Prelude to Final Three Jokers Posts - Minor Theories, Images and Discussions (July - November 2020)
Before I created my biggest three posts when Three Jokers finally released, I made tons of theories and image posts about it before hand. Here's a compilation of some that didn't make it to the final three posts.
Some of them are surprisingly some of the highest upvoted on Reddit. Probably because they were easier to consume than a long text post.
I also gave them some distinguishing titles. My differentiation of them isn't 100% accurate, but close enough. The last two images were actually made during and after the series concluded as I think they fit here.
Joker 1 - Mark Hamill
Any Batman fan would know who Mr. Hamill is. To many, he is THE Joker. He’s voiced the character in many great animated shows and movies as well as games for decades now, especially known for the DCAU and the Arkham Games. IMO it really makes sense for him to be the “OG” Joker. He could base his performance here on his Joker in Batman Beyond Return of the Joker which showed that he could pull off an older, more sinister and calculating Joker who talked about the old days. Just watch that opening in ROTJ.
Joker 2 - Troy Baker
Troy Baker first voiced the Joker in Arkham Origins which was a prequel to the Arkham Trilogy. He was excellent in the role, and sounded a lot like Mr. Hamill while still being a little different. His Joker was generally angrier than Hamill’s but he wasn’t above being playful. By Assault on Arkham, he’s essentially perfect for this kind of Joker as he had mastered being goofy and threatening at the same time.
Joker 3 - Anthony Ingruber
Telltale’s version of the Joker was one of the more unique iterations but is very much inspired by a lot of what came before. The idea of the Joker wanting and trying to be a hero and a friend to not just Batman, but Bruce Wayne, was done really well, and no matter what choice you made Ingruber nailed it. A more melancholic Joker who rationalizes his actions and became who he is despite of his original wishes and because of insanity, it’s perfect.
Additionally the other quotes from the posters in that tweet are:
GA Joker: “It’s not me who needs fixing. It’s you.”
ADITF: “Scars tell secrets”
Fits with the themes of the story and the characters. GA Joker likely isn’t insane at all and ADITF loves being the evil playful Joker. They both inflicted scars, one just loves doing it more.
Jerome is definitely the Clown, who is exactly the Joker you describe. That's my personal favorite and definitive kind of Joker too actually.
BUT
That's actually not how the Joker was like originally. The Criminal (Original/Golden Age Joker) is actually almost exactly like Jeremiah. The toneless way S4 Jeremiah speaks matches how the Joker is described when broadcasting the announcement of his crimes in Batman #1. The focus on his intelligence also quite matches. His crimes were murders and heists that challenged the police and Batman in a battle of wits. He was also a master of disguise. He also doesn't smile or think as theatrically in Three Jokers so far and interviews with artist Jason Fabok confirms this. He's the boss/thinker of the three. He also seems to think he and Bruce are similar.
You might be asking then, if the original Joker doesn't really joke, why is he called the Joker? That's because as you probably guessed from those old scans, he leaned more into the Joker playing card. He was like a gambler or poker player. He left the card at all his crimes. If you're interested in learning more about this original Joker I made a very in dept theory post after the release of Batman: Three Jokers #1. I also compare a lot of other similar Jokers throughout history.
Edit: Just to add, I talked all about the Criminal, but I put the Comedian for S5 Jeremiah. That's because he actually did get Jerome's personality traits (and from the way he talks to himself, a split personality) there too and it resulted in him becoming more like him while retaining his darker self. His plan with Bruce (and actually what he did to Selina in S4) was very close to The Killing Joke.
Actually, the way you described Jeremiah is very close to how the Joker originally acted in his original appearance and in the Golden Age.
According to interviews with Jason Fabok, the Criminal doesn't smile or laugh as much in Three Jokers too and he's the boss/thinker of the Three.
So Jeremiah is actually almost exactly like the Criminal here.
All three of them use Joker Venom to make people smile when they die actually. That's a constant among all three.
If you're interested to know more about the Criminal here's my last post:
https://www.reddit.com/r/DCcomics/comments/iiwm9x/three_jokers_huge_postissue_1_theories_post_ft/
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