Gotham's Clown Prince of Crime, The Joker

[WildKnight]

There are a lot of criminals in Gotham, many with dubious monikers and strange ways of dressing. The Riddler, The Joker, the Black Mask, etc, but one stands apart from all the rest. His true identity has never been discovered, and nothing is known of his past before his sudden appearance a few years ago. Into the chaos of the collapse of the mafia families in Gotham stepped a new figure, calling himself only The Joker (or occasionally by the alias Joe Kerr). The Joker isn't interested in consolidating an empire or, seemingly, even by profit. His plans typically seem designed to do little more than sew chaos, and he often disappears before the final outcome of whatever he's put into motion transpires. The Joker is personally responsible for dozens of murders, but the greater menace is his ability to manipulate others into doing things they'd normally never even consider. Tales of The Joker's multiple escapes from police custody usually involve otherwise stable police being manipulated into doing unthinkable things for reasons no one can fathom. The Joker also appears to be, or to have in his employ, an expert on toxins of all kinds, as well as makeshift explosives. While is actions often seem random, he's demonstrated again and again the ability to remain several steps ahead of his opposition, and he is openly disdainful of both other criminals and law enforcement, only seeming to consider Jim Gordon and The Bat-Man to be worthy "playmates."