We We Like the Joker

I believe, having discussed this with many of my peers, that the Joker is one of the most universally liked Batman villains, which his continued presence in both the comics and film adaptations certainly support. While he often comes across as less goal-oriented or driven than a lot of other Batman villains (sporadic murders and the propulsion of chaos), he is also the most similar to Batman. In the Batman Chronicles Vol. 1, the Joker is first introduced to the readers as he broods in a large, ostentatious home by himself, which parallels Bruce Wayne's own habits. Both individuals also lack a focus in their purposes. Batman works as an ambassador of general goodwill, while the Joker works to cause scattered chaos through the city of Gotham. Both individuals are incredibly intelligent as well, often working to outsmart each other, rather than best the other in strength, making their battles much more stimulating to read. Additionally, the artistic comparisons of the two yield an engaging tension-while Batman is a force for good, he is shown in dark blues and grays, often cloaked in shadow. The Joker, meanwhile, wears bright purple suits, has green hair, and clownish makeup-and we rarely see him in shadow. Artistically, readers might almost assume that Batman was the villain to Joker's hero. This interesting dichotomy between the two parallels the tension between Bruce Wayne and his alter ego, further linking the two. The Joker's similarities to Batman provide a tension that more effectively engages readers in the development of the two characters.