The Dark Knight Joker Scars: Accidental; self inflicted?

[ReallyCoolGuy]

the two theories i've heard is that 1.) His parents were fighting, his mom pulled a knife on his dad and his dad didn't like that so he turned to his son (the joker) and asked why he was so serious, and said "let's put a smile on that face" and 2.) his wife had scars and he put a razor in his mouth and swirled it around. i personally think that 1 is the best and coolest choice, but i don't know. the zipline theory... no. the bullet and batarang... not as cool and demented as his own father cutting into his cheeks and carving a smile.

 

[gdw]

One of my favorite things about the scars, and shows the depth of the movie, is that they are VERY distinctly two different types of scars.
I have my own theories based on this,but I'll just leave it at that.

 

[Jokey]

We will never know how he got these scars. We have two stories, but I am not going to trust the Joker for a second. It will be left up to our own minds, and that's for the best.

I love how Heath acted these moments. Rather placid to downright frightening in the blink of an eye. He rolled his eyes back and thought hard about what story he was going to make up. Then, he sells the lie with total conviction and almost forgets it isn't true. Love it.

 

[Wesley Dodds]

I always thought of TDKs Joker as being a victim of The Narrows fear gas attack at the finale of BB. Driven insane by exposure to a fear inducing, mind altering hallucinagenic in the middle of an anarchic mass scale riot then looking up and seeing what?
http://comicsmedia.ign.com/comics/image/article/628/628678/batman-20050623041038744-000.jpg
It was probably love at first sight.

 

[Jokey]

Perhaps. It's another possibility on a large list to choose from.

 

[Wesley Dodds]

Perhaps. It's another possibility on a large list to choose from.

Of course. And obviously, who he is should NEVER be explained. I'm just saying thats the vibe i always got off the TDK's take on the character.

 

[Jokey]

And that's fine. It could be a combination of things, too. Joker's father carves his smile at a rather young age, and the fear gas incident sends him over the edge. I like the fact it is left up in the air. It's by far much better.

 

[Rasputin911]

I feel like the self-inflicted theory (though not the actual story he told) makes the most sense, if you think about it.

Though i don't doubt he's able to convince himself that it was done by others. He might even believe each story as he tells it.

 

[BestGirl]

I feel like the self-inflicted theory (though not the actual story he told) makes the most sense, if you think about it.

Though i don't doubt he's able to convince himself that it was done by others. He might even believe each story as he tells it.

I think it's half self-inflicted, since only one set of scars looks looks neat.

 

[Rorschach II]

The Joker hints in the movie many times that his existence is the direct result of Batman's existence ("THIS is how CRAZY Batman's made Gotham!"). Last time I saw it, I picked up on a few hints that Batman himself might have scarred the Joker - he could've been some ordinary crook who ran into the Dark Knight's batarangs one night and was scarred for life - although I was under the influence of hallucinogenics myself when I came up with this theory. Or perhaps Joker simply makes these references because he chose to be the Joker after seeing Batman in action. I'm not sure

 

[nickyg641]

I got the distinct impression, and I have since before the film even came out, that the mob had a hand in his scarring. The "Glasgow Grin" is a method used almost exclusively by gangs and criminals. And given the film's mob-heavy plot, as well as the Joker's own hints ("Go back to ripping off mob dealers? No, no..."), it doesn't seem unlikely at all. Also, there's his apparent immense knowledge of organized crime.

My idea of the Joker before his transformation is of a wily, relatively unkown criminal who's too clever for his own good. He rips off the wrong gangbanger, and they have him cut up and left for dead.

 

[Dark Sentinel]

I got the distinct impression, and I have since before the film even came out, that the mob had a hand in his scarring. The "Glasgow Grin" is a method used almost exclusively by gangs and criminals. And given the film's mob-heavy plot, as well as the Joker's own hints ("Go back to ripping off mob dealers? No, no..."), it doesn't seem unlikely at all. Also, there's his apparent immense knowledge of organized crime.

My idea of the Joker before his transformation is of a wily, relatively unkown criminal who's too clever for his own good. He rips off the wrong gangbanger, and they have him cut up and left for dead.

very possible. i picked up a few hints too, and my theory is that Gambol was the one who had him cut up, hence why Joker goes for him personally. not only that, but Gambol's reaction to Joker was a lot more intense than the other Mobsters'..and not just because he didn't like the guy. Think about it: Gambol has a hit put out on Joker (before he IS Joker, obv.), they cut him up with a Glasgow Grin and leave him for dead. Then the Joker (now fully formed) crashes their meeting and Gambol is scared ****less and has ANOTHER hit put out on Joker, only for it to come back and bite him in the ass

 

[Carmine Falcone]

That's reaching man.

 

[BestGirl]

very possible. i picked up a few hints too, and my theory is that Gambol was the one who had him cut up, hence why Joker goes for him personally. not only that, but Gambol's reaction to Joker was a lot more intense than the other Mobsters'..and not just because he didn't like the guy. Think about it: Gambol has a hit put out on Joker (before he IS Joker, obv.), they cut him up with a Glasgow Grin and leave him for dead. Then the Joker (now fully formed) crashes their meeting and Gambol is scared ****less and has ANOTHER hit put out on Joker, only for it to come back and bite him in the ass

Gambol seemed more angry than scared of the Joker at the mob meeting. I think if he'd carved the Joker up he would've mentioned it. His reaction to the Joker was probably intense just because he's an intense, thuggish guy.

 

[mrbrownie]

I think this Joker was so freaking smart and cunning, that he planned everything, even how to mess with peoples perception of him, like the scars, he knew they (cops, Batman, Dent) would try to see them a mark of a tragic event, thus manipulating them into other events in the future until Batman figures it out that he's just messing with everyone, and it's useless to confront him by the psychological side, being that he always has the advantage due to his none explainable behavior.

I know parts of the movie may be seen as real emotion outbursts by the Joker, but, maybe it's just how he thinks the present attitude he's taking would react, being that he acts always, sometimes as childhood abused, love tragedy, or just someone who doesn't want to be alone, but this are just temporary mediums to chaos, meaningless masks, I think we would've seen a very different Joker if there were a sequel with Heath, by different I mean expanded, with a really broad spectrum of personalities. But that's just me

My version posted on the other Joker thread.

 

[Rorschach II]

For what it's worth, the scar on the left side of his face is pretty much a ****ing hole, whereas the scar on the right side of his face is clearly a deep cut. The Joker's red make-up follows the scars so his smile is actually asymmetrical: the right-side red arcs up more towards his cheek than the left-side red.

Whether these were caused by two separate incidents, or even two separate weapons, however, is to be determined. I do believe that, no matter what they say, Goyer & the Nolans and maybe even Ledger had a consistent backstory to the Joker that they kept amongst themselves, origin of the scars and all.

 

[Jokey]

I don't think Gambol is responsible for the scars. I'm probably moving towards self inflicted at this stage. I don't see anyone getting the better of this Joker as an adult. He is just twisted and too dangerous. If it were the self inflicted scenario - he probably did it close to or after Batman's appearance. I can accept it if his father did it to him at a young age, though.

 

[Ace of Knaves]

I've been thinking, the scar on his left side doesn't look like a cut or a hole, to me anyway. Look at the way his mouth and cheeks are all puckered on the left side, looks like it was pulled. Maybe he was fish-hooked on that side? If you don't know what that is check out Gangs of New York. It's where someone grabs the corner of your mouth and pulls it untill it just rips open.

 

[Dark Sentinel]

Gambol seemed more angry than scared of the Joker at the mob meeting. I think if he'd carved the Joker up he would've mentioned it. His reaction to the Joker was probably intense just because he's an intense, thuggish guy.

i dunno, Gambol had a much more hostile reaction to Joker than the other mob leaders..plus he could've carved him up in the past when the mob wasn't working together

 

[BestGirl]

I've been thinking, the scar on his left side doesn't look like a cut or a hole, to me anyway. Look at the way his mouth and cheeks are all puckered on the left side, looks like it was pulled. Maybe he was fish-hooked on that side? If you don't know what that is check out Gangs of New York. It's where someone grabs the corner of your mouth and pulls it untill it just rips open.

I shudder to think of what the Joker would do to anyone who "fish-hooked" him.

 

[Dark Sentinel]

I shudder to think of what the Joker would do to anyone who "fish-hooked" him.

he'd probably fillet 'em

 

[Travesty]

I think he was supposed to die somehow, maybe form a torture method used by the Mob, but its the line he says after the bank robbery that always gets me, "whatever doesn't kill you, only makes you......stranger".

 

[Twofaceguy]

I prefer my old theory that he chewed through his cheeks while he was tweaking

Sounds like that could fit the scar on his left cheek, but looks like someone cutted his right cheek.

 

[nightwing666]

I always thought that he did the scars himself thats why the cuts arnt perfect and when he says " Whatever doesn't kill you...simply makes you stranger" ment to me that Yeah before he's a Sick *#@! now he's a Sick *#@! who now looks like a clown who's stuck with this sick smile. Making him look stranger then everyone else.

 

[roach]

i dunno, Gambol had a much more hostile reaction to Joker than the other mob leaders..plus he could've carved him up in the past when the mob wasn't working together

well joker did call him names and say stuff about his mom or grandmother