When it comes to comic book villains, there aren’t many out there that evoke as much intrigue, fear, and fascination as the famous Joker. Since he made his debut in the very first Batman movie back in 1940, the Clown Prince of Crime has earned himself a reputation as one of the most iconic antagonists in not just the world of comics — but also the movie world, with all sorts of Hollywood stars portraying him with such depth and complexity that they’ve even been nominated for and won Oscars.
He’s been the subject of his own films, computer games and even the subject of some of the most popular slot titles at the UK’s fastest withdrawal casinos…but does that make him the ultimate comic book villain?
A Deep and Complex Character
The Joker is one of the most chaotic and unpredictable villains out there. Unlike other villains who have their own, clear motivations like power or revenge, the Joker simply likes creating disorder for its own sake, which adds even more layers to his mystique. He has an ambiguity that leaves us questioning his true nature… and never really being able to figure it out.
He also has certain philosophical underpinnings that make him so much more than just a criminal mastermind. In works like The Killing Joke by Alan Moore, he is a character that is created to challenge norms and the moral rigidity of Batman. He has a complex character that means that, even though he’s a ‘villain’, there’s something we can possibly connect with.
The Depth of His Relationship with the Hero
People also often measure the villain based on the connection they have with the hero, and there’s no Batman without the Joker. They’re like Yin and Yan, the dark and light side of the same coin. He is basically the complete opposite of everything Batman stands for: chaos versus order, insanity against sanity, and amorality versus morality. This is a parallel that we simply don’t find with other protagonists and antagonists.
When you look at films like The Dark Knight Returns and Death of the Family, everything The Joker does has a massive emotional and psychological impact on Batman. He doesn’t just attack Gotham City — he personally targets Batman — his friends and family, his values, and even his psyche. This is personal.
More than Just Comics
The Joker is now a character that goes way beyond the comic book world. He isn’t just a 2D paper character — and he isn’t even just someone who makes an appearance in Batman movies. He even inspires his own films, in his own right. He has been portrayed by some of the biggest movie stars in the world — Jack Nicholson, Heath Ledger, and Joaquin Phoenix who have all played him very differently and all brought their own unique interpretations that highlight what a versatile character he is.
Ledger’s portrayal in The Dark Knight even earned him a posthumous Academy Award as he made him so much more than just a comic book villain. Then, Phoenix’s performance in Joker looked deeper into the character, and potentially what saw such a descent into madness.
Adaptable
The character has a malleability that means he’s been able to fit perfectly into all sorts of narratives and storylines. He’s been portrayed as a murderous psychopath, a dark but funny trickster, and even a tragic antihero, and they all work. He has an adaptability that means he can be depicted time and time again… without ever getting repetitive.
But is he the Perfect Villain?
Even with the above, there are still arguments to be had that he’s not as iconic as he’s made out to be.
Let’s face it, the Joker targets Batman and Gotham City, but that’s about it. In comparison, villains like Dr Doom and Lex Luthor actually threaten the whole world and even the universe! The Joker keeps things a bit of a smaller scale when you think about it.
Moreover, some might even argue that he’s actually suffered from overexposure now… and that the fact that he’s the subject of so many movies and TV shows has actually diminished his appeal and made him less special.
There are also arguments to be had that because he’s so extreme in his violence and moral nihilism, that it makes him polarizing and less relatable, especially compared to more tragic villains like Mr Freeze and Killmonger.
Ultimately, whether you consider the Joker to be the ultimate comic book villain depends on how you actually define greatness in an antagonist. But one thing is for sure, he is mad, bad and dangerous to know — and has inspired some great movies and games!
