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Batman

Character » Batman appears in 9896 issues.

Bruce Wayne witnessed the murder of his billionaire parents as a child, swearing to avenge them. He trained extensively to achieve both mental and physical perfection, mastering detective skills, martial arts, and criminal psychology. Costumed as a bat to prey on criminals' fear and utilizing a high-tech arsenal in his crusade to rid Gotham City of crime, the legendary Batman was born.

Scariest depiction of the Joker?

#1 Posted by Kindredfool (14 posts) - 1 year, 10 days ago - Show Bio

From the whole history of Batman, including Comics, Films, Television etc what do you think is the most frightening depiction of the Joker?

Was there a particular comic that you found him scariest in? Either because of the story or even the way the artist drew him?

I'll get the ball rolling. I'm relatively new to comics but I've read a good few Batman comics and in my opinion the depiction of the Joker in 'Arkham Asylum' (A Serious House on Serious Earth) is absolutely horrifying. Because of both Grant Morrison for the writing AND the way Dave McKean illustrates him. It just freaked me out how Morrison gave him a bizarre sexual aspect which I'd never seen before (He feels Batmans arse, and then starts interrogating one of Arkhams staff by telling him to "Ravish me") It just freaked the hell out of me. And the way he was drawn absolutely terrified me, he looked VERY creepy. The horrible speech about wanting Batman to feel "sticky fingers touch the deepest parts of his brain" (or something like that) made it terrifying.

So, what do you guys think is the scariest depiction of the Joker?

#2 Posted by LordMaverick (4388 posts) - 1 year, 10 days ago - Show Bio

Emperor, nuff said, end thread........

#3 Posted by The_Tree (4200 posts) - 1 year, 10 days ago - Show Bio

I would also say that Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth is the scariest he's ever been. Morrison knows how to write a pretty terrifying Joker.

Online
#4 Edited by Jonny_Anonymous (15768 posts) - 1 year, 10 days ago - Show Bio
#5 Posted by hectorsquall (1008 posts) - 1 year, 10 days ago - Show Bio

From All Star Batman & Robin, The Boy Wonder

For real! A lot of people find this series mediocre but this depiction of the Joker is one of the most creepiest and realistic that I've ever read. I bet if the Joker really existed, he would act exactly like this.

#6 Posted by ReVamp (22561 posts) - 1 year, 10 days ago - Show Bio

@hectorsquall said:

From All Star Batman & Robin, The Boy Wonder

For real! A lot of people find this series mediocre but this depiction of the Joker is one of the most creepiest and realistic that I've ever read. I bet if the Joker really existed, he would act exactly like this.

People hate far too much on this series. It was... bad, but its badness was good.

#7 Posted by hectorsquall (1008 posts) - 1 year, 10 days ago - Show Bio

@ReVamp: Agreed. I won't say that it was a good series but I like Jim lee's art and I don't think that it was a book to be taken too seriously. Some moments were painful to read but overall it was so cheesy that I laughed a few times, especially with the epic "I'm the Goddamn Batman" dialogue :p

Still, I liked this depiction of the Joker for its realism and it's too bad that we didn't see more of him.

#8 Posted by nickzambuto (7809 posts) - 1 year, 9 days ago - Show Bio

60's Joker obviously.

dat mustache.

#9 Posted by Rosencrantz&Guildenstern (275 posts) - 1 year, 9 days ago - Show Bio

@nickzambuto said:

60's Joker obviously.

dat mustache.

Creepy win.

I really liked how he was both unnervingly creepy and sypathetic in The Killing Joke. The fact that you can feel pity for such a moster while being makes it even more disturbing. I also loved him in Batman and Robing Must Die, especially in B&R #13. Frazer Irving is insanely awesome.

#10 Edited by sEsposito7 (456 posts) - 1 year, 7 days ago - Show Bio

@spiderbat87 said:

This ^ is the most horrifying depiction I've ever read. I remember reading this and being genuinely horrified on a visceral level by it. However, if we're talking creepy and disturbing on a more psychological level, I've got to go with Joker as he was depicted in The Black Mirror:

#11 Posted by SmoothJammin (2009 posts) - 11 months, 25 days ago - Show Bio

Arkham by Morrison. Before I even knew anything about comics I read that badboy and it scared me shitless. I think that's probably why it took me so long to finally get into the game

#12 Posted by Billy Batson (54359 posts) - 11 months, 25 days ago - Show Bio

BB

#13 Posted by RoboShark (1200 posts) - 11 months, 25 days ago - Show Bio

@Billy Batson said:

BB

This version is pretty disturbing.

That scene is never easy to read.

#14 Posted by Billy Batson (54359 posts) - 11 months, 25 days ago - Show Bio

@RoboShark said:

@Billy Batson said:

BB

This version is pretty disturbing.

That scene is never easy to read.

The whole book is filled with that stuff. Thank you, Azzarello!
BB

#15 Posted by DarthShap (854 posts) - 11 months, 25 days ago - Show Bio

@Billy Batson said:

@RoboShark said:

@Billy Batson said:

BB

This version is pretty disturbing.

That scene is never easy to read.

The whole book is filled with that stuff. Thank you, Azzarello!
BB

That's because it's not the Joker, just some depressed hooligan who's into Clockwork Orange ultra-violence.

A surprisingly horrific depiction of the Joker for a kid's comic book (but was TAS really appropriate for kids?) :

#16 Posted by Billy Batson (54359 posts) - 11 months, 25 days ago - Show Bio

@DarthShap:

Meh, it's not canon.
Exactly what is the Joker hitting in those panels? Nothing happened to Gordon on the second panel.
BB

#17 Posted by comicdude23 (11075 posts) - 11 months, 24 days ago - Show Bio

TDK Joker.

#18 Posted by MasterDetective (221 posts) - 11 months, 19 days ago - Show Bio

@DarthShap: Of course it's for kids, I was watching it when I was younger. Children shouldn't just watch Winnie the pooh and Dora the explorer you know...

#19 Posted by Jonny_Anonymous (15768 posts) - 11 months, 19 days ago - Show Bio
@Billy Batson said:

BB

The best depiction ever IMO
#20 Posted by DarthShap (854 posts) - 11 months, 19 days ago - Show Bio

@MasterDetective said:

@DarthShap: Of course it's for kids, I was watching it when I was younger. Children shouldn't just watch Winnie the pooh and Dora the explorer you know...

So was I, and I was something like three or four when it started to air. I did not have any problem with it but I am sure a lot of parents did because it was really dark violent and heavy at times.

#21 Edited by Rosencrantz&Guildenstern (275 posts) - 11 months, 18 days ago - Show Bio

I've just discovered Dave McKean, his Joker is pretty unsettling as well:

#22 Posted by DarthShap (854 posts) - 11 months, 18 days ago - Show Bio

@Rosencrantz&Guildenstern said:

I've just discovered Dave McKean, his Joker is pretty unsettling as well:

Then you have to read Arham Asylum by Morrison and McKean. :)

#23 Posted by DarkKnightDetective (6750 posts) - 11 months, 18 days ago - Show Bio

@Billy Batson said:

BB

what book is that from?

Also Arkham Asylum Joker.

#24 Posted by DarthShap (854 posts) - 11 months, 18 days ago - Show Bio

@DarkKnightDetective said:

@Billy Batson said:

BB

what book is that from?

Also Arkham Asylum Joker.

Joker, by Azzarello and Bermejo.

#25 Posted by deadpool6_6_6 (1064 posts) - 11 months, 18 days ago - Show Bio

@The_Tree said:

I would also say that Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth is the scariest he's ever been. Morrison knows how to write a pretty terrifying Joker.

Question is does joker have any fear?

#26 Posted by ImTheDamnBatman (2755 posts) - 11 months, 18 days ago - Show Bio

i know it's not canon, and not nescasarrily the scariest, but the best depiction of the Joker had to be from the games AA and AC. They had that perfect mix of TAS joker but with an extra twinge of darkness.

#27 Posted by sinestro_GL (1403 posts) - 11 months, 18 days ago - Show Bio

@deadpool6_6_6 said:

@The_Tree said:

I would also say that Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth is the scariest he's ever been. Morrison knows how to write a pretty terrifying Joker.

Question is does joker have any fear?

Nope. During the Knightfall Saga, at one point Scarecrow sprayed Joker with some of his fear gas...response:

#28 Posted by mr_gone (104 posts) - 11 months, 7 days ago - Show Bio

the azzarello one made my stomach twist a little, but the scariest i have read would have to be the issue that had this cover. It's the one where he slices up harley and kills all his past henchmen. It's some seriously psychotic stuff in that one.

#29 Posted by Crom-Cruach (7707 posts) - 11 months, 7 days ago - Show Bio

arkham asylum

#30 Posted by bbraich (6 posts) - 11 months, 4 days ago - Show Bio

Agreed with posters regarding RIP Joker, that was pretty unsettling.

In Grant Morrison's JLA run there was a part where Batman is in a dream where Tim Drake I believe is Batman, he's facing up against an older Joker with greased back hair. I found this brief cameo quite terrifying. He kinda looked similar to the Joker in Kingdom Come.

#31 Posted by cameron83 (1803 posts) - 11 months, 4 days ago - Show Bio

@ImTheDamnBatman said:

i know it's not canon, and not nescasarrily the scariest, but the best depiction of the Joker had to be from the games AA and AC. They had that perfect mix of TAS joker but with an extra twinge of darkness.

this

#32 Posted by DeathpooltheT1000 (5907 posts) - 11 months, 4 days ago - Show Bio

My favorites:

Arkham Asylum (Comic book)

Heath Ledger

Under the Red Hood movie

TAS, only when the character wasnt used as a funny character.

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