Summary
- The Batman's Joker is a unique take, focusing on nightmarish qualities, corruption, and physical capabilities in battles with Batman.
- The Batman series emphasizes Batman's growth, humanity, and relationships with allies, making it stand out despite being underrated.
- Future adaptations of The Joker can learn from The Batman's portrayal, balancing chaos and core qualities without losing the character's essence.
2004’s The Batman includes one of the most unique versions of The Joker in its DC universe. The Joker is not only Batman’s greatest nemesis but he is also considered one of DC’s all-time greatest supervillains. As Batman’s diametric opposite and obsessive nemesis, nearly every adaptation of Batman includes an iteration of The Joker, making his depictions as varied as Batman himself. While some iterations of The Joker are received better than others, one animated version of the Clown Prince of Crime strikes the right balance of originality and faithfulness to The Joker’s most important traits.
The Batman had the unenviable task of creating a new animated version of the Batman mythos after the DC Animated Universe began with Batman: The Animated Series, which is considered by many to be the definitive Batman adaptation. The Batman had a unique vision of the Batman mythos, depicting Batman as a novice superhero at first and having him gradually forge allyships with the Gotham City Police force and eventually fellow DC superheroes. The series also had Batman gradually build the “Batman Family” and his iconic rogues gallery of villains, with The Joker being introduced in its pilot episode.
Some viewers theorize that 2004’s The Batman and 2003’s Teen Titans take place in the same continuity, due to Glen Murakami being a Producer of both shows and The Batman’s Dick Grayson closely resembling his Teen Titans iteration.