Learn about the different aliases that Joker has used throughout more than 80 years of existence within the DC Universe
One of the most dangerous and unpredictable villains in the DC Universe is undoubtedly the Joker, a man who has used various aliases over eight decades, intent on pushing Batman to limits never before known.
Do not miss: DC Comics confirms that the Joker’s name is…
As SMASH timely informed you, in Flashpoint Beyond #5, Martha Wayne, the Joker from Flashpoint’s altered timeline, tells Thomas Wayne, the Batman of Flashpoint, about a man named Jack Oswald White, a comedian unsuccessful employee at Wayne Casino.
It’s heavily implied that if the timeline had turned out differently, Jack White would have become the Joker we know today in the main timeline. But there’s enough plausible deniability with the differences between the timelines to rule this out as a possible origin, and not a definitive one, if you will.
The different identities of madness
As for other names, what we get are mostly obvious aliases or outright impostors. The first alias the Joker assumed was “A. Rekoj”, posing as a music store owner in Detective Comics #45 from 1940.
In 1948’s Detective Comics #148, Joker adopts the nickname “JO Kerr” for the first time, which he would use variations of for the rest of his villainous career.
Justice League of America #77 from 1969 introduces us to John Dough, also known as Mr. Normal, “the most normal man in America.” Dough convinces the Justice League mascot, Snapper Carr, to grant him access to the Justice League headquarters. This also turns out to be Joker.
In 1982’s Batman #353, Joker uses the alias “Harlan Quinn,” a decade before Harley’s advent. In 1975’s The Joker #4, Joker assumes the identity of bus driver Harry Hack as part of an elaborate plan to marry Black Canary.
Jack Napier… from the screen to the cartoons
The Grant Morrison run sees Joker take on the identity of British detective Oberon Sexton, another alias. In 2012’s Red Hood and the Outlaws #14, Joker adopts the alias “Jack Napier,” an allusion to his true identity in the 1989 Batman film.
Scott Snyder’s Batman comics also see Joker assume the alias of Eric Border, an employee at Arkham Asylum, while remaining hidden between the events of “Death of the Family” and “Batman: Endgame.” Which is all to say that no canon name has ever been featured in main continuity before.
(By the way, we will soon announce a surprise regarding the stage of Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo in front of Batman. Do not lose track of the DC Comcis México and SMASH networks)
The letter J, a constant
Other comics outside of the main canon, as is possibly the case with Jack O. White, are a different story. Discounting worlds like Flashpoint, where an existing character assumes the identity of the Joker, or those that assign an identity to a successor to the original Joker, these are the names we know:
- Jack Schadenfreude, in Batman/Houdini: Devil’s Workshop, 1993
- “Jack”, in the 2000 Batman Chronicles #21 story “Citizen Wayne”
- Joey Wayne, Bruce Wayne’s long lost twin brother, in 2000’s Batman/Lobo
- Jack Napier, the alias from the 1989 film Joker, in 2001’s Batman: Gotham Noir
- Gamblin’ Jack “The Joker” Dent, in the 2013 Ame-Comi Girls line of shoujo statue tie-in comics
- “Lloyd”, in the 2016 Gotham City Garage pin-up model statue line tie-in comics
- Jack Napier once again, in Sean Gordon Murphy’s Batman: White Knight comic book universe
- John Kane, in the 2019 graphic novel Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass
- John Kelly, in the 2019 Black Label series Joker/Harley: Criminal Sanity
- John Napier, in the 2020 young adult graphic novel Gotham High
As you can see, “J” names are very popular for the Joker throughout the Multiverse, whether it’s Jack, John, or Joe. Perhaps Harley has been trying to clue us in with the nickname “Mr. J” all this time, under the aliases the Joker has used for over 80 years.
You can also read: The 12 moments that defined the history of the Joker
Source: DC Comics
The psychological terror of joker: Killer Smile at SMASH and DC Comics Mexico
Arkham Asylum is home to many of Batman’s worst enemies, including the most dangerous of all: Joker.
No psychologist or psychotherapist has ever managed to break through the insanity that imprisons Joker’s mind. In fact, many of them have broken themselves in the attempt. But Dr. Ben Arnell thinks he’s someone else. He’s sure to be the one to finally reach the man inside the madness…and cure him.
SMASH and DC Comics Mexico bring you Joker: Killer Smile. Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino bring us a powerful tale of psychological horror that explores the madness within one of pop culture’s most complex villains.
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