Is the Joker supposed to have a backstory?

Batman: The Killing Joke (1988) built on the Joker’s 1951 origin story, portraying him as a failed comedian pressured into committing crime as the Red Hood to support his pregnant wife. This, combined with the trauma of his wife’s earlier accidental death, causes him to go insane and become the Joker.

Who was the inspiration for the Joker?

The Man Who Laughs
The 1928 silent film, The Man Who Laughs, was the main inspiration behind Joker’s creepy and iconic smile. This silent film was based on a tragic novel written by author Victor Hugo. Contrary to the Joker, the main character of The Man Who Laughs was a tragic figure who actually tried to help people.

What is the origin story of the Joker?

Character biography. The Joker commits whimsical, brutal crimes for reasons that, in Batman’s words, “make sense to him alone”. Detective Comics #168 (1951) introduced the Joker’s first origin story as Red Hood: a criminal who, during his final heist, vanishes after leaping into a vat of chemicals to escape Batman.

Does the joker ever die in the comics?

Although the Joker was planned to be killed off during his initial appearance, he was spared by editorial intervention, allowing the character to endure as the archenemy of the superhero Batman. In his comic book appearances, the Joker is portrayed as a criminal mastermind.

How did the Joker become Batman’s nemesis?

Introduced as a psychopath with a warped, sadistic sense of humor, the character became a goofy prankster in the late 1950s in response to regulation by the Comics Code Authority, before returning to his darker roots during the early 1970s. As Batman’s nemesis, the Joker has been part of the superhero’s defining stories,…

Is Joker a fictional character in the DC Universe?

Fictional character in the DC Universe. The Joker is a supervillain created by Bill Finger, Bob Kane, and Jerry Robinson who first appeared in the debut issue of the comic book Batman (April 25, 1940), published by DC Comics.