Joker Origin...

[starvinbohemian]

"All it takes is one bad day to reduce the sanest man alive to lunacy. That's how far the world is from where I am. Just one bad day. You had a bad day once. Am I right? You had a bad day and everything changed."
-- Joker in "The Killing Joke."


After spending some time in a forum where people were debating on which Joker origin story they prefer, I've come to a realization.

I don't want a Joker origin. I don't want to know where he came from or who he was before he was THE JOKER. The Joker transcends backstory. He's larger than life, larger than human. I think a comic author attempting to give him a backstory makes the same mistake as Harley Quinn did in "Mad Love" when she got suckered in by one of his phony sob stories about a traumatic childhood. She assumed she knew him, had found the "real" Joker behind the make-up, and what happened to her? Ouches, that's what. By making the Joker more "human," you rob him of the mythic quality that makes him so fascinating. You make him just another one of the Arkham-bound crowd. But he's more than the rest. One of my favorite parts of Ledger's Joker is the multiple fake backstories he throws around, because it doesn't matter which one is the true one-- because he's about to slice your face. I also loved the anonymity. No traceable fingerprints, no real name, no known anything. Just the way I like it.

In comics, Alan Moore and Brian Bolland also did it right in "The Killing Joke" (possibly the greatest Batman/Joker comic in existence). They provide a backstory-- in fact the whole comic revolves around this backstory-- but then they throw a twist at the end with the suggestion that even the Joker doesn't know if it's true! An awesome quote and extension of the one above:

"Something like that happened to me, you know. I... I'm not exactly sure what it was. Sometimes I remember it one way, sometimes another... If I'm going to have a past, I prefer it to be multiple choice! Ha Ha Ha!"

Seriously, "The Killing Joke" is amazing in so many ways. Batman offers Joker one last chance to save them both from their mutually obsessive and suicidal course, telling him that he doesn't have to be alone anymore because he'll personally rehabilitate him (consequentially, the slashiest Batman/Joker moment to date), and there's this moment when the Joker-- Ah, just read it. You won't regret it.

Comments

[elvensapphire.livejournal.com]

I agree with you completely.

Yes. I know that was a terribly witty response (hee!), but what else can I say? :) You're absolutely right - and that's part of why I think Nolan's vision of the Batman (et al) story as a whole is so brilliant. He knows what to give us and what not to give us, and the mythos comes out more fascinating and psychologically driven than it was before.

[elvensapphire.livejournal.com]

And that was totally the wrong icon to use, since your entry is the opposite of an epic fail. This is what I get for running on no sleep. *drops*

[starvinbohemian.livejournal.com]

Lol. Well, Christian Bale is staring at me now, so I'll forgive you. J/K. ;)

[starvinbohemian.livejournal.com]

There could not have been better hands to leave Batman in than Nolan's. :)

[kuridee.livejournal.com]

Random note: I love your icon.

[kuridee.livejournal.com]

Dude. I...I have always wanted to get into Batman, but I have NO IDEA where to start. @_@

[starvinbohemian.livejournal.com]

Start with "The Killing Joke!" They sell it in every major bookstore.

[kaysa3.livejournal.com]

awesome quote :)


quick question (s)... what does one where to a bridal shower, and what does one bring to said shower. Same question would apply to a wedding... if one hadn't been to a wedding in a loooong time...

[starvinbohemian.livejournal.com]

Lol. One dresses casually for the bridal shower and brings a gift (and the dimes for games in this particular instance). In terms of dress for the actual wedding/reception, don't wear white for obvious reasons and dress semi-formal (like a nice summery dress). And bring another gift.

Oh! And the wedding is outside in the park, so consider that when choosing your footwear. ;)

[kaysa3.livejournal.com]

hmm. ok. I'll a little nervous, especially for the wedding. who will I sit with? talk to?

guess I'll go shopping later next week :)

[starvinbohemian.livejournal.com]

No worries about the wedding. You're not supposed to talk anyway. ;) As for the reception/bridal shower-- ME, silly.

[kaysa3.livejournal.com]

I can't find a dress :/

cool beans :)