-29791.html |work=[[Geek Monthly|Geek Exchange]] |date=December 21, 2012 |accessdate=December 27, 2013 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20131227223242/http://www.geekexchange.com/geeks-20-greatest-joker-moments-ever-part-ii-29791.html |archivedate=December 27, 2013 |url-status=dead |df= }}</ref>
<ref name="JokerBioGeek3">{{cite web|first=Brian |last=Kroner |title=Geek'S 20 Greatest Joker Moments Ever, Part III |url=http://www.geekexchange.com/geeks-20-greatest-joker-moments-ever-part-iii-30505.html |work=[[Geek Monthly|Geek Exchange]] |date=December 21, 2012 |accessdate=December 27, 2013 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130520090100/http://www.geekexchange.com/geeks-20-greatest-joker-moments-ever-part-iii-30505.html |archivedate=May 20, 2013 |url-status=dead |df= }}</ref>
<ref name="JokerDevilsAdvocate">{{cite web|first=Hilary|last=Goldstein|url=http://comics.ign.com/articles/618/618664p1.html|title=The Joker: Devil's Advocate|website=[[IGN]]|date=May 24, 2005|accessdate=April 19, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419223046/http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/05/25/the-joker-devils-advocate |archivedate=April 19, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="JokerGadgets">{{cite web|first=Brian|last=Cronin|title=When We First Met – Joker's Deadly Bag of Tricks |url=http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2014/03/15/when-we-first-met-jokers-deadly-bag-of-tricks/|website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |date=March 15, 2014|accessdate=January 25, 2015| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20150208034517/http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2014/03/15/when-we-first-met-jokers-deadly-bag-of-tricks/| archivedate =February 8, 2015| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="KaneLovece">{{cite web|first=Frank |last=Lovece |url=http://franklovece.com/webexclusives.html |title=Web Exclusives – Bob Kane interview |publisher=FrankLovece.com (official site of [[Entertainment Weekly]] writer) |date=May 17, 1994 |accessdate=August 28, 2014 |archivedate=February 4, 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204122050/http://franklovece.com/webexclusives.html |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
<ref name="LubbockOnline">{{cite news |first=Karen|last=Michael| url =http://lubbockonline.com/education/2015-04-17/texas-tech-librarian-and-professor-publish-book-joker#.VTakyyFVhBd|title=Texas Tech librarian and professor publish book on Joker|newspaper=[[Lubbock Avalanche-Journal]] | date =April 17, 2015 |accessdate=April 21, 2015| archivedate =April 23, 2015| archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20150423012237/http://lubbockonline.com/education/2015-04-17/texas-tech-librarian-and-professor-publish-book-joker|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Media1">{{cite web|title=Top 10 Comic to TV Adaptations |url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/2007/06/22/top-10-comic-to-tv-adaptations?page=3 |website=[[IGN]]|date=June 21, 2007 |accessdate=October 12, 2013 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131015002820/http://uk.ign.com/articles/2007/06/22/top-10-comic-to-tv-adaptations?page=3 | archivedate = October 15, 2013| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Media2">{{cite news|title=A brief history of the Joker |url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/movies/la-et-joker-2008-pg,0,3865696.photogallery?index=lat-joker8_igaeb3kf20080718123115 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |accessdate=October 12, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023121032/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/movies/la-et-joker-2008-pg%2C0%2C3865696.photogallery?index=lat-joker8_igaeb3kf20080718123115 |archivedate=October 23, 2013 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
<ref name="Media3">{{cite news|title=A brief history of the Joker |url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/movies/la-et-joker-2008-pg,0,3865696.photogallery?index=la-joker-07-photo |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |accessdate=October 12, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023121025/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/movies/la-et-joker-2008-pg%2C0%2C3865696.photogallery?index=la-joker-07-photo |archivedate=October 23, 2013 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
<ref name="Media4">{{cite news|title=A brief history of the Joker |url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/movies/la-et-joker-2008-pg,0,3865696.photogallery?index=la-joker-03-photo |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |accessdate=October 12, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023121028/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/movies/la-et-joker-2008-pg%2C0%2C3865696.photogallery?index=la-joker-03-photo |archivedate=October 23, 2013 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
<ref name="Media5">{{cite web|first=Dan |last=Jolin |title=The Making of the Joker |url=http://www.empireonline.com/features/heath-ledger-joker |work=[[Empire (film magazine)|Empire]] |accessdate=October 12, 2013 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131209000355/http://www.empireonline.com/features/heath-ledger-joker | archivedate = December 9, 2013| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Media6">{{cite web|first=Kirsten |last=Acuna |title=Everyone Was Also Furious with the Initial Casting of Heath Ledger As The Joker |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/heath-ledger-was-criticized-before-played-joker-2013-8 |website=[[Business Insider]] |date=August 23, 2013 |accessdate=October 12, 2013 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140122133404/http://www.businessinsider.com/heath-ledger-was-criticized-before-played-joker-2013-8 | archivedate =January 22, 2014| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Media7">{{cite web|title='Slumdog Millionaire' fulfills its Oscar destiny |url=http://www.today.com/id/29332714 |work=[[Today (U.S. TV program)|Today]] |date=February 23, 2009 |accessdate=October 12, 2013 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140116194948/http://www.today.com/id/29332714 | archivedate = January 16, 2014| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Media8">{{cite web|first=Chris |last=Sims |title=Mark Hamill Retires From His Role As The Joker After 19 Years |url=http://comicsalliance.com/mark-hamill-retires-the-joker-arkham-city/ |publisher=[[Townsquare Media|Comics Alliance]] |date=October 19, 2011 |accessdate=October 12, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223103530/http://comicsalliance.com/mark-hamill-retires-the-joker-arkham-city/ |archivedate=February 23, 2014 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
<ref name="Media9">{{cite news|first=Oliver |last=Sava |title=Mask of the Phantasm |url=http://www.avclub.com/articles/mask-of-the-phantasm,54695/ |newspaper=[[The A.V. Club]] |date=April 18, 2011 |accessdate=October 12, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131107180837/http://www.avclub.com/articles/mask-of-the-phantasm%2C54695/ |archivedate=November 7, 2013 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
<ref name="Media10">{{cite news|first=Sean |last=Keane |title=New York Comic Con 2013: The Electrocutioner takes on the Dark Knight in 'Batman: Arkham Origins'  |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/electrocutioner-takes-dark-knight-batman-arkham-origins-article-1.1485779 |work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]|location=New York  |date=October 14, 2013 |accessdate=October 16, 2013 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131018045927/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/electrocutioner-takes-dark-knight-batman-arkham-origins-article-1.1485779 | archivedate = October 18, 2013| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Media11">{{cite news|first=Adam |last=Rosenberg |title='Arkham Origins' Stars Talk The First Meeting of Batman and the Joker |url=http://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/batman-vs-joker-arkham-origins-stars-on-the-challenge-of-becoming-iconic-characters/2/ |work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]|location=New York  |date=October 15, 2013 |accessdate=October 16, 2013 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131016052259/http://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/batman-vs-joker-arkham-origins-stars-on-the-challenge-of-becoming-iconic-characters/2/ | archivedate =October 16, 2013| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Media12">{{cite web|first=Kevin |last=Melrose |title=Michael Emerson Takes On the Joker in 'Batman: The Dark Knight Returns' |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=40818 |website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |date=September 4, 2012 |accessdate=October 17, 2013 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140408043243/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=40818 | archivedate=April 8, 2014| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Media13">{{cite web|first=Alasdair |last=Wilkins |title=Under the Red Hood cuts through Batman's baggage to reveal the dark side of his legacy |url=http://io9.com/5601910/batman-under-the-red-hood-tosses-the-comics-baggage-to-reveal-the-dark-side-of-the-bat+legacy |publisher=[[io9]] |date=August 1, 2010 |accessdate=October 18, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225060637/http://io9.com/5601910/batman-under-the-red-hood-tosses-the-comics-baggage-to-reveal-the-dark-side-of-the-bat%2Blegacy |archivedate=February 25, 2014 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
<ref name="Media66">{{cite news|first=Ben| last=Child| url =https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2016/mar/16/mark-hamill-jack-nicholson-heath-ledger-joker-batman-best | title =Mark Hamill, Jack Nicholson, Heath Ledger ... whose Joker was best? | work=[[The Guardian]]| date =March 16, 2016 | accessdate =June 24, 2017 | archiveurl=https://archive.today/20170623233543/https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2016/mar/16/mark-hamill-jack-nicholson-heath-ledger-joker-batman-best |archivedate=June 23, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="MediaDCU">{{cite web|first=Hugh |last=Armitage |title=Mark Hamill returns as Joker in 'DC Universe Online' |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/gaming/news/a382293/mark-hamill-returns-as-joker-in-dc-universe-online.html |work=[[Digital Spy]] |date=May 18, 2012 |accessdate=December 19, 2013 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131220021249/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/gaming/news/a382293/mark-hamill-returns-as-joker-in-dc-universe-online.html | archivedate =December 20, 2013| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="MediaEbert">{{cite web|first=Roger |last=Ebert |title=Batman |url=http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/batman-1989 |work=[[Roger Ebert]] |date=June 23, 1989 |accessdate=July 24, 2015 | archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20141219092114/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/batman-1989 | archivedate=December 19, 2014| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="MediaIGAU">{{cite news|first=Daniel |last=Nye Griffiths |title=Injustice: Gods Among Us – Review  |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/games/2013/04/22/injustice-gods-among-us-review/ |work=[[Forbes]] |date=April 22, 2013 |accessdate=December 8, 2013 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131213010742/http://www.forbes.com/sites/games/2013/04/22/injustice-gods-among-us-review/ | archivedate = December 13, 2013| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="MediaIJ2">{{cite web|first=Nick |last=Valdez |title=Joker puts a smile on that face in newest Injustice 2 gameplay trailer |url=https://www.destructoid.com/joker-puts-a-smile-on-that-face-in-newest-injustice-2-gameplay-trailer-433532.phtml |website=[[Destructoid]] |date=April 28, 2017 |accessdate=June 3, 2017 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20170603220611/https://www.destructoid.com/joker-puts-a-smile-on-that-face-in-newest-injustice-2-gameplay-trailer-433532.phtml |archivedate=June 3, 2017 |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref>
<ref name="MediaLego1">{{cite web |first=Steve |last=Watts |url=http://www.shacknews.com/article/51374/joker-harley-quinn-in-lego |title=Joker, Harley Quinn in LEGO Batman Screenshots | date=February 18, 2008 |accessdate=December 26, 2013 |publisher=[[Shacknews]] | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131228031455/http://www.shacknews.com/article/51374/joker-harley-quinn-in-lego | archivedate =December 28, 2013| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="MediaLego2">{{cite news|title=Anime USA Welcomes Voice Actor, Christopher Corey Smith |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2013-07-22/anime-usa-welcomes-voice-actor-christopher-corey-smith |work=[[Anime News Network]] |date=July 22, 2013 |accessdate=December 19, 2013 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131220043537/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2013-07-22/anime-usa-welcomes-voice-actor-christopher-corey-smith | archivedate =December 20, 2013| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="MediaLego3">{{cite web |first=Steve|last=Hannley|url=http://www.hardcoregamer.com/2014/07/28/cast-featured-in-new-lego-batman-3-beyond-gotham-trailer/96224/|title=Cast Featured in New LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham Trailer|publisher=Hardcore Gamer|date=July 28, 2014|accessdate=March 12, 2015 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150312222342/http://www.hardcoregamer.com/2014/07/28/cast-featured-in-new-lego-batman-3-beyond-gotham-trailer/96224/|archivedate=March 12, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="MediaMKvsDCU">{{cite web|first=Michael |last=Thompson |title=Review: Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2008/11/review-mortal-kombat-vs-dc-universe/ |website=Ars Technica |date=November 18, 2008 |accessdate=December 8, 2013 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131213110302/http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2008/11/review-mortal-kombat-vs-dc-universe/ | archivedate =December 13, 2013| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="MediaSuicide">{{cite news|first=Justin |last=Kroll |title='Suicide Squad' Cast Revealed: Jared Leto to Play the Joker, Will Smith is Deadshot|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/suicide-squad-cast-revealed-jared-leto-to-play-the-joker-will-smith-is-deadshot-1201368867/|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=December 2, 2014 |accessdate=December 28, 2014 | archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20141203214559/http://variety.com/2014/film/news/suicide-squad-cast-revealed-jared-leto-to-play-the-joker-will-smith-is-deadshot-1201368867/| archivedate =December 3, 2014| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="MediaSShock">{{cite magazine|first=Jim |last=Reilly |title=Mark Hamill Retires From Joker Role |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2011/10/20/looks-like-mark-hamill-is-done-with-the-joker.aspx |magazine=[[Game Informer]]|date=October 20, 2011 |accessdate=December 22, 2013 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131228080620/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2011/10/20/looks-like-mark-hamill-is-done-with-the-joker.aspx | archivedate =December 28, 2013| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="MediaTBatB">{{cite web|first=Kethlene |last=Jean-Jacques |title=Jeff Bennett: Joker Through the Years |url=http://www.celebuzz.com/photos/joker-through-the-years/jeff-bennett-the-joker/ |publisher=[[Celebuzz]]  |accessdate=October 19, 2013 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131020144606/http://www.celebuzz.com/photos/joker-through-the-years/jeff-bennett-the-joker/ | archivedate =October 20, 2013| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="MediaTheBatman">{{cite web|first=Kethlene |last=Jean-Jacques |title=Kevin Michael Richardson: Joker Through the Years |url=http://www.celebuzz.com/photos/joker-through-the-years/kevin-michael-richardson-joker/ |work=[[Celebuzz]]  |accessdate=October 19, 2013 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131020144043/http://www.celebuzz.com/photos/joker-through-the-years/kevin-michael-richardson-joker/ | archivedate =October 20, 2013| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="MediaTheBatman2">{{cite web|first=Chris |last=Mason |title=The Batman – The Review! |url=http://www.superherohype.com/features/articles/86715-the-batman---the-review |work=SuperHeroHype |publisher=[[CraveOnline]] |date=September 12, 2004 |accessdate=October 19, 2013 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131020162628/http://www.superherohype.com/features/articles/86715-the-batman---the-review | archivedate=October 20, 2013| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="MediaStorch">{{cite web |title=Batman and The Joker : Through the Years |url=http://sg.news.yahoo.com/photos/batman-and-joker-through-the-years-1318457529-slideshow/the-adventures-of-batman-olan-soule-and-larry-storch-photo-1318536044.html |publisher=[[Yahoo!]] |accessdate=October 19, 2013 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131022151457/http://sg.news.yahoo.com/photos/batman-and-joker-through-the-years-1318457529-slideshow/the-adventures-of-batman-olan-soule-and-larry-storch-photo-1318536044.html | archivedate =October 22, 2013| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="MediaTDK">{{cite news|first=Scott |last=Mendelson |title='Cloudy 2', 'Batman Begins', And 5 More Hits That Survived "Disappointing" Debuts |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2013/10/03/cloudy-2-batman-begins-and-5-more-hits-that-survived-disappointing-debuts/ |work=[[Forbes]] |date=October 3, 2013 |accessdate=October 17, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006220631/http://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2013/10/03/cloudy-2-batman-begins-and-5-more-hits-that-survived-disappointing-debuts/ |archivedate=October 6, 2013 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
<ref name="MediaTDK2">{{cite news|first=Scott |last=Mendelson |title=How 'The Dark Knight' Proved Irrelevance of Box Office Rank |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2013/09/17/how-the-dark-knight-proved-irrelevance-of-box-office-rank/ |work=[[Forbes]]|date=September 17, 2013 |accessdate=October 17, 2013 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20130919100300/http://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2013/09/17/how-the-dark-knight-proved-irrelevance-of-box-office-rank/ | archivedate =September 19, 2013| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="MediaTDK3">{{cite news|first=Pamela | last=McClintock |title=Box Office Milestone: 'Dark Knight Rises' Crosses $1 Billion Worldwide |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-milestone-dark-knight-rises-warner-bros-christopher-nolan-christian-bale-367476 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] | date= September 2, 2012|accessdate=October 17, 2013 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140109092114/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-milestone-dark-knight-rises-warner-bros-christopher-nolan-christian-bale-367476 | archivedate =January 9, 2014| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="MediaTDK4">{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=batmanbegins.htm |title=Batman Begins |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |accessdate=October 17, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120101144454/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=batmanbegins.htm |archivedate=January 1, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="MediaTLBM">{{cite news|first=Lexy |last=Perez |title='The Lego Batman Movie': Meet the Voices Behind Each Animated Character |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/lego-batman-movie-cast-meet-voices-behind-animated-character-971026/item/lego-batman-movie-zach-galifianakis-joker-971034 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=February 10, 2017 |accessdate=June 3, 2017 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20170603225315/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/lego-batman-movie-cast-meet-voices-behind-animated-character-971026/item/lego-batman-movie-will-arnett-batman-bruce-wayne-971028 |archivedate=June 3, 2017 |url-status=live |df= }}</ref>
<ref name="MediaWeinrib">{{cite web|first=Kethlene |last=Jean-Jacques |title=Lennie Weinrib: Joker Through the Years |url=http://www.celebuzz.com/photos/joker-through-the-years/lennie-weinrib-joker/ |publisher=[[Celebuzz]]  |accessdate=October 19, 2013 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131020144529/http://www.celebuzz.com/photos/joker-through-the-years/lennie-weinrib-joker/ | archivedate =October 20, 2013| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="MediaWelker">{{cite news|first=Steve |last=Fritz |title=Animated Shorts – Actor Lends Voice to the Joker Legacy|url=http://www.newsarama.com/2617-animated-shorts-actor-lends-voice-to-the-joker-legacy.html |work=[[Newsarama]] |date=April 7, 2009 |accessdate=October 19, 2013 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131020123339/http://www.newsarama.com/2617-animated-shorts-actor-lends-voice-to-the-joker-legacy.html | archivedate =October 20, 2013| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="MediaWelker2">{{cite web |title=The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians (1985–1986) |url=http://www.dccomics.com/tv/the-super-powers-team-galactic-guardians-1985-1986 |work=DC Comics.com  |publisher=[[DC Comics]] |accessdate=October 19, 2013 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131021015708/http://www.dccomics.com/tv/the-super-powers-team-galactic-guardians-1985-1986 | archivedate =October 21, 2013| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="MediaYJ">{{cite news|first=Will|last=Harris |title=Brent Spiner on playing Conan O'Brien, Data on Star Trek, and Brent Spiner |url=http://www.avclub.com/article/brent-spiner-on-playing-conan-obrien-data-on-istar-81664 |newspaper=[[The A.V. Club]] |date=June 22, 2012 |accessdate=December 22, 2013 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131224105647/http://www.avclub.com/article/brent-spiner-on-playing-conan-obrien-data-on-istar-81664 | archivedate =December 24, 2013| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="ModernAge2">{{cite news|first=Joe |last=Strike | title=Frank Miller's 'Dark Knight' brought Batman back to life |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/frank-miller-dark-knight-brought-batman-back-life-article-1.351685 |work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]|location=New York  |accessdate=October 12, 2013 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20130621141719/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/frank-miller-dark-knight-brought-batman-back-life-article-1.351685 | archivedate = June 21, 2013| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="ModernAge4">{{cite web |first=Joey |last=Esposito | url =http://uk.ign.com/articles/2012/07/09/scott-snyder-talks-about-the-jokers-brutal-return | title =Scott Snyder Talks About the Joker's Brutal Return | website=[[IGN]]| date =July 9, 2012 | accessdate =October 12, 2013 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514212106/http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/07/09/scott-snyder-talks-about-the-jokers-brutal-return |archivedate=May 14, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="ModernAge5">{{cite web |first=Hilary |last=Goldstein | url =http://uk.ign.com/articles/2005/06/09/batman-a-death-in-the-family-review | title =Batman: A Death in the Family Review | website=[[IGN]] | date =June 9, 2005 | accessdate =October 12, 2013  | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514212904/http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/06/09/batman-a-death-in-the-family-review|archivedate=May 14, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="ModernAge10">{{cite web |first=Seb|last=Patrick| url =http://www.denofgeek.com/books-comics/5774/batman-the-killing-joke-deluxe-edition-review | title =Batman: The Killing Joke Deluxe Edition review | publisher=[[Dennis Publishing|Den of Geek]] | date =April 28, 2008 | accessdate =October 12, 2013 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131014173655/http://www.denofgeek.com/books-comics/5774/batman-the-killing-joke-deluxe-edition-review | archivedate =October 14, 2013| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="ModernAge11">{{cite web |first=Hilary |last=Goldstein | url =http://uk.ign.com/articles/2005/05/25/batman-the-killing-joke-review | title =Batman: The Killing Joke Review | website=[[IGN]]| date =May 24, 2005 | accessdate =October 12, 2013 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514213044/http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/05/25/batman-the-killing-joke-review|archivedate=May 14, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="ModernAge12">{{cite web|first=Jason |last=Serafino |title=The 25 Best DC Comics of All Time |url=http://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2011/08/the-25-best-dc-comics-of-all-time/arkham-asylum-a-serious-house-on-serious-earth|work=[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]] |date=August 22, 2011 |accessdate=October 11, 2013 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20121230155129/http://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2011/08/the-25-best-dc-comics-of-all-time/arkham-asylum-a-serious-house-on-serious-earth | archivedate =December 30, 2012| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="ModernAge13">{{cite web|first=Jason |last=Serafino |title=The 25 Best DC Comics of All Time |url=http://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2012/07/the-25-best-batman-comics-of-all-time/arkham-asylum-a-serious-house-on-serious-earth |work=[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]] |date=July 17, 2012 |accessdate=October 11, 2013 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20130107013610/http://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2012/07/the-25-best-batman-comics-of-all-time/arkham-asylum-a-serious-house-on-serious-earth | archivedate = January 7, 2013| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="ModernAge14">{{cite web|first=Jeffrey|last=Renaud |title=Scott Snyder Plays Joker In 'Death of the Family' |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=43743 |website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |date=February 14, 2013 |accessdate=October 11, 2013 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131104042646/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=43743 | archivedate =November 4, 2013| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="ModernAge15">{{cite web |first=Hilary |last=Goldstein | url =http://uk.ign.com/articles/2005/05/25/batman-harley-quinn-review | title =Batman: Harley Quinn Review | website=[[IGN]]| date =May 24, 2005 | accessdate =October 15, 2013  | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514213225/http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/05/25/batman-harley-quinn-review|archivedate=May 14, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="ModernAgeCBR">{{cite web|first=Brian|last=Cronin|title=75 Greatest Joker Stories: #5-1|url=http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2015/08/01/75-greatest-joker-stories-5-1/2/|website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |date=August 1, 2015|accessdate=August 14, 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150814213858/http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2015/08/01/75-greatest-joker-stories-5-1/2/|archivedate=August 14, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="ModernAgeDOTF">{{cite news|first=Noelene|last=Clark| title ='Batman: Death of the Family': Snyder, Capullo's Joker is no joke| url =http://herocomplex.latimes.com/comics/batman-death-family-joker-snyder-capullo/#/0|work=[[Los Angeles Times]] | date=October 10, 2012 |accessdate=April 28, 2014| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106044029/http://herocomplex.latimes.com/comics/batman-death-family-joker-snyder-capullo/|archivedate=January 6, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Multiverse">{{cite web|first=Charlie Jane |last=Anders|title=The Multiverse Is Strictly Business, Says DC Comics Czar|url=http://io9.com/360573/the-multiverse-is-strictly-business-says-dc-comics-czar |work=[[io9]] |date=February 25, 2008 |accessdate=February 25, 2014  | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140227030527/http://io9.com/360573/the-multiverse-is-strictly-business-says-dc-comics-czar | archivedate =February 27, 2014| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="NewsaramaEndgame">{{cite news|first=Vaneta |last=Rogers|title=Post-Convergence Batman Will Have New Status Quo 'No One Has Done in 75 Years of Batman'|url=http://www.newsarama.com/23362-post-convergence-batman-will-have-new-status-quo-no-one-has-done-in-75-years-of-batman.html|work=[[Newsarama]] |date=January 28, 2015|accessdate=February 2, 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203020638/http://www.newsarama.com/23362-post-convergence-batman-will-have-new-status-quo-no-one-has-done-in-75-years-of-batman.html|archivedate=February 3, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Nicknames">{{cite web|first=Matt|last=Hunt|url=http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/arts/comic-books/joker.htm|title=How the Joker works|publisher=[[HowStuffWorks]] |accessdate=April 22, 2014 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204192633/http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/arts/comic-books/joker.htm |archivedate=December 4, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Origin1">{{cite web|first=Matt|last=Hunt|url=http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/arts/comic-books/joker1.htm|title=How the Joker works (Page 2)|publisher=[[HowStuffWorks]] |accessdate=February 25, 2014 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001051035/http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/arts/comic-books/joker1.htm |archivedate=October 1, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Origin2">{{cite web|first=Chris |last=Quicksilver |title=Chemicals & Chaos: The Joker's (Many) Bizarre Origins |url=http://whatculture.com/comics/chemicals-chaos-jokers-many-bizarre-origins.php |publisher=What Culture |date=October 23, 2013 |accessdate=December 31, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131025044620/http://whatculture.com/comics/chemicals-chaos-jokers-many-bizarre-origins.php |archivedate=October 25, 2013 |url-status=dead |df= }}</ref>
<ref name="Origin3">{{cite web |first=Seb|last=Patrick| url =http://www.denofgeek.us/books-comics/the-joker/231615/the-joker-the-nature-of-batmans-greatest-foe | title =The Joker: The Nature of Batman's Greatest Foe | publisher=[[Dennis Publishing|Den of Geek]] | date=December 13, 2013 | accessdate =December 26, 2013 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131227223327/http://www.denofgeek.us/books-comics/the-joker/231615/the-joker-the-nature-of-batmans-greatest-foe | archivedate =December 27, 2013| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="OriginPushback">{{cite comic| Writer = Devin Grayson, Scott Beatty, A.J. Lieberman| Cowriters = | Penciller = Dale Eaglesham, Paul Ryan, Roger Robinson, Al Barrionuevo| Copencillers =| Inker = John Floyd| Coinkers = | Story = | Title = Batman: Gotham Knights| Volume = 50–55| Issue = 74| Date = March 2000 – April 2006| Publisher = DC Comics| Panel = }}</ref>
<ref name="OtherFlashpoint">{{cite web |first=Iann |last=Narcisse |title=Review: Batman: Knight of Vengeance #3 |url=http://www.craveonline.com/comics/reviews/172067-review-batman-knight-of-vengeance-3 |work=[[CraveOnline]] |date=August 3, 2011 |accessdate=October 20, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022133553/http://www.craveonline.com/comics/reviews/172067-review-batman-knight-of-vengeance-3 |archivedate=October 22, 2013 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
<ref name="OtherInjustice">{{cite web|first=Evan |last=Narcisse |title=In This Week's Injustice Comic, Superman Does the One Thing Batman Never Would |url=http://kotaku.com/5982927/in-this-weeks-injustice-comic-superman-does-the-one-thing-batman-never-would |publisher=[[Kotaku]] |date=August 2, 2013 |accessdate=October 20, 2013 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140307113918/http://kotaku.com/5982927/in-this-weeks-injustice-comic-superman-does-the-one-thing-batman-never-would | archivedate=March 7, 2014| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="OtherSpeeding">{{cite web|first=Greggoru |last=Basore |title=The 5 Worst and 5 Best Elseworld Origin Stories with Superman |url=http://www.toplessrobot.com/2012/11/the_5_worst_elseworld_origin_stories_with_superman.php |work=Topless Robot |publisher=[[Village Voice Media]] |date=November 21, 2012 |accessdate=November 16, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130316023043/http://www.toplessrobot.com/2012/11/the_5_worst_elseworld_origin_stories_with_superman.php |archivedate=March 16, 2013 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
<ref name="OriginZeroYear">{{cite web| first=Noel |last=Thorne | title =Batman: The Joker's 6 Essential Stories | url =http://whatculture.com/comics/batman-jokers-6-essential-stories.php/7 |publisher = What Culture  | date =February 13, 2014 |accessdate=February 16, 2014 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140216223826/http://whatculture.com/comics/batman-jokers-6-essential-stories.php/7|archivedate=February 16, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Personality2">{{cite web|first=John |last=Parker |title=The Evolution of the Joker: Still Crazy After All These Years |url=http://comicsalliance.com/joker-history-batman/ |publisher=[[Townsquare Media|Comics Alliance]] |date=November 7, 2011 |accessdate=October 19, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020122546/http://comicsalliance.com/joker-history-batman/ |archivedate=October 20, 2013 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
<ref name="PersonalityTKJ">{{cite web|first=Joseph |last=Hughes |title=So What Really Happened at the End Of 'The Killing Joke'? [Opinion] |url=http://comicsalliance.com/batman-killing-joke-ending-grant-morrison-alan-moore-brian-bolland-dc/ |publisher=[[Townsquare Media|Comics Alliance]] |date=August 19, 2013 |accessdate=October 20, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110080524/http://comicsalliance.com/batman-killing-joke-ending-grant-morrison-alan-moore-brian-bolland-dc/ |archivedate=November 10, 2013 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
<ref name="PostEndGameRama">{{cite news|first=Vaneta|last=Rogers |title=Two Years After DC's Rebirth, What's Been Answered? And What Mysteries & Questions Remain? |url=https://www.newsarama.com/39453-two-years-after-dc-s-rebirth-what-s-been-answered-and-what-mysteries-questions-remain.html  |work=[[Newsarama]] |date=April 10, 2018 |accessdate=March 29, 2019 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20190329210020/https://www.newsarama.com/39453-two-years-after-dc-s-rebirth-what-s-been-answered-and-what-mysteries-questions-remain.html|archivedate=March 29, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="SalondeBarcelona">{{cite web | url=http://www.elmundo.es/cataluna/2015/04/15/552e8996268e3ef5618b4571.html |first=Vanesaa|last=Graell| date=April 15, 2015 | title=La astrofísica del cómic |trans-title=The astrophysics of the comic book | work=[[El Mundo (Spain)|El Mundo]] | accessdate=August 3, 2015 | language=Spanish | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714152356/http://www.elmundo.es/cataluna/2015/04/15/552e8996268e3ef5618b4571.html | archivedate=July 14, 2015 | url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="SidekickGaggy">{{cite web|first=Chris |last=Sims |title=Bizarro Back Issues: The Strange Saga Of The Joker'S Daughter (1976) |url=http://comicsalliance.com/bizarro-back-issues-batman-joker-daughter/ |publisher=[[Townsquare Media|Comics Alliance]] |date=January 15, 2013 |accessdate=February 12, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223100008/http://comicsalliance.com/bizarro-back-issues-batman-joker-daughter/ |archivedate=February 23, 2014 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
<ref name="SidekickGaggy2">{{cite web|first=Chris |last=Sims |title=Ask Chris #173: The Trouble with the Joker's Girlfriend Harley Quinn |url=http://comicsalliance.com/harley-quinn-paul-dini-bruce-timm-dc-ask-chris/ |work=Comics Alliance |date=December 6, 2013 |accessdate=February 12, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223095904/http://comicsalliance.com/harley-quinn-paul-dini-bruce-timm-dc-ask-chris/ |archivedate=February 23, 2014 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
<ref name="SilverAge1">{{cite web|title=The Origins Of! The Joker|url=http://www.cracked.com/funny-5775-the-origins-of21-joker/ |work=[[Cracked (magazine)|Cracked]] |accessdate=October 12, 2013 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131014180159/http://www.cracked.com/funny-5775-the-origins-of21-joker/ | archivedate =October 14, 2013| url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Teamup1">{{cite web|first=Brett|last=White|title=5 'Justice League' Stories Fit For Film|url=http://spinoff.comicbookresources.com/2014/05/03/5-justice-league-stories-fit-for-film/|website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |date=May 3, 2014 |accessdate=May 4, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140504223439/http://spinoff.comicbookresources.com/2014/05/03/5-justice-league-stories-fit-for-film/|archivedate=May 4, 2014  |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Teamup2">{{cite web |title=Justice League of America Vol. 3: The Injustice League|url=http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/justice-league-of-america-vol-3-the-injustice-league|work=DC Comics.com  |publisher=[[DC Comics]] |accessdate=May 4, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140504223645/http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/justice-league-of-america-vol-3-the-injustice-league|archivedate=May 4, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="THR: GoldenLion">{{Cite web| first=Ariston| last=Anderson |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/venice-film-festival-awards-revealed-1237684 |title=Venice: Todd Phillips' 'Joker' Wins Golden Lion, Roman Polanski Wins Silver Lion |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=September 7, 2019 |accessdate=September 7, 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190907190057/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/venice-film-festival-awards-revealed-1237684 |archivedate=September 7, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="THR: Critics">{{cite web |last1=Beresford |first1=Trilby |title='Joker': What the Critics are Saying |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/joker-review-roundup-what-critics-are-saying-1235476 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |accessdate=October 11, 2019 |date=August 31, 2019}}</ref>
<ref name="TKJ">{{cite comic| writer = [[Alan Moore|Moore, Alan]]| artist = Bolland, Brian| title =[[Batman: The Killing Joke|''The Killing Joke'']]|date =March 1988| publisher = [[DC Comics]]| page=38–40 | Panel = | ID = 1401209270}}</ref>
<ref name="UnderworldUnleashed">{{cite web |first=Mark| last=Powell| title =40 Greatest Joker Moments −39 : Peer review| url=http://www.totalfilm.com/features/40-greatest-joker-moments/peer-review | work=[[Total Film]]| date =May 18, 2011 |accessdate=February 17, 2014 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110818003727/http://www.totalfilm.com/features/40-greatest-joker-moments/peer-review |archivedate=August 18, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="WaPo: Divisive">{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2019/10/03/why-joker-became-one-most-divisive-movies-year/|title=Why 'Joker' became one of the most divisive movies of the year|last=Cavna|first=Michael|date=October 3, 2019|website=[[The Washington Post]]|language=en|url-status=live|access-date=October 3, 2019}}</ref>
<ref name="WeaponsVenom">{{cite web|first=Justin Jude |last=Carmona |url=http://www.comicsbulletin.com/columns/289/top-10-weapons-in-comics/ |title=Top 10 Weapons in Comics |publisher=[[Comics Bulletin]] |accessdate=October 12, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014163841/http://www.comicsbulletin.com/columns/289/top-10-weapons-in-comics/ |archivedate=October 14, 2013 |url-status=dead |df= }}</ref>
<!--<ref name="BronzeAge1">{{cite book|last=McAvennie|first= Michael|last2=Dolan|first2=Hannah, ed.|chapter= 1970s|title = DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle|publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley]] |year=2010 |isbn= 978-0-7566-6742-9 |page= 156 |quote = After decades as an irritating prankster, Batman's greatest enemy re-established himself as a homicidal harlequin in this issue&nbsp;... this classic tale by writer Denny O'Neil and artist Neal Adams introduced a dynamic that remains to this day: the Joker's dependence on Batman as his only worthy opponent.}}</ref>
<ref name="BronzeAge2">{{cite book|last = Greenberger|first = Robert|authorlink = Robert Greenberger|last2 = Manning| first2 = Matthew K.|author2-link =  |title = The Batman Vault: A Museum-in-a-Book with Rare Collectibles from the Batcave|publisher = [[Running Press]]|year = 2009|isbn = 0-7624-3663-8|page= 161 and 163 |quote =  In 1973, O'Neil alongside frequent collaborator Neal Adams forged the landmark 'The Joker's Five-Way Revenge' in ''Batman'' #251, in which the Clown Prince of Crime returned to his murderous ways, killing his victims with his trademark Joker venom and taking much delight from their sufferings.}}</ref> -->
}}
===Sources===
* {{cite book |last1=Duncan|first1=Randy |last2=Smith |first2=Matthew J. |title=Icons of the American Comic Book: From Captain America to Wonder Woman, Volume 1 |year=2013 |publisher=[[Greenwood Publishing Group|Greenwood Press]] |location=Westport, Connecticut |isbn=978-0-313-39923-7 |pages= |ref={{SfnRef|Duncan Smith|2013}}}}
* {{cite book |last1=Langley|first1=Travis |title=Batman and Psychology: A Dark and Stormy Knight |year=2012 |publisher=[[John Wiley & Sons]] |location=New York City, New York |isbn=978-1-118-16765-6 |pages= |ref={{SfnRef|Langley|2012}}}}
* {{cite book |last1=Manning |first1=Matthew K. |title=The Joker: A Visual History of the Clown Prince of Crime |year=2011 |publisher=[[Universe Publishing]] |location= |isbn=978-0-7893-2247-0 |pages= |ref={{SfnRef|Manning|2011}}}}
* {{cite book |last1=Weiner |first1=Robert G. |last2=Peaslee |first2=Robert Moses|title=The Joker: A Serious Study of the Clown Prince of Crime |date=February 26, 2015 |publisher=[[University Press of Mississippi]] |location= |isbn=978-1-62846-238-8|pages= |ref=harv}}
* {{cite journal |last=Tollin |first=Anthony |date=January–February 1975 |title=Profile on Jerry Robinson - Creator of The Joker |url=http://cacb.wordpress.com/2009/02/08/profile-on-jerry-robinson-creator-of-the-joker/ |journal=Amazing World of DC Comics |volume =2 |issue=4|publisher=DC Comics |accessdate=August 10, 2014 |ref={{SfnRef|Tollin|1975}}|quote=I felt that Batman needed a supreme arch-villain to test him&nbsp;... Batman didn't need another crime lord like Al Capone. I felt he needed something more exotic: something that would fit in with the mysterious mood of Batman&nbsp;... The strip needed an antagonist that would be more enduring; a continuing conflict in the literary tradition of Holmes and Moriarty or King Arthur and Mordred. |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814213253/http://cacb.wordpress.com/2009/02/08/profile-on-jerry-robinson-creator-of-the-joker/ |url-status=live |archivedate=August 14, 2014}}
==External links==
{{Sister project links|voy=no|wikt=no|b=no|q=Joker|s=no|commons=Category:Joker|n=no|v=no}}
* {{official website| http://www.dccomics.com/characters/joker}}
* {{DCdatabase|Joker}}
{{Timeline
|before= ← ''Batman'' series was released. See [[Batman (comic book)]] for more info and the previous timeline.
|title= [[Timeline of DC Comics]] ([[Timeline of DC Comics (1940s)|1940s]])
|years= April 1940
|after = The character Catwoman was debuted by Bill Finger and Bob Kane. See [[Catwoman]] for more info and next timeline. →
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'''Al-Jacar''' is the main character of [[Unbroken]] and a God of the [[Vigilant]] Pantheon. He is widely reknown for eclipsing all other characters in his sheer importance within the plot of [[Unbroken]] and is the sole enemy of (((them))) that still continues to draw breath. It shouldn't be understated that, as the main character of [[Unbroken]], Al-Jacar is known for being involved in every event that ever happened in the [[Unbroken]] universe. Even if he never seemed to be present, just know that Al-Jacar is always with you, rather he is always '''behind''' you. That being said, Al-Jacar is also the only known stand user in [[Unbroken]] that we currently know about. His stand's name is "Importance", and it grants him the ability to elevate his level of influence whenever he sees fit. There are no known weaknesses to this stand.
'''Al-Jacar''' is the main character of [[Unbroken]] and a God of the [[Vigilant]] Pantheon. He is widely reknown for eclipsing all other characters in his sheer importance within the plot of [[Unbroken]] and is the sole enemy of (((them))) that still continues to draw breath. It shouldn't be understated that, as the main character of [[Unbroken]], Al-Jacar is known for being involved in every event that ever happened in the [[Unbroken]] universe. Even if he never seemed to be present, just know that Al-Jacar is always with you, rather he is always '''behind''' you. That being said, Al-Jacar is also the only known stand user in [[Unbroken]] that we currently know about. His stand's name is "Importance", and it grants him the ability to elevate his level of influence whenever he sees fit. There are no known weaknesses to this stand.


Revision as of 23:27, 8 November 2019

Al-Jacar is the main character of Unbroken and a God of the Vigilant Pantheon. He is widely reknown for eclipsing all other characters in his sheer importance within the plot of Unbroken and is the sole enemy of (((them))) that still continues to draw breath. It shouldn't be understated that, as the main character of Unbroken, Al-Jacar is known for being involved in every event that ever happened in the Unbroken universe. Even if he never seemed to be present, just know that Al-Jacar is always with you, rather he is always behind you. That being said, Al-Jacar is also the only known stand user in Unbroken that we currently know about. His stand's name is "Importance", and it grants him the ability to elevate his level of influence whenever he sees fit. There are no known weaknesses to this stand.

Personality

As of the writing of this article, Al-Jacar has had only about eight or so lines of dialogue. However, as a man who speaks only when he has something worth saying, his words grant us deep insight and understanding of his personality. Furthermore, it would hardly be an "argument" to say that these eight lines of dialogue are perhaps the most salient and indispensable in Unbroken. They are as follows:


Who called in the fleet?

Al-Jacar, whose inquiry was both a direct question to those underneath his care and command and a deeper rumination on the nature of power as it exists in a societal context.



My pleasure.

Al-Jacar, revealing that he is, at heart, a grateful man who expresses gratitude not only to those who need it most, but to all who have truly earned the coveted honor of his respect.



Goodie, mate, we'll be there in a moment.

Al-Jacar, speaking reassuring words to a subordinate officer hardly worth mentioning, boldly and swiftly leading the Vigilant to new horizons; horizons they will reach "in a moment."



So, who are we spying on today, commander? First the Keilicaela, now something called the Juareq.

Al-Jacar, subtly criticizing the underhanded nature of his faction's agenda, as he is a man who much prefers honest work done in the light as opposed to dirty deeds done dirt cheap.



I've the authority to leave one of my Seekers within your care; they're a highly trained tracker unit fit for your low profile search and rescue mission.

Al-Jacar, generously offering one of his most valuable assets to some side character or another as a show of good faith; something with which he is brimming.



So be it. Goodbye, Commander, and may you find your quarry.

Al-Jacar, bidding the aforementioned side character a good journey and spreading his trademark brand of mirth for which he is known across the Milky Way and Andromeda.



Plot an interception course for that ship.

Al-Jacar, taking charge and leading with confidence.



Alright, as far as we know, they haven't spotted us yet.

Al-Jacar, displaying a level of tact and grace rarely seen by lesser men.

Rare though these nuggets of dialogue may be, they teach us everything we need to know about Al-Jacar: Al-Jacar is a caring and compassionate--yet confident and strong-willed--leader of men who speaks his mind truthfully and openly when he is called upon by those who trust him. Without his sage advice, the Vigilant may have crumbled decades ago. He is a leader for the ages, pushing his people forward into a future forged by his own hands. He understands the power dynamic of the Vigilant (for, indeed, who did call in the fleet?) and how to use his resplendent grace to respectfully climb his way to the top. Through generosity and mirth, he steers the Vigilant away from the shadows of subterfuge and into glorious battle--for Al-Jacar, what greater cause is there?

Trivia

  • Al-Jacar is more important than Avaene, Nikan, Vespid, and every other so-called "primary" character; this is due to his nature as Unbroken's ultimate and true main protagonist.
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