Batman - Joker the origins?

Question

How did Joker come around? What's his story? Can you also name a source or two for your answer(episode, comic book, movie, etc)?

Thxs!

Answer 1

According to the comic book cannon, which I consider to be the source of the 'right' answer due to everything else being based on it the following is true about the Joker, the killer of Batman's parents, etc.,...

The Joker:
First appeared in Batman #1, 1940
Origin Story in Detective Comics #168, 1951
Origin Story in The Killing Joke

The origin story (Detective 168) is that the Joker had been the criminal known as Red Hood. As he tried to escape from Batman, he fell into a vat of chemicals and emerged mutilated. This drove him nuts and he became the Joker from then on.

The origin story (The Killing Joke) is that the man who becomes The Joker was an engineer who left his job to be a stand up comedian. He sucked at it as then had to turn to a life of crime. The Red Hood was not a single person but was a different person for each crime and on the night he wore the hood, the chemical vat and all that happens. Earlier that night, he found out that his wife had died in an accident.

Between loosing his wife and the disfiguring chemical vat experience, he went nuts and became The Joker.

The Killing Joke is the story where The Joker shoots Barbara Gordon (Batgirl), crippling her. She later goes on to become "Oracle" - an information source Batman, Robin and Nightwing use consistently to aid their work.

There are other stories, but the common theme is always the chemical vat. He is never given a name - Jack was referenced a time or two, but never Napier - not in the comics anyway. Jack Napier was the name used in Tim Burton's Batman film and in Batman the Animated Series

Batman Origin story: Batman Year One (Batman 404-407, 1987)
Batman Origin Story: Batman Year Two (Detective 475-478, 1987)
Joe Chill first appearance in Detective Comics #33 (1939) in the first Batman origin story. He is later named in Batman #47 (1948)

As far as the killer of Thomas and Martha Wayne, the story is that the Waynes went to go see the movie Zorro and after the show are held up on a street that became known as Crime Alley.

The killer's name is Joe Chill.

There are many other origin stories for Batman, but in the comics, unless its an elseworld story, The Joker is never the killer of Thomas and Martha Wayne.

As far as the movies, Batman Begins has far more consistency to the comics than the other movies on the details. The film most closely resembles the Batman Year One story by Frank Miller - even down to the last frame of the book being placed a few moments before when the last scene of the film picks up. The mob boss Carmine Falcone first appears in this story, like the movie. Commissioner Gordon is a Lt. that just arrives in Gotham while the current commissioner is Loeb. Detective Flass makes his first appearance in this story like the movie. etc.,... Lucius Fox is the CEO of Wayne Enterprises, but in the comics, he appears much later.

However there are discrepancies as far as the story arch. Henry Ducard was one of many of Batman's teachers - he taught a young Bruce Wayne how to hunt men. Ra's al Ghul was not one of his teacher and Ra's is mid eastern in ethnic origin rather than european. The two were separate people, but the movie did have a nice twist I thought. In Batman Year One, there is no Leage of Shadows and no Dr. Johnathan Crane/Scarecrow. Harvey Dent, who would become Two-Face is the district attorney. Selena Kyle appears as Catwoman in the Year One story as well. etc.,...

Bruce Wayne specifically picked up different skills from different people to make it difficult for anyone to be able to put all the pieces together. It's suspected that Commissioner Gordon knows, but makes sure to avoid proving it. Tim Drake (the third Robin) figured it out which is how he became the third Robin (Batman Year Three, Batman 436-439, 1989), Alfred Pennyworth, Dr. Leslie Tompson, Dick Grayson, Barbara Gordon, Jason Todd, Clark Kent, Jean Paul (Azrael), Talia - Ra's al Ghul's daughter all know (or knew) with certainty among a few others.

Answer 2

The Joker's real name is Jack Napier; he was a mobster. He was also the individual who killed Bruce Wayne's parents. By the way, if you're into names; Jack, of course is a playing card with a picture of a page boy on it, and Napier was taken after John Napier the Scottish mathematician.
Jack Napier was later injured, and permanently disfigured in a vat of toxic waste during a sting operation.
The first movie ( with Michael Keaton ) was reasonably faithful to the original story from the comic books.

Answer 3

He fell into a vat of chemicals and came out looking like he does.

If you remember the first Batman movie with Keaton, the guy fell into a chemical vat and resurfaced to be the Joker.

In The Killing Joke, Alan Moore told how the guy fell into a chemical vat, and emerged with pale skin, green hair, etc. The look drove him crazy, so he became the Joker.

Answer 4

That would be great, but it won't deter me from playing Origins. I have a feeling Conroy will still be voicing Batman in the sequel to Arkham City. They just wanted someone younger for the prequel.