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| “ | Now, that was rude. The first boy blunder had some manners. I suppose I'm going to have to teach you a lesson so you can better follow in his footsteps. ...Nah, I'm just gonna keep beating you with this crowbar! | „ |
| ~ Joker while torturing Jason Todd after he spits in his face. |
| “ | I'm the only one who's going to get what he wants tonight! Yes! Big bang-boom! We all go out together! Don't you just love a happy ending?! | „ |
| ~ Joker's last words as he tries to stop Batman from defusing Jason's bomb. |
| “ | Boy Wonder... | „ |
| ~ The Joker's last words before being killed by Jason Todd |
The Joker is one of the two main antagonists (alongside the Red Hood) of the 2010 animated superhero film Batman: Under the Red Hood and its 2020 interactive sequel Batman: Death in the Family.
He is a psychotic criminal mastermind, one of Batman's arch-nemesis (alongside Ra's al Ghul), and the murderer and later attempted victim of Jason Todd, the second Robin. He also works as a henchman for both Ra's al Ghul and Black Mask, though only as long as it suits him.
He was voiced by John DiMaggio, who also played Bender Bending Rodríguez in Futurama, Jake the Dog in Adventure Time, Jekhide in Mia and the Migoo, Nitro Zeus in Transformers: Age of Extinction, Dr. Drakken in Kim Possible, Hannibal McFist in Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja, Socktopus in The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants, Brother Blood in Teen Titans, Arthur in Wreck-it-Ralph, Hans the Puffin in The Penguins of Madagascar, Heidegger in Final Fantasy VII Remake, BlackJack SquarePants, in SpongeBob SquarePants, Jesse and Woolter in Zootopia, Lobo in Justice League: Action, General Grievous in Star Wars: Clone Wars, and Toyman in Superman: Doomsday.
Biography
The Joker was the one who used the moniker of the Red Hood before Jason Todd. At a botch robbery at Ace Chemicals, he was confronted by Batman. The frightened man tried to plead with Batman, who pulled out some cuffs. The man said he was setup and he wasn't a criminal (contradicting himself, however, later in the future). He tried to take off his hood, but he stumbled on his cape and fell into a vat of chemicals. The chemicals dyed his hair green, turned his lips red, and bleached his skin, along with destroying his sanity. His fate as the Joker was sealed.
Joker as the Red Hood in Under the Red Hood.
The Joker is hired by Ra's al Ghul to distract Batman and Jason Todd, the second Robin, from the terrorist's plan to destroy the world economy. The Joker lures the Dynamic Duo to Sarajevo, Bosnia, where he beats Jason with a crowbar and leaves him to be killed by a bomb, although not before sadistically requesting that Jason "tell the big man [Joker] said 'hello'". Feeling guilty for his death, Ra's al Ghul revives Jason with the Lazarus Pit. Five years later, Jason returns to Gotham as a crime lord, calling himself the Red Hood, purposely taking his murderer's former criminal identity to attract his attention. In addition, by that point, the Joker had been placed in Arkham Asylum under extensive security measures to ensure he could not escape.
After his first encounter with the Red Hood, Batman goes to the Joker for information in Arkham Asylum. He claims that there is no connection, although he nonetheless proceeds to cruelly reference his role in Jason Todd's death to Batman and also implies a desire for Batman to kill him in rage. When Red Hood tries to kill him, Black Mask reluctantly hires the Joker as a hitman to take down Red Hood. Upon being freed, Joker, under the premise of wanting water, used a glass to slice one of Black Mask's men's throats and gunned down the crime lord's remaining bodyguards in quick succession with a stolen handgun before requesting his standard outfit, a big truck, as well as some henchmen. He then starts laughing at the thought of killing Black Mask's minions, much to the latter's discomfort.
The Joker kidnaps Jason's eight underbosses, and then proceeds to betray the Black Mask by placing him among the underbosses (as they formerly worked for Black Mask) and holding them hostage inside the truck, also crashing the truck on the bridge and causing a spectacle, causing the GCPD to arrive and news reporters to swarm in on the breaking report, also dousing the underbosses and Black Mask with gasoline with the intention of torching them. However, his lighter ended up acting temperamental as Jason arrived and revealed that his previous actions were designed to lure the Joker away from the safety of Arkham so that he could kill him, also making it clear they had met before. He ultimately manages to light it before dropping it into the truck, with only the timely arrival of Batman foiling the torching attempt. However, Joker was freed from the Batplane's restraints by Jason, who proceeded to abduct him in turn. At a secluded apartment in Crime Alley, Joker was beaten by Jason, who cryptically alludes to Joker's earlier torture of him being responsible for his existence when Joker inquired about how they knew each other. He forces Batman to either kill him, kill the Joker directly, or otherwise let Jason kill the Joker. Batman refused the offer and threw a batarang into Jason's gun barrel, detonating it, with Joker taking amusement in how, despite Batman finding a way to win, "everybody still loses." After Jason activated a bomb set to a 20-second timer that would kill all three, Joker prevented Batman from disarming the bomb, maniacally declaring that he'd be "the only one who gets what he wants tonight!" while pinning Batman down. However, he is knocked unconscious by Batman and manages to save himself, Jason, and the Joker. While Jason escapes, Batman takes the Joker back to Arkham.
Quotes
| “ | Wow! That looked like it really hurt. Whop, now hang on, that looks like it hurt a lot more. So let's try and clear this up, okay, pumpkin? What hurts more? A? Or B? Forehand? Or backhand? Ah, ah, ahh! A little louder, lamb chop? I think you may have a collapsed lung. That always impedes the oratory. Okay, kiddo, I gotta go. It's been fun, though, right?... Well, maybe a smidge more fun for me than you. I'm just guessing since you're being awful quiet. Anyway, be a good boy, finish your homework, and be in bed by nine. And, hey, please tell the big man I said..."hello". | „ |
| ~ Joker's opening monologue in the movie while he's beating and taunting Jason Todd before leaving him to die from his bomb. |
| “ | Oh, Bird Boy, you're so much less fun now. All grown up and in your big-boy pants. Still, better off than his replacement, right? Even tougher making with the yuks when you're worm food, huh? | „ |
| ~ Joker taunting Batman about Jason Todd's death. |
| “ | You gonna do it this time? Or are you just going to put me in another body-cast for six months? | „ |
| ~ Joker trying to prompt Batman to kill him. |
| “ | Joker: [Eats chips] Black Mask: Look, I've got a problem. And you are absolutely the man who posses the gifts to take care of this "problem". I need you to murder the Red Hood. You think you can handle that? Joker: [Coughs] May I have some water? Black Mask: [Signals approval] Joker: [Accepts glass, then smashes glass on the table and slits one guard's throat] [Grabs said guard's gun and kills all four other guards] [Holds Black Mask and his assistant at gun-point, and then laughs] I'm going to need something to wear...and a very big truck. Black Mask: Sure, anything else? Joker: I'll need some guys. Not these guys, because well, they're kinda dead. [Laughs] |
„ |
| ~ Joker accepting Black Mask's deal after murdering his guards. |
| “ | ...So disappointing. But back to the matter at hand. Do you really think I would go through all that trouble and not make sure you knew it was me?! | „ |
| ~ Joker revealing that he has nothing to do with the new Red Hood. |
| “ | Joker: Hey, look at you! Mr. Hood! Or do you prefer Red? You know, I used to wear an outfit a lot like that. Mine was more flashy maitre d' than motorcycle fetish. You kids today...I'm sorry, could you hold on? I was just in the middle of setting fire to your gang! Red Hood: Go ahead! You think I care if that scum dies? Joker: Don't know. I just wanted your attention! Red Hood: You've always had my attention. But what I really wanted was an audience with you! Joker: I'm sorry, that seems to imply that YOU organized this little flambe? |
„ |
| ~ Joker confronting Red Hood. |
| “ | Joker: So I've been bamboozled. Oh, my. Red Hood: I wouldn't undersell it. It took a lot of work to bring about our reunion. Joker: Reunion? Have we met before? Red Hood:...Yes. We have. Joker: Well, here's to warm memories! |
„ |
| ~ Joker learning he had been manipulated by Red Hood before igniting his gang. |
| “ | Joker: Gotta give the boy points! He came all the way from the dead to make this shindig happen! So, who's got a camera? Ooh! Ooh! Get one of me and the kid first. Then you and me, then the three of us, and then the one with the crowbar. Then—ack! Jason Todd: You be as quiet as possible. Or I'll put one in your lap first. Joker: Party pooper. No cake for you. |
„ |
| ~ Joker after being revealed to Batman. |
| “ | Awwww. So you do think about me. | „ |
| ~ Joker upon finding out that Batman has secretly wanted to kill him. |
| “ | This is turning out even better than I'd hoped! | „ |
| ~ Joker reacting to Jason's ultimatum to Batman. |
| “ | I can't believe you got him! You expert, rootin'-tootin', eagle-eyed, Goth-loving marksman! I love it! You managed to find a way to win...and everybody still loses! | „ |
| ~ Joker before Jason triggers a bomb. |
| “ | Joker: Oh kid you have done your papa proud. Jason: Batman? I doubt he would agree. Joker: Not THAT papa! THIS one. Look at ya. Gave up the gimmicks he gave ya; and now you're the spitting image of me. Jason: I took your gimmicks to draw you out; and take you down. For what you did to me. And to him. Joker: Ooh, losing Batsy got to me too. Right in the ticker. Thought about hanging it all up... Until you rolled into town. The timing. The irony. I knew there was a joke under that hood. But I never saw this punchline coming. Who knew you were a natural born killer? Just like me. Jason: I'm not like you. I don't kill. Joker: Don't be modest. I admire your work. Your entrance on the scene was one for the books baby! You co-opted the head of every crime syndicate in Gotham; by beheading their lieutenants. Delightful! A+ material! And the way you punched holes in Gotham's illegal trade line; by blasting holes through the traders. Hilarious! Two thumbs up. Oh! And piece de resistance! Black Mask. Boy did you find a way to cut him out. So good! You get all the points! Jason: No... I couldn't. I promised Batman. Joker: B-b-batman? Huh! Wait a second. You actually don't remember. You've been repressing all of it. That's the best joke I've ever heard! This isn't Batman. This isn't your inner demons. This is you. The you deep down inside you. That day in Bosnia was your birthday. I got you your crowbar. A little song. A little dance. A little dynamite in your pants. And you were reborn! Hallelujah! Without your proud papa Joker there to slap you on the ass, without the Dark Knight going nighty night forever, you wouldn't be the fine, upstanding, eyes open, gun toting psychopathic survivor you are today! So admit it son! Who's your daddy? |
„ |
| ~ Joker enjoys Jason's anguish at not realizing he's tilting towards dissociative identity disorder in one of the A Death in the Family endings. |
| “ | You know, this reminds me of a joke I told Bats once. Wanna hear it? See, there were these two guys in a lunatic asylum. And one night, they decide they don't like living in an asylum anymore. They decide they're going to escape. So like, they get up on to the roof, and there, just across this narrow gap, they see the rooftops of the town, stretching away in the moonlight. Stretching away to freedom. Now, the first guy, he jumps right across with no problem. But the his friend, didn't dare make the leap. You see, you see... he's afraid of falling. So then, the first guy has an idea, he says "Hey, I have my flashlight with me. I'll shine it across the gap, between the buildings. You can walk along the beam and join me." But the second guy just shakes his head. He says "What do you think I am, Crazy‽ You'd turn it off when I was half-way across." | „ |
| ~ A "reformed" Joker tells Jason the killing Joke in one of the A Death in the Family endings. |
Gallery
.jpg "Joker (Under the Red Hood).jpg (131 KB)")
Trivia
- In Batman's flashback to his encountering the man who would become the Joker, the man is seen yelling, "Please, no! Stay away! It's a set-up! Wait..." and "I'm not a crook, I swear!" while attempting to unmask himself, implying that he had the same backstory as the one given in Batman: The Killing Joke, or at the very least a similar backstory.
- However, later scenes involving Joker, Batman, Nightwing, and Red Hood together imply that Joker wore the Red Hood costume other times, since he brags and takes pride about being "used to" wearing the Red Hood costume in a more classy way than Jason. If the Joker was really innocent, he would never be proud of wearing the Red Hood costume, nor would he brag about wearing it better than Jason.
- Elements of this rendition for the Joker were reused in at least three other renditions:
- Joker from The Dark Knight Returns Part 2 proceeded to kill Dr. Wolper in a similar manner to how Joker in Under the Red Hood murdered one of Black Mask's armed guards, via slitting the latter's throat with a shard from a cup he smashed earlier (in this case, a novelty mug for the show). In the original comic, Wolper had been murdered by his neck being snapped by one of the Joker's robotic henchmen.
- Jerome Valeska from the Gotham Season 2 episode Gotham proceeded to douse a bus full of cheerleaders with ship fuel and then attempted to set the bus on fire as one of his first crimes upon being broken out of Arkham Asylum, only to be delayed long enough to be stopped largely because of a temperamental lighter, just like the Joker from Under the Red Hood did, in that case dousing gasoline inside a crashed transport truck on both Black Mask, Ms. Lu, and Black Mask's former drug dealing associates.
- Joker from Batman: The Killing Joke animated film, when he encountered Batman while acting as the Red Hood, proceeded to trip over his cape while attempting to plead for his life and fall over a railing into a chemical drainage vat below, with Batman attempting to reach out for him as he fell, similar to Joker in Under the Red Hood. In the original comic, the Joker instead deliberately jumped into the vat in a desperate effort to escape Batman.
