10 Best Joker Episodes Of Batman: The Animated Series

Topping the list is the final Joker episode of TAS.

It begins with one of the series’ greatest and funniest scenes. A fancy restaurant is held up by costumed crook The Condiment King. His outfit includes a pickle for a head, tighty whities, and he is armed with ketchup and mustard guns. His culinary catchphrases include: “How I’ve relished this meeting” and “Parting is such sweet n sour sorrow.”

The scene itself serves as a parody of Batman’s bizarre rogues gallery, but the story here is that the Joker has managed to brainwash famous comedians into becoming ludicrous crooks. The others being the Pack Rat and Mighty Mom (an obvious ode to Roseanne Barr). This is all so that Joker can win a stand-up comedy competition.

In the light of the most recent Joker film, we all know how dangerous the Joker can become when his comedy isn’t appreciated. It also proves once and for all that the Joker’s raison d’etre is to be considered funny. That’s the only way he can achieve self-validation. It’s just that his sense of humour is either too corny or too murderously dark.

By the end of the episode the Joker has the people of Gotham in hysterics - but this time the joke is on him. The image of the Joker with his trousers around his ankles and the comedy cup stuck on his head exposes just how, underneath all the clowning and madness, pathetic a man he is.