“Face it, Bats. You’d be lost without me.” -Joker
That’s a quote from the lyric of Joker’s Song and it’s an amazing song. Go check it out. But OMG the lyrics blindsided me.
Props to the voice actor, his voice give chills but kept a solid singing voice.
Okay, so the reason I want to talk about this is not just about this one quote but the implication of the entire song. Basically it’s Joker’s address to Batman how they are the “same”. Two people drove insane because of one bad day. They turn their trauma into violence. Thus, they ‘play’ with each other like Yin and Yang because they saw how chaotic and ridiculous Gotham actually is. A place where one bad day is enough to drive anyone insane and try to burn the city down.
Batman wants order.
Joker wants chaos.
So Joker believe Batman would be at lost without his greatest nemesis, the Joker.
My first reaction to this is BULLSH*T!!!
BATMAN AND JOKER ARE NOT ONE AND THE SAME YOU DELUSIONAL CLOWN!!!
Bruce became Batman because of one bitter mugger decided to kill his parents. It may not be emphasized more in comics, but his main enemy form the beginning has always been organized crime, muggers, and any criminal really that risk in killing a civilian. Joker was never someone he wanted in Gotham, he is the exact opposite of what Bruce wanted in Gotham including the Batman. Heck, Bruce would be happy knowing the city can work itself without him. But even the normal justice system in America is crappy to the point Bruce’s controlling tendency would never be satisfied, honestly.
I’m getting off tangent. What I’m saying is that no. Bruce Wayne does not want the man who beat his son to death and crippled Barbara alive. That motherf*cker would be six feet under the ground if not for Bruce’s strict moral codes.
However, my second reaction was conceding the truth in his words. Because Batman was inherently created to wage war with crimes on Gotham and help its people. Joker existence ensure that Batman will always have his mission until Joker is dead or killed. And since Batman isn’t going to kill him, Joker believes he’ll continue to live.
In that case, I can’t deny Joker is keeping Batman alive by not letting Bruce retire with his existence. You got to admit, Joker would probably be the last rogue to retire (if ever) given the chance.
But overall, I wanted to chalk up the song as Joker’s delusion until I was reminded of the Super Sanity.
You can check @pandaredd in TikTok here for a batter explanation but essentially the explanation is that Joker is not psychotic.
Instead, he’s been diagnosed with some kind of mental disorder. But to us, he subconsciously knows he’s in a comic book.
And so when I hear this song, I can’t help but think he’s not just singing this for Batman only. He’s singing this for us too.
See, I stand firm in the believe that Batman could still exist without the Joker. They’ll always be new enemy to sow chaos in Gotham. Batman Beyond is f*cking prove that he’ll always be needed even before the Joker Jr shenanigans!!!
That’s why the reason I think the Joker is subconsciously speaking to us is because us fans would not want the Joker gone.
Do we think the Joker is a despicable criminal that needs to be put down? Yes.
Do we think he’s one of greatest villain in American Comic Book History and would always want to buy any medium concerning the battle between Joker and Batman? Also yes.
Because at the end day. We love Joker’s unpredictability. We love his brand of insanity. We are scared of him the same way we are scared of haunted houses and horror movies.
And deep in his head, the Joker f*cking knows that!!! Why do you think the writer makes the Joker wanting to cement himself as the Batman’s greatest enemy? They knew as long as he is that person, he would never go away. Which means, Joker subconsciously knows he won’t die as long as Batman exist. Even if it’s through different universe or different continuity.
And... he’s not wrong.
Because in reality, as long as we want Bruce’s Batman. We would always want a Joker.
And if the Joker is ever killed off and we are left to wonder if there’d ever be a Joker vs Batman story again in canon.
Well...
We would be a little lost without them, wouldn’t we?
