The Joker is one of the most iconic villains in pop culture. Even in these days of MCU supremacy, Joker is the biggest villain to ever originate from the comics, having survived decades at the top. He's an indelible part of American pop culture and is recognizable worldwide. In the comics, he's spent years transforming with the trends, becoming a very different character in each incarnation.
As big a part of DC's mythos as the Joker is, he doesn't always feel like he fits in there. An argument could be made that he would be a better Marvel villain, finding a greater level of success against their heroes.
10 His Ever-Changing Nature Would Fit Marvel Better
One of the things that is both great and frustrating about DC is how unchanging things are. After the seismic changes of the '90s, DC looked backward and their line basically became the Silver Age again. The only difference was the level of violence and the quality of the art and writing. This is something DC does a lot; it can be comforting but it's also distressing for fans that want anything new.
The Joker is a character who changes with the times. He evolves and escalates, which fits Marvel much better. Marvel has moved forward, separating itself from the past in a way that DC doesn't. The Joker would fit better in this type of environment.
9 He'd Bring Back An Old School Threat That's Missing From Marvel
In recent years, Marvel has distanced itself from street-level heroes. Daredevil still gets in on that sort of thing, but for the most part, even tried and true street level heroes like Spider-Man, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist are all either doing everything but street-level adventures or are out of the picture. The Joker is a street-level villain and would revitalize that entire part of the Marvel Universe.
DC's street level heroes and villains have a lot more clout than the ones at Marvel. It often feels like Marvel has conceded this type of story to DC and a villain like Joker would fit so much better in a place here he was one of the few big street-level villains.
8 He'd Fit Better With The Lower Power Levels Of The Marvel Universe
The heroes and villains of the DC Universe are more powerful than those of Marvel. Of course, there are outliers but this is a fact; DC characters are like gods and Marvel's are more like normal people. Joker, for example, battles a billionaire with unlimited resources who can outthink ageless beings and strategize better than every military general ever.
Joker is an insane person who is good at chemicals, explosives, and killing. It stretches credulity that Batman has as much problem with him as he does, but someone like Spider-Man, Daredevil, Captain America, or Wolverine? That's believable. Joker would fit better in a place where he wasn't a crazy man fighting what amounts to mythological heroes.
7 His Unique Way Of Doing Things Would Be More Potent Against Marvel's Heroes
The Joker has succeeded in doing a lot of psychological damage to Batman but for the most part, it's almost always temporary. Batman can never actually be affected by 99% of what happens to him, so Joker's greatest weapons against him lose their meaning, other than the general dread of the Joker Batman has.
Marvel is much better about having their characters be affected by the things that happen to them. This is a better fit for the Joker, as half of his game against heroes is damaging them on multiple levels. Putting him somewhere that matters would be much better.
6 His Sadism Fits In Better At Marvel
Joker is one of DC's most sadistic villains by a comfortable margin. In fact, he takes it to the next level. DC villains often revel in their evil but Joker is beyond that, living for the blood and death. Joker's sadistic glee at his own brutality is one of the most defining parts of his brand but it doesn't always fit DC's tone.
It would find a much better home at Marvel. While Marvel's villains aren't all monstrous sadists like the Joker, there's a definite harder edge to the villains. Joker would fit perfectly among these often more hardcore villains and the heroes who fight them.
5 He'd Strike True Fear Into The Hearts Of Marvel's Heroes
The Joker is one of DC's most frightening villains, which is saying something in a universe where beings like Sinestro, Darkseid, and the Anti-Monitor exist. He's succeeded in scaring Batman, which is an extremely difficult feat and also why he would he fit so well at Marvel. While Marvel has some great villains, few of them are as scary as the Joker.
Marvel villains aren't all that scary. While there are some outliers like Thanos, Joker is the type of villain who strikes fear because he can be anywhere and do anything. Thanos, on the other hand, is a more abstract threat for most heroes. Joker would bring fear back the Marvel Universe in a way no other could.
4 He's A Threat To Many Different Kinds Of Heroes
Joker has fought a lot of DC heroes besides Batman. While he's lost to most of them, he was still a challenging opponent, even though his only powers are black humor and an almost instinctive mastery of ways to kill people. That's one of the glories of the Joker; put him up against just about any superhero and he's going to be a threat.
If Joker can be so threatening to some of DC's greatest heroes, just imagine how much better he'd be at Marvel. He could be the ultimate journeyman villain, battling heroes all over the planet, challenging them in ways no one had before.
3 Marvel's Been Turning Out Inferior Copies For Years
Joker has inspired multiple Marvel characters over the years but most of them feel like pale imitations. The closest they've ever gotten with a Joker-esque villain is Green Goblin, and even he pales in comparison to the Joker. The real deal would be so much better at Marvel, seeing as how the company has churned out so many wannabes.
Marvel's wannabe Jokers are often popular villains but Joker would be even more so. Villains like Bullseye, Carnage, Green Goblin, and even Sabretooth to a certain extent, have had great success, but the Joker's would be even greater.
2 He'd Bring A Deadly Threat Like Few Others
One of the great things about the Joker and Batman's battles is how Joker is able to inexplicably lead one of the smartest people on the planet around by the nose. While it can certainly be very plot convenient, it's made Joker into one of DC's deadliest villains and makes another argument for why he would be a great Marvel villain.
Joker's dangerous because of how easily he can take the mundane and create situations that endanger entire cities. Even the big-brain heroes of the Marvel Universe would have a problem dealing with his schemes, as their fiendish simplicity beguiles even the smartest.
1 He'd Be Something New In The Marvel Universe
The Joker's attacks against Gotham City are fun to read about but the whole thing often feels stale. There are only so many times a mental patient in clown make-up holding a city hostage with gas bombs he made with paint thinner and chlorine can be interesting, especially with the same hero always dealing with it.
Joker's MO is pretty different than any Marvel villain's. He has no ideology like Red Skull. He's not in it for self-aggrandizement like Doctor Doom. While he has a grudge against Batman, that's not why he does it. He does it because he can and he enjoys it, which is quite different from most others. His lack of a unifying principle and unpredictably simple methods would make something new in Marvel, which is always great.