I really believe that deep down, the Joker wants to be a hero

While most people might think that the Joker is a purely evil character, I honestly believe that he is not only a complex character, but also someone who really wants to be a hero. Many comic-book villains are complex characters with deep motivations and reasons for their worldviews. There are also many comic characters who are simply evil and want to cause death for the sake of it. But what if the Joker isn’t like that?

The Joker has caused an unbelievable amount of pain and suffering in the DC Universe, killing thousands and wounding Batman’s friends, leaving them with lifelong injuries and trauma. It’s very easy to see why Most readers write the Joker off as unspeakably and irredeemably evil. I don’t blame them for making that assumption, but as someone who has read a lot of Joker appearances over the years – like Jason Aaron’s Bizarro Joker and John Timms’ “I, Bizarro” Action comics arc – I can’t get past a few details that seem to point to something more to his character.

While there is no denying the sheer number and viciousness of the Joker’s crimes, There is more in him than the evil he has caused to the world. There have been several instances throughout his history in the comics that point to a man who really 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

JLA #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 regaining his sanity and expressing regret for his actions was in JLA #15. During this story, Martian Manhunter rearranges the Joker’s mind, giving him temporary sanity. Martian Manhunter isn’t able to keep this up for long, as the Joker’s mind struggles to return to madness, but for his brief few moments of lucidity, He immediately expresses remorse and guilt for the many lives he has taken.. While I can see some fans writing this off as just one interpretation, the idea that the Joker would be a good person if he wasn’t insane has been shown several times.

The joker’s regret appears again JLA #84 by Joe Kelly, Doug Mahnke and Tom Nguyen. During the 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 killed for them. But What if the Joker is able to overcome his guilt For his actions? Would he be a good person then? Well, from the many Joker stories I’ve read over the years, the answer is yes—which might be surprising to a few comic book fans.

The Joker never remained angry after becoming worried

Superman: Remote Fires By Howard Chaykin, Gil Kane, Kevin Nowlan and Matt Hollingsworth

During the events of Superman: Remote FiresThe world ends due to a nuclear apocalypse. For whatever reason, the nuclear radiation cures the Joker of his insanity. He then settles in the last colony of survivors and begins to use his incredible skills as a chemist to help the survivors live a better life. In this ruined world, he could have just looked out for himself or continued trying to hurt people, but instead, He uses his skills to help peopleEven welcomes Superman into the community with open arms.

in Action comics #1062 by Jason Aaron and John Timms, Bizarro unleashes magic on the world to turn everyone into their opposite, Bizarro himself, resulting in the Joker becoming sane and together with Superman. Not only is the Joker rendered sane, but He also becomes the most empathetic person on earthAnd his words are full of such concern and tender genuine feeling that he can convince anyone to stand. I know this might just seem like the “opposite” of how the Joker usually is, but there are even examples of the Joker wanting to save the world while being insane.

Even with Ultimate Power, the Joker wanted to save the Universe

Superman: Emperor Joker By Jeph Loeb, Ed McGuinness, Joe Kelly, Doug Mahnke and more

In the fantastic Emperor Joker Storyline, The Joker confesses 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 resetting it. He’s ending all the chaos and suffering once and for allDestroy the broken system that allowed people like him to come into creation. Although this is a flawed way of saving the universe, the Joker is still completely “mad” in this story, meaning that even with his madness in tact, he still wants to do something good in his own way.

in Year of the Villain: The Joker #1 by John Carpenter, Anthony Burch, Philip Tan, Jonathan Glapion, Danny Miki, Marc Deering, Jay David Ramos and Gabriela Downie, The Joker reunites a son with his estranged mother. While he does this by basically threatening to kill you, The Joker’s actions still result in the family being brought back togetherAnd the victim even ponders if this was the Joker’s original intention. Although it is certainly a strange way to do a heroic act, it is still something that the Joker did out of kindness to help another person.

The Joker wants to be a hero even in alternate universes

Batman: White Knight By Sean Murphy, Matt Hollingsworth and Todd Klein

In terms of alternate universes, in the White Knight universe, the Joker is once again cured of his madness when he is attacked by Batman, who forces a ton of different medications down his throat, resulting in the Joker becoming sane and regaining the persona of Jack Napier. I think it is important to do two things. In this universe, writer/artist Murphy makes it very clear that Jack Napier and the Joker are two different personalities. It is also important to note that the “plot twist” still supports the idea that the Joker has a hero in him. When the Joker is sane, he becomes Jack Napier, who is a genuinely good man who tries to do the right thing.

in Batman: Go well By JM DeMatteis, Joe Staton, Steve Mitchell, Digital Chamelon and Willie Schubert, The Joker seemingly kills Batman. Instead of celebrating and going on a rampage across Gotham City, the Joker immediately settles down and starts a simple life with a random civilian he meets. I think all of these examples perfectly show that, deep down, there is some good in the Joker. He doesn’t always want to be a violent serial killer; There are parts of him who want to save and help people. Although there is tons of evidence that the Joker is an evil force in the world, I cannot deny the amount of evidence that shows that the Joker Really wants to be a hero too.

Superman: Distant Fires, Emperor Joker, Year of the Villain: The Joker #1, Batman: White Knight, And Action comics #1062 are all available now from DC Comics!