10 Best Joker Episodes Of Batman: The Animated Series
4. Jokers Wild
If seeing Gotham’s fish bear the Joker’s image was bad enough for Batman, imagine a whole casino dedicated to the Clown Prince. This episode expands on the idea of the Joker as a recognised brand, with the Jokers Wild casino replete with croupiers and drinks girls dressed as the Joker and Harley.
In The Laughing Fish the Joker tries to use his image in a nonsensical scheme for monetary gain. Here his image is used against him. Cameron Kaiser builds a Joker-themed casino knowing full well that the Joker, being the egomaniac that he is, will seek to destroy it, allowing Kaiser to claim millions in insurance. It’s a much saner scheme than copywriting fish truth be told.
The episode gets really good when Joker enters the casino. He’s immediately confused for an employee and ends up dealing a game of blackjack, ripping off the players. Then, in one of the series’ best scenes, Bruce Wayne joins the table. “Don’t I know you?” asks the Joker. It’s a moment of wonderful tension. Bruce is then able, without the cowl, to outsmart the Joker, even if it only is at cards.
Plus, there’s a great Easter Egg for the eagle-eyed: Kaiser has compiled an encyclopaedic file on the Joker, and when Batman flicks through it we see that the Joker’s real name is indeed Jack Napier.
Kaiser’s either done some top research, or just stuck in the Tim Burton film.