I know its super late, but on your Batman Beyond thoughts, I always wonder where all these powerful and weird looking misfit teenagers become Jokerz?
Or like does Bonk have parents, if so did they care about his death?
You make a very good point here, anon.
The show, as great as it is, fails to elaborate much on The Jokerz's past as a whole. Sure, there are tidbits here and there but more should have been added to properly explain how and why they joined The Jokerz in the first place.
Sure, make the point they were dumb teens who didn't know better, but there's more than that, there always is.
So let's explain it further by the five W’s.
Who, What, Where, When, and Why.
Who?
Who are the characters presented to us?
Ghoul, DeeDee, Chucko, Wolf, and Bonk.
And whoever other teenager dressing up is similar to either The Joker or Harley Quinn herself.
What?
What is happening to these characters and the people around them?
Simple, a group of misfit teenagers go out of their way to cause chaos and mischief wherever they go. Of course, lacking general empathy, causing property damage, and directly or indirectly murdering people whether they were innocent or not. And to be stopped by either law enforcement or by The Batman.
Where?
Gotham City, more specifically Neo-Gotham City.
The various old and decrepit buildings of what Gotham City was like before were long forgotten. Likely, used for the citizens of Gotham who couldn't afford the luxurious apartments and homes near and within Neo-Gotham.
When?
The future.
A time beyond Batman’s prime in time for a new Batman to take place. Just in time to handle the new and chaotic criminals that run or fly freely across the city. New technology, new law enforcement, new drugs, and new opportunities to cause havoc upon the citizens of the futuristic city.
Why?
Many reasons, few predictable, others reasonable, and the rest unexplainable.
Throughout the show, it's shown that various teenagers who go into a life of crime have rough backgrounds. Abusive or neglectful parents, low income, bullying, or even the corruption of authorities.
Bonk’s death, while brief, shows the cruel reality that many of these young criminal teenagers would face. Yes, they may be having fun, but over time they’ll be able to face life-threatening situations that may end their life. It could be painful, it could be painless, or it could have long-lasting effects if they survived. In Bonk’s case, he made the fatal mistake of going up against The Joker, paying dearly for it, and dying with a permanent smile on his face.
His body might as well be disposed of near or in a trashcan. I doubt DeeDee would go the extra mile to deliver his body to his parents, but if they did I can't imagine the horror his parents would have finding his corpse laid out on their front porch. Now, whether or not they cared for Bonk is unknown, but judging his brutish personality I could only speculate he cared for himself and likely hated being seen as lesser than everyone else. Especially his parents.
The other Jokerz can be speculated as well.
Ghoul came from a rich family, likely running off to live a life without rules and regulations. I've written a few scenarios about this on this blog about this. His family likely disowned him because of his involvement with The Jokerz as I never see them visit him when he's captured.
DeeDee are related to Harley Quinn, now whether they know about that is up in the air. But it's obvious they were inspired despite how much their ‘Nana Harley’ despised them for it. They seem to enjoy the limelight of joining forces to cause havoc and chaos all at once despite everyone telling them not to.
Chucko is a bully who loves inflicting misery on others. Likely joined The Jokerz to bully others without consequences and cause mass amounts of destruction. Whether or not he came from a bad family, it's clear that Chucko enjoys bullying others he sees as lesser than him.
Wolf was human before being spliced with hyena DNA and became the rabid creature we all know. It's possible that he felt a clear connection with animals, specifically dogs, rather than with his own family. Maybe he felt like being a dog/hyena made him feel more complete rather than living his life out like a human.
And we already talked about Bonk.
God knows about the other Jokerz members.
Sometimes I wonder what would happen in the next ten years for these characters and where they’ll be then.
Would they be dead? Would they get proper help and move on? Would they still be in jail? Would they change their whole gimmick and become like the villains from the past?
This reminds me, I found an artist on Devianart who specifically drew The Jokerz gang if they took part in the inspirations of past villains. Ghoul as Scarecrow, Wolf as Killer Croc, and Bonk as Bane. It's very creative and I feel like it should get more attention for how creative they all were.
Nonetheless, The Jokerz gang should be talked more about not only for their missed potential but for their capability to do so much more.
If Scarecrow were to appeared in the Batman Beyong setting, then do you see him reuniting his friend Harley again?
Okay, but consider everything that Harley went through with her life after Joker died.
For the last fifties years, she's done nothing but rehabilitate herself. From escaping death, changing her identity, having a family of her own, having said family fall apart, taking care of her grandchildren, having to see them resort to crime, and in her old age she could only handle so much.
She went out of her way to escape her past, so seeing Scarecrow would force her to remember it.
If Scarecrow were to come back to her he better hope he doesn't give her a heart attack.
She wouldn't know what to say, hell, she wouldn't know what to do either. And I bet Crane would feel the same, it was only coincidence that Harley’s granddaughters would work for him which eventually led to him finding her.
Now, he may be a rotting corpse with decades of Hell still stirring within his very soul, but he still knows how to make some tea.
“It’s been too long since we’ve talked, child, “the Doctor admitted, pouring some tea into the cup, “we should catch up, no?”
The older woman was speechless for a moment longer, eyeing the doorway before looking back at the man in the shadows. He was still, so very still that it was hard to imagine that this was real.
This had to have been a nightmare, some sick twisted joke her granddaughters pulled off, she forgot to take her pills, that must have been it!
“Harleen, “his voice was stern, yet calm enough not to yell at this time of night, “Sit. Down.”
There was another brief moment before Harley finally sat across the rouge. She kept her cane close, maybe to use as a weapon, it wouldn't matter, this night wasn't going to end well.
“I apologize for the sudden approach at this time of night, but we really should talk. I haven't gotten the best of luck with seeing old friends as of the time being.”
“Neither have I, “Harley found herself muttering under her breath.
When Stewart stepped into the light, he was met with cheers from the people below.
Young people from various places, environments, backgrounds and even gangs are all cheering for him.
All for him.
And with that praise, the power, the young ma raised his hand and every one of the delinquents below quieted down. Even the tiniest whispers were shushed to hear what the man above them all would say.
And with that, the young man would finally talk.
“Look at us, “he yelled, “all of us!”
He raised his hands in the air, posing as a larger figure than all the rest.
“How could this have happened, “he questioned, “how could we, children, turn into monsters overnight?”
Despite the burlap mask that covered the criminal’s face, the sense of dread was all anyone felt.
“How could we turn to crime? To steal? To kill? How could we turn away from the people that raised us with what little or large income they’ve had? How could we? How?”
Through the crowd of teenagers and young adults alike, they all showed their impressions of the questions themselves.
Anger. Sadness. Confusion.
So much negative energy was made through the crowd, yet it was Stewart who raised one hand to gather their attention once more. If he hadn't, no doubt, there would have been nothing to stop the eventual fight that would have broken out.
“I’ll tell you why.”
Everyone seemed to lean in, and despite their conflicting emotions, they all wanted to listen to what he had to say.
“Parents, “Stewart commented, “siblings, teachers, peers, bullies, authorities, everyone who showed more power than we had made us who we are today!”
There was talk of agreement.
“Where were our parents when we were suffering? Where were our siblings when we lend them our belongings? Where were our teachers as we struggled to talk amongst our peers? To face the bullies that taunted us? The so-called ‘authorities’ who promised to protect us only to push us aside to protect the rich and the powerful?!”
The agreements got louder.
“We are the so-called ‘monsters’ of society yet our cries are weaker than the rest of them! How could we let ourselves be stepped over by the people who claim to care for us?! To protect us?! To raise us to numbingly repeat the same mistakes of their own to reflect onto the children we’ll soon have?!”
It seemed a miracle that everyone seemed to hear him with how loud the cheers had gotten.
“No more will we be ridiculed! No more will we be ignored! No more will we be used!”
From the outskirts of his mishappened coat, Stewart brought forth a single vile containing a glowing red liquid inside. Somehow, even with limited knowledge of what it held, the crowd roared with excitement.
“With this, we will all inflict fear into those who have mistreated us! Abused us! Beat us into a bloody pulp with no hope left!”
He held onto the veil with a firm grip, uncovering the rest of the equipment he's hidden from underneath. The number of veils, gas canisters, and even handmade weapons seemed ridiculous yet possible. And even then, the young criminal brought forth the scythe that was hidden beneath his coat. Strapped from top to bottom with leather over hardwood, a sharp edge of the metal shined underneath the lights above the weapon.
A particular detail of a small doll tied to the handle, upon closer exception, looked like a scarecrow.
“We will have our revenge!”
The cheers went on, such happiness, such joy, such relief made through the weak and the helpless. The hope that they have to get back at those who have wronged them, and at last, their pain was understood!
“Throughout this week, we will all induce fear and show those we are not to be messed with! We are not nerds, not helpless, not weak; we are a legion! A legion of the misunderstood, of the unique, of the youth that dreams to become us!”
It started with one, then two, then three, then many more. So many people cheering his name over and over again.
“Scarecrow! Scarecrow! Scarecrow!”
And that fueled him to no end.
“We aren't the Jokerz! Neither are we the T’s! Not any other gang that reigns through this city to no end!”
The cheers were almost deafening.
“We are fear! And by fear alone, we will show the people of Neo-Gotham that we are far more powerful than they’ll ever comprehend!”
From the outskirts of the compound, a young woman carefully walked out of the building. She looked serious, covering her face with her mask before pulling it down to talk through her earpiece more carefully.
((Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker but it's with Scarecrow-))
“Batman showed up and we had to ditch. But we were able to save this,” From out of the pocket of Chucko he brought out a simple vile.
It was filled halfway with whatever compound within, it swirled around in the teenager’s hold as he held it. He then rolled it over to the decrepit man, body hidden in the shadows he grabbed the vile and raised it to his eyes.
His hand was pale and thin, if anyone chose to look closely at the man they might see missing pieces of flesh.
“I know it's not much but-”
“It’s not much, “the figure asked, “it’s nothing.”
The vile was slammed onto the table, the contents from inside splattering across from the force. Bits of it dripped from the edge and onto the floor as well on the skin of the man, yet the pain wasn’t registered at all. Even as bits of glass pierced through his hand he did not flinch, opting over to personally take the pieces out by hand.
The group had flinched at the notion, the room filled with dread more so than ever. Even taking a breath was relevant of a pin drop of how quiet it was.
“Useless, all of you. A disgrace to those who have come before you. Why in my day-”
“In your day?!”
Everyone looked over at the bulking teenager on their left, raising himself off of where he stood he marched his way over to the others.
“Ever since you got here, it's been ‘Your day’ this and ‘Your day’ that!” He slammed his hands onto the table, huffing at the lack of reaction given by the man in the shadows.
“Bonk-” Chucko grabbed onto the arm of the teen only to be shrugged off, his anger only growing.
“Your days are over, old man, even if you are who you say you are.” Bonk pointed an accusing finger at the man who nonchalantly picked at the candy corn beside him.
“And, personally, I think you’re a fake.”
The figure hardly reacted, twisting the piece of candy in his decayed hand before he finally spoke.
“Ah, the gift of the youth; speaking their minds with no thought or consequence.”
Bonk turned over at the others, one hand on the table, the other pointing over at the man.
“He’s got us running around, ripping a lot of chemicals, but no cash! He won't tell us what his plan is if he even has one!”
The others were of silent agreement, apart from Ghoul, who kept his eyes over at the figure. He wasn't even sure if the man was even paying attention to what Bonk was saying, it seemed like he was more interested in how he would react.
Would he agree to what Bonk would say or would he stay loyal like before?
Before Ghoul could give a proper reaction, Bonk went over at the figure, facing him with no fear.
“I. Want. Out.”
“If you insist.”
A click was heard, Bonk gasping at the sudden image of the barrel of a gun in front of his face. Besides the shadows covering his face, the man made a crude smile, and jagged teeth poked through into the light.
“Hey man, “Bonk raised his hands, “take it easy. I-I was just kidding.”
The gun went closer, the man raising himself above the rest as the gun went closer to the teenager. Everyone gasped as Bonk flinched at the notion before the trigger was pulled and red gas seeped through the muzzle.
Bonk immediately coughed at the sensation, waving his hands as the sickly feeling of the gas was taken in.
“Scared you, didn't I?”
The reaction wasn't immediate, it took a second, maybe even five before the effects finally came through. To everyone else, they all watched helplessly as Bonk looked at his hands in confusion before fear had taken over.
“Uh-huh-”
He swiped away something on his hands before it went to his arms, then his neck, and soon his face.
“Get off! Get OFF! GET OFF!”
He then screamed, falling over himself as his hands reached all over his body. He was scratching himself, back arching as his eyes widened and tears leaked through. His mouth wide and his voice pitched as he continued with his convolutions, his cries echoing the factory as everyone watched on.
The Scarecrow hummed to himself, walking over the frightened teen as he made his way to the others. Everyone instinctively cowered before him, Ghoul himself falling back behind the others like a child. But he’d be lying if he didn't feel some form of excitement over Bonk’s predicament.
Serves him right.
“That’s also how we did it in my day, “The Scarecrow admitted over Bonk’s screams.
