Joker is perhaps the most popular comic-book villain of all time. He is the archenemy of the hero Batman . The Joker is known for his dark sense of humor and for his clownlike appearance, inspired by the joker in a deck of playing cards. The Joker has appeared in television shows, motion pictures, and electronic games, in addition to comic books .
The Joker first appeared in the comic book Batman #1 (1940), published by DC Comics . Various aspects of the character’s design have been credited to the creators of Batman—the artist Bob Kane and the writer Bill Finger—and to the artist Jerry Robinson.
In early appearances, the Joker was portrayed as a sadistic (vicious) killer. In the late 1950’s, comic-book publishers began restricting serious violence and other kinds of content considered offensive. The Joker then became a more humorous, trickster-type of character, known for elaborate schemes and silly pranks. Darker portrayals of the character returned in the 1970’s.
There have been various accounts of the Joker’s origins. In the most common, the Joker was a petty criminal who fell into a vat of chemical waste. The accident disfigured him, resulting in his signature appearance that includes bleached-white skin, green hair, red lips, and a permanent grin. It also drove him insane.
Many actors have played the Joker over the years. For example, Cesar Romero presented a comical version of the Joker in the television series “Batman” (1966-1968). Jack Nicholson played a slightly more menacing version of the character in the movie Batman (1989). Two actors have won Academy Awards for dark, disturbing portrayals of the character. Heath Ledger won the Oscar for best supporting actor as the Joker in The Dark Knight (2008). And Joaquin Phoenix won the Oscar for best actor in Joker (2019). Mark Hamill is celebrated for voicing the Joker in animated television, motion-picture, and video-game appearances.
