Jack Napier and the Origin of the Joker
In issue 1.5 the Joker tells a story about Jack Napier feeding the anti-corruption crusader, Edwin Atherton, to several members of Gotham’s criminal and corrupt element before the advent of Batman. Some may complain that the Joker was a comedian, a la Killing Joke, or the Red Hood. Personally, I always really liked the Jack Napier origin.
That being said, this is not meant to define Jack Napier as the origin of the Joker, but rather, to simply add to the supposed many origin stories of the Joker as to who these myriad of people were before Joker came about. This story may be true, it may not. It is the Joker after all. Even he, in this story, does not know why he remembers the tale, he just tells it.
Batman Vox Humana Issue #1.5 Page 13
Page 13
Scene: The cover on the platter is removed by the Harley lookalike, revealing Edwin Atherton (his picture can be found on Wikipedia), naked, gagged, and hog-tied.
Jack Napier: Or Sunday dinner.
Gillian Loeb jumps up.
Gillian Loeb: What the hell is this?
Jack Napier: Don’t you recognize your dinner? Detective Edwin Atherton here wouldn’t play ball, so I thought I would take care of him for you.
Jack Napier: And you’re right. I shouldn’t expect this of you.
Jack Napier then pulls out a ball peen hammer and beats Edwin Atherton in the head until he is dead.
Jack Napier: No one likes food that moves.
