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The Joker is a psychopath, apparently fine with murdering just about anyone in any way.

However, according to TV Tropes, some versions of him do have some standards. For example, he wouldn't work with Nazis or do things he considers just plain "mean."

Based on this information, has the Joker ever stated or implied that any act of violence would be too wrong or extreme, even for him?

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2 Answers 2

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Depends on your definition of Canon. I don't remember the exact issue, but there was a Batman/Captain America crossover back in, oh, the 80s or so. Joker ends up teaming up with Red Skull . Cap and Batman chase the two villains to an airfield where they can simply watch as the bad guys plane flies away.

On the plane, Red Skull reveals to Joker his plans to drop a nuke on the USA. That wasn't what Joker had signed up for. Joker ends up betraying Red Skull by forcing the bomb to go off prematurely, killing them both. As he does so, Red Skull yells something like "what do you think you're doing?" And Joker replies "I may be a homicidal maniac, but I'm an AMERICAN homicidal maniac!"

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    Also, it's likely that the Joker isn't into genocide because he enjoys hurting people, and genocide empties out the victim pool. It's kind of a conservation issue.
    – Doug Warren
    Commented Feb 22, 2016 at 19:19
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    I can't quite read the comic. Does the Joker not approve of the plan because it involves killing so many people, or solely because Red Skull is a Nazi?
    – Rogue Jedi
    Commented Feb 22, 2016 at 22:50
  • @RogueJedi the latter.
    – Broklynite
    Commented Feb 22, 2016 at 23:18
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    @RogueJedi the latter it seems
    – AncientSwordRage ♦
    Commented Feb 22, 2016 at 23:20
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In Batman 428 (January 1989), The Joker beats Jason Todd (the 2nd Robin) to death with a crowbar

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and then proceeded to blow up the building he was in.

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In the graphic novel The Killing Joke, the Joker terrorizes Commissioner Gordon by shooting his daughter Barbara enter image description here

(and possibly raping her, or at the very least beating her naked body and taking pictures to show to Jim).

In my opinion, those two actions are "just plain mean".

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    "and taking pictures to show Gordon" assuming you mean Jim Gordon, her father, isn't that him sitting right there when she's shot? So why would the Joker need pictures to show him? Or did he abscond with the body and do that elsewhere?
    – TylerH
    Commented Feb 22, 2016 at 15:35
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    I don't recall, it's been a long time. I believe Joker takes both Gordon and Barbara. The pictures are of her naked and being tortured, not being shot. images-cdn.moviepilot.com/images/c_fill,h_1023,w_655/…
    – scott.korin
    Commented Feb 22, 2016 at 15:38
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    The question seems to be looking for things that he wouldn't do. What you've provided are things that he's done.
    – FuzzyBoots
    Commented Feb 22, 2016 at 16:04
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    @TylerH You should read The Killing Joke, it's a good read. But if you prefer spoilers: ˙ǝɹǝɥʇ sǝɹnʇɔıd ǝɥʇ ɯıɥ sʍoɥs pɐɯ ǝuoʎuɐ uɹnʇ uɐɔ ʎɐp pɐq ǝʃƃuıs ɐ ʇɐɥʇ ʇuıod sıɥ ǝʌoɹd oʇ ʇdɯǝʇʇɐ uɐ uı puɐ ʞɹɐd ʇuǝɯǝsnɯɐ pǝuopuɐqɐ uɐ oʇ uopɹo⅁ sǝɯɐſ sǝʞɐʇ ɹǝʞoſ
    – Zommuter
    Commented Oct 4, 2016 at 10:58
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    @Zommuter I have read it and seen the animated movie already since posting that comment in February, thanks!
    – TylerH
    Commented Oct 4, 2016 at 12:50

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