The Joker Gave DC’s Mightiest Villain His Most EMBARRASSING Defeat

The Joker has concocted and executed some insane plans over the years. But, nothing was more bizarre than when he obtained the powers of a fellow DC Comics’ villain and decided to use them on a grand scale – including embarrassing Darkseid, making the universe’s biggest threat surrender with ease.

The Emperor Joker storyline, written by Joe Kelly and Jeph Loeb with art from multiple artists including Duncan Rouleau and Todd Nauck, was one of the most bizarre tales DC Comics has ever published. The book featured the Joker stealing the multi-dimensional powers of the Superman villain Mr. Mxzyptlk and becoming a trickster god himself. In a world where heroes and villains switched places, the Joker used his powers to eat all of China (I’m not kidding) and managed to take down one of the biggest villains in the universe.

Darkseid isn’t too thrilled the superpowered Joker has stumbled upon the Anti-Life Equation and summons some of the mightiest beings in the universe – Shazam, Highfather, Zeus, Ganthet and Phantom Stranger, and tells them to not interfere with his attempt at trying to take down the Clown Prince of Crime. However, as he’s laying down his plans, the powerful beings are turned into joke versions of themselves, and a giant baby version of the Joker shows up. While Darkseid tells him he’s too late to find the Anti-Life Equation, the Joker rebuffs him by telling him he’d make an excellent lawn-jockey for his secret hideout.

Instead of fighting the Joker, Darkseid surrenders to him after he’s told he’d make a great “hood ornament.” Darkseid responds with “I… I’m watchin’ your game… drinkin’ a suds…” It’s rare to see Darkseid give up so quickly, but in this case, he saw the extreme power the Joker possessed and knew he didn’t have a challenge for it. This version of the Joker is so overpowered, Darkseid would rather sit to the side and watch it all unfold.

While the Joker would eventually be stopped, he showed that with legitimate cosmic power he can do serious damage. He’s one of the most notable DC Comics villains without any superpowers, so giving him extra abilities further cemented him as the most twisted villain in the DC Universe. Even Darkseid realized he wasn’t going to take down the Joker with that much power – so he relented. It’s an embarrassing defeat for the ruler of Apokolips, but he knew he was screwed and surrendered. The Joker was simply too powerful to be reckoned with.

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Liam McGuire
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Lead writer for Screen Rant’s comic team. [email protected]. Find me on Twitter @LiamRMcGuire for comic news and reporting.

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