A villain of the Batman universe, first appearing in Batman #1 (1940). He is considored to be the Caped Crusader's arch nemesis. His title is the "Clown Prince of Crime".
The
Joker's real
name is unknown, though according to the first movie starring Nicholson, it might of been Jack Napier. The catalyst of his
insanity has different tellings:
Originally a failed comedian, coerced into crime after the deaths of his wife and unborn child. Disguised as the "Red
Hood", he failed to steal from Monarch Playing Cards. Running from Batman, he fell into a waste pool by the Ace Chemical Processing.
Surving the accident, it coloured his hair
green, bleached his skin
white and deformed his mouth into a red smile. Using eccentric weapons like
acid spilling flowers and static joy-buzzers, he sadistically amuses his victims before he murders them. Other schemes include bribery and terroism.
The sidekick and former pyschiatrist of The Joker is Harley Quin (a.
k.a Harleen Quinzel). She accompanies and supports her love interest in his crimes in Gotham City.