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Monday, April 23, 2007

I'M A JOKER, I'M A SMOKER, I'M A MIDNIGHT TOKER

I came across this still of Conrad Veidt from the 1928 silent film THE MAN WHO LAUGHS, and while I had heard that the visual for Batman's arch-enemy, the Joker, was cribbed from that film, I had never before found a letter perfect example. Well, feast your eyes on this shit:

I don't know what you think, but that's the motherfucking Joker.

In the film, the character was disfigured as a child, a permanent smile carved onto his face, and damn my eyes if he isn't creepy-looking as all fuck. That visage would go on to delight comics fans for over six decades, a countenance forever connected with diabolical schemes such as this; from "The Joker's Comedy of Errors," BATMAN #66 (August-September 1951):

Don't worry, dear readers! It's Batman, and I'm sure he can more than handle the Joker's boner!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is why I'm still an 11 year old... this is the funniest shit I've read in a loooong time!

Chez said...

If you get a sec -- wander over to my corner of the internet. Somebody put together an artist's conception of the new Joker based on this pic. It's good stuff.

Anonymous said...

Aw, that's brilliant, thank you.
It answered a few questions that came up in connection with Mr. Hugo's story and the Joker :)

Regards,
Lady Lovecraft