Batman: The Animated Series (TV Series) Joker's Wild (1992) User Reviews

All Bets Are Off In This Casino Caper

[ccthemovieman-1 · 9/10 · 18 April 2008]

Yet again, we get a great episode featuring The Joker. This guy is always entertaining and the writers of this show seem to excel when this laughing crook is the star. They give him all kinds of puns and make the show action-packed start-to-finish.

In this one, a crooked businessman named Kaiser builds a very costly casino downtown and names it "Joker's Wild" with pictures of The Joker everywhere in and outside the building. It turns out he knew by doing this that the real criminal will break out of jail, blow up the place and then he can collect big-time on the insurance.

All three of these guys go at it inside and outside the casino in some wild and colorful scenes. We also get opening and closing jail segments which are fun as The Joker and Poison Ivy go at each other verbally.

Solid writing elevates this casino caper

[Mr-Fusion · 8/10 · 23 November 2016]

This is quintessential Joker. What makes the guy so entertaining is that his homicidal psychosis is a mischievous one. He's completely unpredictable too, which is what makes this hilarious; that the way to get under his skin is to cash in on his likeness with a gaudy casino.

Mark Hamill really does own this character, and helps make this silliness work within the tonal confines of the show. But it's also the little things,, like seeing the other Arkham inmates' total disdain for the Joker's antics (Ivy, especially).

Great episode.

8/10

Now, Now! No Sore Losers - We're Here To Have Fun!!

[rhiron · 8/10 · 7 November 2013]

This episode is truly one of those overlooked gems from 'Batman: The Animated Series', like 'Fire From Olympus', 'Eternal Youth' or 'Riddler's Reform'.

After the introduction of Harley Quinn, it's one of those episodes that returns the focus to The Joker, allowing him to go it alone at least once more. Harley does make a spiritual appearance, however, portrayed by several of Cameron Kaiser's casino waitresses.

In some ways, this episode is similar to 'The Last Laugh' and the later 'New Batman Adventures' episode 'Joker's Millions' in that it is absolutely hilarious.

Mark Hamill is almost always on his best form in each of his episodes as The Joker, but he really excels here, taking several great quips and using that epic combination of chortles and full, maniacal laughs to really great effect. Bruce Wayne even gets a mildly James Bond-ish game of blackjack with him that leaves The Clown Prince of Crime seething with rage!

Hamill and the animators even make The Joker almost as indispensable to Warner Brothers Animation as Bugs Bunny or Daffy Duck in his mannerisms in this one and it doesn't seem a coincidence that he is introduced whistling the 'Looney Tunes' theme and watching the cartoon.

His escape from Arkham and his rampage through Kaiser's casino say it all really: there's a reason why The Joker fronts the line in Batman's rogues gallery!

Diane Pershing drops in for a great little cameo as Poison Ivy, introducing the now-famous rivalry between Joker and Ivy that only intensifies when Harley comes between them. I guess it's interesting to see that even Batman's foes like Ivy, The Scarecrow and The Mad Hatter have lives beyond their villainous plots and foibles and, especially, Batman.

All in all, this episode always leaves me nearly crying with laughter and, for me, even though he's a vicious maniac, The Joker still has some talent as a gifted comedian, too, especially with his prop comedy!!

Casino CHAOS For Summer

[osbornj-00213 · 8/10 · 24 July 2020]

G-O-O-D episode but could have been BETTER had Summer Gleeson had MORE then book-end broadcasting bits, sadly her USUAL role. Delightful Mari Devon--as in D--alphabetically at top as Guest "Star," she could hardly be called THAT, even over Mark Hamill--as in H--could never disguise sadly Summer with a few exceptions was more woefully "with", "and," "also" at LAST-in-the-Cast part-plotwise as HERE standard Set UP the Story Scene then NOT in it, at least prettily, pleasingly, performing necessary function voicing with verve, made one wish MORE for her. One realized how one so had took her for granted later with woefully ruinous at reporting dull dud JERK Ryder sadly stealing her spot in second second-RATE feeble-follow-up series, how missed her. WASTING chances like here for her was awfully always THE mistake of otherwise brilliant series. Lois Lane NO question WOULD have investigated a Casino dedicated to Lex Luthor and Summer HAD reason to angrily also, Joker trying to kill her, blow up train he KNEW her Mother was on (Christmas With the Joker) so give her chance to EARN "Guest STAR" status:

Summer fumes FURIOUS at opening, confronting Kaiser, "What's this about dedicating a Casino to Gotham's most notorious criminal who tried at Christmas to BLOW UP MY MOTHER and then DROP ME IN MOLTEN LAVA?" "Oh, come on, you're STILL on that? Get OVER it." Kaiser says, walks away.

When Batman reaches Kaiser's office FINDS SUMMER THERE ALREADY, had told guards she needed another interview. Overpowered by guards they're dropped into Joker's hands, smiling at Summer, "Well, ONLY April but already Its Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!"

While Batman tied to revolving roulette wheel Joker dangles Summer SCREAMING pretty head off from the roof. Where Perchance to Dream brilliantly borrowed last line from The Maltese Falcon (Warners owned both film and show), Joker channels Casablanca, "Ah, Christmas, THE memories, chestnuts AND YOU roasting over an open fire. You know the problems of three little people don't count for a hill of beans in this crazy world--UNLESS I'm one of them and for OTHER two its, phfft," slashing gesture with thumb across throat. "But we'll ALWAYS have Christmas.

"It's been great but all good things MUST come to an end--I know I make SURE they do--and, As Time Goes By, seasons change and always after Summer, COMES FALL!" He DROPS her to swinging save by Batman. Summer finishes reporting Kaiser caught, Casino closed, Joker back in Arkham, "Yes, it IS Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas." starts singing confusing control room while criminal crazies of Arkham joyfully joining in, Joker, -hand-in-chin irritated, "Fools! It's APRIL!"