5 Times The Joker Has Protected Batman's Identity

I like it whenever Joker supports Batman solely on the basis of "HE IS MY PLAYTHING AND NO ONE WILL DESTROY OUR MAGIC".

My favorite time is in the Batman issue #1000 where the Penguins talks about he always knew Batman identity after a villains meeting to discuss who it is. In said meeting most of them almost piece it together until the Joker goes out of his way to make the idea of Bruce being Batman as extremely absurd. Which is one of the more subtle ways he’s protected his identity.

"Where's my goddamn electric car, Bruce?" Joker doesn't care that he found out Batman is Bruce Wayne. He just wants his electric car from WayneTech 😂.

In the comics, Batman once told the Joker his identity while the Joker was in Arkham. The Joker’s insanity keeps that memory repressed.

Joker asking Bruce where his electric car he pre ordered was has got to be one of the funniest lines I've ever heard. The transition from villain to disgruntled customer is perfect.

The Three Jokers story would also be a great example of Joker protecting Batman's identity. In this story, the mad villain kidnaps Joe Chill to force Batman to rescue him and put aside the trauma that the criminal caused him with the murder of his parents, revealing later that he knows Bruce's identity, but doesn't plan to reveal it to anyone, as he wants to be Batman's only big trauma.

Joker is that guy who doesn't want a movie or show to end.

Moral of the story: If Joker hears that someone knows Batman’s identity, he will do anything to keep it a secret as he will either beat them or kill them.

How could you leave out Batman Arkham Knight? At the end of the Harley mission at Panessa Studios, the mental echo of Joker inside Bruce's mind is showing him (and the player/audience) what happened with Jason Todd, which is supposed to be the big hint of the huge plot twist that everyone saw coming. When Joker has shown that he has essentially flipped Jason, he asks him what is Batman's secret identity is. And just as Jason is about to reveal it, Joker "shoots him dead" saying "I always hate a tattle tale."

Joker's relationship with Batman is one of the most interesting hero-villain relationships in fiction.

"Chill of the Night" is probably the most underrated Batman story ever written. Batman finally confronting the man who ruined his life and revealing him that he created with his egoistical acts the monster that got rid of Gotham's evil is simply EPIC

I think this is why I like the Joker. Even though he is Batman's greatest arch-nemesis, he goes to great lengths to make sure that absolutely nobody ever comes close to uncovering his favorite hero's identity as it would ruin their interaction and the dynamic energy they share. I love it so much.

I find it ironic that Batman also knows The Joker’s real name, that he figured out who he was weeks after his first confrontation. He could tell his closest allies and The GCPD but he chooses not to. Not only because it wouldn’t matter but because it would endanger The Joker’s family.

Joker doesn't like getting spoiled.

Keep in mind that Joker is one of the few villains who believes that Batman's superhero identity is his real identity while whoever is under the cape and cowl is a fake.

This reminds me of a moment in the "Generations" trilogy, set in a reality in which all characters age naturally, where a dying and elderly Joker asks Batman (at that time Bruce Wayne Jr.) as his last wish to reveal his secret identity to him, wanting to know if the man he faced for decades was always the same person. Unfortunately for him, Batman does not agree to his request, for which the clown prince of crime dies with genuine sadness, aware of how much he wasted his life.

I would also like to add that Joker's whole relationship with Batman's identity changes as The Batman series progresses; early on, there's an episode where the Riddler challenges Penguin and Joker to defeat and unmask Batman for the privilege of controlling the city, which Joker is totally on board with. But by the time we reach the episode mentioned in this video, the dynamic has changed so much that he's willing to take down other villains in order to preserve Batman's secret. I find that fascinating, and SO in character for him.

Imagine a parallel universe in which the Joker actually died forever in his first appearance, with the Mad Monk becoming Batman's nemesis instead. It would be TRULY an interesting reality

The Return of the Joker monologue is up there with the one bad day monologue. I love how much joy he gets from rubbing it in Batman face. “Behind all the stern and batarangs. You’re just a little boy in a play suit, crying for mommy and daddy. It be funny if it weren’t so pathetic. O what the hay, I’ll laugh anyway 🤣”

It’s kinda weird how one of the ways to beat joker is to just reveal Batman’s identity to him. Sure he will most likely kill you right afterwords but still he would get bored from being a villian.