Comicbook artist bob kane, fellow artist jerry robinson and writer bill finger all stake a claim to having created the joker. Kane maintains that he and finger created the joker, while robinson contributed only the jokers playing card source. Punchline cocreator reveals the secret backstory on joker. Kane and robinson claimed responsibility for the jokers design, but. The most lasting comicbook attempt at crafting a joker origin came. The violence in general was pretty hefty but what set this book apart for me was the fact that joker rapes a woman in the back of a car. The story reshaped the comic book industry when it was published in 1986, and has been a heavy influence on movies such as the dark knight rises and batman v superman. The joker origin film produced by martin scorsese is rumored to be a look at the clown prince of crimes descent into madness. The film, starring joaquin phoenix in the title role, follows the unknown backstory of the wellknown comic book villain, the joker.
Will joker follow the villains comic book backstory. Batman just revealed the jokers true origin story screen rant. A new york times bestseller presented for the first time with stark, stunning new coloring by bolland, batman. The animated series, video game appearances such as the recordbreaking batman. Harley quinn finally introduced harley to the comics. This version of the character is a teenage schoolgirl named hayley fitzpatrick who ends up in a. While the comic is set within the same continuity as batman. Dark knight theory explains the biggest mystery about. The complete history of the jokers many, many incarnations. But for all the darkening of the joker on comic book pages again, for the 70s the joker maintained his camp trickster persona in. The comic book version of quinn, like the comic book version of the joker, is more dangerously psychotic and less humorously kooky than the animatedseries version. But for comic book fans, the most impressive thing about joker may be that. A death in the family, told the death of jason todd, the second robin, at the hands of the joker.
Whether by way of awardwinning films like the dark knight, emmywinning animated programs like batman. I get that it is a look at one of the most famous villains to ever grace the pages of a comic book or movie screen. Kane and robinson claimed responsibility for the joker s design while acknowledging fingers writing contribution. Comic book artist bob kane, fellow artist jerry robinson and writer bill finger all stake a claim to having created the joker. Joker director clarifies comic book influences, says he. Jokers whole shtick no matter the medium is that the character is a loopy, confused liar with an evershifting backstory. The theory is based around the idea that the joker is secretly thomas wayne jr. The dark knight has had his hands full with the joker in a number of incarnations, from his beginnings in detective comics, to the film the dark knight, with heath ledger as the joker, and batman. People have repeatedly assumed him dead, only for him to rise up again and wreak havoc once more. Quinns dc universe comic book origin, revealed in batman.
Harley quinn october, 1999 is largely an adaptation of her animated origin from the batman adventures. Given that the joker came about in the 40s and is one of the first comic book supervillains ever, its inevitable. The joker is a supervillain and the archenemy of batman. He was also ranked eighth on the greatest comic book character of all time list, which was. The movie is undeniably dark and graphic, showing multiple gory murders, dangerous and deadly protests and, most disturbingly, a. The comic that explains where joker went wrong the atlantic. With joker coming out this year, were excited to see how director todd phillips will flesh out the iconic character in his first standalone origin. Created by paul dini and bruce timm as a new supervillain and romantic interest for the joker in batman. Does the joker have an actual backstory in batman lore. Not implied rape, or an open for debate if he did or not, but an actual rape in the back seat of a car no less.
In comic books the jokers father looms semilarge in the supervillains loose backstory, but in jokerthe new origin story in. In this inaugural version of his beginnings, its revealed that the joker is none other than an old batman foe known as the red hood. The jokers comic origin how the joker works howstuffworks. Harley quinn comic was written by paul dini, and the story follows harley after the joker tries to kill her, because he cant stand feeling genuine emotions for another person. If youre trying to find her first comic origin, that would be mad love.
The many joker origin stories told throughout comic history. Crisis on infinite earths photo reveals kingdom come. The joker is a supervillain created by bill finger, bob kane, and jerry robinson who first appeared in the debut issue of th e comic book batman april 25, 1940, published by dc comic s. In his comic book appearances, the joker is portrayed as a criminal. Joker actor brett cullon shares his thoughts on the thomas wayne twist and reveals the scene that was rewritten to be more comedic. The most widely cited backstory can be seen in alan moores the killing joke. The killing joke is alan moores unforgettable meditation on the razorthin line between sanity and insanity, heroism and villainy, comedy and tragedy. Arkham asylum, or the countless comics stacking comic book shelves and digital libraries, the joker stands unquestionably as the most recognizable and. Joker, written by phillips and scott silver, doesnt open with a dc comics logo or even a title card suggesting the characters comic book background, something every audience member innately is. The joker prefers his origin story a mystery, but dcs new twist just revealed. Few movies this year have gotten as much buzz as warner bros. In the comics, joker has had a couple of backstories, including one where hes a hitman and another where hes a former foster care child.
Theres even an upcoming comic where theres not one but three jokers. Whats the backstory of joker character from dc comics. Joker has been praised by critics and is looking forward to a pretty substantial opening box office weekend. Watch joaquin phoenix in new joker trailer variety.
The problems with joker are that there are too many to. A new prequel comic book sheds light onjoker and harley quinns relationship in the upcoming suicide squad. As with any enduring comicbook character, gothams clown prince of crime has gone through so many rebirths and reiterations over the. The joker is one of the most iconic characters in comic book history. Joker actor explains thomas wayne batman twist, hidden. Both director and star have been adamant in telling the public that this is not a comic book movie, but instead a low budget and gritty look at one of pop cultures most infamous villains. The multiverse would be a much less lively place without the hijinks and shenanigans of the former dr. Comic books are an incredible medium filled with the amazing adventures of fantastic superheroes, but they are also much more than just stories on a. Politifact joker origin story draws out the geek in cnn.
There is not one specific origin story of the joker but the most common is featured in the killing joke where he dons the red hood and helps the mobsters with a robbery but falls into the tank which leads to his bleached skin, green hair and red lips and death of his wife and unborn child turn him insane. The complete history of the joker, from comic books to the. For the first few decades of his existence in the world of comic books, the. Harley quinn appears in this elseworlds comic, which was technically her first comic appearance. The standalone rrated origin story for batmans nemesis, starring joaquin phoenix and directed by todd phillips. Because chris nolan hates comic book tropes, heaths joker didnt fall into a vat of chemicals and come out. While promoting suicide squad on tipsy talk, australian actress margot robbie, who sips on a mimosa, reveals that even more scenes providing. Punchline cocreator james tynion reveals backstory on jokers new sidekick. He was created by bob kane, bill finger and jerry robinson. This claim is throwing down the gauntlet for comic book nerds, pointing to a 1951 backstory about the joker wearing a disguise and swimming through chemical waste. How dc comics supervillain joker has become ratedr. Try reading that again joker rapes someone in this comic book. This one is not really a joker origin story presented in a particular comic book, but rather an interesting and plausible theory that exploded in online community. The comic then explores harleys backstory, including helping the joker escape arkham, how she discovered her famous jester costume, and how her relationship with the clown prince of crime developed.
We still have roughly 3 months to go, but in the meantime, a new comic book prequel has arrived, shedding light on the joker played by jared leto and harley quinns played by margot robbie relationship, as well as how the couple ended up in the messy situation where the film finds them. Ever since it was announced at comic con international in san diego over the summer that superman returns star brandon routh would be returning the the role of. The animated series, it later got adapted into an episode of their. Harleen frances quinzel is a fictional character appearing in media published by dc entertainment.
Harleen quinzel, the one and only clown princess of crime. Over the years, viewers have created their own intricate theories about the dark knights joker and his backstory, and one particular narrative has come to. And, like so many comic book characters, the joker always has the habit of cheating death. The most widely cited backstory, which the official dc comics publication. When escaping the caped crusaders, the crook dove into a vat of acid.