The Joker
The Joker is a supervillain who first appeared in the debut issue of the comic book Batman in 1940. He is a criminal mastermind with a warped, sadistic sense of humor. He has been Batman's nemesis for decades and has been part of some of the superhero's most defining stories. The Joker has had various possible origin stories, but the most common one involves him falling into a tank of chemical waste that bleaches his skin white and turns his hair green and lips bright red. The Joker possesses no superhuman abilities, but he is an expert chemist and uses his knowledge to create poisonous or lethal concoctions and thematic weaponry. He sometimes works with other Gotham City supervillains, but these relationships often collapse due to the Joker's desire for unbridled chaos. The Joker has also fought other heroes, including Superman and Wonder Woman. He is one of the most iconic characters in popular culture and has been listed among the greatest comic book villains and fictional characters ever created. The Joker has been adapted in live-action, animated, and video game incarnations, and has been portrayed by actors such as Jack Nicholson, Heath Ledger, Jared Leto, and Joaquin Phoenix.