The Top 25 Batman Villains (#1)

The Top 25 Batman Villains (#1)
My pick (and probably everybody's pick) for Batman's greatest foe is finally announced.


1. The Joker
Real Name: Unknown
First Appearance: Batman #1 (Spring 1940)

The Joker

Was there really any doubt that he wasn't going to be #1.  No villain that Batman has ever faced (or any character in fiction) is crazier and more sadistic than the Joker.  His origin story is shrouded in mystery as the Joker can barely remember it and what parts he can often have been mixed around to result in several possible origins.  As the Joker said himself, "Sometimes I remember it one way, sometimes another...if I'm going to have a past, I prefer it to be multiple choice!".  The most widely accepted origin by the fans is the one detailed by Alan Moore (Writer of Watchmen and V for Vendetta)  in the graphic novel The Killing Joke.  In this origin, the Joker started out as a chemical plant engineer who decided to quit his job and follow his dream of being a stand-up comedian.  Unfortunately for him, he failed miserably at comedy and could not make anyone even crack a smile.  With a pregnant wife t home, he became desperate for money and agreed to help two criminal break into the chemical plant where he used to work.  As part of the job, he was given the Red Hood persona as the inside man of each of the jobs wore a red hood in order to appear as the leader and distract the police should they be caught while the two ring leaders escaped.  As the heist approached he began to consider backing out which prompted the two crooks to kill his wife and unborn child in order to intimidate him.  During the heist they are quickly caught by security and a shoot-out ensues in which the two crooks are both killed.  Fleeing the scene he finds himself face to face with Batman who was investigating the disturbance.  The two had a struggle and in which the Red Hood fell over the side of the rail and landed in one of the chemical vats.  Resurfacing in a nearby reservoir, he see his reflection and finds that the chemicals caused his skin to be bleached white, his lips a bright red, and his hair green.  The chemicals as well as the days events was enough to drive him totally insane and the Joker was born.

The Four Famous Jokers

Over the years, no villain has ever put Batman through as much grief and pain as the Joker has while testing the limits on his mind and sanity.  The Joker murdered the second Robin, Jason Todd; shot and paralyzed Commissioner Gordon's daughter, Barbara (Batgirl); and murdered Commissioner Gordon's second wife.  The Joker has been Batman's arch-enemy in every form of media the two have been portrayed in .  The most well-know portrayals of the Joker have been Caesar Romero in the 1960's television series, Jack Nicholson in the 1989 film, Mark Hamill's voice acting in the animated series, animated movies, and Arkham games, and Heath Ledger in the 2008 movie, The Dark Knight.   The Joker will always continue to plaque Gotham City, committing horrible and sadistic crimes all for a laugh.

Recommended Reading:

• The Killing Joke
• The Man Who Laughs
• A Death in the Family
• Arkham Asylum: a Serious House on a Serious Earth
• The Last Laugh
• Emperor Joker
• Batman: Under The Red Hood
• Joker: Devil's Advocate
• The Dark Knight Returns
• Joker by Brian Azzarello
• Batman #663 (2007)
• Mad Love
• Going Sane
• The Greatest Joker Stories Ever Told
• Batman: Death of the Family

And that's the list.  Remember to keep checking back her at Talking About Tights to see what other superhero articles I write up next.