This is what makes The Joker such a remarkable character. He has a primary function within DC Comics, which is to provide a framework for the understanding of Batman – but in providing that lens for over seventy years, he has taken on a life of his own – with a very clear, unique psychology at play. The consequence of this is that Batman has evolved – through his stories featuring The Joker – to serve the same function for him and give a window onto what makes the supervillain tick. In comic books, The Joker has killed Batman’s protégé, Jason Todd, and tortured and paralyzed his friend, Barbara Gordon – and in committing these heinous acts, The Joker is causing The Dark Knight anguish in the most intimate of ways. We see just how far his obsession with Batman pushes him.
A second aspect that sets The Joker apart from other comic book supervillains is the fact that he has evolved, not only to have Batman provide insight into his character, but also to spinoff the relatively new character of Harley Quinn. Created outside of comic books – in 1992’s Batman: The Animated Series – Harley Quinn first appeared as a sidekick to The Joker. But, she was so well-received that she was quickly added into the Batman comic book narrative.
Here, we learned that Harley Quinn was formerly Harleen Frances Quinzel, M.D, who fell desperately in love with The Joker while working as an intern at Arkham Asylum. As she was increasingly drawn into the psychology of the supervillain, she was driven insane by his seriously injured state, following a particularly brutal encounter with Batman.
[zergpaid]The introduction of Harley Quinn provided a new foil for The Joker, and a new perspective on his nature, outside of the dynamic he shares with Batman. The inclusion of a romantic element in his relationship with Harley Quinn – albeit a relationship of a sadistic and abusive nature – often shows The Joker in a much different light, revealing new and disturbing character aspects we might otherwise not see. This has enhanced his stature within the world of comic books, strengthening his position as the ultimate supervillain.
Despite his close association with Batman, The Joker has not been quite so prolific in his mainstream media adaptations – although the fact that his visage still inspires instant recognition is testament to the power of the character. Like Batman, each time The Joker has crossed over from the pages of comic books into the realm of television, film, animation, or video game, the actor portraying him has created a specific version of the serial killer – leading to a collection of performances that are as unique as they are chilling. So, as we prepare to witness an entirely new interpretation – delivered by Jared Leto in the highly anticipated Suicide Squad – let’s take a look back at his notable predecessors.
