Joker & Harley Quinn (Full Story)
Joker
ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇʀ: ᴅᴄ ᴄᴏᴍɪᴄs
ᴅᴇʙᴜᴛ: ʙᴀᴛᴍᴀɴ #1 (ᴀᴘʀɪʟ 1940)
ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛᴏʀs: ʙɪʟʟ ꜰɪɴɢᴇʀ, ʙᴏʙ ᴋᴀɴᴇ, ᴊᴇʀʀʏ ʀᴏ
ᴛʜᴇ ᴊᴏᴋᴇʀ-sᴜᴘᴇʀᴠɪʟʟᴀɪɴ ᴡʜᴏ ᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀs ɪɴ ᴀᴍᴇʀɪᴄᴀɴ ᴄᴏᴍɪᴄ ʙᴏᴏᴋs ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴅᴄ ᴄᴏᴍɪᴄs. ᴛʜᴇ ᴊᴏᴋᴇʀ ᴡᴀs ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛᴇᴅ ʙʏ ʙɪʟʟ ꜰɪɴɢᴇʀ, ʙᴏʙ ᴋᴀɴᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴊᴇʀʀʏ ʀᴏʙɪɴsᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ ꜰɪʀsᴛ ᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇʙᴜᴛ ɪssᴜᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴍɪᴄ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ʙᴀᴛᴍᴀɴ ᴏɴ ᴀᴘʀɪʟ 25, 1940. ᴄʀᴇᴅɪᴛ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴊᴏᴋᴇʀ's ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ɪs ᴅɪsᴘᴜᴛᴇᴅ; ᴋᴀɴᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴏʙɪɴsᴏɴ ᴄʟᴀɪᴍᴇᴅ ʀᴇsᴘᴏɴsɪʙɪʟɪᴛʏ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴊᴏᴋᴇʀ's ᴅᴇsɪɢɴ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ᴀᴄᴋɴᴏᴡʟᴇᴅɢɪɴɢ ꜰɪɴɢᴇʀ's ᴡʀɪᴛɪɴɢ ᴄᴏɴᴛʀɪʙᴜᴛɪᴏɴ. ᴀʟᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴊᴏᴋᴇʀ ᴡᴀs ᴘʟᴀɴɴᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴋɪʟʟᴇᴅ ᴏꜰꜰ ᴅᴜʀɪɴɢ ʜɪs ɪɴɪᴛɪᴀʟ ᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀᴀɴᴄᴇ, ʜᴇ ᴡᴀs sᴘᴀʀᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴇᴅɪᴛᴏʀɪᴀʟ ɪɴᴛᴇʀᴠᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴ, ᴀʟʟᴏᴡɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ᴇɴᴅᴜʀᴇ ᴀs ᴛʜᴇ ᴀʀᴄʜᴇɴᴇᴍʏ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ sᴜᴘᴇʀʜᴇʀᴏ ʙᴀᴛᴍᴀɴ.
ɪɴ ʜɪs ᴄᴏᴍɪᴄ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀᴀɴᴄᴇs, ᴛʜᴇ ᴊᴏᴋᴇʀ ɪs ᴘᴏʀᴛʀᴀʏᴇᴅ ᴀs ᴀ ᴄʀɪᴍɪɴᴀʟ ᴍᴀsᴛᴇʀᴍɪɴᴅ. ɪɴᴛʀᴏᴅᴜᴄᴇᴅ ᴀs ᴀ ᴘsʏᴄʜᴏᴘᴀᴛʜ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ᴡᴀʀᴘᴇᴅ, sᴀᴅɪsᴛɪᴄ sᴇɴsᴇ ᴏꜰ ʜᴜᴍᴏʀ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴍᴇ ᴀ ɢᴏᴏꜰʏ ᴘʀᴀɴᴋsᴛᴇʀ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴀᴛᴇ 1950s ɪɴ ʀᴇsᴘᴏɴsᴇ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇɢᴜʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴍɪᴄs ᴄᴏᴅᴇ ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀɪᴛʏ, ʙᴇꜰᴏʀᴇ ʀᴇᴛᴜʀɴɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʜɪs ᴅᴀʀᴋᴇʀ ʀᴏᴏᴛs ᴅᴜʀɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴀʀʟʏ 1970s. ᴀs ʙᴀᴛᴍᴀɴ's ɴᴇᴍᴇsɪs, ᴛʜᴇ ᴊᴏᴋᴇʀ ʜᴀs ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴘᴀʀᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ sᴜᴘᴇʀʜᴇʀᴏ's ᴅᴇꜰɪɴɪɴɢ sᴛᴏʀɪᴇs, ɪɴᴄʟᴜᴅɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴜʀᴅᴇʀ ᴏꜰ ᴊᴀsᴏɴ ᴛᴏᴅᴅ—ᴛʜᴇ sᴇᴄᴏɴᴅ ʀᴏʙɪɴ ᴀɴᴅ ʙᴀᴛᴍᴀɴ's ᴡᴀʀᴅ—ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀʀᴀʟʏsɪs ᴏꜰ ᴏɴᴇ ᴏꜰ ʙᴀᴛᴍᴀɴ's ᴀʟʟɪᴇs, ʙᴀʀʙᴀʀᴀ ɢᴏʀᴅᴏɴ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴊᴏᴋᴇʀ ʜᴀs ʜᴀᴅ ᴠᴀʀɪᴏᴜs ᴘᴏssɪʙʟᴇ ᴏʀɪɢɪɴ sᴛᴏʀɪᴇs ᴅᴜʀɪɴɢ ʜɪs ᴅᴇᴄᴀᴅᴇs ᴏꜰ ᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀᴀɴᴄᴇs. ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏsᴛ ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴏɴ sᴛᴏʀʏ ɪɴᴠᴏʟᴠᴇs ʜɪᴍ ꜰᴀʟʟɪɴɢ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴀ ᴛᴀɴᴋ ᴏꜰ ᴄʜᴇᴍɪᴄᴀʟ ᴡᴀsᴛᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʙʟᴇᴀᴄʜᴇs ʜɪs sᴋɪɴ ᴡʜɪᴛᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴜʀɴs ʜɪs ʜᴀɪʀ ɢʀᴇᴇɴ ᴀɴᴅ ʟɪᴘs ʙʀɪɢʜᴛ ʀᴇᴅ; ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇsᴜʟᴛɪɴɢ ᴅɪsꜰɪɢᴜʀᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ ᴅʀɪᴠᴇs ʜɪᴍ ɪɴsᴀɴᴇ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴀɴᴛɪᴛʜᴇsɪs ᴏꜰ ʙᴀᴛᴍᴀɴ ɪɴ ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴᴀʟɪᴛʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀᴀɴᴄᴇ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴊᴏᴋᴇʀ ɪs ᴄᴏɴsɪᴅᴇʀᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴄʀɪᴛɪᴄs ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ʜɪs ᴘᴇʀꜰᴇᴄᴛ ᴀᴅᴠᴇʀsᴀʀʏ.
ᴛʜᴇ ᴊᴏᴋᴇʀ ᴘᴏssᴇssᴇs ɴᴏ sᴜᴘᴇʀʜᴜᴍᴀɴ ᴀʙɪʟɪᴛɪᴇs, ɪɴsᴛᴇᴀᴅ ᴜsɪɴɢ ʜɪs ᴇxᴘᴇʀᴛɪsᴇ ɪɴ ᴄʜᴇᴍɪᴄᴀʟ ᴇɴɢɪɴᴇᴇʀɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴇᴠᴇʟᴏᴘ ᴘᴏɪsᴏɴᴏᴜs ᴏʀ ʟᴇᴛʜᴀʟ ᴄᴏɴᴄᴏᴄᴛɪᴏɴs ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇᴍᴀᴛɪᴄ ᴡᴇᴀᴘᴏɴʀʏ, ɪɴᴄʟᴜᴅɪɴɢ ʀᴀᴢᴏʀ-ᴛɪᴘᴘᴇᴅ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ ᴄᴀʀᴅs, ᴅᴇᴀᴅʟʏ ᴊᴏʏ ʙᴜᴢᴢᴇʀs, ᴀɴᴅ ᴀᴄɪᴅ-sᴘʀᴀʏɪɴɢ ʟᴀᴘᴇʟ ꜰʟᴏᴡᴇʀs. ᴛʜᴇ ᴊᴏᴋᴇʀ sᴏᴍᴇᴛɪᴍᴇs ᴡᴏʀᴋs ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ɢᴏᴛʜᴀᴍ ᴄɪᴛʏ sᴜᴘᴇʀᴠɪʟʟᴀɪɴs, sᴜᴄʜ ᴀs ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴇɴɢᴜɪɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴡᴏ-ꜰᴀᴄᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ɢʀᴏᴜᴘs ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ɪɴᴊᴜsᴛɪᴄᴇ ɢᴀɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ɪɴᴊᴜsᴛɪᴄᴇ ʟᴇᴀɢᴜᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇsᴇ ʀᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴsʜɪᴘs ᴏꜰᴛᴇɴ ᴄᴏʟʟᴀᴘsᴇ ᴅᴜᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴊᴏᴋᴇʀ's ᴅᴇsɪʀᴇ ꜰᴏʀ ᴜɴʙʀɪᴅʟᴇᴅ ᴄʜᴀᴏs. ᴛʜᴇ 1990s ɪɴᴛʀᴏᴅᴜᴄᴇᴅ ᴀ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴛɪᴄ ɪɴᴛᴇʀᴇsᴛ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴊᴏᴋᴇʀ ɪɴ ʜɪs ꜰᴏʀᴍᴇʀ ᴘsʏᴄʜɪᴀᴛʀɪsᴛ, ʜᴀʀʟᴇʏ ǫᴜɪɴɴ, ᴡʜᴏ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴍᴇ ʜɪs ᴠɪʟʟᴀɪɴᴏᴜs sɪᴅᴇᴋɪᴄᴋ ᴀɴᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇʀ ᴇsᴄᴀᴘᴇᴅ ᴀɴ ᴀʙᴜsɪᴠᴇ ʀᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴsʜɪᴘ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜɪᴍ. ᴀʟᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜ ʜɪs ᴘʀɪᴍᴀʀʏ ᴏʙsᴇssɪᴏɴ ɪs ʙᴀᴛᴍᴀɴ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴊᴏᴋᴇʀ ʜᴀs ᴀʟsᴏ ꜰᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ʜᴇʀᴏᴇs, ɪɴᴄʟᴜᴅɪɴɢ sᴜᴘᴇʀᴍᴀɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴏɴᴅᴇʀ ᴡᴏᴍᴀɴ.
ᴏɴᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏsᴛ ɪᴄᴏɴɪᴄ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀs ɪɴ ᴘᴏᴘᴜʟᴀʀ ᴄᴜʟᴛᴜʀᴇ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴊᴏᴋᴇʀ ʜᴀs ʙᴇᴇɴ ʟɪsᴛᴇᴅ ᴀᴍᴏɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ɢʀᴇᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄᴏᴍɪᴄ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ᴠɪʟʟᴀɪɴs ᴀɴᴅ ꜰɪᴄᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀs ᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛᴇᴅ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀ's ᴘᴏᴘᴜʟᴀʀɪᴛʏ ʜᴀs sᴇᴇɴ ʜɪᴍ ᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀ ᴏɴ ᴀ ᴠᴀʀɪᴇᴛʏ ᴏꜰ ᴍᴇʀᴄʜᴀɴᴅɪsᴇ, sᴜᴄʜ ᴀs ᴄʟᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴏʟʟᴇᴄᴛɪʙʟᴇ ɪᴛᴇᴍs, ɪɴsᴘɪʀᴇ ʀᴇᴀʟ-ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ sᴛʀᴜᴄᴛᴜʀᴇs (sᴜᴄʜ ᴀs ᴛʜᴇᴍᴇ ᴘᴀʀᴋ ᴀᴛᴛʀᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴs), ᴀɴᴅ ʙᴇ ʀᴇꜰᴇʀᴇɴᴄᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴀ ɴᴜᴍʙᴇʀ ᴏꜰ ᴍᴇᴅɪᴀ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴊᴏᴋᴇʀ ʜᴀs ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴀᴅᴀᴘᴛᴇᴅ ɪɴ ʟɪᴠᴇ-ᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴ, ᴀɴɪᴍᴀᴛᴇᴅ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴠɪᴅᴇᴏ ɢᴀᴍᴇ ɪɴᴄᴀʀɴᴀᴛɪᴏɴs, ɪɴᴄʟᴜᴅɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ 1960s ʙᴀᴛᴍᴀɴ ᴛᴇʟᴇᴠɪsɪᴏɴ sᴇʀɪᴇs ᴘʟᴀʏᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴄᴇsᴀʀ ʀᴏᴍᴇʀᴏ ᴀɴᴅ ɪɴ ꜰɪʟᴍs ʙʏ ᴊᴀᴄᴋ ɴɪᴄʜᴏʟsᴏɴ ʙᴀᴛᴍᴀɴ" (1989), ʜᴇᴀᴛʜ ʟᴇᴅɢᴇʀ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀʀᴋ ᴋɴɪɢʜᴛ (2008), ᴊᴀʀᴇᴅ ʟᴇᴛᴏ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴄ ᴇxᴛᴇɴᴅᴇᴅ ᴜɴɪᴠᴇʀsᴇ (2016–ᴘʀᴇsᴇɴᴛ), ᴀɴᴅ ᴊᴏᴀǫᴜɪɴ ᴘʜᴏᴇɴɪx ɪɴ ᴊᴏᴋᴇʀ (2019); ʟᴇᴅɢᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴘʜᴏᴇɴɪx ᴇᴀᴄʜ ᴇᴀʀɴᴇᴅ ᴀɴ ᴀᴄᴀᴅᴇᴍʏ ᴀᴡᴀʀᴅ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴘᴏʀᴛʀᴀʏᴀʟs. ᴍᴀʀᴋ ʜᴀᴍɪʟʟ ᴀɴᴅ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀs ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴘʀᴏᴠɪᴅᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀ's ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ ʀᴀɴɢɪɴɢ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴀɴɪᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴛᴏ ᴠɪᴅᴇᴏ ɢᴀᴍᴇs.
ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴇᴠᴇʟᴏᴘᴍᴇɴᴛ
ᴄᴏɴᴄᴇᴘᴛ
ʙɪʟʟ ꜰɪɴɢᴇʀ, ʙᴏʙ ᴋᴀɴᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴊᴇʀʀʏ ʀᴏʙɪɴsᴏɴ ᴀʀᴇ ᴄʀᴇᴅɪᴛᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴊᴏᴋᴇʀ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴀᴄᴄᴏᴜɴᴛs ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀ's ᴄᴏɴᴄᴇᴘᴛɪᴏɴ ᴅɪꜰꜰᴇʀ, ᴇᴀᴄʜ ᴘʀᴏᴠɪᴅɪɴɢ ʜɪs ᴏᴡɴ ᴠᴇʀsɪᴏɴ ᴏꜰ ᴇᴠᴇɴᴛs. ꜰɪɴɢᴇʀ's, ᴋᴀɴᴇ's, ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴏʙɪɴsᴏɴ's ᴠᴇʀsɪᴏɴs ᴀᴄᴋɴᴏᴡʟᴇᴅɢᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ꜰɪɴɢᴇʀ ᴘʀᴏᴅᴜᴄᴇᴅ ᴀɴ ɪᴍᴀɢᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴀᴄᴛᴏʀ ᴄᴏɴʀᴀᴅ ᴠᴇɪᴅᴛ ɪɴ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀ ᴀs ɢᴡʏɴᴘʟᴀɪɴᴇ (ᴀ ᴍᴀɴ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ᴅɪsꜰɪɢᴜʀᴇᴅ ꜰᴀᴄᴇ, ɢɪᴠɪɴɢ ʜɪᴍ ᴀ ᴘᴇʀᴘᴇᴛᴜᴀʟ ɢʀɪɴ) ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ 1928 ꜰɪʟᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴀɴ ᴡʜᴏ ʟᴀᴜɢʜs ᴀs ᴀɴ ɪɴsᴘɪʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴊᴏᴋᴇʀ's ᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀᴀɴᴄᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴏʙɪɴsᴏɴ ᴘʀᴏᴅᴜᴄᴇᴅ ᴀ sᴋᴇᴛᴄʜ ᴏꜰ ᴀ ᴊᴏᴋᴇʀ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ ᴄᴀʀᴅ.
ʀᴏʙɪɴsᴏɴ ᴄʟᴀɪᴍᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ʜɪs 1940 ᴄᴀʀᴅ sᴋᴇᴛᴄʜ ᴛʜᴀᴛ sᴇʀᴠᴇᴅ ᴀs ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀ's ᴄᴏɴᴄᴇᴘᴛ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ꜰɪɴɢᴇʀ ᴀssᴏᴄɪᴀᴛᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴠᴇɪᴅᴛ's ᴘᴏʀᴛʀᴀʏᴀʟ. ᴋᴀɴᴇ ʜɪʀᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ 17-ʏᴇᴀʀ-ᴏʟᴅ ʀᴏʙɪɴsᴏɴ ᴀs ᴀɴ ᴀssɪsᴛᴀɴᴛ ɪɴ 1939, ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ʜᴇ sᴀᴡ ʀᴏʙɪɴsᴏɴ ɪɴ ᴀ ᴡʜɪᴛᴇ ᴊᴀᴄᴋᴇᴛ ᴅᴇᴄᴏʀᴀᴛᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜɪs ᴏᴡɴ ɪʟʟᴜsᴛʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴs. ʙᴇɢɪɴɴɪɴɢ ᴀs ᴀ ʟᴇᴛᴛᴇʀᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ʙᴀᴄᴋɢʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ɪɴᴋᴇʀ, ʀᴏʙɪɴsᴏɴ ǫᴜɪᴄᴋʟʏ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴍᴇ ᴘʀɪᴍᴀʀʏ ᴀʀᴛɪsᴛ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴇᴡʟʏ ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛᴇᴅ ʙᴀᴛᴍᴀɴ ᴄᴏᴍɪᴄ ʙᴏᴏᴋ sᴇʀɪᴇs. ɪɴ ᴀ 1975 ɪɴᴛᴇʀᴠɪᴇᴡ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴍᴀᴢɪɴɢ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ᴏꜰ ᴅᴄ ᴄᴏᴍɪᴄs, ʀᴏʙɪɴsᴏɴ sᴀɪᴅ ʜᴇ ᴡᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ᴀ sᴜᴘʀᴇᴍᴇ ᴀʀᴄʜ-ᴠɪʟʟᴀɪɴ ᴡʜᴏ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴛᴇsᴛ ʙᴀᴛᴍᴀɴ, ɴᴏᴛ ᴀ ᴛʏᴘɪᴄᴀʟ ᴄʀɪᴍᴇ ʟᴏʀᴅ ᴏʀ ɢᴀɴɢsᴛᴇʀ ᴅᴇsɪɢɴᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴇᴀsɪʟʏ ᴅɪsᴘᴏsᴇᴅ ᴏꜰ. ʜᴇ ᴡᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ᴀɴ ᴇxᴏᴛɪᴄ, ᴇɴᴅᴜʀɪɴɢ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀ ᴀs ᴀɴ ᴏɴɢᴏɪɴɢ sᴏᴜʀᴄᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴄᴏɴꜰʟɪᴄᴛ ꜰᴏʀ ʙᴀᴛᴍᴀɴ (sɪᴍɪʟᴀʀ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴsʜɪᴘ ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ sʜᴇʀʟᴏᴄᴋ ʜᴏʟᴍᴇs ᴀɴᴅ ᴘʀᴏꜰᴇssᴏʀ ᴍᴏʀɪᴀʀᴛʏ), ᴅᴇsɪɢɴɪɴɢ ᴀ ᴅɪᴀʙᴏʟɪᴄᴀʟʟʏ sɪɴɪsᴛᴇʀ-ʙᴜᴛ-ᴄʟᴏᴡɴɪsʜ ᴠɪʟʟᴀɪɴ. ʀᴏʙɪɴsᴏɴ ᴡᴀs ɪɴᴛʀɪɢᴜᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴠɪʟʟᴀɪɴs; ʜᴇ ʙᴇʟɪᴇᴠᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ sᴏᴍᴇ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ᴜᴘ ᴏꜰ ᴄᴏɴᴛʀᴀᴅɪᴄᴛɪᴏɴs, ʟᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴊᴏᴋᴇʀ's sᴇɴsᴇ ᴏꜰ ʜᴜᴍᴏʀ. ʜᴇ sᴀɪᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴀᴍᴇ ᴄᴀᴍᴇ ꜰɪʀsᴛ, ꜰᴏʟʟᴏᴡᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴀɴ ɪᴍᴀɢᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴀ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ ᴄᴀʀᴅ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴀ ᴅᴇᴄᴋ ʜᴇ ᴏꜰᴛᴇɴ ʜᴀᴅ ᴀᴛ ʜᴀɴᴅ: "ɪ ᴡᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ sᴏᴍᴇʙᴏᴅʏ ᴠɪsᴜᴀʟʟʏ ᴇxᴄɪᴛɪɴɢ. ɪ ᴡᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ sᴏᴍᴇʙᴏᴅʏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴀɴ ɪɴᴅᴇʟɪʙʟᴇ ɪᴍᴘʀᴇssɪᴏɴ, ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʙᴇ ʙɪᴢᴀʀʀᴇ, ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʙᴇ ᴍᴇᴍᴏʀᴀʙʟᴇ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴜɴᴄʜʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴏꜰ ɴᴏᴛʀᴇ ᴅᴀᴍᴇ ᴏʀ ᴀɴʏ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴠɪʟʟᴀɪɴs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʜᴀᴅ ᴜɴɪǫᴜᴇ ᴘʜʏsɪᴄᴀʟ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀs." ʜᴇ ᴛᴏʟᴅ ꜰɪɴɢᴇʀ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʜɪs ᴄᴏɴᴄᴇᴘᴛ ʙʏ ᴛᴇʟᴇᴘʜᴏɴᴇ, ʟᴀᴛᴇʀ ᴘʀᴏᴠɪᴅɪɴɢ sᴋᴇᴛᴄʜᴇs ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ɪᴍᴀɢᴇs ᴏꜰ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇ ʜɪs ɪᴄᴏɴɪᴄ ᴊᴏᴋᴇʀ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ-ᴄᴀʀᴅ ᴅᴇsɪɢɴ. ꜰɪɴɢᴇʀ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏɴᴄᴇᴘᴛ ᴡᴀs ɪɴᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇᴛᴇ, ᴘʀᴏᴠɪᴅɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ɪᴍᴀɢᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴠᴇɪᴅᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ɢʜᴀsᴛʟʏ, ᴘᴇʀᴍᴀɴᴇɴᴛ ʀɪᴄᴛᴜs ɢʀɪɴ.
ɢᴏʟᴅᴇɴ ᴀɢᴇ
ᴛʜᴇ ᴊᴏᴋᴇʀ ᴅᴇʙᴜᴛᴇᴅ ɪɴ ʙᴀᴛᴍᴀɴ #1 (ᴀᴘʀɪʟ 1940) ᴀs ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴘᴏɴʏᴍᴏᴜs ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀ's ꜰɪʀsᴛ ᴠɪʟʟᴀɪɴ, ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴀ ʏᴇᴀʀ ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ʙᴀᴛᴍᴀɴ's ᴅᴇʙᴜᴛ ɪɴ ᴅᴇᴛᴇᴄᴛɪᴠᴇ ᴄᴏᴍɪᴄs #27 (ᴍᴀʏ 1939). ᴛʜᴇ ᴊᴏᴋᴇʀ ɪɴɪᴛɪᴀʟʟʏ ᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀᴇᴅ ᴀs ᴀ ʀᴇᴍᴏʀsᴇʟᴇss sᴇʀɪᴀʟ ᴋɪʟʟᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴊᴇᴡᴇʟ ᴛʜɪᴇꜰ, ᴍᴏᴅᴇʟᴇᴅ ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ᴀ ᴊᴏᴋᴇʀ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ ᴄᴀʀᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ᴍɪʀᴛʜʟᴇss ɢʀɪɴ, ᴡʜᴏ ᴋɪʟʟᴇᴅ ʜɪs ᴠɪᴄᴛɪᴍs ᴡɪᴛʜ "ᴊᴏᴋᴇʀ ᴠᴇɴᴏᴍ," ᴀ ᴛᴏxɪɴ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʟᴇꜰᴛ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ꜰᴀᴄᴇs sᴍɪʟɪɴɢ ɢʀᴏᴛᴇsǫᴜᴇʟʏ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀ ᴡᴀs ɪɴᴛᴇɴᴅᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴋɪʟʟᴇᴅ ɪɴ ʜɪs sᴇᴄᴏɴᴅ ᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀᴀɴᴄᴇ ɪɴ ʙᴀᴛᴍᴀɴ #1, ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ʙᴇɪɴɢ sᴛᴀʙʙᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ. ꜰɪɴɢᴇʀ ᴡᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴊᴏᴋᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ᴅɪᴇ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ᴏꜰ ʜɪs ᴄᴏɴᴄᴇʀɴ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʀᴇᴄᴜʀʀɪɴɢ ᴠɪʟʟᴀɪɴs ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ʙᴀᴛᴍᴀɴ ᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀ ɪɴᴇᴘᴛ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴏᴠᴇʀʀᴜʟᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇɴ-ᴇᴅɪᴛᴏʀ ᴡʜɪᴛɴᴇʏ ᴇʟʟsᴡᴏʀᴛʜ; ᴀ ʜᴀsᴛɪʟʏ ᴅʀᴀᴡɴ ᴘᴀɴᴇʟ, ɪɴᴅɪᴄᴀᴛɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴊᴏᴋᴇʀ ᴡᴀs sᴛɪʟʟ ᴀʟɪᴠᴇ, ᴡᴀs ᴀᴅᴅᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴍɪᴄ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴊᴏᴋᴇʀ ᴡᴇɴᴛ ᴏɴ ᴛᴏ ᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀ ɪɴ ɴɪɴᴇ ᴏꜰ ʙᴀᴛᴍᴀɴ's ꜰɪʀsᴛ 12 ɪssᴜᴇs.
ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀ's ʀᴇɢᴜʟᴀʀ ᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀᴀɴᴄᴇs ǫᴜɪᴄᴋʟʏ ᴅᴇꜰɪɴᴇᴅ ʜɪᴍ ᴀs ᴛʜᴇ ᴀʀᴄʜᴇɴᴇᴍʏ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅʏɴᴀᴍɪᴄ ᴅᴜᴏ – ʙᴀᴛᴍᴀɴ ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴏʙɪɴ; ʜᴇ ᴋɪʟʟᴇᴅ ᴅᴏᴢᴇɴs ᴏꜰ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴅᴇʀᴀɪʟᴇᴅ ᴀ ᴛʀᴀɪɴ. ʙʏ ɪssᴜᴇ #13, ᴋᴀɴᴇ's ᴡᴏʀᴋ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ sʏɴᴅɪᴄᴀᴛᴇᴅ ʙᴀᴛᴍᴀɴ ɴᴇᴡsᴘᴀᴘᴇʀ sᴛʀɪᴘ ʟᴇꜰᴛ ʜɪᴍ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴍɪᴄ ʙᴏᴏᴋ; ᴀʀᴛɪsᴛ ᴅɪᴄᴋ sᴘʀᴀɴɢ ᴀssᴜᴍᴇᴅ ʜɪs ᴅᴜᴛɪᴇs, ᴀɴᴅ ᴇᴅɪᴛᴏʀ ᴊᴀᴄᴋ sᴄʜɪꜰꜰ ᴄᴏʟʟᴀʙᴏʀᴀᴛᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ꜰɪɴɢᴇʀ ᴏɴ sᴛᴏʀɪᴇs. ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇ, ᴅᴄ ᴄᴏᴍɪᴄs ꜰᴏᴜɴᴅ ɪᴛ ᴇᴀsɪᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴀʀᴋᴇᴛ ɪᴛs sᴛᴏʀɪᴇs ᴛᴏ ᴄʜɪʟᴅʀᴇɴ ᴡɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴍᴀᴛᴜʀᴇ ᴘᴜʟᴘ ᴇʟᴇᴍᴇɴᴛs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʜᴀᴅ ᴏʀɪɢɪɴᴀᴛᴇᴅ ᴍᴀɴʏ sᴜᴘᴇʀʜᴇʀᴏ ᴄᴏᴍɪᴄs. ᴅᴜʀɪɴɢ ᴛʜɪs ᴘᴇʀɪᴏᴅ, ᴛʜᴇ ꜰɪʀsᴛ ᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇs ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴊᴏᴋᴇʀ ʙᴇɢᴀɴ ᴛᴏ ᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀ, ᴘᴏʀᴛʀᴀʏɪɴɢ ʜɪᴍ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴀs ᴀ ᴘʀᴀɴᴋsᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀɴ ᴀ ᴛʜʀᴇᴀᴛ; ᴡʜᴇɴ ʜᴇ ᴋɪᴅɴᴀᴘs ʀᴏʙɪɴ, ʙᴀᴛᴍᴀɴ ᴘᴀʏs ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴀɴsᴏᴍ ʙʏ ᴄʜᴇᴄᴋ, ᴍᴇᴀɴɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴊᴏᴋᴇʀ ᴄᴀɴɴᴏᴛ ᴄᴀsʜ ɪᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ ʙᴇɪɴɢ ᴀʀʀᴇsᴛᴇᴅ. ᴄᴏᴍɪᴄ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ᴡʀɪᴛᴇʀ ᴍᴀʀᴋ ᴡᴀɪᴅ sᴜɢɢᴇsᴛs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ 1942 sᴛᴏʀʏ "ᴛʜᴇ ᴊᴏᴋᴇʀ ᴡᴀʟᴋs ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴀsᴛ ᴍɪʟᴇ" ᴡᴀs ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴇɢɪɴɴɪɴɢ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀ's ᴛʀᴀɴsꜰᴏʀᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴀ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ɢᴏᴏꜰʏ ɪɴᴄᴀʀɴᴀᴛɪᴏɴ, ᴀ ᴘᴇʀɪᴏᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɢʀᴀɴᴛ ᴍᴏʀʀɪsᴏɴ ᴄᴏɴsɪᴅᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʟᴀsᴛᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰᴏʟʟᴏᴡɪɴɢ 30 ʏᴇᴀʀ
Щщщ 1942 ᴄᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴏꜰ ᴅᴇᴛᴇᴄᴛɪᴠᴇ ᴄᴏᴍɪᴄs #69, ᴋɴᴏᴡɴ ᴀsᴀsй "ᴅᴏᴜʙʟᴇ ɢᴜɴs" (ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴊᴏᴋᴇʀ ᴇᴍᴇʀɢɪɴɢ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴀ ɢᴇɴɪᴇ ʟᴀᴍᴘ, ᴀɪᴍɪɴɢ ᴛᴡᴏ ɢᴜɴs ᴀᴛ ʙᴀᴛᴍᴀɴ ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴏʙɪɴ), ɪs ᴄᴏɴsɪᴅᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴏɴᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ɢʀᴇᴀᴛᴇsᴛ sᴜᴘᴇʀʜᴇʀᴏ ᴄᴏᴍɪᴄ ᴄᴏᴠᴇʀs ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴏʟᴅᴇɴ ᴀɢᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ɪs ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴʟʏ ɪᴍᴀɢᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀ ᴜsɪɴɢ ᴛʀᴀᴅɪᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ɢᴜɴs. ʀᴏʙɪɴsᴏɴ sᴀɪᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴇᴍᴘᴏʀᴀʀʏ ᴠɪʟʟᴀɪɴs ᴜsᴇᴅ ɢᴜɴs, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛɪᴠᴇ ᴛᴇᴀᴍ ᴡᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇш ᴊᴏᴋᴇʀ—ᴀs ʙᴀᴛᴍᴀɴ's ᴀᴅᴠᴇʀsᴀʀʏ—ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ʀᴇsᴏᴜʀᴄᴇ
ᴇ 1942 ᴄᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴏꜰ ᴅᴇᴛᴇᴄᴛɪᴠᴇ ᴄᴏᴍɪᴄs #69, ᴋɴᴏᴡɴ ᴀsᴀsй "ᴅᴏᴜʙʟᴇ ɢᴜɴs" (ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴊᴏᴋᴇʀ ᴇᴍᴇʀɢɪɴɢ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴀ ɢᴇɴɪᴇ ʟᴀᴍᴘ, ᴀɪᴍɪɴɢ ᴛᴡᴏ ɢᴜɴs ᴀᴛ ʙᴀᴛᴍᴀɴ ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴏʙɪɴ), ɪs ᴄᴏɴsɪᴅᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴏɴᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ɢʀᴇᴀᴛᴇsᴛ sᴜᴘᴇʀʜᴇʀᴏ ᴄᴏᴍɪᴄ ᴄᴏᴠᴇʀs ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴏʟᴅᴇɴ ᴀɢᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ɪs ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴʟʏ ɪᴍᴀɢᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀ ᴜsɪɴɢ ᴛʀᴀᴅɪᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ɢᴜɴs. ʀᴏʙɪɴsᴏɴ sᴀɪᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴇᴍᴘᴏʀᴀʀʏ ᴠɪʟʟᴀɪɴs ᴜsᴇᴅ ɢᴜɴs, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛɪᴠᴇ ᴛᴇᴀᴍ ᴡᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇш ᴊᴏᴋᴇʀ—ᴀs ʙᴀᴛᴍᴀɴ's ᴀᴅᴠᴇʀsᴀʀʏ—ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ʀᴇsᴏᴜʀᴄᴇꜰᴜʟ.