Joker Is More Terrified of One Marvel Hero Than He’ll Ever Be of Batman

While the Joker has no problem toying with his archenemy, Batman, he found out the hard way his gimmicks aren’t tolerated by the Marvel universe’s most lethal vigilante, the Punisher. The crossover one-shot Punisher and Batman: Deadly Knights brought Frank Castle and his extreme form of justice to Gotham. The Punisher’s presence showed the Clown Prince of Crime how good he has it with Batman when the Joker discovered just how Frank deals with criminals.

Batman is often criticized for his inability to deal with the Joker. His relationship with Joker goes all the way back to when he first appeared in Batman #1 by Bill Finger, Bob Kane and Jerry Robinson. In events where the Joker doesn’t slip through Batman’s grasp, he’s often returned to Arkham Asylum, due to his diagnosis of being criminally insane. While Batman may grapple with his inability to willingly take a life, other vigilante heroes, such as the Punisher, have no qualms about putting villains down for good.

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The contrast between Frank Castle and Bruce Wayne would never be more apparent than in Punisher and Batman: Deadly Knights by Chuck Dixon, John Romita Jr., Klaus Janson, and Christie Scheele. The one-shot story involves Frank Castle pursuing his longtime enemy, Jigsaw, all the way to Gotham. The Joker has apparently teamed up with Jigsaw in an effort to grow the latter’s criminal empire. However, Punisher and Batman both manage to cripple the villains’ efforts, through separate investigations. Though the Joker tries to escape, he runs afoul of Frank, who isn’t in the mood for Joker’s gags. The Joker’s face says it all as he stares down the barrel of the Punisher’s gun.

The Punisher is one of the few heroes that has broken through the Joker’s demeanor. While often portrayed as a chaotic and nihilistic entity, this interpretation portrays Joker as concerned for his own well-being. Instead of laughing in the face of death as one might expect, he shrinks in terror after being confronted with the cold method of justice Frank Castle is known for. It isn’t often Joker is shown as fearful. Despite the many atrocities he’s committed, he knows that Batman and his allies all abide by one rule above all else: they don’t kill. Despite being certifiably insane, Joker has enough self-awareness to know that with the Bat-Family running Gotham the worst he may incur is broken bones and a stint in Arkham. Evidently, coming face-to-face with the one hero that eschews the justice system of other heroes in favor of being judge, jury and executioner is the one thing that can make the Joker stop laughing.

Thankfully, the crossover was brief and the Punisher returned to his home universe. So the only thing the Joker has to worry about is the next battering he may receive from Batman.

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