It seems that the DC Universe's most unsettling sounds. The disturbing cackle proved to be quite crucial to a plot by a group of villains aiming to take down Batman in a magical manner.
The Joker is known for many things. His eerie appearance with his chalk-white skin, sickly green hair and ruby-red lips. The numerous crimes and endless mayhem he's brought to Gotham. Not to mention his ongoing relationship with Batman that goes far beyond obsession. But one thing that fans always tend to associate with the Joker is his boisterous, mad howling. The Joker's laugh is something that punctuates all his actions, whether he's happy, sad or caught up in a murderous rampage. The never-ending cacophony of chuckles haunts the of the Bat-Family, especially those who have been personally victimized by the Clown Prince of Crime.
But it seems that the eerie titters and chuckles of the Joker serve a much greater purpose than just highlighting the Joker's cruel mockery of others. In the backup story "Making the Pieces Fit" by Kurt Busiek and Fabian Nicieza in Trinity #9, Oracle is coordinating a number of heroes such as Nightwing, Robin, and the Outsiders to monitor Gotham’s villains. A mysterious band of criminals is going around and attempting to steal items of high importance to figures in Batman's life. One villain attempts to steal Nightwing's mask while another successfully burgles Commissioner Gordon's pipe. But the strangest robbery occurs in Arkham Asylum where the band of thieves find Joker in a high-security lockup. As the Joker begins his usual chorus of guffaws, he sees his ha-has being plucked out of the air, leaving the clown completely unable to laugh.
What Makes The Joker's Laugh Is So Important
It’s interesting that villains would want to steal something of the Joker’s in order to cast a spell on Batman, but not exactly surprising. Batman and the Joker are practically bound to one another in an endless back and forth that shows no signs of stopping. The Joker might not be a member of the Bat-Family, but he arguably spends just as much time with Bruce as Nightwing or Commissioner Gordon. But out of everything the thieves could have stolen, they opted for the very laugh that's echoed throughout Gotham for years.
So why steal a laugh instead of a joy-buzzer or an acid-squirting flower? Many of these items are in the Joker’s cache of weapons, but rarely are they a consistent presence in his battles with Batman. However, every time the clown is in the grasp of Batman, he fills the air with a demented glee that makes his matches with Bruce that much more identifiable. Batman is intrinsically linked with the Joker and the Joker is nothing without his laughing. If someone was to use things in the DC Universe to fashion a spell made for him, it stands to reason that the perturbing rasps of the Joker would be one of the best elements to incorporate.
