Editing Joker (character) (section)

===Relationships===
{{see also|List of Batman family enemies}}
The Joker's unpredictable, homicidal nature makes him one of the most feared supervillains in the DC Universe; the [[Trickster (comics)|Trickster]] says in the 1995 miniseries ''[[Underworld Unleashed]]'', "When super-villains want to scare each other, they tell Joker stories."<ref name="BatmanUnauthorized"/><ref name="UnderworldUnleashed"/> Gotham's villains also feel threatened by the character; depending on the circumstances, he is as likely to fight with his rivals for control of the city as he is to join them for an entertaining outcome.{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=83}} The Joker interacts with other supervillains who oppose Batman, whether he is on the streets or in Arkham Asylum. He has collaborated with criminals like the [[Penguin (character)|Penguin]], the [[Riddler]], and [[Two-Face]], although these partnerships rarely end well due to the Joker's desire for unbridled chaos, and he uses his stature to lead others (such as [[Killer Croc]] and the [[Scarecrow (DC Comics)|Scarecrow]]).{{sfn|Manning|2011|pp=83, 86}} The Joker's greatest rival is [[Lex Luthor]], the smartest man in the world and Superman's archenemy. Although the villains have a friendly partnership in 1950's ''World's Finest Comics'' #88, later unions emphasized their mutual hostility and clashing egos.{{sfn|Manning|2011|pp=86,93}}

Despite his tendency to kill subordinates on a whim, the Joker has no difficulty attracting henchmen with a seemingly infinite cash supply and intimidation; they are too afraid of their employer to refuse his demands that they wear red clown noses or laugh at his macabre jokes.{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=75}} Even with his unpredictability and lack of superhuman powers, the 2007 limited series ''Salvation Run'' sees hundreds of villains fall under his spell because they are more afraid of him than Lex Luthor.{{sfn|Manning|2011|pp=124, 126}} ''Batman'' #186 (1966) introduced the Joker's first sidekick: the one-shot character Gaggy Gagsworthy, who is short and dressed like a clown; the character was later resurrected as an enemy of his replacement, Harley Quinn.<ref name="SidekickGaggy"/><ref name="SidekickGaggy2"/> Introduced in the 1992 animated series, Quinn is the Joker's former Arkham psychiatrist who develops an obsessive infatuation with him and dons a red-and-black [[harlequin]] costume to join him as his sidekick and on-off girlfriend. They have a classic [[abusive relationship]]; even though the Joker constantly insults, hurts, and even tries to kill Harley, she always returns to him, convinced that he loves her.<ref name="SidekickGaggy2"/>{{sfn|Manning|2011|pp=143, 152}} The Joker is sometimes shown to keep [[spotted hyena|laughing hyena]]s as pets; this trait was introduced in the 1977 animated series ''[[The New Adventures of Batman]]''.{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=75}} A 1976 issue of ''[[Batman Family]]'' introduced [[Duela Dent]] as the Joker's daughter, though her parentage claim was later proven to be false.{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=177}}

Although his chief obsession is Batman, the character has occasionally ventured outside Gotham City to fight Batman's superhero allies. In "To Laugh and Die in Metropolis" (1987) the character kidnaps [[Lois Lane]], distracting Superman with a nuclear weapon. The story is notable for the Joker taking on a (relative) god and the ease with which Superman defeats him—it took only 17 pages. Asked why he came to Metropolis, the Joker replies simply: "Oh Superman, why not?"{{sfn|Manning|2011|p=121}} In 1995, the Joker fought his third major DC hero: [[Wonder Woman]], who drew on the Greek god of trickery to temper the Joker's humor and shatter his confidence.{{sfn|Manning|2011|pp=121–122, 124}} The character has joined supervillain groups like the Injustice Gang and the Injustice League to take on superhero groups like the Justice League.<ref name="Teamup1"/><ref name="Teamup2"/>