Warning! Spoilers ahead for Multiversity: Harley Screws Up the DCU #1!He may be one of her least favorite people, but Harley Quinn has accidentally proven that the Joker has left an indelible mark on the DC Universe. Harley discovers what help put the Harlequin of Hate on the map of DC’s greatest events.
The Joker is without a doubt one of the most iconic villains in the entire DCU. Not only is he one of the most feared members of Batman’s rogues’ gallery, but he stands out among the most powerful villains the Justice League has ever faced. He might not have strength or super speed, but the Joker’s chaotic nature makes him an unpredictable foe that can even keep the best of heroes on their toes. For all his prowess, even Batman struggles at keeping the Clown Prince of Crime at bay, making the Joker one of the few villains dangerous to nearly everyone in the DC Universe.
One Joker Origin is a Cornerstone DC Moment
And it looks like one aspect of the Joker’s history is actually one of the most notable events in the DCU. In Multiversity: Harley Screws up the DCU #1 by Frank Tieri and Logan Faerber, Harley returns to Coney Island to catch up with her old gang. However, Harley Quinn discovers that she’s been bequeathed a time machine (along with a bunch of other old junk). Thinking it nothing more than a novelty, Harley decides to see what the machine can do and activates it. Unfortunately for her, the device is no mere sideshow attraction, and is actually capable of sending her through time. As she travels through the ages, flashes of iconic DC moments appear, like the death of Superman or the formation of the JSA. Among these cornerstone events is a hand reaching out of a vat of acid with several Joker playing cards.
Obviously, this is the Joker origin story fans may recall from stories like The Killing Joke. While there has never been a confirmed background for the Joker, falling into a vat of acid and emerging a psychotic clown is one of the most prevailing theories. Seeing such a pivotal moment up there with the likes of Bane breaking the Batman and Hal Jordan becoming Parallax seems to confirm not only is this actually the Joker’s true origin, but it’s one of the DCU’s most defining moments.
Harley Has Helped Confirm the Joker’s Background
There are some events in DC’s long history that stand out over their importance to the universe. It makes sense the Joker’s origin would be lumped in with its most notable moments considering how his name is synonymous with villainy in the DCU. And the closest thing the clown has to an origin story is the day he fell into a pool of chemicals and emerged as the Joker. Granted, many fans may have already accepted that this is a canonical part of his origin. Fans can see the Joker’s origin on Harley’s time-sprawling adventure in Multiversity: Harley Screws Up the DCU #1, on sale March 14th, 2023.
