Q 01/05

In which year did the Joker make his first comic-book appearance?

A) 1938

B) 1939

C) 1940

D) 1941

Answer · why

C) 1940

He debuted in Batman #1, about a year after Batman's own first appearance in Detective Comics #27, and featured in nine of the title's first 12 issues...

Q 02/05

Which three men are credited with creating the Joker, despite disagreeing about who did what?

A) Bill Finger, Bob Kane and Jerry Robinson

B) Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko

C) Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster and Bob Kane

D) Dennis O'Neil, Neal Adams and Bob Kane

Answer · why

A) Bill Finger, Bob Kane and Jerry Robinson

Robinson said his sketch of a joker playing card came first; Kane insisted Robinson 'had absolutely nothing to do with it'.

Q 03/05

The Joker's rictus grin was inspired by Conrad Veidt's character Gwynplaine in which 1928 silent film?

A) The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

B) The Man Who Laughs

C) The Phantom of the Opera

D) Nosferatu

Answer · why

B) The Man Who Laughs

The film was based on a Victor Hugo novel; Bill Finger cut Veidt's picture out of a cheap edition of the book.

Q 04/05

Which editor overruled the Joker's planned death in his second story and had a panel added showing him alive?

A) Julius Schwartz

B) Jack Schiff

C) Mort Weisinger

D) Whitney Ellsworth

Answer · why

D) Whitney Ellsworth

Finger feared recurring villains would make Batman look inept.

Q 05/05

In the Joker's earliest stories, his victims died with what on their faces?

A) A grotesque smile

B) A painted tear

C) A playing-card mark

D) White powder

Answer · why

A) A grotesque smile

The toxin was called 'Joker venom'; he was a serial killer and jewel thief modelled on a playing card.