In the realm of DC heroes, many could swiftly and effortlessly defeat the Joker, especially the version portrayed by Christopher Nolan in The Dark Knight. In Batman’s world within Nolan’s trilogy, he lacked any Justice League allies to turn to. It was primarily Bruce Wayne, Lucius Fox, and Commissioner Gordon against the chaos. Interestingly, Batman lacks friends with superpowers to summon for help and is bound by his no-killing rule, which allows the Joker to continue escaping prison and causing mayhem. Now, let’s speculate that in Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy, there existed other superheroes who could have intervened, preventing catastrophes.
In the gripping 2008 film, I found myself questioning when law enforcement would intervene during several pivotal moments. For instance, while the protagonist and his unfortunate companions were in the midst of a bank heist at the start, or when the Joker disrupted a meeting with his criminal associates by displaying his signature pencil trick, or even when Harvey Dent feigned being Batman to bait the Joker into revealing himself, only for Commissioner Gordon to make the arrest. Lastly, the nail-biting climax featured the Joker’s chilling scheme of setting off explosives on two ferries, forcing their passengers to engage in a deadly game of survival.
Aquaman
Among the Justice League members, it’s Aquaman who receives the most good-natured teasing, but even he can outmaneuver the Joker. For example, if the Joker were to plant bombs on a ferry, Aquaman and his aquatic companions could swiftly find them, guide them towards the depths of Gotham Harbor, and detonate them at a safe distance from the public.
Later, he might scale the deserted structure where the Joker has taken refuge (to observe the turmoil below), and despite sustaining a few gunshots and canine attacks, he’d emerge victorious in hand-to-hand combat. It’s true that some superheroes might find it easier to subdue the Joker, but Aquaman could manage it nonetheless.
Blue Beetle
If you picture Iron Man facing off against any unbalanced human character within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Iron Man would triumph in every instance. Much like Iron Man, Blue Beetle has proven resilience, having survived a vindictive mentor in a larger armor, an enraged Russian with electric whips, an alien invasion, and an army of robots – emerging victorious each time. This strength is likely to apply equally well to Blue Beetle.
Equipped with the scarab, Jaime Reyes (or Dan Garrett or Ted Kord) possesses the power to fire energy blasts and converse with technology. He can gather information from a computer about Joker’s whereabouts, soar over, and strike the Joker with an energy blast.
Cyborg
If Blue Beetle isn’t DC Comics’ tech-savvy equivalent of Iron Man, then it’s Cyborg who fits that role. Just like Blue Beetle, Cyborg possesses the knack for interacting with technology and even has the capacity to fire lasers.
As I watched the film unfold, it became evident that our cyborg protagonist was no ordinary hero. Hidden within his metallic frame were a host of ingenious gadgets, one of which was a grappling hook. With this tool at his disposal, he could swiftly navigate the multi-storied building where the Joker had taken up position, easily outmaneuvering the vicious attack dogs that guarded him. In the end, it was with an effortless grace that our cyborg hero apprehended the Joker, demonstrating the true power of his technological prowess.
Doctor Fate
Swapping roles, it’d be akin to Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Doctor Strange facing off against the villainous Jigsaw from ‘Punisher: War Zone’. Initially boasting high confidence, Joker would likely find his self-assuredness wavering once he witnessed the abilities of Doctor Fate.
Doctor Fate possesses multiple skills that could effectively handle the Joker. For instance, he can perform spells which, at minimum, would confuse the Joker. Moreover, his capacity for flight, the power to create force fields on demand, and the combination of telepathy and telekinesis are equally significant. In theory, Doctor Fate could persuade the Joker to surrender peacefully without the need to fire an energy blast or erect a protective shield.
The Flash
Similar to swift avian superheroes, Flash could reach Joker’s designated spot well ahead of him, even before he arrives. Much like several of the powerful heroes mentioned, Flash is capable of breezing through a room packed with Joker and his minions in the blink of an eye.
The primary disadvantage of Flash is that he’s relatively inexperienced compared to other superheroes, and while he’s not exactly slow-witted, some of the other heroes may have the intelligence to thwart the Joker’s plan before it occurs. This would potentially save innocent lives such as Rachel Dawes and preserve Harvey Dent’s integrity before it becomes tainted. However, Flash possesses a unique ability to traverse time via the Speed Force. After the Joker carries out his evil deeds, Flash could use this power to learn about the Joker’s sinister intentions, then travel back in time and apply that knowledge to prevent those atrocities from happening.
Green Lantern
Regardless of whether it’s Alan Scott, Hal Jordan, John Stewart, Guy Gardner, or Kyle Rayner, the Joker would not be able to withstand Green Lantern. The Power Ring of Green Lantern allows him to materialize whatever he imagines.
Essentially, whatever tool or means he requires to confront the Joker, he’d have it readily available at any given moment. To put it simply, if Green Lantern were to fly over to the Joker, he could visualize a cage around him and it would be accomplished in an instant. If Green Lantern can defeat Sinestro (as he plans to in the DCU’s “Lanterns”), he wouldn’t even require an entire afternoon to subdue the Joker.
Huntress
Among the primary DC heroes, Green Arrow was initially set apart. Although he has previously taken lives, much like Batman, he generally strives to abstain from doing so. On the other hand, Huntress doesn’t share this reluctance.
With persistence and patience, Huntress could gradually climb the ladder from Joker’s minions to confronting Joker himself. It’s likely she’d find an opportunity to shoot an arrow at his backside during one of his illicit transactions. By neutralizing both Joker and his primary adversary, she would have a significant edge, as Huntress, like Batman, lacks supernatural abilities. However, her ruthless nature might not be the most ethical trait, but it gives her an advantage when facing another lethal mortal.
Martian Manhunter
The character known as Martian Manhunter, or J’onn J’onzz, would find it relatively straightforward to confront The Joker. One possible approach he might take is assuming the guise of one of the Joker’s henchmen to infiltrate his gang and capture him.
It’s worth noting that flight is a valuable ability when dealing with the Joker, given his knack for disappearing and moving swiftly. Much like Blue Beetle, Cyborg, and Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter possesses the power of flight. He could have easily infiltrated the bank at the start of The Dark Knight, passed through walls unnoticed, become invisible, and captured the Joker. With his elusive nature, the Joker would struggle against the Martian Manhunter because he’d be unable to see him. The Martian Manhunter is incredibly versatile, which makes him not only a hero often overlooked but also one of the most powerful in DC Comics, even surpassing Superman in some aspects.
Superman
From a passionate film buff’s perspective, if the Joker were cast as Superman’s nemesis in a movie, it wouldn’t be an extended saga. Don’t get me wrong, Lex Luthor is human like us, yet his intelligence is unparalleled, a trait he loves to show off. The Joker, on the other hand, isn’t so much about genius as he is about cunning and chaos. It seems unlikely that he would conceive a scheme to snatch kryptonite, let alone know where it’s hidden or how to exploit its unique properties.
In the pivotal moment of “The Dark Knight,” I could imagine myself as a bystander, wishing Superman would swoop in. With a swift move, he’d seize the Joker by his collar, lifting him off the ground and whisking him away towards a secure facility. Naturally, the cunning Joker would find a way to break free, but this intervention would significantly expedite Batman’s process. As a result, many of the catastrophe and mortality scenes in Christopher Nolan’s film could potentially be avoided, sparing both Gotham City and its inhabitants from unnecessary suffering.
Wonder Woman
Just as every other member portrayed in the DCEU’s Justice League, Wonder Woman would quickly handle the Joker. Given that she is the offspring of Zeus, while the Joker is a failed comedian with an extensive criminal history akin to the lengthy narrative in ‘Infinite Jest’.
Similar to several other characters displayed here, Wonder Woman possesses superhuman strength and is remarkably resistant to damage, much like Superman. This durability makes most of the Joker’s schemes ineffective against her. She also has the ability to fly swiftly and run at high speeds, allowing her to quickly reach the Joker’s “Slaughter is the Best Medicine” vehicle without difficulty. Wonder Woman is one of the smartest heroes within the DC universe, often outsmarting Batman, so she might uncover the Joker’s plans before he even has a chance to act. Lastly, she wields the Lasso of Truth, an artifact that compels anyone bound by it to tell the truth. If she hadn’t already deduced his plan, she could simply use the lasso to make the Joker reveal it. The Joker is skilled at deceit, but even he cannot lie when faced with the Lasso of Truth.
Which DC hero would you like to see go up against Joker in the future? Sound off in the comments.
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2025-04-21 02:43