Joker

The Joker, whose true identity is unknown, was Batman's arch-nemesis and one of the most important characters throughout the Batman: Arkham series.

Biography

Early life

Little to nothing is known about Joker's early life, including who he was before becoming the Joker or even what his real name was.

One of the few known details of his life before becoming the Joker is that he adopted the identity of the Red Hood during a robbery at a chemical plant, likely ACE Chemicals. Batman's intervention resulted in him falling into a vat of chemicals, leading to his transformation into the Joker.

Batman: Arkham Origins

In the days before Batman: Arkham Origins (2013) Joker impersonated Black Mask and took over his gang. On Christmas Eve he hired eight assassins and put a $50.000.000 bounty on Batman’s head and started a riot in Blackgate Prison where he freed the Calendar Man and killed Commissioner Loeb. Later he robbed Gotham Merchants Bank and killed all employees present. In the bank's vault room he revealed himself to be the Joker to Batman and drove away in a stolen ambulance. He later took over the Gotham Royal Hotel and killed a large number of staff. After Bane fired a rocket at the balcony he was standing on, the Joker was falling to his death, laughing and almost happy to die. Batman dived after him and saved his life, leading to the Joker’s arrest. When he arrived in Blackgate, Harleen Quinzel psychologically evaluated him, he talked about how he met someone special that changed his life; the Batman. Harleen misunderstood him and thought he meant her. Joker was now obsessed with Batman and started another riot which ended with him taking over the prison facility. The night ended with a final confrontation in the chapel, where he tells Batman that they are the same. Batman then incapacitated him and left him for Captain Gordon and the GCPD who by now had control of the prison and brought Joker back to a cell.

Between Arkham Asylum and City

After Batman stopped him from escaping Arkham Asylum, the Joker sat alone in his padded cell, knowing something was wrong. The first sign was an unusual lump on his shoulder. He felt... tainted. Weeks went by and ten more unusual lumps appeared. The TITAN had done something to him, something bad, something that wasn't funny at all.

The Joker was dying. He knew it and soon so would anyone who saw him. The last thing he needed was to appear weak before his rivals. So one day at lunch, the Joker took a spoon and dug out another inmate's eyes, knowing this would get him solitary confinement. He could keep out of sight, at least until the transfer to Arkham City. The Joker needed an escape plan, and on the night of his transfer, Harley Quinn provided one. Disguised as an Arkham guard, she overpowered the Joker's escorts and stole her puddin' away to a boat waiting on the island's quayside.

As the boat carrying the twisted pair sped off towards Gotham, it was joined by a second. A secret alarm placed by Batman had alerted him to the Joker's escape, and here he was in the Batboat, pursuing the fugitives. They ignored his orders to stop, so Batman opened fire. As Harley steered the boat to shore, missiles ripped the hull to pieces. They swam, the weakened Joker being pulled through the water by a distraught Harley, desperate to save her puddin'. She pulled the Joker out of the water to safety, somehow avoiding Batman's searchlight. She and the Joker sat there, gasping for breath, when they suddenly realized where they were: Arkham City.

Abilities

Equipment

Relationships

List of crimes

Joker has committed or been accused of numerous crimes throughout his criminal career, including:

• Kidnapping
• Torture
• Extortion
• Racketeering
• Fraud
• Grave Robbing
• Unlicensed Dentistry
• Counterfeiting
• Bullying
• Cyber Bullying
• Badger Baiting
• Bear Baiting
• Duck Baiting
• Wildlife Smuggling
• Monkey Baiting
• Iguana Baiting
• Rhino Baiting
• Failure to adequately restrain a Rhino
• Identity Theft
• Malicious Mischief
• Trespassing
• Arson
• Assault
• Larceny
• Grand Larceny
• Spectacular Larceny
• Vandalism
• Forgery
• Impersonating a Police Officer
• Impersonating a Doctor
• Impersonating an Airline Pilot
• Unlicensed Cabaret Entertainment
• Theft of Livestock
• Unlicensed Taxidermy
• Involuntary Manslaughter
• Voluntary Manslaughter
• Enthusiastic Manslaughter
• Desecration of a Corpse
• Improper Disposition of a Body
• Improper Labeling of Meat Products
• Cannibalism
• Homicide
• Regicide
• Attempted Omnicide
• Littering

Identity

Who Joker truly was before his transformation and criminal career remains a mystery even after his death. However, several pieces of information throughout the series provide clues regarding his possible past and identity.

Behind the scenes

Voice acting

Mark Hamill voiced the Joker in Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009), Batman: Arkham City (2011), Batman: Arkham Knight (2015) and Batman: Arkham VR (2016).

Troy Baker voiced a younger Joker in Batman: Arkham Origins (2013), Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate (2013), Batman: Assault on Arkham (2014) and Batman: Arkham Shadow (2024).

Appearances

Games

• Batman: Arkham Origins (2013) — antagonist; canonical
• Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate (2013) — antagonist; canonical
• Batman: Arkham Shadow (2024) — voice cameo; canonical
• Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009) — antagonist; canonical
• Batman: Arkham City (2011) — antagonist; canonical
• Batman: Arkham Knight (2015) — antagonist; canonical
• Batman: Arkham VR (2016) — antagonist; canonical

Downloadable content

• Batman: Arkham Knight - A Matter of Family (2015) — antagonist; canonical
• Batman: Arkham Asylum - Play as the Joker (2009) — protagonist; non-canonical
• Batman: Arkham City - Harley Quinn's Revenge (2012) — video recording; canonical
  

Comics

• Batman: Arkham Asylum: Road to Arkham (2009) — antagonist; canonical
• Batman: Arkham City (Comic) (2011) — antagonist; canonical
• Batman: Arkham Unhinged (2011) — antagonist/protagonist; partially canonical
• Batman: Arkham City: Endgame (2012) — antagonist; canonical
• Batman: Arkham Knight (Comic) (2015) — antagonist; non-canonical
• Batman: Arkham Knight Genesis (2015)— antagonist; non-canonical
• Batman: Arkham Knight: Batgirl & Harley Quinn (2015) — antagonist; non-canonical

Other media

• Batman: Assault on Arkham (2014) — antagonist; non-canonical