Joker's Millions
Encyclopedia
"Joker's Millions" is both a comic book
story and an animated television episode where The Joker
inexplicably inherits a massive fortune, only to find out too late that he has fallen victim to a lavish scheme to humiliate him.
#180 in February 1952. As with all early Batman comics, Bob Kane
is the only person credited for the comic, but the comic itself was written by David Verne.
, Joker is surprised to learn that he inherited Barlowe's vast fortune. With his newfound fortune, the Joker builds himself a life of luxury and retires from crime. Joker spends his money freely, thinking he still has plenty left, only to discover that the rest of the fortune is counterfeit as a joke of Barlowe's. He then receives a visit from the IRS
, who wish to collect an inheritance tax.
The Joker is torn between reporting the money as counterfeit (thus becoming a laughing-stock in the underworld), go to jail for tax evasion, or return to crime in order to rebuild his fortune. The Joker chooses to the third option, yet he decides to commit normal crimes so that no one would suspect him. First he breaks into a bank safe, but "fate's invisible hand plays a strange trick" as the wind blows a banner onto the bank the Joker just robbed, making it look like a joke crime. After discovering Joker's money is counterfeit, Batman
and Robin
have to prove Joker is committing these crimes.
When Joker performs a stick-up at the Gotham opera house dressed in a trenchcoat, Batman is able to guess that the Joker was behind it and burns the theatre's tickets to I Pagliacci
to make it look like a Joker crime. A similar deduction occurs after Joker tries robbing the Gotham Zoo. Batman locks himself in the zoo's bat cage to make it look like a joke performed by the Joker. The Joker, jumping at the chance to satisfy his ego, claims to an underworld friend that he had robbed the zoo for the sole purpose of humiliating Batman. However, the underworld friend was Batman in disguise, and with a recording of Joker's confession, the Joker is arrested.
cartoon in February, 1998, only changing a few aspects of the story (such as using Harley Quinn
in the cartoon, who had not yet been created at the time of the comic's writing, as well as using Batgirl
instead of Robin (Although Nightwing
did appear in the episode). Another difference is that, in order to make it even harder to link him to the crime he planned so he'd be able to pay the taxes, the Joker decided to have one of his henchmen pose as him at Penguin's Iceberg Lounge to give him an alibi
. However, Bruce Wayne unmasked the imposter and Batman got him to divulge the Joker's plan.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
story and an animated television episode where The Joker
Joker (comics)
The Joker is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain published by DC Comics. He is the archenemy of Batman, having been directly responsible for numerous tragedies in Batman's life, including the paralysis of Barbara Gordon and the death of Jason Todd, the second Robin...
inexplicably inherits a massive fortune, only to find out too late that he has fallen victim to a lavish scheme to humiliate him.
Comic book
Joker's Millions is a story published in Detective ComicsDetective Comics
Detective Comics is an American comic book series published monthly by DC Comics since 1937, best known for introducing the iconic superhero Batman in Detective Comics #27 . It is, along with Action Comics, the book that launched with the debut of Superman, one of the medium's signature series, and...
#180 in February 1952. As with all early Batman comics, Bob Kane
Bob Kane
Bob Kane was an American comic book artist and writer, credited as the creator of the DC Comics superhero Batman...
is the only person credited for the comic, but the comic itself was written by David Verne.
Plot Summary
At the funeral of "King" Barlowe, a criminal racketeer and rival of The JokerJoker (comics)
The Joker is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain published by DC Comics. He is the archenemy of Batman, having been directly responsible for numerous tragedies in Batman's life, including the paralysis of Barbara Gordon and the death of Jason Todd, the second Robin...
, Joker is surprised to learn that he inherited Barlowe's vast fortune. With his newfound fortune, the Joker builds himself a life of luxury and retires from crime. Joker spends his money freely, thinking he still has plenty left, only to discover that the rest of the fortune is counterfeit as a joke of Barlowe's. He then receives a visit from the IRS
Internal Revenue Service
The Internal Revenue Service is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, and is under the immediate direction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue...
, who wish to collect an inheritance tax.
The Joker is torn between reporting the money as counterfeit (thus becoming a laughing-stock in the underworld), go to jail for tax evasion, or return to crime in order to rebuild his fortune. The Joker chooses to the third option, yet he decides to commit normal crimes so that no one would suspect him. First he breaks into a bank safe, but "fate's invisible hand plays a strange trick" as the wind blows a banner onto the bank the Joker just robbed, making it look like a joke crime. After discovering Joker's money is counterfeit, Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
and Robin
Dick Grayson
Dick Grayson is a fictional superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger and illustrator Jerry Robinson, he first appeared in Detective Comics #38 in April 1940....
have to prove Joker is committing these crimes.
When Joker performs a stick-up at the Gotham opera house dressed in a trenchcoat, Batman is able to guess that the Joker was behind it and burns the theatre's tickets to I Pagliacci
Pagliacci
Pagliacci , sometimes incorrectly rendered with a definite article as I Pagliacci, is an opera consisting of a prologue and two acts written and composed by Ruggero Leoncavallo. It recounts the tragedy of a jealous husband in a commedia dell'arte troupe...
to make it look like a Joker crime. A similar deduction occurs after Joker tries robbing the Gotham Zoo. Batman locks himself in the zoo's bat cage to make it look like a joke performed by the Joker. The Joker, jumping at the chance to satisfy his ego, claims to an underworld friend that he had robbed the zoo for the sole purpose of humiliating Batman. However, the underworld friend was Batman in disguise, and with a recording of Joker's confession, the Joker is arrested.
Publication
As well as appearing in Detective Comics #180 it has been reprinted in:- Batman: The Complete History (Paperback, 1999, Chronicle Books ISBN 0-8118-4232-0)
Animation
Joker's Millions was then adapted for The New Batman AdventuresThe New Batman Adventures
The New Batman Adventures is the successor to Batman: The Animated Series produced by Warner Bros. Animation. Although bearing different character designs and animation styles, both shows take place in the same continuity, with TNBA set two years after BTAS. The series aired on The WB from...
cartoon in February, 1998, only changing a few aspects of the story (such as using Harley Quinn
Harley Quinn
Harley Quinn was first introduced as a villain on September 11, 1992, in the animated series Batman: The Animated Series, later adapted into DC Comics' Batman comic books. As suggested by her name , she is clad in the manner of a traditional harlequin jester...
in the cartoon, who had not yet been created at the time of the comic's writing, as well as using Batgirl
Batgirl
Batgirl is the name of several fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, frequently depicted as female counterparts to the superhero Batman...
instead of Robin (Although Nightwing
Nightwing
Nightwing is a name that has been used by several fictional characters in the DC Comics Universe. It was conceived as a Kryptonian analogue to the character of Batman, with Nightwing's frequent partner Flamebird based on Robin...
did appear in the episode). Another difference is that, in order to make it even harder to link him to the crime he planned so he'd be able to pay the taxes, the Joker decided to have one of his henchmen pose as him at Penguin's Iceberg Lounge to give him an alibi
Alibi
Alibi is a 1929 American crime film directed by Roland West. The screenplay was written by West and C. Gardner Sullivan, who adapted the 1927 Broadway stage play, Nightstick, written by Elaine Sterne Carrington, J.C...
. However, Bruce Wayne unmasked the imposter and Batman got him to divulge the Joker's plan.
See also
- Joker's Millions (The New Batman Adventures)