Joker's Secret Remorse for His Crimes Would Obliterate His Reputation
The Joker is known as one of DC Comics' most sadistic killers, but when he was forced to face his crimes in a psychically-induced moment of clarity, the Clown Prince of Crime's reaction was surprisingly heartfelt.
Batman's eternal foe has earned himself a reputation as a ruthless killer, and rightfully so. The Joker has killed a lot of people, easily in the thousands by his own estimate. And while his body count does make him a standout killer, it's his methods that truly set him apart from the rest of Batman's gallery of rogues. Whether it be the cold-blooded murder of Jason Todd, a slow death brought on by his signature Joker Venom, or blowing up a school full of children, the mysterious and deranged supervillain has done it all. When he was finally forced to confront his crimes, however, the Joker was reduced to a remorseful, sobbing mess.
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In 2003's JLA #84, by Joe Kelly, Doug Mahnke and Tom Nguyen, a mysterious force sweeps across the globe, instigating a wave of remorse among the Justice League's cavalcade of villains. Many of DC's worst criminals begin not only confessing their crimes, but begging for death as penance for their misdeeds. Even Lex Luthor, then-President of the United States, is left in a catatonic state in the wake of this forced remorse. To investigate the strange phenomenon, Batman makes his way to Arkham Asylum, where he finds a room full of his most despicable rogues reckoning with their deeds. When Bruce lays eyes on the Joker, he can't help but smile at the Harlequin of Hate's reaction to being cursed with empathy.
In this moment, fans get a glimpse at what is hinted to be the Joker's first clear-headed reaction to his
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