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distort-opia · 2 years

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do you have any comic recommendations of joker's humanity being explored? Or just comics where he is handled as a complex, multidimensional human being?

Oh boy do I! [rolls out 100-slides Power Point]

I must make the note that these are specifically comics in which Joker is portrayed as either becoming sane (however briefly shown), exploring Joker’s psyche in a more detailed way (with his many recollections and reinventions of his own past -- but which are all very telling in themselves), or with him empathizing or displaying emotional reactions/decisions that one would not expect of him. These are not a primer on the whole of Joker’s character; there are many Joker classics I did not include, because a lot of great Joker comics are rather about Joker’s choice to be a monster, and persevering in that choice. I also did not include every single Joker origin story/recollection that I know of, because not all of them show off Joker’s vulnerabilities. In essence, I tried to keep this centred around comics that offer glimpses of his long-buried humanity. To my best attempt, these are also in chronological order of publishing.

*Heath Ledger voice* Here... we... go.

+ Batman: The Killing Joke (1988)

Joker initiates a psychological battle with Batman, in which he tries to use Jim Gordon as an example of everyone being capable of succumbing to madness after ‘one bad day’. It doesn’t work, and he proves himself wrong -- but it’s the first and only time he’s genuinely shown to consider rehabilitation. Had to include this one, it’s THE Joker story and what kickstarted references to Joker’s prior family and his humanity in later 90′s/00′s comics.

+ Batman (1937) #450-451

Joker deals with the emotional aftermath of being left to die, and of killing Jason in Death in the Family.

+ Batman: Going Sane (1997)

The Joker seemingly kills Batman. Faced with the loss of his nemesis, Joker gives up crime and becomes Joe Kerr, an average man who only wants to dote on his girlfriend and live his quiet life. But of course Batman isn’t actually dead.

+ Deathstroke (1991) #58

Joker pretty much empathizes with and tries to help (in his own way) an abused little girl who's been writing letters to him. All while Deathstroke is trying to stop him from destroying a whole city.

+ The Spectre (1992) #51

The Spectre tries to pass judgment onto Joker, but Batman fights to save him and argues on his behalf. Briefly, Joker becomes sane, and immediately begs for death as he regrets his actions (which becomes a bit of a recurring theme).

+ Batman: Shadow of the Bat #37-38 (1995)

Joker kidnaps a bunch of people from Gotham University and hatches a plan to kill them, because he recalls his days as a comedian -- and he blames them for not laughing at his jokes. This is clearly referencing The Killing Joke (TKJ).

+ The Joker: Devil’s Advocate (1996)

The Joker has been captured and sentenced to death for mass murder, but he was wrongfully convicted, since he was actually framed. Batman cannot let him die when he discovers the truth; but Joker refuses to try and help in stopping his impending demise, too drunk on getting Gotham’s attention.

+ JLA (1997) #15

Conclusion of the Rock of Ages arc. Martian Manhunter manages to briefly turn Joker ‘sane’, to get him to hand over the Philosopher’s Stone. But he cannot hold the madness down for long. However, in that brief moment of sanity, Joker expresses regret once again.

+ JLA (1997) #35

The Spectre is considering destroying Earth because there’s so much evil inside the heart of humanity, including the very hearts of the Justice League. But then Martian Manhunter takes him inside Joker's head, and things get interesting. (I have an older meta on this issue here. TKJ is once again referenced.)

+ Batman: It’s Joker Time (2000)

Through a mix of comic book shenanigans (and some very unsubtle ‘TV rots your brain!’ messaging that was typical for the times), Joker ends up as the star of a TV show, where his mind gets probed by psychologists for the masses’ entertainment. This results in some very interesting stories and embellishments of his past, with the final version being another TKJ callback.

+ Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #145 (2001)

Joker gets captured and killed by Ra’s Al Ghul as part of a plot to destroy the world. Batman revives him in a Lazarus Pit because Joker has crucial information for saving the world. After waking up, instead of going psychotic, Joker briefly regains his sanity and begins to regret his actions, begging for death.

+ Robin (1993) #85

Between delivering ever-more exaggerated lies about his childhood to the therapists at Slabside Penitentiary, the Joker discusses his history with the Robins.

- Batman: Gotham Knights #52, #54 (2001)

Part of the Pushback arc. Riddler knows the name of the cop who shot Joker’s wife, and reveals it to him. This comic wildly contradicts other canon titles with the exception of Batman: The Three Jokers, so I do not consider it canon. The Joker in this story, while showing vulnerability, is one who perfectly remembers his TKJ origin, and that ruins the unreliable narrator multiple-choice-past integral component of the character. Gotta say, not a big fan of Dan DiDio’s choices.

+ JLA (1997) #84

First part of the Trial of Fire arc. Burning Martians force the minds of prisoners in multiple places into sanity, including Arkham Asylum. Joker expresses regret and the desire to die for his actions.

- Batman Confidential: Lovers and Madmen (2007)

Alternative origin of the Joker. Taking place within Batman’s first year, a psychopathic hitman by the name of Jack comes to Gotham, and becomes obsessed with Batman because in a world where nothing matters, Batman makes him feel something. He becomes the Joker when Batman slashes his mouth open into a permanent smile with a batarang, and he also takes a bath in chemicals. Since it contradicts Joker having been Red Hood prior to his clown days, it cannot be canon, but it’s a good story.

+ Superman: Emperor Joker (2007)

When Joker is accidentally given unlimited reality-shaping powers by Mr. Mxyzptlk, he reshapes the universe in his image. He keeps torturing Batman for fun until he breaks his mind. But Superman figures out the flaw in Joker's psyche that would fix everything, and uses it to save everyone -- except Bruce, who needs his memories taken away just so he can function. (I think this is where the pattern of Joker mentioning he needs to be stopped begins.)

+ Batman: Secrets (2007)

One of Joker and Batman’s fights gets caught on camera, and it appears as if Batman is pummeling his archenemy without mercy. The Joker uses this to frame Batman in the court of public opinion while the media hovers like vultures. Much like Devil’s Advocate, this story is an interesting exploration of Joker’s overwhelming need for an audience, and what he’s willing to do for Gotham’s attention and approval. This comic references TKJ too, and in one of my favorite ways.

+ Batman: R.I.P (2008)

While Batman is believed to be dead, Joker assumes a new identity with the goal of exposing and defeating the organization that orchestrated Batman’s ‘death’, and its leader. (Second time he thinks Batman is dead, and his response is again to become someone else -- though the first time it’s to run away. The second time it’s to exact revenge, and in a roundabout way, he helps Batman and Gotham here.)

+ The Brave and the Bold #31 (2010)

The Atom goes into the Joker's mind to cure him of a rare disease. While there, he sees Joker's memories, specifically him burning his parents after they catch him killing animals and him killing his accomplice after robbing a store. (This doesn’t sound like vulnerability, but I’m pretty sure this memory is a fabrication and a defensive mechanism. I’ve mentioned my interpretation of it in an older meta here, which talks about a couple of the titles here as part of an attempt to piece together a potential version of Joker’s past.)

+ Batman: Streets of Gotham: The House of Hush (2011)

Part of the bigger Streets of Gotham story, but this one details the story of a little boy called ‘Sonny’, and the abuse he suffers at the hands of mobsters. Later, the boy is clearly revealed to have been Joker, who enacts his revenge.

+ Batman #23.1 (2013)

In the middle of a job, Joker recalls how he once lived with his abusive Aunt Eunice. He also bonds with a gorilla. (This is where a specific meme of Joker going :/ is from, hah.)

+ Batman (2011) #17

Conclusion of the Death of the Family arc. When Batman bluffs about knowing Joker’s past and identity, he becomes so terrified he pretty much jumps off a cliff.

+ Batman (2011) #40

Conclusion of the Endgame arc. When Batman stops him from healing himself while they’re both dying, Joker begs for him to let go and has a breakdown before the caves crumble on top of them.

+ Batman (2011) #48

Both Batman and Joker are amnesiacs after coming back to life, not remembering their past identities, and yet still meeting each other. While clearly suicidal and not remembering his past as Joker at all, he encourages Bruce to not become Batman again.

+ Dark Days: The Casting (2017)

Part of DC’s wider Dark Nights: Metal event. Joker was captured by Batman and kept in the Cave for his knowledge, and he uselessly tries to stop Batman from unleashing Barbatos and the Dark Multiverse on all their heads. Bruce, however, is very stubborn.

+ Dark Nights: Metal #6 (2018)

Joker teams up with Batman to defeat The Batman Who Laughs.

+ Batman (2016) #49

Joker attempts to kill Selina Kyle, due to Batman and Catwoman’s impending wedding. In doing so, he talks about his need for Batman to keep existing, since no one else would be able to stop him.

- Batman: White Knight (2017)

Set in a world where the Joker is cured of his insanity and homicidal tendencies, Joker, now known as “Jack,” sets about trying to right his wrongs. Black Label, not canon. Mentioning it because technically Joker is made sane in it, and shown to be vulnerable emotionally multiple times, but I hate it. When he’s Joker he’s insane and obsessively in love with Batman, but when he’s sane and Jack he’s an upstanding citizen and in love with Harley. Congrats on downright saying being gay makes you crazy and that only the love of woman can heal you, DC. You’d think they’d stop it with the Predatory Gay trope in our day and age, but nah.

+ The Batman Who Laughs (2019) (#1, #4, #7)

After Joker intentionally infects Batman with the toxin in his heart that would turn him into Batman Who Laughs (all to give him an advantage in the fight against the villain), he expresses a desire for neither himself or Batman to ever win, and swears to kill Batman if he crossed the line. A promise which he keeps by actually shooting him, the mad lad.

+ The Joker 80th Anniversary: Birthday Bugs (2020)

Joker empathizes with a psychopathic child, who wants his peers to join his birthday party. It’s a dark kind of empathy, but still a form of caring.

+ The Joker 80th Anniversary: The Last Smile (2020)

Harley recalls a frequent nightmare that had Joker terrified: dying on the electric chair while Batman laughed at him.

- Harleen (2020)

A reimagining of Harley Quinn’s origin: a young promising psychologist encounters a very smart and manipulative serial killer, spinning story after story of his own past. A Black Label comic, so technically not in continuity, but I did like it.

+ Batman: Gotham Nights #9 (2020) -- Joker’s Wild

Joker recalls another version of his comedian days, while he holds the owner of comedy clubs in Gotham at gunpoint.

- Batman: Three Jokers (2020)

Very debatable if I should even list it, but Joker’s family is revealed to be alive in this comic, with the implication that they need to be kept safe from him. Black Label. Not in continuity and I will die on this hill no matter what Justice League #50 and the stupid Mobius Chair say.

Eyyy, hope you found this really long list helpful! Thank you for the ask <3

#me including comics I hated through gritted teeth: TECHNICALLY it belongs on the list but it sucks #does that time Joker adopts Ace count. I mean he pretty much traumatizes the poor dog so maybe not #if I got something wrong I do apologize!#and if anyone has other examples I am very interested #asks #batman #joker #joker comics #joker meta #my comic recs #my meta

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