Do a Google search for "comic book villain" and he'll pop up in the top 3. He's the "Clown Prince of Crime," the quintessential malevolent maniac, and Batman's baddest bad guy, the nefarious Joker. The creation of Bill Finger, Bob Kane and (some say) Jerry Robinson, he is perhaps the best known and most published comic book villain of all time. Interestingly, for being so infamous, the Joker's origins are very hazy, and his actual identity has never been revealed. According to Wikipedia:

"The first origin account, Detective Comics #168 (February 1951), revealed that the Joker had once been a criminal known as the Red Hood. In the story, he is a scientist (a chemical engineer) looking to steal from the company that employs him and adopts the persona of Red Hood. After committing the theft, which Batman thwarts, he falls into a vat of chemical waste. He emerges with bleached white skin, red lips, green hair and a permanent grin.

"In his initial dozen or so appearances, starting with Batman #1 (1940), the Joker was a straightforward homicidal maniac, with a bizarre appearance modeled after the Joker playing card. He was slated to be killed in his second appearance, but editor Whitney Ellsworth suggested that the character be spared. A hastily drawn panel, demonstrating that the Joker was still alive, was subsequently added to the comic. For the next several appearances, the Joker often escaped capture but suffered an apparent death (falling off a cliff, being caught in a burning building, etc.), from which his body was not recovered."

Detective Comics #71 (1943)
Cover Art by Jerry Robinson

This model is a repaint combining elements from some of my other models and new props and art. It was put together by John-Paul Cote as part of a diorama that he is constructng. He came out quite nicely and I'm glad to add this model to the other offerings here. I hope you enjoy assembling this crazy criminal!

Happy Modeling!!

The Professor.