Which origin of the Joker do you prefer?

[joker51087]

The Joker is definitely Batman's Greatest Villian, and through the years he has had many different origins. The Joker has been my favorite villian for as long as I can remember, and I'm just curious to see what people think is the best explanation of how he came to be. Here are elaborations of the choices for the poll:

1)The Original/Golden Age Version- A villian known as the Red Hood plummeted into a vat of chemicals during a crime foiled by the Batman. We know nothing of his life before the accident, except that he was a criminal.

2)The Killing Joke Version- Desparate to fund his pregnant wife, a failing comedian is convinced by some thugs to be the Red Hood in a Red Hood robbery. Thinking the plant had lesser security, the Red Hood and his gang are confronted by the Batman, and the Red Hood falls into a vat of chemicals. His life is completely changed by "one bad day."

3)Batman The Movie Version (1989) A gangster named Jack Napier is double crossed by his boss Grissam when he finds out Napier is having an affair with his wife. Grissam alerts the cops that Napier is head to Axis Chemicals, and the Batman confronts the goons as well as Napier. Jacl fires a gun at Batman, but the bullet richochets and hits Napier in the face. As he falls over the railing, Batman tries to pull him up, but Jack falls into the acid below, turning his hair green and skin white. The grin on his face is attributed to cheap plastic surgery in a very famous scene.

4)Batman The Animated Series Version- This one is pieced together from episodes of BTAS and Mask of the Phantasm. Jack Napier (it's said in the show, trust me) was a failing comedian who turned to crime for reasons unknown to us. He was a member of the a Gotham mob, and was involved in the mureder of Andrea Beaumont's father. Like the other origins, he fell in acid, turning him into the Joker.

5)Joker's tell-all to Harley (most certainly false)- Growing up, the Joker had an alcoholic father who beat him. His fondest memory is seeing the clowns at the circus, and in Harley's words, he's "just a boy trying to make the world laugh at his antics"

6)Keep it a mystery. "I like my origins to be mutiple choice."

7) Paul Dini and Alex Ross Version- A gang boss who took the fall into acid.

[Apprentice]

Definitely the Killing Joke. It adds a touch of humanity to the man who is possibly DC's most psychotic villain.

[chris]

I dunno. I was unaware of most of those.I knid of like the movie one where its like Batman is responsible (atleast in the Joker's mind). But I also like theidea of him not having a real name and the origin being unclear.

[joker51087]

I notice there are more votes than there are posts. Feel free to post why you voted that way or just what you voted.

[Zoom]

Mysteries are better.

[starlord]

I agree, keep it a mystery.

[dragonbat]

I like the "multiple choice" version, especially since that way

1) Joker is insane
2) Continuity gaffes regarding Joker's past can be explained more easily (Oh, right! I did say it happened like that last time. But today it's Wednesday... and on Wednesdays the way I remember becoming the Joker is...)
3) All of the above origins may now be referred to with relative impunity.

Only caveat: anything happening in front of another character has to happen as written...

[joker51087]

The Killing Joke is winning, which really isn't a surprise. That story has always been popular.

[joker51087]

*bump* I like this thread and would like to see if anyone else wants to vote.

[Darkseid Is]

I would rather it be a mystery because I don't think there should be a semi-valid reason why he is who he is. I think he should remain a psychotic clown who is Batman's arch nemesis, who doesn't have a set origin.

[Quester]

I am trying to work out my own version of the story that fits how I would like to imagine this nutjob but of those options I went for the film as it what I most like to imagine.

[brigante133]

good luck on trying to top alan moore dude.

[HoM]

Yeah, seriously... Good luck.

[timdrake]

According to Newsarama, the Joker's official origin will be illustrated by Brian Bolland in 52 as a back up written by Mark Waid. I guess we'll see which of these origins are made official sometime soon.

[starlord]

I heard that too. I just hope these origin story's are better then the history story is. Major dissapointment there, IMO.

[goldk]

I vote for the Killing Joke version. I think it lends more credibility to his mental instability, than just being a gangster. I mean that would explain his warped humor. I've certainly had days where I could have went stark raving mad!
Hey with all the giant props and stuff of the 40's and 50's would the Joker be more like Carrot Top of today?

[giantevilhead]

The Joker isn't crazy. He's just pretending to be crazy, it's all a part of his comedy act.

[giantevilhead]

Joker’s origin is good as a mystery. If they do write a new origin for the Joker, I hope that the city of Gotham has something to do with it.

If you look at Batman’s rogue gallery, you’ll notice how so many of the villains go against certain aspects of the city, they have something against the city itself. Poison Ivy loves plants and worships nature but Gotham is so artificial, all concrete and steel. The Penguin is a rude fat rich guy who’s rejected by Gotham’s high society of cultured beautiful people. Mad Hatter has this whole crazy satirical fantasy filled with silly games that goes against the serious atmosphere of Gotham that’s grounded in reality. To Ra’s Al Ghul, Gotham represents everything that he hates about what humans have done to the earth.

The Joker goes completely against the nature of Gotham itself. He wears colorful and bright clothes, he’s insane, he doesn’t take anything seriously, and he laughs all the time. He just does not fit in this dark, serious, cold, and grim city. I think that somewhere along the way, the city of Gotham made the Joker go crazy and he has a grudge against it. That’s why everything about the Joker is just the opposite of the way Gotham is.

Batman himself is Gotham’s version of justice. He’s dark and grim, and he hides in the shadows of the city. He personifies the whole atmosphere of the city. Plus it was the city of Gotham that made Batman. I think that’s the reason why the Joker wants to destroy Batman. He wants to destroy the justice and the law of the city so he can spread his chaos and destroy the city that created him.

[Sam]

Alan Moore all the way. The world's greatest comic book writer hands down.