Joker’s Radical New Redesign Finally Moves Batman’s Most Iconic Villain Out Of Heath Ledger’s Shadow

One of the most iconic portrayals of the Joker is Heath Ledger’s, which is widely considered peak form for the Clown Prince of Crime. However, Joker may finally be moving out of Ledger’s legacy shadow, with DC’s new version of the Joker being modeled after one of the biggest horror icons of all time.

If you’ve been keeping up with DC Comics, then you know that the publisher recently relaunched its ongoing Batman title with writer Matt Fraction and artist Jorge Jiménez at the helm. This relaunch slingshots the Batman comic series back to issue 1 and launches a bold new era for the Dark Knight, one that reflects the modern times we live in. Examples include the revival of Alfred Pennyworth as a hologram AI program, a new electric Batmobile, a revamped Batman costume, and a complete redesign of the Joker. The latter, DC has revealed, was inspired by none other than horror icon Hannibal Lecter.

Recap: DC’s Relaunch of Batman Introduces a New Version of Joker

Fraction and Jiménez’s Batman #6 saw the debut of the Joker in the duo’s new run, and this take on the Clown Prince of Crime is unlike any we have seen before. Joker is imprisoned at Arkham Tower, where he is confined in a liquid-filled stasis chamber. Joker is nude, his signature manic grin hidden behind his life-support mask.

This Joker is notably the opposite of what fans have come to expect from the character. He is calm, fat, quiet, and rational, all words that typically wouldn’t be associated with the clown. This transformation is largely due to Arkham doctor Annika Zeller’s new experimental device, known as the Crown of Storms. The device can reprogram electrical impulses in the brain by “calming overstimulated regions and exciting understimulated ones.”

In other words, the device is doing the heavy lifting in regulating Joker’s typically irregular neurological impulses, which explains the complete personality change. The device also burns an extraordinary amount of calories, resulting in Joker having a much higher intake, which also explains his weight gain.

Matt Fraction Talks About Hannibal Lecter and The Joker

While the Crown of Storms gives an in-narrative explanation for why the Joker is so extraordinarily different from what fans have come to expect, writer Matt Fraction recently revealed on the BIFF! BAM! POW! Podcast some of the inspiration behind his new approach to the Joker.

During the discussion of Joker, Fraction brought up the Michael Mann film Manhunter (1986) and an exchange between Will Graham and Hannibal Lecter. Fraction referenced the famous exchange where Hannibal asks how Will caught him, to which Will replies, “You had certain disadvantages.” Hannibal presses further, asking, “What disadvantages?” to which Will delivers the zinger, “You’re completely insane.”

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Fraction had this scene in mind while brainstorming his take on Joker. He further revealed his thought process on the matter, saying, ”When I started to think about how do you do a Joker that is in any way even slightly different, because it’s been so well trod. Yes, he’s the best villain in comics but that also means there’s about as many Joker stories as Batman stories.”

Fraction continued: “What is anything that feels new to me as a reader, that feels different… What’s the opposite of everything else? Slow, fat, and quiet. The suspicion that if he wasn’t completely insane, they would be best friends.” The idea that Batman and Joker would be best friends if Joker weren’t insane is a vibe that is also present between Will and Hannibal, making the comparison between the two clear.

A “slow, fat, and quiet” Joker is certainly a bold take, but from what we’ve seen so far, it appears to be landing solidly. This Joker feels different and even carries similar vibes to Hannibal, and it works. We’ve only seen Joker briefly in the Batman releases so far, so it will be exciting to see how Matt Fraction continues to develop this new version of the character moving forward.