The Joker’s first appearance in April 1940’s Batman #1 actually set the foundations for the Joker as we know him today – 80 years later. Debuting one year after Batman’s debut in Detective Comics #27 in May 1939, the Joker was depicted as a remorseless serial killer, whose face was stuck in a grin that made him look like the joker playing card (which was also his calling card). He killed victims with a “Joker venom” which left their faces stuck in a grotesque smile. Sound familiar?

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