Under the Red Hood
As DC decided to revive an old comic book classic like the UNDER THE RED HOOD saga and transfer it into the animated media, the Joker needed to change along with the times. This is no longer the cynical, comical, clowny, and childishly perverse Clown Prince of Crime from the 1990’s BTAS, but a much darker, perverse and sadistic version that finds enjoyment in beating a kid to death (scene at the very beginning of the movie). Even the conceptualization of this new clown, is modern, his features a combination of the classical and even Ledger’s Joker. Even the voice and tone are dark and creepy as Joe DiMaggio lends his talents to voice one of the most iconic villains of all times.
Joker in this movie is the edge of a anger, hate, and revenge triangle which includes Batman and Jason Todd as well, and in all this violence, the Clown has the front row. I think that DiMaggio did an awesome job with the voice. The darkness enveloped in the madness of a psychopath that revels in mayhem and chaos, but with the suave and almost charming appeal of a turn of the century gentleman. That is what makes this Joker dangerous.
(UNDER THE RED HOOD is property of WB. Joker and related characters are property of DC Comics. These pictures are provided for entertainment)
Trivia and Interesting facts:
- When Jason is talking to Batman about what Joker has done throughout the past, he signifies that Barbara Gordon better known as Batgirl, has already been shot in the waist by the Joker. This was seen in comics called, the Killing Joke.
- This is the first time that the story of Jason Todd, the second Robin, is told in any DC animated series or feature film.
- The opening sequence in which Batman is carrying Jason’s dead body out of the rubble is taken directly from the comic book.
- The story is based on the 1988 Batman Comics storyline ‘A Death in the Family’, where readers voted via a 1-900 number to either save or kill off the second Robin, Jason Todd. Over 10,000 votes were cast and with only a 72 vote majority, the decision was made to kill him. Todd was later brought back in 2005 as part of the 2005 “Under the Hood” storyline.
- The Joker’s prison ID number that is on his jumpsuit is 11940. The Joker first appeared in Batman #1 which was released in 1940.
- In the comics Commissioner James Gordan was retired during this arc with Michael Akins serving as Commissioner in his place (though Gordan later stepped out of retirement after Akins was forced to resign). The scene where Gordan appeared was added for the film and did not exist in the comics.
- Andrea Romano, the voice director, voiced one of the reporters at the end of the movie.
