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History: He is the Ace of Knaves, first and foremost of the Dark Knight's
rogues gallery, with origins steeped in mystery. In another time, the Joker may have been a failed
comedian, a hapless soul coerced by thugs to don the guise of the criminal Red Hood following the
tragic death of his pregnant wife. He may have engaged in robbery, fleeing the Batman by diving into
a vat of chemicals, caustic fluids that turned his skin chalk white, his hair green and his smile a
grinning red leer.
Only the Joker knows for certain.
The truth is this: The Joker has committed sins that defy logic - extortion, mass murder, nuclear
terrorism - crimes often committed merely to taunt the Batman, a foe in whom the Joker has taken a
very personal interest. It was the Joker who shot and permanently crippled Barbara Gordon, the former
Batgirl. And later, in perhaps the most brutal attacks of all, the Joker murdered Jason Todd, the
second Robin, as well as Commissioner Gordon's wife, Sarah Essen-Gordon.
The Dark Knight rests easy only when the Joker is safely locked away in Arkham Asylum, and then
knowing all too well that a new body count awaits his next escape.
Last Update: March 15, 2008
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