Although most people might think that Joker he is a purely evil character, I truly believe that he is not only a complex character, but also someone who deeply wants to be a hero. Many comic book villains are complex characters with deep motivations and reasons for their worldview. There are also many comic characters who are simply evil and want to cause death for the sake of it. What if the Joker isn’t like that at all?
The Joker has caused incredible pain and suffering in the DC Universe, killing thousands of people and injuring Batman’s friends, leaving them traumatized and traumatized for life. It’s very easy to see why most readers consider the Joker to be unspeakably and irredeemably evil.. I don’t blame them for making that assumption, but as someone who has read a lot of Joker portrayals over the years – like the Bizarro Joker from Jason Aaron and John Timms’ I, Bizarro. Action comics arc – I can’t get past some details that seem to point to something more to his character.
While there is no denying the sheer number and brutality of the Joker’s crimes, there is more to him than the evil he has caused to the world. There have been several instances in his history in the comics that point to a man who truly wants to be a hero but is unable to do so due to the insanity he suffers from.
When the Joker is sane, he tries to do the right thing.
J.L.A. No. 15 by Grant Morrison, Gary Frank, Howard Porter, Greg Land, John Dell, Bob McLeod, Pat Garrahy and Ken Lopez.
One of the first examples of the Joker coming to his senses and expressing regret for his actions occurred in J.L.A. #15: During this story, Martian Manhunter alters the Joker’s mind, giving him temporary sanity. Martian Manhunter can’t hold it for long as the Joker’s mind struggles to return to madness, but for a few brief moments of awareness he he immediately expresses regret and guilt for the many lives he has taken. While I could see some fans writing this off as just one interpretation, the idea that the Joker would be a good person if he weren’t crazy came up a few times.
The Joker expresses extreme guilt for the crimes he has committed and even asks to be executed for them.
The Joker’s Regret reappears in J.L.A. #84 by Joe Kelly, Doug Mahnke and Tom Nguyen. During this story, Martian Manhunter uses his powers to subdue all of Batman’s criminals, and once again the Joker expresses extreme guilt for the crimes he has committed, even asking to be executed for them. But what if the Joker could overcome his guilt for his actions? Will he be a good person then? Well, based on the many Joker stories I’ve read over the years, the answer is yes, which may be surprising to some comic book fans.
The Joker never remained evil after becoming sane
Superman: Distant Lights Howard Chaykin, Gil Kane, Kevin Nowlan and Matt Hollingsworth
During the events of Superman: Distant Lightsthe end of the world due to a nuclear apocalypse. For some reason, nuclear radiation cures the Joker of his madness. He then settles into the last colony of survivors and begins to use his incredible skills as a chemist to help the survivors live better lives. In this broken world, he could only take care of himself or continue to hurt people, but instead he uses his skills to help peopleeven welcoming Superman into this community with open arms.
Connected
IN Action comics #1062 by Jason Aaron and John Timms, Bizarro unleashes magic on the world, turning everyone into their reverse side, Bizarro, causing the Joker to become sentient and unite with Superman. The Joker not only became sane, but also he also becomes the most empathetic person on Earthand his words are full of such care and tender, sincere excitement that he is able to persuade anyone to retreat. I know this may seem like the “opposite” of the regular Joker, but there are even examples of the Joker wanting to save the world while he’s mad.
Even with the Ultimate Power, the Joker wanted to save the Universe.
Superman: Emperor Joker Jeph Loeb, Ed McGuinness, Joe Kelly, Doug Mahnke and others
In the fantastic Emperor Joker In the storyline, Joker admits to Harley Quinn that the reason he wants to use his new god-like powers to destroy the universe is because he sees it as rebooting it. He will end all chaos and suffering once and for alldestroying the broken system that allowed people like him to be born. Although this is a twisted way to save the universe, the Joker in this story is still completely “crazy”, meaning that even despite his madness, he still wants to do something good in his own way.
How did the Joker become what he is in DC Central? For the latest Joker origin story, check out the collected edition. Batman Vol. 3: Joker first year by Chip Zdarsky, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Andrea Sorrentino and more, now available from DC Comics.
IN Year of the Villain: Joker #1 John Carpenter, Anthony Birch, Philip Tan, Jonathan Glapion, Danny Miki, Mark Dearing, Jay David Ramos and Gabriela Downey, Joker reunites a son with his estranged mother. Although he does this by essentially threatening to kill her, The Joker’s actions still lead to the reunion of this family.and the victim even wonders if this was the Joker’s original intention. While it’s certainly a strange way to perform a heroic act, the Joker still did it out of kindness to help another person.
Joker wants to be a hero even in alternate universes
Batman: White Knight Sean Murphy, Matt Hollingsworth and Todd Klein
As for alternative universes, in White Knight universe, the Joker is once again cured of his madness when he is attacked by Batman, who pours a ton of various drugs down his throat, causing the Joker to become sane and regain his Jack Napier persona. I think it’s important to note two things. In this universe, writer/artist Murphy makes it clear that Jack Napier and the Joker are two different individuals. It’s also important to note that this “plot twist” still reinforces the idea that there is a hero within the Joker. When the Joker comes to his senses, he becomes Jack Napier, a truly good man trying to do the right thing.
IN Batman: Going Crazy J.M. DeMatteis, Joe Staton, Steve Mitchell, Digital Chamelon and Willy Schubert, The Joker apparently kills Batman. Instead of celebrating and rampaging through Gotham City, the Joker immediately calms down and begins a simple life with a random civilian he meets. I think all of these examples do a great job of showing that deep down there is some good in the Joker. He doesn’t want to always remain a brutal serial killer; there are parts of him that want to save and help people. Even though there is plenty of evidence in the world that the Joker is a malevolent force, I cannot deny the amount of evidence that Joker really wants to be a hero too.
Superman: Distant Lights, Emperor Joker, Year of the Villain: Joker #1, Batman: White Knight, And Action comics #1062 they are all available now from DC Comics!