The Joker's mysterious origin and sadistic nature make him ripe for bold reinterpretations. Some of these become defining additions to the Joker's ever-expanding mythos. Others, however, lack the originality they need to impact the character’s legacy meaningfully.

Written by Grant Morrison with art by Tony S. Daniel, Batman R.I.P. (2008) presents a particularly dark interpretation of the villain, in some ways reminiscent of his contemporary live-action counterpart played by Heath Ledger in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight, as well as his future, faceless New 52 evolution.

This Joker first appears in Batman #676, though his fully evolved persona is unveiled more clearly in Batman #680. In Batman R.I.P., the Joker abandons his familiar theatrics and reinvents himself as a colder, more sadistic force of chaos. While he isn't the main villain, the Joker plays a critical role as a wild card in Batman R.I.P, as he undermines both Batman and the Black Glove's plans and shows them that chaos often beats order.

Batman R.I.P. Makes The Joker A More Sadistic Villain

Batman #676 (2008) – Written by Grant Morrison; Art by Tony S. Daniel; Inks by Sandu Florea; Colors by Guy Major; Letters by Jared K. Fletcher.

Although the Joker has reinvented himself multiple times across his eighty-five-year history, Batman R.I.P. acknowledges it directly, as the Joker develops a brand-new personality after being shot in the face. The Joker takes this opportunity to tweak his appearance and become even more ruthless and chaotic; he goes shirtless, slicks his hair back, and slices his tongue in half. Due to his injuries, the Joker's face is permanently stuck in a smiling expression, which causes his gums to be exposed.

Batman R.I.P. reimagines the Joker for a modern audience by stripping away his more cartoonish traits and emphasizing a darker, more grounded form of evil. In this portrayal, the Joker isn’t just a villain in clown makeup, but a creepy figure whose disturbing appearance happens to evoke clownish imagery. Batman R.I.P.'s Joker interpretation ventured into psychological horror and preceded more popular takes on the villain. However, it didn't make a lasting impact.

Batman R.I.P.'s Joker Is Too Edgy In The Wrong Places

The Joker Is Creepier Than Usual But A Bit Inauthentic In Batman R.I.P.

As shown by a Reddit thread by r/Anonamaton801, the Joker's Batman R.I.P redesign wasn't too popular. The slicked-back hair and forked tongue are a little bit too much for a character who declares himself an agent of chaos, yet relies on carefully chosen symbols to craft that image. While this version of the Joker is more erratic and unpredictable than usual, his calculated appearance suggests a surprising level of self-awareness. Rather than a villain who cares for nothing, the Joker comes across as someone meticulously curating his persona to come across as unsettling.

Other takes on the Joker have been more successful in upping the creepy factor. A prime example is the New 52’s bold decision to have the Joker remove his own face and wear it as a mask — a clear progression on the Joker's Batman R.I.P. redesign, but far more effective in illustrating how far the villain can go. Other takes on the Joker don't have to change much about his appearance to achieve the same effect. In Tom King and Clay Mann’s The Joker: Your Big Day (2018), the Joker retains his classic look, but the hyper-detailed artwork and haunting facial expressions take the villain's creep factor to the max.

Batman R.I.P.'s Joker May Have Inspired DC's Least Popular Live-Action Joker Adaptation

Batman R.I.P.'s Joker Design Didn't Work In Live-Action Either

The similarities between Batman R.I.P.'s Joker and Jared Leto's Suicide Squad portrayal are undeniable. While Leto's DCEU Joker design isn't explicitly a direct adaptation of Grant Morrison and Tony S. Daniel's 2008 Joker reinvention, it does embody the visual overhaul that didn't quite stick the landing in the comics. Joker's movie tattoos displayed the same rebellious attitude as the infamous forked tongue, neither of which stayed with the character afterward. Joker's slicked-back hair, shirtless look, and overly edgy demeanor didn't last long in either format, as it was all quickly replaced with other, more interesting takes on the villain.