Cosmo Digital

I have previously ventured into a more abstract interpretation of Batman within my Batman's Obsession Article. Towards the end of this (admittedly experimental) article, I began to discuss the nature of the relationship between Batman and his archnemesis the Joker, but did not venture too far since it was rather outside the focus of that discussion. I intend to correct that oversight here.

Into Batman's psychological conditioning comes the Joker. The Joker realizes that Batman is his own complete person, independent of any alter ego or secret identity. Several times throughout the comics the Joker has the opportunity to take off Batman's mask and see the person underneath, yet he never does. He does not need to. The Joker already understands that Batman is a concept, and that the idea of "Batman" needs to remain. For the Joker is the conceptual opposite of Batman, and each concept (life/death, order/chaos, shadows/light, etc...) needs the other to survive.

This is the key to the Joker's character. He is not just some random Bat-villain. He is not just some random psycho. He is Batman's conceptual opposite, and because of that, he needs to be scary as hell. Now, during the last two decades, 99 percent of the authors to write the Joker get his character completely wrong, treating him as just some random homicidal lunatic who Batman can take out with a single punch. This is because they have apparently never thought about the character as an abstraction or a concept, or are unwilling to write the character in an abstract way. But these concepts of what the Joker is need to be understood in order to understand his position as Batman's greatest enemy and rival.

In my previous Batman article, I discussed that Bruce Wayne had completely transformed himself into the concept that was Batman, and his mental state and lifestyle reflected this transformation. However, just as Batman is rapidly approaching a level of abstraction, the Joker is becoming a concept as well. The Joker knowingly and willingly takes on this antithetical concept (chaotic crimes) in opposite of Batman's central defining concept (calculated justice). The reasons why he does this can be debated (sees Batman as a spiritual brother; is in love with Batman; sees Batman as a reflection of himself, etc...). However, now instead of being some random gimmicky villian, the Joker has recast himself in the role of Batman's opposite, and everyone knows it. He is now giving in to that psychological pull that caught Bruce Wayne, and the Joker is now operating on the same psychological level as Batman, albeit at opposite ends.

This is why it bugs the hell out of me when authors try to introduce new "origins" for the Joker. The Joker is a concept, and thus has no need of an origin. We do not need to know his name. We do not need to know what his previous "pre-Joker" life was like. None of that matters. At worst, it can only detract from the symbolism of his eternal fight against Batman.

That much said, I will return to the fact that there are so few good Joker stories anymore. The most recent appearances of his character (as of 11-6-06) are rather sad and even pitiful to what his character once was. I am therefore proposing several solutions in order to save the Joker and make him awe-inspiring again.  

How to Save the Joker:

Step 1: Limit his Appearances:

This has been a problem for the Joker ever since he was introduced in 1940. He is simply overexposed. When he has too many appearances, it becomes harder to write original stories featuring him. This became a true problem during the 1950s when the Joker appeared in just about every other Batman issue published. He lost nearly all of his menace and became, no pun intended, a joke. During the last couple years the Joker has appeared several times within the last few plot arcs of the Batman comics, and these appearances were less than inspired. The solution to this is quite easy. Limit his appearances to once a year, if that. Part of the Joker's appeal is that he is a mysterious figure who can do anything at anytime. If his appearances were limited, than this appeal could be fully realized. If there is a single Joker story every five years, then each story has the potential to change Batman's world as we know it. The Joker's could be come the narrative analogy of a nuclear warhead: it drops only on rare occasions, but when it does, it effects everything.

Step 2: Make him a Criminal Mastermind (once more):

Early on, the Joker was presented as a master criminal, with a phenomenal intellect. Many of the better Joker stories played on his "dark intelligence" rather than his "psycho-clown" persona. Older comics that feature the Joker have him quoting from literature and clearly displaying great intelligence. A couple of the best Joker stories are those where he is not even present, the narration focusing instead on those hapless victims who are on the receiving end of his intricate plans. This approach can even work with the psychotic persona. If the Joker is truely mad, then his only goal (in opposition of Batman's goals) is to create chaos. If that succeeds, then he wins, even if he goes back to Arkham. The more recent stories, in contrast, have the Joker attempting to kill someone (usually another villain), only to be immediately knocked out by Batman and sent back to the madhouse. He has no goals, not even to create chaos. Killing someone is not chaos. Detonating a chemical bomb inside a string of pediatric hospitals, now that is chaos. But even chaos can have intelligence behind it. In a Batman story from 1990, the villain Two-Face is hearing his split personality talk to him through a radio, convincing him to return to crimes. However, at the very end of this story, it turns out that it was the Joker talking to him through the radio, manipulating Two-Face every step of the way. This type of story shows the Joker's intelligence and ability to play with other people, rather than his current "crazy" portrayal. It is also something that should be returned to if the Joker wants to be scary ever again.

Step 3: Make the Other Villians Fear Him:

This is closely related to step 2. When an author introduces a new villain for Batman to fight, the quickest and easiest way to give this villain "street-cred" is to have him beat up on the Joker. (see the villain Hush for a good example.) This can not happen. The Joker needs to be a terrifying figure, and all the other criminals within the DC Universe need to understand this. As Batman's archnemesis and opposite, the Joker needs to be on a completely different and higher level than any of the "normal" criminals. By having him engage in a petty street brawl with heroes or villains, the Joker comes off as weak and inept. To correct this, the Joker should never physically fight with anyone, except for Batman on occasion. The other villains need to view him as being untouchable, and should never be willing to fight against him or any of his plans.

Final Step: Have Him Win:

The two most memorable Joker stories are The Killing Joke and A Death in the Family. Why? Because the Joker wins. He cripples and kills Batman's friends and companions, and gets away with it. No other Batman villain has ever done that, and this is what makes the Joker Batman's archnemesis. He is capable of hurting Batman on an emotional level, and he knows that he will be able to do it again. This creates a situation where Batman fears going up against the Joker, and that is the dynamic that needs to occur.

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