Joker, Evil Typologies & Mental Health — Derived Datasets

Along with the development of psychology and Carl G. Jung's archetype theory—such as the shadow—the possibility of the existence of an unjustifiable evil has become increasingly uncomfortable. Is there genuine evil? Comics were born from the schematization of the fight between good and evil; however, in recent times, especially since their audiovisual adaptation, they have gained nuance and depth. Heroes are no longer perfect; they make mistakes and have shadows. Nevertheless, until now and with few exceptions, writers have not developed this depth in the role of evil. Are villains genuinely bad, or did something make them that way? Why do we justify evil or depersonalize it? In this article, we analyze Joker, the film by Todd Phillips, and its influences on the comics The Killing Joke and The Dark Knight Returns, regarding how the deconstruction of the main character's life and his mental health problems serves as a justification for his identity and acts. This decision aims to give visibility to mental health issues and the need for them to be detected and supported by society. However, establishing a relationship between one of the cruelest villains in the history of superhero comics and the transmedia narrative universe to which he belongs with mental health problems may also continue to contribute to stigmatization and viewing these issues through fear and ostracism.\n\nKeywords: Joker, villain, mental health problems, stigmatization, identity, transmedia storytelling, The Killing Joke, The Dark Knight Returns.