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.

girl of simple tastes.

Hey
Sorry I haven’t written in a while but the vicious creature is sort of under my command and only shows up when I think about certain things that make me cringe.
Well in concern to Tim, I don’t think of him that much although I do have thoughts but they are like flickers of light that go into my head from time to time. Thankfully, something global has taken over me.

That thing is The Dark Knight.


I was supposed to see it with him but after the things that "happened" happened, I decided to make a party out of The Dark Knight. I invited my friends, we went to see it the day it came out and there were no words to describe what I had just seen. It was everything I hoped for and more. It was not just any comic movie; it was a complex thriller full of drama and action where the hero just happens to wear a mask.
After seeing it, all I talked about (and still) talk about was The Dark Knight. When the people who hadn’t seen it grew bored of my “dark knight” talk, I went to the message boards with other fellow dark knight freaks and I talked about the Joker’s best lines, whether I would pick Bruce Wayne or Harvey Dent if I were in Rachel’s shoes, and what my favorite parts were. Then I went to the “hidden” Dark Knight Websites like Joker’s webpage and Gotham News Network’s website. I posed in front of the Joker’s actual suit worn by Heath Ledger and the Batpod when they were exhibited at my local theatre.

I am now interested in being a comic book geek wanting to read the Batman Graphic Novel “The Killing Joke” and the Watchmen graphic novel after getting addicted to the trailer with the beautiful Smashing Pumpkins song.

So basically, my eyes have opened or a part of my brain has illuminated just by watching The Dark Knight, I want to be a comic book geek now, want to see the dark knight at least four times (I’ve only seen it twice), and want to recite the joker’s lines by heart.

At some point, on some day, like flickers of light, I think of “tim” and wonder how many times HES seen it, and what HE thought about certain parts, and what Joker scene HE loved the most. Like a flash of light, it illuminates for a second, and for that second, it’s your decision to catch that light or let it go.

I let it go.