The 7 Best Joker Episodes of Batman: The Animated Series

Drawing inspiration from Tim Burton’s brooding portrayal of Batman, Batman: The Animated Series demonstrated that superhero cartoons could be more than just bright colors and goofy villains. Debuting in 1992, the show adopted a neo-noir style and mood, shrouding Gotham City in darkness, giving its characters intricate personalities, and infusing its 85 episodes with rich thematic content. Although primarily designed for younger viewers, Batman: The Animated Series was sophisticated enough to capture the interest of adults as well. The blend of deep storytelling, atmospheric gloom, and superb character development made it one of the most iconic portrayals of Batman in the eyes of countless fans.

Absolutely, it would be amiss not to mention the Joker, brilliantly portrayed with an eerie delight by Mark Hamill, as another factor contributing to the enduring classic status of Batman: The Animated Series. This interpretation of Batman’s persistent foe masterfully combined wit and terror, making him utterly unpredictable in his role as a chaos agent. It’s no surprise that many of the series’ finest episodes revolve around the Joker. In this piece, we delve into the seven standout episodes featuring the Joker, each offering a unique glimpse into the enigmatic Clown Prince of Crime.

#7 – Season 1, Episode 7: “Joker’s Favor”

In many episodes of the show, it’s all about the Joker’s constant struggle against Batman. However, “Joker’s Favor” is an exception. Instead, we follow the story of Charlie Collins, an ordinary Gotham City resident, who unexpectedly finds himself working for the Joker after a random encounter. But after carrying out a few tasks for the Clown Prince of Crime, Charlie manages to outwit his boss in a witty and amusing manner.

In this episode, Batman steps aside, enhancing the story by giving viewers a deeper look into the twisted bond between the Joker and Charlie. This segment highlights the Joker’s cruelty and control, making his eventual downfall by an ordinary accountant even more satisfying. Additionally, Charlie stands out as a memorable one-off character, offering a refreshing perspective amidst the usual cast of potential victims in Gotham City. He serves as a reminder that despite its dark and ominous nature, the city is inhabited by people with resilience and strength beyond mere victimhood.

#6 – Season 3, Episode 7: “Make ‘Em Laugh”

In this episode, the Joker employs his iconic laughing gas to influence a group of Gotham’s stand-up comics into committing an unusual string of crimes across the city. At first glance, this may appear as just another tactic by the Joker to undermine Gotham, but his true aim is much more personal. The Joker, who once was an unsuccessful comedian himself, is now intent on ruining the career of the comedian who bested him in a comedy contest years ago. He’s using the city’s comics as his tools to achieve this goal.

In a refreshing turn of events, this particular episode deviated from the Joker’s usual elaborate schemes, instead delving into how something as seemingly insignificant as an old grudge could drive someone as intelligent as him. Strangely enough, “Make ‘Em Laugh” presents a more human side to the Joker, showcasing aspects of his personality that were previously unknown. The absurdity in this episode, such as the debut of the Condiment King who uses condiments as weapons for criminal activities, adds an enjoyable twist to the narrative.

#5 – Season 1, Episode 46: “The Laughing Fish”

Although everyone acknowledges that the Joker is an undeniably wicked character, it’s hard to ignore his knack for devising cunning and malicious strategies. In “The Laughing Fish,” he poisons Gotham City’s fish supply with his iconic laughing toxin, intending to give the fish his grotesque grin and make people buy them for immense profits. However, when the Joker realizes that he can’t copyright something found in nature, he targets the city workers who could hinder his financial gains.

In “The Laughing Fish,” the Joker’s absurd scheme stands out among other dark moments in the series, fitting snugly within its brooding environment. It’s rare for anyone to outsmart the Joker, but this time, it was amusing to witness his failed attempt to outwit City Hall. Despite the comedic twist of the villain’s plot, this episode showcases some intriguing back-and-forth between the Joker and Batman, adding an element of suspense that makes it one of the series’ more intense installments.

#4 – Season 1, Episode 46: “The Man Who Killed Batman”

Over an extended period, it appears that Batman and the Joker are fated to relentlessly pursue each other in perpetuity. However, this cycle is disrupted when petty criminal Sidney Debris inadvertently slays Batman amid a struggle within a warehouse. This act instantly elevates Sid’s standing among the criminal underworld, except for the Joker. The Joker has always harbored ambitions to be the one to vanquish his long-standing adversary. Thus, he reluctantly comes to terms with the reality that Batman will no longer interfere with his schemes.

In this episode, Sid might seem as the leading character, but it’s the Joker who truly steals the show. One might expect him to be overjoyed at the possibility of wreaking havoc in Gotham City without Batman’s interference, but instead, he reacts to the news of Batman’s demise with a surprising sense of sorrow, an emotion seldom seen from him. The title “The Man Who Killed Batman” offers a glimpse into the Joker’s intricate nature – though he is known as Gotham’s own instigator of disorder, there’s a depth to him beyond just a desire to create chaos. Like everyone else, he seeks purpose, too.

#3 – Season 1, Episode 15: “The Last Laugh”

In the story “The Last Laugh,” the villainous Joker concocts a mischievous plan for April Fool’s Day, which entails contaminating Gotham City with his distinctive toxin, causing everyone to break out in uncontrollable laughter. As people succumb to the effects of the toxin, the Joker and his minions take advantage of the chaos by ransacking the city for its treasures. Batman manages to trace the source of the toxin and brings an end to the Joker’s (laughably evil) reign.

In this episode, we clearly see how the Joker uses laughter as a deadly weapon in his twisted schemes. Instead of simply being a harmless action, laughter becomes a means for chaos and madness. Not even Alfred is immune to the Joker’s laughing gas, showing just how close the Joker came to Bruce Wayne/Batman. This proximity significantly increases the tension in the story. Mark Hamill delivers an exceptional performance as the Joker in this episode, making him seem more demonically insane than ever before, particularly in “The Last Laugh.

#2, The New Batman Adventures, Season 2, Episode 24: “Mad Love”

Harley Quinn reflects on the evolution of her bond with the Joker, initially as his therapist, which he subsequently twisted to make her abandon her job as a psychiatrist and join him in criminal activities. Growing more and more agitated by the Joker’s endless failures to defeat Batman, she resolves to carry out the task herself to gain his respect. During their confrontation, Batman enlightens Harley about the Joker’s poor qualities as a partner, yet this knowledge barely lessens her loyalty towards him.

This particular episode is widely regarded as iconic due to its introduction of Harley Quinn, whose popularity skyrocketed and led her to play a significant role in the DC Comics series. She’s even made appearances in multiple films. Notably, this episode also showcases a more nuanced portrayal of the Joker. In “Mad Love,” he isn’t merely depicted as a crazed supervillain terrorizing innocents – instead, we see that he is deeply cruel, even to those who love him most, and has no qualms about using their affection for his own gain.

#1 – Season 1, Episode 42: “Joker’s Wild”

In Gotham City, a new casino themed around the notorious villain, the Joker, has become incredibly popular, except to the Joker himself who’s furious that someone is profiting from his likeness. Desiring to make a scene, the Clown Prince of Crime crashes the grand opening reception. However, this turn of events is precisely what Cameron Kaiser, the casino owner, had hoped for, as part of a cunning insurance scam. When the Joker learns about Kaiser’s deceitful plan, his anger intensifies even further.

In this episode, the storyline stands out as one of the most ingenious aspects of the series, offering a balanced blend of laughter and excitement. However, what truly makes it a must-watch for Joker fans is his reaction to someone trying to exploit his likeness. The Joker’s character, despite being exceptionally cunning and malicious, has an undeniable ego problem. In the heat of crime, credit and recognition matter greatly to him. His arrogance shines brightly in “Joker’s Wild,” and witnessing his enraged mission to outsmart someone who outsmarted him is incredibly entertaining.

2025-01-06 18:11