The following contains spoilers for “Here’s Looking At You, Kidder!” from The Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #1, now on sale from DC Comics.
The Joker is usually defined by his hatred for Batman and society at large. He lashes out at everyone with a grin and is often portrayed as one of DC’s most unrepentant villains. But on occasion, he has been shown to have some shreds of humanity — and can even develop a crush.
The story “Here’s Looking At You, Kidder!” from The Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #1 (by Matthew Rosenberg, Francesco Francavilla, and Tom Napolitano) shows readers the Joker’s brief crush on Power Girl. This serves as a reminder that at the end of the day the Joker is still a man, who is capable of falling in love just like anyone else.
The Joker Falls In Love
The story “Here’s Looking At You, Kidder!” focuses on the Joker, sometime in the undisclosed past. After enacting a plan that resulted in destruction across Gotham’s harbors, he was captured — not by Batman or any of his allies, but by Power Girl. Joker’s infatuation with the impressive hero is nothing like the abusive power he once had over Harley Quinn or his twisted obsession with Batman. Instead, Joker’s attempts to woo Power Girl come across as surprisingly pathetic. For example, fearing she’d think he’s a liar, Joker activates bombs across the city — demolishing a major bridge right in front of the hero.
Joker only reluctantly escapes the police, complaining about not getting Power Girl’s number before they departed. Joker openly cries over her apparent disinterest — and he shoots a henchman in the head when he agrees with that sentiment. After getting a new suit courtesy of Flash villain, Mirror Master, Joker tries to get her attention with a crime spree — only for it to completely blow up in his face. Joker ends the story sadly walking away alone among the chaos he caused — unaware that his reflection (which escaped from one of Mirror Master’s tools) had not only found Power Girl but successfully asked her out on a date.
The Clown Prince of Crime Is Indeed Human
Joker’s infatuation with Power Girl is an unexpected turn. It’s particularly funny that the typically self-assured Clown Prince of Crime basically turns into a weak-kneed (but still vicious) schoolboy around her. Most of the time, the Joker’s “love” is reserved for someone like Batman, who has come to define the Joker due to his non-stop opposition to the hero. But with Power Girl, it appears to be a far more basic and almost human response from the Joker — who loses sight of his villainous intentions when he’s near the hero. He doesn’t even try to showcase his love through the typical vicious acts that the character is infamous for — giving his attraction a strangely relatable edge.
The Joker is one of DC’s most horrifying villains, and the little bits of humanity shown throughout this story add a new (dark) layer to the character. It’s a reminder that there is a shred of humanity in Joker, making all of his criminal acts and vicious murders scarier. The Joker isn’t a demon from hell or some alien force. He’s a person, who reminds the world that people can be capable of terrible things. He’s a monster, yes — but a monster with human emotions like loneliness and jealousy, capable of developing an obsession that can result in the murder of many. The Joker’s crush on Power Girl is a goofy little window into a day in the life of Gotham’s scariest villain — and a reminder of how twisted he really is.
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