The Joker is one of the most iconic villains of modern fiction for a reason. With the eternally versatile Clown Prince of Crime finding that nearly impossible blend of being terrifying, hilarious and compelling, he can make a perfect antagonist. He's been used in all sorts of stories with varying tones, but there are a few surprising ones that have proven to be perfect targets for the Joker, including the holiday season.

In fact, the Joker has such a rich history with targeting holidays, it made up part of the plot for two separate episodes within the DC Animated Universe. Batman: The Animated Series' episode "Christmas with the Joker" and The New Batman Adventures' "Holiday Knights" highlight the Joker's strength as the villain of holiday-themed storylines.

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How The Joker Stole Christmas & Bombed New Years

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On two separate occasions in the DCAU, the Joker carried out a holiday-themed attack on Gotham City. The first time this version of the Joker even appeared in Batman: The Animated Series was a Christmas-themed episode, "Christmas with the Joker." Directed by Kent Butterworth with a script by Eddie Gorodetsky, the episode opened with the Joker escaping Arkham Asylum atop a secret rocket hidden in a Christmas tree. Joker quickly kidnaps Commissioner Gordon, Summer Gleeson, and Harvey Bullock, forcing Batman and Robin to jump into action to save them. The episode is largely focused on Joker unleashing dangerous toys and his henchman onto the dynamic duo.

Another holiday-themed episode served as the inaugural episode of the subsequent series The New Batman Adventures. Season 1, Episode 1, "Holiday Knights" was a three-part anthology taking place all across Gotham. The final segment focused on the Joker's latest scheme, which would unleash a large dose of lethal gas onto the assembled revelers attending a New Year's Eve celebration in Downtown Gotham. Batman and Robin arrive on the scene to save the day, with the episode serving as the franchise's introduction of Tim Drake.

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Why Ruining Christmas Is a Perfect Joker Plot

"Christmas with the Joker" and "Holiday Knights" were the first time that the Joker had used the holiday season as the impetus for an attack, with stories like Batman: The Long Halloween showcasing the Joker in a Grinch light. But the DCAU Joker highlights just how fun the Joker works as a holiday season threat. His colorful Christmas assault and attack on New Year's Eve focusing on him subvert the assorted trappings of the holidays, turning the litany of typical decorations and presents into a series of deadly weapons against the heroes. It establishes the Joker as a very goofy character -- something "Christmas With the Joker" especially leans into when it reveals Joker's real present for Batman was simply a pie in the face.

But both episodes also make it very clear that the Joker isn't to be trifled with. Joker casually sets up an entire train full of people to crash in "Christmas With the Joker." When he especially discovers Summer Gleason's mother is aboard, he mocks her for it. His attack in "Holiday Knights" is basically a terrorist attack that could have left scores dead in the center of Gotham. The Joker works best when he's funny and terrifying at the same time -- a tonal balancing act that would come to define Mark Hamill's version of the Joker. This balancing act continued to appear in the DCAU and popped up in various other adaptations of the character.

Attacking the holidays with a mix of colorful props and higher stakes allows the Joker to showcase both of those elements succinctly and in single attacks. By making the Joker a holiday villain, Batman the Animated Series found a way to establish him as both a goof and as a threat in a single story.