Summary
If there’s one thing we all know aboutDC’sJoker, it’s that he loves the sound of his own voice. Whether it be in comic books, animated shows, live-action, or video games, the character is known for delivering some impressive monologs and cutting one-liners.
While some ofthe best Jokers have been live-action, there’s a lot to be said about Joker’s various video game appearances. In particular, the versions of the character we saw in both the Arkham series and Injustice games had some of the character’s best-ever lines. These quotes highlight what has made the Joker such a popular character and help to explain the massive popularity of these games.
One of the best things aboutArkham Knightis the twisted relationship between Batman and the Joker. With the Joker trapped in Bruce’s head, the game feels like a bizarre buddy comedy at times, with the Joker taunting Batman whenever he can with meta-commentary.
Batman’s hunt for Man-Bat provides some ofthe franchise’s scariest moments, but also one of its funniest. While searching for Man-Bat’s origins, Batman reveals that the creature was once none other than Dr. Kirk Lnagstrom, who had been experimenting with bat DNA to cure deafness. Unfortunately, this resulted in him transforming into a Man-Bat and killing his wife. This is the perfect chance for Joker to drop the tone-deaf line, “His wife, your parents, hehe, what is it about dead relatives that turn you into a giant rodent?” Batman might not find it very funny, but this line made plenty of gamers chuckle.
WhenArkham Originswas first released, critics and fans alike were pretty unforgiving. The game wasn’t bad, but many felt it failed to live up to the epicArkham City. Time has been more kind to the game, however, and these days it’s considered one ofthe best video game prequels of all time. Much of that is down to Troy Baker’s excellent turn as the Joker, stepping in for the legendary Mark Hamil.
The game’s Joker reveal could be seen from miles away, but that didn’t stop him getting some great lines in. One of the best came during his first meeting with Harleen Quinzel. The Joker gives one of his famous monologs and provides a line that harks back toThe Killing Joke. The Joker asks Harley if she’s ever had a bad day, a reference to the line, “All it takes is one bad day to reduce the sanest man alive to lunacy. That’s how far the world is from where I am. Just one bad day,” which famously sums up Joker’s world view and what drives his relationship with Batman.
Looking back, it’s hard to believe just how goodArkham Asylum’sopening was. It’s the perfect start to one ofthe best Mature 17+ superhero games ever madeand solidifies the rivalry between Batman and the Joker in its first few minutes.
The game begins with Batman escorting the Joker into Arkham Asylum. Little does he know the Joker allowed his plan to be foiled on purpose and has a much bigger scheme in play. With the help of Harley Quinn he escapes and, from the safety of a barrier, taunts, “Welcome to the Madhouse, Batman! I set a trap, and you sprang it gloriously!” It’s a brilliant scene that lets fans know from the get-go that they were in for something truly special and that the mediocre superhero video game curse had finally been broken.
When we think of great videogame versions of the Joker, theArkhamgames are obviously the first that come to mind. ButInjustice: Gods Among Usalso gave fans a great Joker, and one arguably far more capable than that of theArkhamverse. Joker in theArkhamgames was happy to keep torturing Batman and the citizens of Gotham City. The Joker ofInjusticeset his sights on a much bigger prize.
Not only did he succeed in setting off a nuke in Metropolis, but he tricked Superman into killing a pregnant Lois Lane, breaking him completely. When confronted by Superman, he gleefully mocks the hero, pushing Supes until he drives his fist through the Joker’s chest. It’s the beginning of Superman’s tyrannical transformation and the opening moment of one ofthe best Justice League games.
4"Batman! My Coeur Des Coeurs! My Pomme De Frites! I Knew That Ape Deathstroke Couldn’t Kill You!"
The Joker Jokingly Reveals How He Really Feels
The love/hate relationship between the Joker and Batman was a focus of theArkhamgames, but one line fromInjusticesuccinctly sums it up. The Joker is obsessed with Batman and, in his warped mind, love and hate are one and the same. He and Batman are two sides of the same coin, and deep down, the Joker knows that without Batman, he’s nothing.
That’s what makes this one line so multilayered. Joker might be delivering it jokingly, but there is an edge of truth to “My coeur des coeurs!: (My heart of hearts). Likewise, there’s a bit of jealousy when he says, “I knew that ape Deathstroke couldn’t kill you!” The Joker doesn’t like it when someone else plays with his favorite toys and sees only himself as a worthy rival to Batman.
By the events ofArkham CityBatman is pretty used to dealing with the Joker. Despite his gruesome fate at the end ofArkham Asylum, he fully expects the Joker to show up looking as good as new. After all, that’s what tends to happen in comic books. The game even plays into this expectation, making sure to keep the Joker in the shadows in the game’s opening hour so as to hide what has actually become of him.
When Batman and the Joker finally come face to face, Batman thinks it’s yet another trick and declares, “There’s nothing wrong with you.” Then Joker walks into the light and reveals he has become one ofthe scariest clowns in video games. The Joker is clearly falling apart and not long for this world. The Joker almost seems proud of his gruesome new look and mocks his new appearance with a suitably unfunny joke, noting that his blood is killing him. The scene marks a change in the traditional dynamic between the Joker and Batman, explains the game’s big twist, and shows us how a man like the Joker copes with his imminent demise.
2"Miss Me?”
The Joker Makes A Shock Return That No One Saw Coming
Going intoArkham Knightfans knew two things for sure. First, the game’s main villain was going to be the titular Arkham Knight. Second, following the events ofArkham Citythe Joker was well and truly, undeniably dead. We still had lots of theories as to what would happen (like the obvious reveal that the Arkham Knight was Jason Todd, aka Red Hood) but few people expected the Joker to return. Rocksteady had made some ofthe superhero games with the best storiesand backpedaling the Joker’s death would have been uncharacteristically lame.
Then the Joker goes and shows up while Batman is dealing with Scarecrow at Ace Chemicals. Batman turns around and bang, there’s Joker, back from the dead. As the player tries to process what’s going on, the Joker drops his “Miss me?” line and seemingly shoots Batman dead. Of course, now we all know that this was just a figment of Batman’s poisoned imagination, but it made for one heck of a reveal and set up Batman’s biggest conflict in the game.
1That Actually Is Pretty Funny- Arkham City
The Joker Dies In The Most Joker Way Possible
Spoiler alert ahead for a 13-year-old game, but the Joker dies at the end ofArkham City. It turns out the cured Joker is really Clayface and the real Joker is about to die. Batman attempts to give Joker the cure, but his old enemy reacts by pouncing on Batman and stabbing him in the back.
Clumsy old Batman drops the last vial of the cure, destroying it and dooming Joker. Batman looks at the dying Joker and asks him, “You want to hear something funny? Even after everything you’ve done, I would have saved you.” The Joker lets out one last laugh and responds with “That actually is pretty funny!” It’s a perfect end to their bizarrely co-dependent relationship and echoes the ending of The Killing Joke. Batman gets the last laugh, and the Joker gets to die having heard his old friend tell a joke.
