10 Best Joker Episodes Of Batman: The Animated Series
2. Joker’s Favor
This is the final chapter in Joker’s Trilogy of Losers starring the biggest loser of all - poor Charlie Collins.
Charlie Collins is one of life’s punching bags. A pudgy, balding, middle-aged chump who never seems to catch a break. During some busy rush hour traffic he has a road rage altercation with none other than the Joker. Once Charlie realises who he’s cussed his terror is real. The Joker tailgates Charlie and there’s a great shot of the Joker’s leering face in Charlie’s rear view mirror.
Such will be Charlie’s life from here on.
Joker corners Charlie and appears before him like a terrifying demon, standing over a cowering Charlie back-lit by an unearthly light. The Joker spares Charlie’s life in return for a favour that he will decide upon in due course. This episode shows the breadth of Joker’s cruelty, keeping tabs on Charlie for years after the event as a “hobby.” The domestic threat the Joker poses to Charlie’s family is genuinely frightening.
The punchline to Joker’s favour-joke is that all Charlie has to do is hold open a door. Of course, the handle is super-glued so that Charlie will be trapped in a room set to explode.
In the end it’s Charlie who gets the last laugh on the Joker. Armed with a bomb, Charlie is prepared to blow himself up just to take the Joker with him, causing the Joker to cower behind Batman in fear. It turns out to be a bluff, and the Joker is defeated by being out-crazied.
It’s also notable for being the first appearance of Harley Quinn. But it’s Charlie Collins that is the star this time. He even gets his own super catchy whistlin’ theme tune.