Catalyst Media, 2012
It might seem somewhat eccentric to review a piece lasting just four
minutes, but Christopher Johnson's performance as The Joker proved mesmerizing. The plot is simple: The Joker lures Batman
to his funhouse; as the Caped Crusader travels through the mass of metal, he hears The Joker's voice over the sound-system.
The story from which the extract was taken - The Killing Joke - was a 1995
novel published by Alan Moore, that showed The Joker taking revenge on his enemies. He shoots Batgirl (aka Commissioner Gordon's
daughter) in the back in an attempt to drive the police officer insane. However Gordon perserves his sanity, and Batgirl survives
- although she is now a paraplegic. Moore's story is a study in insanity; what can happen to a criminal if his desire for
revenge becomes obsessive.
Christopher Johnson's reading of The Joker's part caught that note of insanity; the
grating tone, the perpetual sneer as he enjoyed watching Batman suffer; and the barely-concealed contempt for his adversary.
I grew up with memories of Frank Gorshin playing the role in the 1960s television series; Johnson's interpretation of the
part was far harsher, almost brutal. Download the podcast if you can; you certainly won't forget it. The sound designer was
Simon Peter Curran.
