Background: How Harley Quinn’s Image Has Evolved Across Media

Background: How Harley Quinn’s Image Has Evolved Across Comics, Films, Animated Series, and Video Games

On October 4, 2024, the premiere of the film Joker: Folie à Deux will arrive. This marks the second solo movie centered on Batman’s iconic foe. The first installment, released in 2019, emerged as a major Oscar contender. Here, the evolution of the Joker’s image is traced through the decades, showing how different actors and eras shaped the character.

When was the Joker created?

For Batman, the Joker has always stood as his principal adversary. The character first appeared in Batman #1, published in 1940, adding a persistent rival to the Dark Knight’s saga. It’s worth noting that Batman’s own origin trace begins even earlier in Detective Comics #27, released in 1939.

This is what the Joker looked like in the comics of the 1940s

The face of the Joker owes much to screenwriter Bill Finger, who proposed drawing on the grotesque charm of Gwynplaine from Victor Hugo’s The Man Who Laughs. The infamous perpetual smile and disfigured appearance inspired the Joker’s first look. Artist Jerry Robinson translated that concept into a criminal figure that appeared on playing cards. The early design drew additional inspiration from the stage persona of David Bowie, portrayed as a cold, unpredictable provocateur. The result was a Joker who combined wit with a chilling, unhinged menace.

Do you read comics?

Joker’s first film appearance. Batman TV series (1966-1968)

The Batman TV series, starring Adam West, was markedly comedic. The Joker, as portrayed by Cesar Romero, leaned into humor and eccentric gags. Crimes became punchlines, and seriousness wasn’t the primary goal. That approachable vibe carried into the 1966 feature film Batman, which introduced audiences to the lighter, carnival-like Joker—an interpretation worth revisiting for historical context.

Joker played by Cesar Romero

Joker as a gangster. The film Batman (1989)

Tim Burton’s Batman pivoted away from comedy toward noir-inflected drama. Influenced by 1980s comics such as Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns and Alan Moore’s The Killing Joke, the Joker as portrayed by Jack Nicholson became a calculated criminal mastermind. He exhibits clear plans, sometimes coldly brutal actions, and a humor that punctuates his menace. A memorable moment is the museum scene, where he redefines what it means to deface art while remaining chillingly composed.

Joker by Jack Nicholson

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Joker as philosopher. The Dark Knight (2008)

Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight offers a loose adaptation of The Long Halloween, blending inspiration with its own take. Heath Ledger’s performance delivered a Joker who is unpredictable, terrifying, and fiercely intelligent. He manipulates people, turning rival factions against one another, and pushes Gotham toward existential unease. The portrayal highlights a Joker who operates as a social catalyst, testing the boundaries of order and chaos.

Joker played by Heath Ledger

After the film’s release, some fans proposed a controversial theory that the Joker acted as Gotham’s quiet savior, clearing a path for a safer city—an idea some still discuss in relation to the franchise’s broader arc. The debate intensified with Bale’s entrance in Nolan’s third film, which shifts the city’s fate once again.

Sadistic prankster. Movie Suicide Squad (2016)

Jared Leto’s take in David Ayer’s Suicide Squad drew mixed reactions. Some scenes with his Joker were trimmed, and the director’s cut remains widely debated among fans. This iteration presents the character more as an enigmatic crime lord who toys with Harley Quinn, even as the deeper, more menacing traits remain glimpsed rather than fully explored. The portrayal set up a version of Gotham’s criminal underworld that felt unsettled and unstable.

Jared Leto as the Joker

The Joker later appeared in Zack Snyder’s Justice League, where his role was brief. Although fans anticipated a more expanded arc in a sequel, the opportunity did not fully materialize.

Joker as a psychopath. Video in 2019

Venture into 2019’s solo Joker film, centered on a standalone execution of Arthur Fleck, who becomes the Joker under Todd Phillips. The portrayal leans into a descent into madness, portraying violent acts that resonate with audiences and spark conversation about power, pain, and marginalization. The film’s focus is intimate, showing a man’s transformation rather than a city-wide upheaval, and it signals a different kind of fear—one rooted in personal unraveling.

Joker by Joaquin Phoenix

Joker marks a departure from the broader DCU, reframing the character within a dramatic scope that explores origins and consequences. A direct sequel is anticipated in which Arthur encounters Harley Quinn, portrayed by Lady Gaga, promising another layer to the evolving dynamic between the two infamous figures.

Deformed Joker. Batman Movie (2022)

The latest big-screen appearance came in Matt Reeves’ Batman, featuring Barry Keoghan as a Joker who occupies Arkham’s shadows. While most of the screen time centers on a tense dialogue with the Riddler, a deleted scene and subsequent discussions suggest this version draws influence from darker portrayals of the character. Reeves’ vision hints at a reconsideration of the Joker’s presence in a world already defined by Batman’s hunt for justice. Keoghan is slated to reprise the role as the saga continues toward Reeves’ upcoming sequel in 2026.

Joker in video games

From the 1980s onward, Batman games have routinely faced the Joker as a recurring antagonist, often as a concealed boss rather than a constant presence. Highlights include early titles like Batman: Return of the Joker and later entries such as Lego Batman: The Video Game and DC Universe Online. The Batman: Arkham series stands out for its evolution: the Joker lured Batman into Arkham Asylum, inciting chaos and attempting to fracture the Dark Knight’s resolve. In Arkham City, the Joker’s condition worsens and culminates in a poignant moment of tragedy in Batman’s embrace. Arkham origins introduces a different entry point for their conflict, while in the final chapter of Rocksteady’s trilogy, the Joker reappears as a haunting hallucination that taunts the hero.

In Injustice: Gods Among Us, the Joker drugs Superman, prompting a brutal turn in the Man of Steel’s story. The option to play as the Joker himself adds another layer to the franchise’s exploration of chaos and power. The character also appears in Mortal Kombat 11 as a guest fighter, further cementing his cross-media appeal.

Which version of the Joker resonates most? Share thoughts in the discussion.

What’s your favorite movie starring the Joker?

Source: VG Times