| Joker | |
|---|---|
| Arkhamverse character | |
| First appearance | Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009) |
| Last appearance | Batman: Arkham Knight (2015) |
| Based on | |
| Portrayed by | Mark Hamill |
| In-universe information | |
| Home | Gotham City |
Joker, whose real name is unknown, is a fictional supervillain voiced by Mark Hamill[1] and Troy Baker[2] in the Arkhamverse, based upon the character of the same name. Named for his comedic persona and appearance, which takes the appearance of a clown, he is in fact a sociopathic, manipulative, mass murderer who is responsible for the deaths of many throughout the series.[3]
His death at the end of Batman: Arkham City has been heavily praised and frequently listed as one of the most shocking plot twists in gaming.
Appearances edit
Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009) edit
He is introduced in Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009) as a patient of Arkham Asylum. After the Joker assaults Gotham City Hall, he is caught by Batman and taken to Arkham Asylum, which temporarily houses many members of the Joker's gang, who were transferred after a fire at Blackgate Prison.[4] Believing the Joker allowed himself to be captured, Batman accompanies him into Arkham Asylum. The Joker's plan is revealed as Harley Quinn takes control of the security and the Joker escapes into the facility.[5]
The Joker threatens to detonate bombs hidden around Gotham if anyone tries to enter Arkham, forcing Batman to work alone.[6] Batman learns that the Joker returned to the asylum to gain access to Young, who has been developing TITAN—a more powerful version of the Venom drug that gives Bane his strength. Young learned that the Joker had been secretly funding her research to create an army of superhuman henchmen; her refusal to hand over the formula precipitated Joker's return to the asylum. A bomb kills Young and the Joker obtains the completed batches of Titan.
At the end of the game, the Joker announces that the preparations for "his party" are finally complete and Batman confronts him. The Joker reveals he has recaptured Gordon and tries to shoot him with a TITAN-filled dart; Batman leaps to Gordon's defense and is shot instead. Batman attempts to resist the change, and an upset Joker takes an overdose of TITAN, mutating into a massive monster.[7] They go to a makeshift arena on the building's roof, the Joker challenges Batman to a fight as Titan-induced monsters in front of news helicopters. Batman refuses to transform, uses the antidote on himself, and defeats the Titan-affected Joker and his henchmen. In the aftermath, those affected by Titan begin to revert to normal, including the Joker—who is taken into custody as police officers retake the asylum.[8]
Batman: Arkham City (2011) edit
In Batman: Arkham City (2011), it is revealed that the TITAN formula caused mutations in Joker's blood, gradually killing him. Joker captures Batman and performs a blood transfusion on him, infecting him with the same fatal disease. Joker also reveals that Gotham hospitals have been poisoned with his infected blood.[9] A cure is eventually discovered by Batman. However, as Batman debates curing his foe, Joker attacks him, inadvertently causing the antidote vial to smash. Batman admits that he would have saved him despite everything Joker had done. Joker finally succumbs to his illness and dies. Batman carries and places Joker's body on the hood of Commissioner Gordon's car before leaving Arkham City in silence.[10]
Batman: Arkham Knight (2015) edit
Except for his cremation, Joker does not physically appear in Batman: Arkham Knight. However, his infected blood was used in blood transfusions, infecting five people, including Batman. Concealing his infection, Batman imprisoned the four other patients, who were physically and mentally transforming into the Joker. The Joker, existing as a mental projection produced by the infected blood and fear toxin, frequently appears to taunt Batman and twist his perception of reality.[11]
References edit
- ^ Fillari, Alessandro (2023-10-20). "Mark Hamill explains why the Batman Arkham games allowed him to be "a whole new Joker"". gamesradar. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
- ^ Francisco, Eric (2018-10-05). "'Joker': How Troy Baker Convinced Comic Con He Was the Right Guy". Inverse. Retrieved 2024-02-03.
- ^ Peaslee, Robert Moses; Weiner, Robert G., eds. (2015-04-01). The Joker: A Serious Study of the Clown Prince of Crime. University Press of Mississippi. doi:10.14325/mississippi/9781628462388.001.0001. ISBN 978-1-62674-683-1.
- ^ Rocksteady Studios (August 25, 2009). Batman: Arkham Asylum. Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Scene: Opening.
Joker: Great night for a party! / Batman: Not where you're going / Joker: The night is young Bats. I still have a trick or two up my sleeve. I mean don't you think it's a little bit funny how a fire at Blackgate caused hundreds of my crew to be moved here?
- ^ Rocksteady Studios (August 25, 2009). Batman: Arkham Asylum. Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Scene: Opening.
Joker: Honey I'm home / Harley Quinn: Come on in / Joker: Welcome to the madhouse, Batman! I set a trap, and you sprang it gloriously!
- ^ Rocksteady Studios (August 25, 2009). Batman: Arkham Asylum. Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Scene: Opening.
Oracle: That's not all he's done. All police feeds are reporting he's placed bombs all over Gotham. Says he'll detonate them if anyone steps foot on Arkham Island.
- ^ Rocksteady Studios (August 25, 2009). Batman: Arkham Asylum. Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Scene: Ending.
Joker: You're trying to resist the change. That's not fair! Come on, give in. So you wanna play hard ball Bats? Do ya? Your call. Oh, you're ruining my big night! Months of planning down the crapper! I just wanted to bring down your grim facade and for once let you see the world as I see it, giggling in a corner and bleeding. But you've denied me even that. I have nothing to live for! [Joker shoots himself with a Titan dart].
- ^ Olivares, Vladimir (2020-10-27). "How to Fix Batman: Arkham Asylum's WORST Boss". CBR. Retrieved 2024-02-03.
- ^ Hamilton, Kirk (September 30, 2011). "The Joker Dies in the First Act of Arkham City (Or Does He?)". Kotaku. Gawker Media. Archived from the original on January 27, 2013. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
- ^ Dinicola, Nick (January 26, 2012). "Batman Is Boring in 'Arkham City'". PopMatters. Archived from the original on January 23, 2013. Retrieved February 4, 2013.
- ^ Rivera, Joshua. "'Batman: Arkham Knight' has two huge twists and one is pretty disappointing". Business Insider. Retrieved 2024-02-03.