Batman wasn’t the only DC character inspired to change his life due to the death of his parents. In Bruce’s first year of being Batman, the Joker admits that it was the Wayne murders that inspired him to take up the role of Gotham’s greatest criminal.
As of Batman #23 by Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo, Danny Miki, FCO Plascencia, and Nick Napolitano — part of the Zero Year story — the Joker in his current clown-like form didn’t yet exist, with the man instead operating under the name Red Hood One. Red Hood One created the Red Hood gang and caused chaos all across Gotham, including attacking Wayne Manor. During this attack, he admits something shocking.
Red Hood One admits that the Wayne murders must have changed Bruce’s life, but it also changed his life. Red Hood One — soon to be the Joker — states that the Wayne murder inspired him to start wreaking havoc across Gotham.
Why Batman Doesn’t Reveal Joker’s Original Identity (Despite Knowing It)
Despite knowing the Joker’s true identity and origins, Batman reveals the real reason why he can never share the clown’s identity with the world.
An Early Version of the Joker Admits He Shares Batman’s Inspiration
The Joker is one of Gotham’s worst criminals: he has killed thousands of people over the years, and his origin as the Joker hasn’t really been revealed by DC, who prefers to keep him a mysterious character. There have only been hints here and there over the years as to where the Joker came from. This moment is perhaps the biggest hint as to his true origins, as the Joker outright states to Bruce Wayne that it was the nothingness of the Wayne murders that inspired him. That the Waynes — people of such stature and privilege — could be struck down for no reason is what inspired Joker to become the monster he would be.
While DC has tried to keep the Joker’s origins a secret, he is still simply a man, and he must have gotten the idea of being the Joker from somewhere. One of the most important facets of the Joker’s “philosophy” is that nothing really matters. Life is nothing but a cruel joke, so there’s no reason to take anything seriously. Even Harley Quinn has described the Joker’s view of the world as seeing everyone on Earth, except himself and Batman, as already dead. Considering that the Joker shares his source of inspiration with Batman, it’s not hard to imagine why he thinks this.
Red Hood One Begins His Journey to Becoming the Joker
Batman takes that horrible childhood moment and uses it to fuel his crusade against crime. Batman believes no one should have to suffer the same way he did, and he fights every day to save people from trauma. The Joker believes that the Wayne murders prove that life is meaningless and that the great random nothingness of it all will eventually consume everything. While the two characters reach very different conclusions, Batman and the Joker are inspired by the exact same trauma.
