Ranking Every Joker Origin Worst To Best

4. Batman '89

Batman '89 included a few controversial changes to Joker's backstory, and while fans can debate all day regarding the value of making the Clown Prince also the killer of Thomas and Martha Wayne, there's no denying Tim Burton and Jack Nicholson sold it well.

To many the proto-typical 'gangster' Joker origin, it's no surprise that '89 went on to influence various other Joker origins in the following years. Even the alias Jack Napier came from Burton's movie, while the film's impact on other aspects of Batman's world varies from Gotham's design to the Batsuit itself. In short, there's no overstating its importance.

Joker starts out Batman '89 as a mobster called Jack Napier. He serves under mob boss Carl Grissom, but it soon becomes clear that Carl isn't so keen on Jack, and is in fact looking to bump him off on account of him sleeping with his mistress. They head to Axis Chemicals, Batman intervenes, and soon enough poor Jack finds himself in a vat of acid for his troubles.

Of course, the biggest change of all is that a young up-and-coming Napier was responsible for the murder of the Waynes. It's a divisive change that's for sure, but there's still so much to praise about '89's origin - including the amazing moment Jack cackles after receiving surgery.