Joker

From WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Joker is a term that can refer to a playing card, a person who jokes, or a character in popular culture. In the context of popular culture, the most well-known Joker is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe, primarily as a nemesis of Batman.

Playing Card[edit | edit source]

The Joker is a playing card found in most modern card decks, as an addition to the standard four suits (clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades). The Joker card is often used as a wild card in card games.

Person who Jokes[edit | edit source]

A Joker can also refer to a person who makes jokes or plays pranks. This usage is common in colloquial English.

Fictional Character[edit | edit source]

The Joker is a fictional character created by Bill Finger, Bob Kane, and Jerry Robinson who first appeared in the debut issue of the comic book Batman (April 25, 1940) published by DC Comics. The Joker is a master criminal with a clown-like appearance, and is considered one of the most infamous criminals within Gotham City.

Characterization[edit | edit source]

The Joker is portrayed as a criminal mastermind. Introduced as a psychopath with a warped, sadistic sense of humor, the character became a goofy prankster in the late 1950s in response to regulation by the Comics Code Authority, before returning to his darker roots during the early 1970s.

In Other Media[edit | edit source]

The Joker has been adapted to serve as Batman's adversary in live-action, animated, and video game incarnations, including the 1960s Batman television series and in films by Tim Burton, Christopher Nolan, and Todd Phillips.

See Also[edit | edit source]

Joker Resources

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD