Timmy’s Tale: 80 Years of Joker

I shouldn't be surprised that Joker turns 80, this year we've already celebrated several of The Dark Knight milestones, including last month's 80th anniversary of Robin the Boy Wonder. Well it's time to take the crow bar and push the birdie boy to the side and celebrate the Clown Prince of Crime. Thank you to DC's Facebook page for reminding me of the ultimate party clown's birthday!

What I'm going to tell you is why the Joker fascinates me. Why I collect Joker stuff, (by all means, I don't think I'm a huge collector, just enough that my wife isn't happy with clowns around the house). Why he is the ultimate bad guy in my opinion. So to quote Heath Ledger's Joker in The Dark Knight. "And Here, We, Go!"

Fist off, the main purpose of clowns is to make people happy. It's always been interesting to me, how something that is suppose to make people happy, scares the crap out of damn near everyone. Maybe Gotham's favorite prankster has something to do with it. Of course, leave it to a madman to take an innocent image of laughter & happiness, twist it and take it to 11! Thank You Joker!

I also love how this character has no real "in-cannon" backstory. No, 2018's Joker movie & 1989's Batman film gave a backstory to Joker, but no, he's not Arthur Fleck, or Jack Napier. The comic "Batman: The Killing Joke" does tell the tale about how he's a failed stand-up comedian who gets involved in the Red Hood Gang and after losing his pregnant wife is in an accident at Ace Chemicals that turns him into the man we know today, but that isn't even 100% true, Joker says so in the story.

If I’m going to have a past, I prefer it to be multiple choice!” - The Joker (Batman: The Killing Joke)

Now, later this year (fingers crossed) we are suppose to get a story called "Batman: Three Jokers" courtesy of Geoff Johns, Jason Fabok & Brad Anderson on the DC Black Label, where we will finally get an answer and a definite backstory. I hope they don't screw it up. I have many ideas how they could do this, drop me a line if you'd like to hear my ramblings.

Last but not least, why I feel he's the baddest of the bad... he's human. Kind of scary when you get down to it. He's just a man who doesn't care. Sure he might have built up an immunity to toxins, but other than that, it's him, his brain, and the world that is his circus. Whether it's a gun, a knife, a crowbar, exploding pie, smiling fish, or gas filled balloon he'll wreak havok. If you think that's bad, it gets even worse... when he gets bored. Thanks for reading my nerd-gasm over the Joker...Happy Birthday Mr. J.!