History of the Joker

I was watching Dark Knigh...for the fifth time...and was wondering what's the back story of the Joker? Booba...you gotta know this...spill the beans.

It depends. He technically has no official backstory. The one that is considered the most efficient is that the Joker was this regular guy trying to be a comedian but was no good. He got involved with the mafia to support himself and his wife and donned a disguise that covered his whole head with a red metallic thin dome and called himself the Red Hood. He was cornered by Batman and Robin and dove into a vat of chemicals ala Tim Burton's Batman. When he emerged his hair had turned green and his skin white with ruby lips and he went insane.

However, the first appearance of the Joker in the comics he was already looking like this and Batman had never encountered him before. The theory goes is that Batman did not know that the Red Hood that he encountered before had become the Joker until later on.

Like I said, this is the unofficial backstory to the Joker. No one knows his real name or his past. There are a lot of stories put out there, but none are considered canonical. Hope this helps.

I feel like the best villain of all time needs a better back story. I think i have to give the nod to Darth Vader, if not only because of his past and what not.

Although, the newest Star Wars' movies have tarnished his image with his panzy crying about Pan-aman-amay or whatever her damn name was. That, and his referring to to her skin as soft and him being a total chick about the whole thing.

On second though..Vader is a fairy. Go Joker.

I know what you mean about him needing a good backstory. At the same time, though, it fits him perfectly. The character has changed so much over time that him having no beginning kind of makes sense.

I suppose. It still sucks that his dad wasn't a total sociopath or some tramadic event steered him towards craziness. It doesn't hurt the character that much but it would be sweet to have more info.

How many times have you seen dark knight? Any time it's on or any time i see the DVD (yeah, i own it...no big deal... ) i have to watch it....it's a sickness.

There has to be a better comic book story about the joker than that! I have someone to ask, ill be back!

Don't question booba and his comic knowledge, he will ruin your life and eat all of your candy.

carter wrote:Don't question booba and his comic knowledge, he will ruin your life and eat all of your candy.

Noooo not my candy!!!!!!!! at least not near me where i can hear you eating it!

HOW DARE YOU QUESTION MY POWER, TICTAC!!!!!!!!

Just kidding

Seriously, there may be a story or two out there that gives some explanation for the Joker, but it's not considered THE story. I really like that there is no story. I loved in The Dark Knight that he kept giving a different story; it just seems to suit his character really well. Plus, look at it this way: for Batman's character it makes sense that there would be a solid story to how he became his character. Someone as obsessed and motivated as he is would need that event or incident to create it. But since Joker is considered the antithesis of Batman, then it would make sense that he wouldn't have a story.

Carter: I have seen the movie 5 times so far. And I'm very impressed that you purchased the movie. Good work.

Tictac: I will indeed eat your candy...unless it's the black and orange wrapped halloween candy that has that crappy peanut butter flavor. Yuck!

That black and orange halloween crap is so awful. I didn't buy the movie, my dad got it for me for the made up holiday on dec 25th.

That's a good point about batman being the antithesis...never thought of it that way. I'm a bit confused that you said joker was giving different back stories as he went, i didn't get that feeling at all.

RCBooba wrote: I really like that there is no story. I loved in The Dark Knight that he kept giving a different story; it just seems to suit his character really well. Plus, look at it this way: for Batman's character it makes sense that there would be a solid story to how he became his character. Someone as obsessed and motivated as he is would need that event or incident to create it. But since Joker is considered the antithesis of Batman, then it would make sense that he wouldn't have a story.

I never thought of it that way, but I like your point.

carter wrote:That black and orange halloween crap is so awful. I didn't buy the movie, my dad got it for me for the made up holiday on dec 28th

That's a good point about batman being the antithesis...never thought of it that way. I'm a bit confused that you said joker was giving different back stories as he went, i didn't get that feeling at all.

I noticed he told different stories also but didn't give it much thought. I do think now it makes a bit of sense, he is quite a mystery

There's no definite backstory to Joker in any of the story lines. Joker has been around since the late 20s after appearing in "The Man Who Laughs". There's at least 4 or 5 different stories. The most famous being the one that the Joker worked in a chemical plant as an engineer and accidentally fell into a vat of chemical waste. Other stories follow a similar idea - except before being the "Joker" he was a small time criminal that went by the name "Red Hood" and/or before being the Joker went he was Jack - happily married with a child on the way and aspiring comedian. He agrees to help 2 criminals break into the chemical plant where he worked but after the death of his wife and child he refuses to do it. In too deep he's forced which eventually leads to a run in with the Caped Crusader which in result he falls in the vat of chemical waste. Supposedly, afterwards he goes insane with the death of his family and becomes the Joker.

That was the answer from a friend of mine who is into comic books. pretty similiar to yours! hoorah!

tictac wrote:

There's no definite backstory to Joker in any of the story lines. Joker has been around since the late 20s after appearing in "The Man Who Laughs". There's at least 4 or 5 different stories. The most famous being the one that the Joker worked in a chemical plant as an engineer and accidentally fell into a vat of chemical waste. Other stories follow a similar idea - except before being the "Joker" he was a small time criminal that went by the name "Red Hood" and/or before being the Joker went he was Jack - happily married with a child on the way and aspiring comedian. He agrees to help 2 criminals break into the chemical plant where he worked but after the death of his wife and child he refuses to do it. In too deep he's forced which eventually leads to a run in with the Caped Crusader which in result he falls in the vat of chemical waste. Supposedly, afterwards he goes insane with the death of his family and becomes the Joker.

That was the answer from a friend of mine who is into comic books. pretty similiar to yours! hoorah!

Sorry for nitpicking, but the Joker first appeared in the comic Batman #1 in 1940, not in the late 1920s :-P

RCBooba wrote:



Sorry for nitpicking, but the Joker first appeared in the comic Batman #1 in 1940, not in the late 1920s :-P

Sorry + :p doesn't = sorry!!

Yeah I figured something would be wrong. You are the best BOOOOOBSS

Hey now, don't be trying to steal my nickname!!!! I will come after you and NOT make you any soup!

Drago dont be hating Vader. Honestly I love Star Wars, and I will give you the new movies are more pushed for kids/young teens. Better money makers that way with toys, and cartoon spin off's blah, blah, blah.......
Take it from a die hard fan. Watch 3, 4, 5, 6 and call it a day. The books do a better job of going into detail about the evilness of Vader.

I should read the books but the new first two movies are just a terrible. They really turned me off to his whole being a villain. It was great in Empire Strikes back when he gave Luke an ultimatum of join him or die...the Anikan that was portrayed in the first two movies would not have made the ultimatum. He would have sat down and cried about his woman.

Stewie Griffin wrote:Drago dont be hating Vader. Honestly I love Star Wars, and I will give you the new movies are more pushed for kids/young teens. Better money makers that way with toys, and cartoon spin off's blah, blah, blah.......
Take it from a die hard fan. Watch 3, 4, 5, 6 and call it a day. The books do a better job of going into detail about the evilness of Vader.

I don't know that they were so much made for kids as they were made by an idiotic old man that lost his inspiration.

'off topic' alert

I don't know that they were so much made for kids as they were made by an idiotic old man that lost his inspiration.

Revenge of the Sith is the only movie that the masses wanted to see. You have to hand it to Lucas for making up almost 6 hours of crap fed into movies one and two that made a ton of cash, which turned into action figures, video games, cartoon series, card games..... you get my point. In saying that. The South Park with Lucas, Spielberg, and Indiana Jones was on last night. Never saw the new Indiana movie but damn that South Park makes me laugh.

Sticking somewhat on topic.

Mark Hamill was the voice of the Joker in some of the cartoons. An interesting tid bit for the Drag man.

You sure it is the only movie the masses wanted to see? I was under the impression that plenty of people couldn't wait to see a new Star Wars after an almost 30 year hiatus.