10 Best Joker Episodes Of Batman: The Animated Series

The next in our Trilogy of Losers is Mr Francis, a paper-pushing copywriter. One day the Joker bursts into a copywriting office demanding to be paid royalties. Why? Well, the Joker has somehow given all of Gotham’s fish his lurid likeness. The fish aren’t poisonous - they’re perfectly edible. It’s just a case of the Joker demanding payment for the use of his likeness in cans of sardines or tins of tuna.

It’s a scheme borne jointly from vanity and madness. Classic Joker.

So much about this episode is fantastic. Firstly, its title card (or lack thereof) feels gritty. The Joker-faced fish is an image both horrifying and hilarious. And we get a great commercial for Joker Fish with the Joker’s goons dressed as children, the Clown Prince playing a salty sea dog in a salwester, and Harley singing the “They’re finny and funny” jingle.

There’s a cheeky moment of fourth-wall breaking at the aquarium where the Joker consoles a fish-hating Harley with “this caper’s been rather rough on you.” But the episode’s best gag is when Mr Francis exclaims “Great Scott!” to which the Joker responds “Actually I’m Irish.”

Probably the Joker’s most memorable scheme throughout the series, if only for the fish imagery alone, it’s a tightly written episode that blends a smart detective narrative with signature Joker wackiness.