interesting origins

So as The Dark Knight fever has consumed over 90% of my body, I’m saving up to buy the graphic novel “The Killing Joke” on the account of the L.A. times story on the origin of the Joker. I learned so much.

Did you know that the joker’s creator got inspiration from a 1928 silent film called “the man who laughs” which was about a man whose face was carved into a smile when his father shows disrespect to a king? the film was based on a victor hugo novel.

The article also showed that when the joker showed up for the first time in batman comics, in 1940, he was only supposed to show up one time and was supposed to die in his second appearance but they brought him back because an editor spared his life.

The Joker’s image in the comic books was a bit psychopathic and mean but never murderous, but his image would totally change when the TV show came out in 1966.

When the TV show came out, Cesar Romero’s portrayal of the Joker became more prankster than psychopath and less scary, and therefore the comic books also changed the portrayal of the Joker.

In the early 70s, after the TV show had been cancelled, a comic book story called “the laughing fish” brought a return to the scary, lethal Joker.

But in 1986, the graphic novel “The Killing Joke” showed the Joker resembling a person you don’t want to run into while walking a dark alley. In this story, The Joker tries to prove if he can make one person insane in one day, his target become commissioner Gordon, in which he tortures him with nude pictures of his daughter, “batgirl” Barbara Gordon, and also paralyzes her. In this book, you also see the origin of the joker and how he wanted to become a comedian but failed miserably and how he got his face scarred.

Then in 1988, in another comic book story, The Joker punches Robin to death and blows him up. Readers had to call a number to say if they wanted robin to live or die. After the votes were tallied, Robin died. I guess they didn’t like him.

Then in 1989, the feature film “Batman” came out with the great Jack Nicholson playing the Joker. It is said in the article that it was one of his most defining performances.


Then when the cartoon series came out, Mark Hamill who is known to all as Luke Skywalker, voiced The Joker making him evil yet tame for the kids who watched the series.

And now, with influence from “The Killing Joke”, Alec from “A Clockwork Orange” and Sid Vicious, Heath Ledger made the Joker a sadistic, psychopathic genius, with always a card up his sleeve.

Very interesting history and its fascinating to find out how the joker has evolved after 70 years;. Go to the L.A. times website to see the story, with pictures, Interesting stuff!
search for "a brief history of the joker" at the website.