<P> The 1992 animated series introduced the Joker's female sidekick: Harley Quinn, a psychiatrist who falls for--and ends up in an abusive relationship with--the Joker, becoming his supervillain accomplice . The character was popular, and was adapted into the comics as the Joker's romantic interest in 1999 . In the same year, Alan Grant and Norm Breyfogle's comic book Anarky concluded with the revelation that the titular character was the Joker's son . Breyfogle conceived the idea as a means to expand on Anarky's characterization, but O'Neil (by then the editor for the Batman series of books) was opposed to it, and only allowed it to be written under protest, and with a promise that the revelation would eventually be revealed incorrect . However, the Anarky series was cancelled before the rebuttal could be published . The Joker's first major storyline in The New 52, DC Comics' 2011 reboot of story continuity, was 2012's "Death of the Family" by writer Scott Snyder and artist Greg Capullo . The story arc explores the symbiotic relationship between Joker and Batman, and sees the villain shatter the trust between Batman and his adopted family . Capullo's Joker design replaced his traditional outfit with a utilitarian, messy, and disheveled appearance to convey that the character was on a mission; his face (surgically removed in 2011's Detective Comics #1) was reattached with belts, wires, and hooks, and he was outfitted with mechanics overalls . The Joker's face was restored in Snyder's and Capullo's "Endgame" (2014), the concluding chapter to "Death of the Family". </P> <P> The Joker has undergone many revisions since his 1940 debut . The most common interpretation of the character is that he is disguised as the criminal Red Hood, and pursued by Batman . The Joker falls into a vat of chemicals which bleaches his skin, colors his hair green and his lips red, and drives him insane . The reasons why the Joker was disguised as the Red Hood, and his identity before his transformation have changed over time . </P> <P> The character was introduced in Batman #1 (1940), in which he announces that he will kill three of Gotham's prominent citizens (including Mayor Henry Claridge). Although the police protect Claridge, the Joker had poisoned him before making his announcement and Claridge dies with a ghastly grin on his face; Batman eventually defeats him, sending him to prison . The Joker commits whimsical, brutal crimes for reasons that, in Batman's words, "make sense to him alone". Detective Comics #168 (1951) introduced the Joker's first origin story as Red Hood: a criminal who, during his final heist, vanishes after leaping into a vat of chemicals to escape Batman . His resulting disfigurement led him to adopt the name "Joker", from the playing card figure he came to resemble . The Joker's Silver - Age transformation into a figure of fun was established in 1952's "The Joker's Millions". In this story the Joker is obsessed with maintaining his illusion of wealth and celebrity as a criminal folk hero, afraid to let Gotham's citizens know that he is penniless and was tricked out of his fortune . The 1970s redefined the character as a homicidal psychopath . "The Joker's Five - Way Revenge" has the Joker taking violent revenge on the former gang members who betrayed him; in "The Laughing Fish" the character chemically adds his face to Gotham's fish (hoping to profit from a copyright), killing bureaucrats who stand in his way . </P> <P> Batman: The Killing Joke (1988) built on the Joker's 1951 origin story, portraying him as a failed comedian pressured into committing crime as the Red Hood to support his pregnant wife . Batman's interference causes him to leap into a chemical vat, which disfigures him . This, combined with the trauma of his wife's earlier accidental death, causes him to go insane and become the Joker . However, the Joker says that this story may not be true, as he prefers his past to be "multiple choice". In this graphic novel, the Joker shoots and paralyzes Barbara Gordon and tortures her father, Commissioner James Gordon, to prove that it only takes one bad day to drive a normal man insane . After Batman rescues Gordon and subdues the Joker, he offers to rehabilitate his old foe and end their rivalry . Although the Joker refuses, he shows his appreciation by sharing a joke with Batman . Following the character's maiming of Barbara, she became a more important character in the DC Universe: Oracle, a data gatherer and superhero informant, who has her revenge in Birds of Prey by shattering the Joker's teeth and destroying his smile . </P>

Who was the joker before becoming the joker