From the whole history of Batman, including Comics, Films, Television etc what do you think is the most frightening depiction of the Joker?

Was there a particular comic that you found him scariest in? Either because of the story or even the way the artist drew him?

I'll get the ball rolling. I'm relatively new to comics but I've read a good few Batman comics and in my opinion the depiction of the Joker in 'Arkham Asylum' (A Serious House on Serious Earth) is absolutely horrifying. Because of both Grant Morrison for the writing AND the way Dave McKean illustrates him. It just freaked me out how Morrison gave him a bizarre sexual aspect which I'd never seen before (He feels Batmans arse, and then starts interrogating one of Arkhams staff by telling him to "Ravish me") It just freaked the hell out of me. And the way he was drawn absolutely terrified me, he looked VERY creepy. The horrible speech about wanting Batman to feel "sticky fingers touch the deepest parts of his brain" (or something like that) made it terrifying.

So, what do you guys think is the scariest depiction of the Joker?

Emperor, nuff said, end thread........

I would also say that Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth is the scariest he's ever been. Morrison knows how to write a pretty terrifying Joker.

From All Star Batman & Robin, The Boy Wonder

For real! A lot of people find this series mediocre but this depiction of the Joker is one of the most creepiest and realistic that I've ever read. I bet if the Joker really existed, he would act exactly like this.

@hectorsquall said:

From All Star Batman & Robin, The Boy Wonder

For real! A lot of people find this series mediocre but this depiction of the Joker is one of the most creepiest and realistic that I've ever read. I bet if the Joker really existed, he would act exactly like this.

People hate far too much on this series. It was... bad, but its badness was good.

@ReVamp: Agreed. I won't say that it was a good series but I like Jim lee's art and I don't think that it was a book to be taken too seriously. Some moments were painful to read but overall it was so cheesy that I laughed a few times, especially with the epic "I'm the Goddamn Batman" dialogue :p

Still, I liked this depiction of the Joker for its realism and it's too bad that we didn't see more of him.

60's Joker obviously.

dat mustache.

@nickzambuto said:

60's Joker obviously.

dat mustache.

Creepy win.

I really liked how he was both unnervingly creepy and sypathetic in The Killing Joke. The fact that you can feel pity for such a moster while being makes it even more disturbing. I also loved him in Batman and Robing Must Die, especially in B&R #13. Frazer Irving is insanely awesome.

@spiderbat87 said:

This ^ is the most horrifying depiction I've ever read. I remember reading this and being genuinely horrified on a visceral level by it. However, if we're talking creepy and disturbing on a more psychological level, I've got to go with Joker as he was depicted in The Black Mirror:

Arkham by Morrison. Before I even knew anything about comics I read that badboy and it scared me shitless. I think that's probably why it took me so long to finally get into the game

BB

@Billy Batson said:

BB

This version is pretty disturbing.

That scene is never easy to read.

@RoboShark said:

@Billy Batson said:

BB

This version is pretty disturbing.

That scene is never easy to read.

The whole book is filled with that stuff. Thank you, Azzarello!
BB

@Billy Batson said:

@RoboShark said:

@Billy Batson said:

BB

This version is pretty disturbing.

That scene is never easy to read.

The whole book is filled with that stuff. Thank you, Azzarello!
BB

That's because it's not the Joker, just some depressed hooligan who's into Clockwork Orange ultra-violence.

A surprisingly horrific depiction of the Joker for a kid's comic book (but was TAS really appropriate for kids?) :

@DarthShap:

Meh, it's not canon.
Exactly what is the Joker hitting in those panels? Nothing happened to Gordon on the second panel.
BB

TDK Joker.

@DarthShap: Of course it's for kids, I was watching it when I was younger. Children shouldn't just watch Winnie the pooh and Dora the explorer you know...

BB

@MasterDetective said:

@DarthShap: Of course it's for kids, I was watching it when I was younger. Children shouldn't just watch Winnie the pooh and Dora the explorer you know...

So was I, and I was something like three or four when it started to air. I did not have any problem with it but I am sure a lot of parents did because it was really dark violent and heavy at times.

I've just discovered Dave McKean, his Joker is pretty unsettling as well:

@Rosencrantz&Guildenstern said:

I've just discovered Dave McKean, his Joker is pretty unsettling as well:

Then you have to read Arham Asylum by Morrison and McKean. :)

@Billy Batson said:

BB

what book is that from?

Also Arkham Asylum Joker.

@DarkKnightDetective said:

@Billy Batson said:

BB

what book is that from?

Also Arkham Asylum Joker.

Joker, by Azzarello and Bermejo.

@The_Tree said:

I would also say that Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth is the scariest he's ever been. Morrison knows how to write a pretty terrifying Joker.

Question is does joker have any fear?

i know it's not canon, and not nescasarrily the scariest, but the best depiction of the Joker had to be from the games AA and AC. They had that perfect mix of TAS joker but with an extra twinge of darkness.

@deadpool6_6_6 said:

@The_Tree said:

I would also say that Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth is the scariest he's ever been. Morrison knows how to write a pretty terrifying Joker.

Question is does joker have any fear?

Nope. During the Knightfall Saga, at one point Scarecrow sprayed Joker with some of his fear gas...response:

the azzarello one made my stomach twist a little, but the scariest i have read would have to be the issue that had this cover. It's the one where he slices up harley and kills all his past henchmen. It's some seriously psychotic stuff in that one.

arkham asylum

Agreed with posters regarding RIP Joker, that was pretty unsettling.

In Grant Morrison's JLA run there was a part where Batman is in a dream where Tim Drake I believe is Batman, he's facing up against an older Joker with greased back hair. I found this brief cameo quite terrifying. He kinda looked similar to the Joker in Kingdom Come.

@ImTheDamnBatman said:

i know it's not canon, and not nescasarrily the scariest, but the best depiction of the Joker had to be from the games AA and AC. They had that perfect mix of TAS joker but with an extra twinge of darkness.

this

My favorites:

Arkham Asylum (Comic book)

Heath Ledger

Under the Red Hood movie

TAS, only when the character wasnt used as a funny character.

Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth

Death of the Family

RIP Joker

Theoretically Emperor Joker

other then that, coming into your life and taking it all on a whim.

for sure the scariest

@bbraich: JLA #7 & 8 (90s run)

@shadowclaw4 said:

for sure the scariest

Yup this one is the scariest IMO.

Morrisons Joker,read Arkham Asylum,RIP,Batman & Robin v1 and Batman#662,Mask of the Phantasm Joker,Batman:Bloodstorm Joker,Nolan's Joker and The Dark Knight Returns Joker.

Azz's Joker was a hooligan,not scary.

Snyder's Joker aka Leatherface hasn't been scary since the 80's.

Winslow Heath - Joker/Batman that turns normal citizens into Joker-Zombies and bloodlusted-Batmen.

Mustache him a question!!!

@sesposito7: for the life of me I can't remember which story this is. I want to go back and read it now after your description.

For some odd reason this is my favorite batman thread. I'd Say the dark knight movie because thinking of the way joker could toy with everyone and laugh along with the deaths and misery he brought to gotham really shows a mental threat in the largest way possible. He could have brought the strongest man in the world down with a flash and love it.

In my opinions it's Morrison's Joker that I feel it's the scariest. I mean come on, he was wearing ONLY suspenders. Scrawny Build, YIKES!

Morrisons Joker, the super sanity aspect he brings to the character.

I'm suprised Greg Capullo/Scott Snyder's Joker hasn't been mentioned yet. He doesn't have a face! As for Azzarello's, that's one comic I'm not picking up soon, if I want to sleep that is.

@spider11211 said:

LOL

For me it's definitely Morrison's depiction of the Joker, particularly in Arkham Asylum. I also love the way Scott Snyder writes him; pretty freaky stuff, especially his appearance in The Black Mirror.

I think the Joker depiction is the most disturbing because his evil is so mundane. It's not supervillainy at all, it's just mobster-esque villainy.