It seems that almost every week the Joker is returned to Arkham Asylum by Batman or the police, and yet he always escapes. Fans have often wondered how the Clown Prince of Crime keeps escaping Arkham so easily, but DC gave the reason decades ago, and it just shows how the Joker truly is Batman’s perfect equal.
The Joker’s brilliant strategy to escape Arkham Asylum was revealed decades ago in 1976’s The Joker #7 by Elliot S. Maggin and Irv Novick. In this story, it’s revealed that the Joker has a mini-Ha-Hacienda hideout under his Arkham Asylum cell that he can access at any time. While Batman and the police think that the Joker is locked up safe and sound in his cell, he actually has the option to leave anytime he wants.
It’s long been known that the Joker often treats Arkham Asylum like a vacation from Gotham City, but no one has understood just how true that is. Thanks to his hidden base under his cell, the Joker can come and go from Arkham Asylum as much as he wants with complete ease. It’s a level of planning that even Batman might envy.
The Joker Can Leave Arkham Anytime He Wants Thanks to the Secret Lair Under His Cell
The Joker #7 by Elliot S. Maggin, Irv Novick, and Frank McLaughlin
Batman refuses to kill his enemy, no matter what. This no-kill rule means that he needs another way to deal with them, often having to stuff them in Arkham Asylum and simply hope that they can be rehabilitated. His methods have resulted in Batman hopelessly returning Joker to Arkham Asylum over and over again, only for him to escape, sometimes hours after being dropped off. This pattern has become so infamous that the Joker has referred to Arkham Asylum as a revolving door. Every time Batman puts him in, he just walks right back out. While most people thought the Joker’s claim was an exaggeration, it’s actually completely true.
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Using his vast wealth and ingenuity, the Joker manages to build a mini-Ha-Hacienda under his Arkham cell, which evidently has access to the outside world. While the Joker can simply exit his cell anytime he wants, there’s also another use for his lair. The Joker has outfitted this mini-base with a working TV and a whole stock of luxuries. Often, when the Joker escapes and “disappears”, he actually hasn’t left at all. Instead of escaping into the outside world, the Joker just remains in his mini-base and enjoys the quiet time watching TV. When he decides to make another appearance, he either returns to his cell or escapes.
Arkham Asylum Has Always Just Been a Vacation for the Joker
He Can Come and Go Anytime He Wants
Arkham Asylum is a terrible place, and it’s unfit to hold the Joker for dozens of reasons. Not only does Arkham Asylum create more villains than it cures, but the institution can’t hold onto anyone to even try to cure them. Somehow, the security in Arkham Asylum is so terrible that the Joker manages to construct an entire secret base under his cell with no one noticing. While the Joker’s ability to escape Arkham Asylum has been a mystery that Batman has been unable to solve over the years, fans know that the Joker can leave anytime he wants, because he literally built a back door into his cell.
The Joker #7 is available now from DC Comics!
The Joker
The Joker is a psychopathic criminal mastermind with a warped sense of humor. Initially introduced as a remorseless serial killer, the character evolved over time, often oscillating between a prankster and a homicidal maniac. His relationship with Batman is one of the most complex in comic book history, defined by their mutual obsession. Over the decades, the Joker has become an enduring icon of chaos and madness, embodying the antithesis of Batman’s order and justice.
- Created By
- Bill Finger , Bob Kane , Jerry Robinson
- First Appearance
- Batman (1940)
- Alias
- Red Hood, Clown Prince of Crime, Ace of Knaves
- RELATIONSHIPS
- Batman (archenemy), Harley Quinn (former psychiatrist, on-and-off girlfriend), Penguin (frequent collaborator), Two-Face (frequent collaborator)
- Alliance
- Injustice League, Legion of Doom, Injustice Gang
- Video Games
- Batman: Return of the Joker , The Adventures of Batman & Robin (SNES) , Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe , Batman: Arkham Asylum (dupe) , Batman: Arkham City , Injustice: Gods Among Us , Batman: Arkham Origins , LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham , Batman: Arkham Knight , Mortal Kombat 11 , Injustice 2 , Gotham Knights
- POWERS
- Criminal Mastermind, Expert Chemist, Weaponized Props, Psychological Manipulation, Combat Skills, Unpredictability, High Pain Tolerance, Charisma, Escape Artist
- HISTORY
- The Joker’s history has been depicted with various origin stories, the most common being his transformation into the Joker after falling into a vat of chemical waste that bleaches his skin white, turns his hair green, and lips bright red. This disfigurement drives him insane, leading him to become Batman’s greatest nemesis.
- NAME
- Arthur Fleck
- Age
- Varies by portrayal; generally depicted as being in his 30s to 40s.
- Height
- Typically depicted around 6 feet (1.83 meters).
- Comic Books
- Joker #1 , The Joker #5 , Joker: Killer Smile #1 , Batman: Three Jokers #1 , Batman: The Joker War Zone #1 , DC’s Year of the Villain: Joker #1 , Batman & The Joker: The Deadly Duo #1 , The Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #1 , Joker/Harley: Criminal Sanity Secret Files #1 , The Joker 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular #1
Summary
The Joker is one of the most iconic villains in comic book history, known for his chaotic nature and as Batman’s ultimate nemesis. He has been portrayed by multiple actors in various media, each bringing their unique interpretation to the character, from Cesar Romero’s campy take in the 1960s to Joaquin Phoenix’s gritty portrayal in 2019. The Joker’s influence extends beyond comics into films, TV shows, and video games, making him a cornerstone of DC’s villainous pantheon.