Summary

The Jokerhas proven to be surprisingly tough in the face of some of DC ’s most powerful characters , holding his own against even the most ruthless villains . This is mostly due to his mental state , with his dip into a vat of chemicals leaving him clinically harebrained . The exploration of his psychological science has been a core feature of some bully narrative , fromBatman : White KnighttoThe Killing Joke — and one issue ofThe Spectre .

Few tale ask the Joker ’s strange psychology as literally as this issue from the 1990s , one that delved deep into the mind of the Killer Clown — and depict why he ’s so hard to ascertain . InTheSpectre#51 by John Ostrander , Tom Mandrake , Carla Feeny , and Todd Klein , Batman pursues his arch - nemesisto New York after an encounter with the Spectre in Gotham .

In a commentary on urban center juvenility culture , the Joker is introducedat an underground nightclub based around the attendee ' idolization of him . of course , the scoundrel takes this as an insult to his entire theatrical role and attempts to gas the guests . At the same time , the Spectre and his host , Jim Corrigan , make for the club just as Batman arrives on the scene . The Spirit of Vengeance attempts to contribute justness to the perverted Gotham villain .

The Joker laughing manically (foreground); close up of his laughing mouth (background.)

Few laughable characters as ostensibly unredeemable as DC ’s Joker , but one story rise that he is as tragical a grapheme as he is a terrific villain .

How the Joker Is Immunized from the Spectre’s Wrath

Who Is the Spectre?

As the DCU ’s answer to God ’s Wrath , the Spectre own the power to warp reality as he sees fit , to reanimate the dead and infiltrate the nous of anyone he chooses .

In the blink of an oculus , the Joker switch seat with Jim Corrigan , stealing the supernatural being ’s powers — and turning them on Batman . As Corrigan searches in vain for his new horde ’s scruples , a now god - like Joker attacks Batman . While the undead pig does manage to trick the villain , reducing him to tears by share his moral sense with him , he agrees with the Dark Knight : the Joker is simply too psychologically broken to adjudicate with any dependable accuracy .

The Joker and Spectre Combination Is Truly Terrifying

But This Isn’t the Only Time the Joker Gained Powers

The Spectre ’s powers are n’t the simple lastingness of Superman , nor the immortality of Wonder Woman . As the DCU ’s answer to God ’s Wrath , the Spectre have the ability to warp reality as he see primed , to reanimate the drained , and to infiltrate the mind of anyone he prefer . Typically , he judges the sine of the wicked , and exact retribution befitting their deed of conveyance . In the bridge player of the Joker , Batman was favorable the villain did n’t have the wherewithal to put test new acquirement to their full potential , or he could have finally defeated the hero .

When the Joker is in command of other - temporal powers , he consistently turn up himself to be one of the biggest — and little — menaces in the world .

The Joker ’s theft of the Spectre ’s abilities is one of his most impressive achievements , and it is n’t even the only time he ’s gained god - like magnate . In the " Emperor Joker " tale arc(by Joe Kelly , Jeph Loeb , Duncan Rouleau , Jaime Mendoza , and Marlo Alquiza ) , the scoundrel was by chance indue with Mr. Mxyzptlk ’s Fifth Dimensional reality - distort abilities . When the Joker is in control of other - temporal powers , he consistently proves himself to be one of the biggest — and lower-ranking — menaces in the world . However , in the end , it ’s always his own misrepresented and disunite mind that proves to bethe Joker’sundoing .

gary larson far side cow and cavemen

The Spectre#51is usable now from DC Comics .

The Joker is a psychopathic criminal mastermind with a warped sense of humor . ab initio introduce as a remorseless serial orca , the character acquire over time , often oscillating between a hoaxer and a homicidal maniac . His relationship with Batman is one of the most complex in comic playscript history , define by their common compulsion . Over the decades , the Joker has become an enduring icon of bedlam and madness , embody the antithesis of Batman ’s lodge and justice .

Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) looks at Yoda (offscreen) on Dagobah, edited over a sci-fi background.

The Joker with his hands in his hair behind outline of Spectre

The Joker with Spectre’s costume gets ready to hit Batman with a mallet

The Joker becomes Emperor Joker