Summary
2004’sThe Batmanincludes one of the most unique versions of The Joker in its DC universe. The Joker is not only Batman’s greatest nemesis but he is also considered one of DC’s all-time greatest supervillains. As Batman’s diametric opposite and obsessive nemesis, nearlyevery adaptation ofBatmanincludes an iteration of The Joker, making his depictions as varied as Batman himself. While some iterations of The Joker are received better than others, one animated version of the Clown Prince of Crime strikes the right balance of originality and faithfulness to The Joker’s most important traits.
The Batmanhad the unenviable task of creating a new animated version of theBatmanmythos after theDC Animated Universebegan withBatman: The Animated Series, which is considered by many to be the definitiveBatmanadaptation.The Batmanhad a unique vision of theBatmanmythos, depicting Batman as a novice superhero at first and having him gradually forge allyships with the Gotham City Police force and eventually fellow DC superheroes. The series also had Batman gradually build the “Batman Family” and his iconic rogues gallery of villains, with The Joker being introduced in its pilot episode.
Some viewers theorize that 2004’sThe Batmanand 2003’sTeen Titanstake place in the same continuity, due to Glen Murakami being a Producer of both shows andThe Batman’sDick Grayson closely resembling hisTeen Titansiteration.
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The Batman’s Joker Is A Truly Unique & Interesting Take On The Character
While previous adaptations of The Joker focused more on his prankster-like qualities or background as a mobster,The Batmandepicted Joker as a nightmarish, monstrous, criminal.The Batman’sJoker usually wears his signature purple suit, though he is occasionally shown in a stylized straightjacket-like outfit.
The Joker is also far more physically capable inThe Batman, often battling Batman himself on roughly equal footing, due to his unpredictable fighting style. Kevin Michael Richardson’s excellent performances as Joker make the character’s voice just as unpredictable, with Joker’s voice going from calm and high-pitched to low and loud.
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The Batman’sJoker is also fond of corrupting others. While this is expected for characters like Harley Quinn,The Batman’sversion of Joker also tortures, brainwashes, and chemically mutates Detective Ethan Bennett, turning him into the show’s first iteration of Clayface. Joker also pushes Basil Karlo – the show’s second Clayface – to return to villainy by revealing that he has not lost his superpowers. Joker even attempted to turn one of Barbara Gordon’s into a second Joker, nearly exposing him to the same chemicals he had fallen into years before.
The Batman And Its Joker Have Been Criminally Underrated For Years
Sadly, despite lasting for five seasons and nearly four years,The Batmanis often overshadowed by otherBatmanadaptations. YetThe Batmanis worthy of standing alongside more popularBatmanproperties, even if it never quite resonated with viewers the same way as other iterations.
The Batmanput a strong emphasis on Batman’s relatability and humanity as he grew into the role of the legendary Dark Knight. The series also did an excellent job of gradually expanding the world around Batman to include new sidekicks and future Justice League teammates.
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The Batman’stake on The Joker remains one of the most novel reimaginings of the character, leaning into the horrific elements of the character more than most versions. WhileThe Batmangave viewers one of the most human versions of Bruce Wayne, The Joker is portrayed as an almost otherworldly menace.
Chillingly, the series even reveals that the Joker was not a mobster or even a user of the Red Hood moniker before his madness-inducing fall into a vat of chemicals, but rather a mundane office worker who struggled with boredom and loneliness, having been raised by neglectful parents.
Why Future Versions Of The Joker Need To Learn From The Batman’s Take On The Villain
Recentiterations of The Jokertend to emphasize his ideological side. While The Joker’s earliest incarnations in DC’s Earth-Two and Earth-One comic continuities depicted Joker as a hard-boiled murderer or buffoonish prankster, respectively, more recent film versions of Joker portray him as a frustrated nihilist whose cruel crimes are typically designed to vindicate his beliefs.
WhileThe Batmancertainly kept a degree of Joker’s ideology, it was more concerned with making Joker a chaotic monster,creating a fresh iteration of the iconic villain without losing his core qualities– something that futureBatmanadaptations should look to for inspiration.
