The Batman/Joker Dynamic

*Originally published on 11/23/09



I mentioned in my article detailing the members of Batman's infamous rogues gallery that Batman and Joker have developed a unique relationship over the years. While the two clearly hate each other, and one is a psychopath who spends every waking moment trying to kill the other, they almost seem to need each other.

Other DC characters have even pointed out that both characters are defined by the other. They've developed an odd symbiotic relationship. Some have even gone so far as to say that it's Shakespearean.

Now, when talking about his topic, the Joker's half is fairly easy. His whole life is bent around destroying Batman and all that he stands for. There are several comics that point out that Joker really does need Batman in order to exist. The first is actually a Superman arc entitled Emperor Joker. In this rather clever tale, Joker manages to steal a vast portion of Mxyzptlk's power. Given Mxy's background as an imp from the the fifth dimension, this makes Joker a serious threat.

He actually manages to remake reality in his own twisted image. Many of the heroes are defeated or enslaved and Lex is his henchman. He also keeps Batman in a dungeon to kill him, only to bring him back to life over and over again. At first, this seems like Joker's trademark sadism, but it becomes an important plot point later in the book. I won't go into too much detail as that would ruin the surprise, but it plays a part.

There's another story, it's not official "canon" as it took place in the now cancelled Legends of the Dark Knight series, called "Going Sane". It opens with the Joker believing that he's actually managed to successfully kill Batman. Once it's all said and done, he shrugs and walks off. What's surprising is that he drops the Joker act and goes on to become a normal man with a wife and job. Sadly, and a bit predictably, Batman returns and Joker relapses. He tries to hold onto his sanity, and it's actually a compelling downfall, but inevitably he resumes his role as the clown prince of crime.

A third, and probably the most obvious, story that shows Joker's "need" for Batman is Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns. When Batman goes into hiding, the Joker lapses into a catatonic state. He remains that way for decades. The second his vegetable of a body hears that Batman is back, he springs into action once again.

One story that touches on the Batman/Joker dynamic is Alan Moore's The Killing Joke. It doesn't cover the symbiotic relationship, but it does touch on the mirror aspect. It draws a lot of parallels between the two characters and their tragic history. While they are opposite sides of the same coin, manifestations of order and chaos respectively, they aren't so different. The comic also features one of Joker's more lucid moments. When Batman makes one final plea to reform, reminding him that there's only one way for their current set-up to end and that it doesn't have to go down like that, Joker actually and (I believe) sincerely apologizes before telling him that he's too far gone.

Batman needing Joker is a tough sell for me. I mean, it's not like the movie where Joker killed Bruce's parents (a lot of fans were ticked about that, but it didn't bother me that much, I saw what Burton was trying to show us, albeit in an abbreviated fashion with that development). Even if Joker never existed, Bruce would still make the same vow and he would still have plenty of villains to fight. I think that Batman's life would actually be easier if Joker were to be killed. It's clear that Joker needs Batman, but I haven't come across any evidence to show that Batman would be worse off without the Joker. I mean, think about it, Jason would still be alive and Barbara would still be walking, not to mention the relief in knowing how many lives are safe now that the psychopath is out of the equation.

We the readers would be worse off, definitely, but I think Bats would fare just fine. The only story that comes to mind is The Devil's Advocate, a criminally out of print story where Joker is finally sentenced to death, but it's for the one crime that he didn't commit, so Batman has to try and save him. One could easily make the argument that Joker's involvement was incidental and that this was more a testament to Batman's devotion to justice so even this doesn't really sell the idea. Though, if there is an arc that I'm not familiar with that showcases Batman's need for Joker's existence, please let me know, I'm always open to checking out new stories.

There is plenty to explore when it comes to these two. There is something of a "Ho Yay" thing going on, especially with Joker, some of his dialogue can get pretty suggestive. It's also an interesting twist on the traditional "goofball/straight man" comic setup. They have a similar dynamic, but it's nowhere near as good-natured. It still leads to some comedic exchanges between the two.

I mentioned before how the two characters were opposite sides of the same coin and represented a struggle between order and chaos. I think it's this aspect that brings in Batman's need for Joker as you can't have order without chaos, paradoxically enough. It's like how you can't have a one-sided coin. Whatever your take on the characters, there is plenty of material to analyze and discuss. At the end of the day, that's what makes great characters, the ability to analyze, discuss, and continue to read about them while still being fascinated. Joker is Batman's greatest enemy and you can see that theirs is a hatred for the ages.