Book by: J.R. Geiger
Genre: Fan Fiction
The laughter echoed off the cold, damp walls—a sound so devoid of joy it collapsed inward like a black hole. It was laughter born of pure, unadulterated madness.
The room reeked of old blood and rusted metal, the air thick with the terror of a woman tied to a rickety chair—her swollen belly straining against the thin, black silk of her cocktail dress, each twitch of the unborn child a cruel reminder that time was running out.
The Joker, in his frayed purple suit, held a crowbar in his hand, a macabre conductor waiting for the next note of his symphony. He tilted his head, tapping the metal against his temple with theatrical rhythm.
“A baby,” he cooed, voice syrupy with mock reverence. “A little encore before the curtain drops.”
He leaned in, nose wrinkling at the scent of fear and amniotic hope. “Let’s see if it kicks when I laugh.” He raised the crowbar and stopped.
The woman flinched.
The Joker’s grin widened.
“You know what I love about babies?” he said, circling her like a shark in a baptismal font. “They scream. Just like their mothers. It’s poetry, really.”
He raised the crowbar again.
She tried to shrink herself away.
“Now, let’s give the little one a lullaby it’ll never forget.”
She closed her eyes and braced for impact.
“C’mon, my darling, keep your eyes open,” he crooned, a sickening smile stretching across his face. “This is the best part of the show! The big finish, the grand finale!” He gestured dramatically with the crowbar. “See, there’s always a choice. You, sweet pea, you get to choose what you want to be. My little doctor… or a punchline.”
The woman, bruised and bleeding, her eyes now wide with fear, shook her head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about… I’m a doctor… he’s just a boy… please… let us go… let him go.”
“Oh, but you do,” he giggled, tapping the crowbar against the wall. “Everyone has a secret, a little piece of themselves they keep hidden. And I found yours. You see, you’ve always wanted to be more than a footnote in my story. Now’s your chance.” He leaned in close, his painted grin inches from her face. “You want to be the punchline?”
Tears streamed down her face. “I’m not part of your game! Neither is my son! I run the shelter! I help people!” Her voice cracked—not with defiance, but with the desperate hope that truth could still matter.
“Wrong answer!” His voice suddenly hard and sharp. The crowbar swung down like a conductor’s final note.
The pain was a blinding, all-encompassing sheet of fire. As her head lolled to the side, her eyes, glazed and distant, fixed on the ceiling. She was vaguely aware of a low, calculating voice near her ear.
“You know, the funny thing is, a person will do anything to protect their family. Even a crazy person. Maybe a little too crazy….”
A faint sound sliced through the ringing silence in her ears: the quiet, muffled crying of a child, drifting from the next room.
He stood, his smile returning as he stared down at the broken woman. “Now, let’s see what happens when the monster has to make a choice.”
He walked out of the room, his laughter echoing in the darkness, leaving a trail of blood and the broken silence of his latest victim.
Just before the sound faded completely, his voice rang out again—bright, theatrical, almost sing-song: “Ohhhhhh, booooooyyyyyy?”
The echo lingered, a twisted invitation, a cue for the next scene in his grotesque performance. It was the last thing she heard before her world mercifully faded to black.
He was a monster, a man without a soul. He knew this. He embraced it. And tonight, he wasn’t just writing a tragedy.
He was carving a scar into someone else’s story.
***
This is a work of fan fiction created for entertainment and creative expression. All characters, settings, and intellectual property referenced herein are the exclusive property of DC Comics and Warner Bros. Entertainment. I make no claim of ownership and have no affiliation with, nor endorsed by, DC Comics or Warner Bros. Entertainment. This work is not intended for commercial use, and no copyright infringement is intended.
Like many others, I've seen the different story lines in DC and didn't like them.
I thought I could do better. This story is a project I've been working on for a long, long time. I hope it sticks with you. It is a story about hope, redemption, family found, and family lost.
The story takes place in an alternate timeline and reality. Character ages, relationships, and events have been reimagined to explore new emotional and narrative dimensions. While the characters remain true to their core identities, their circumstances and histories have been respectfully altered for creative purposes.
© Copyright 2025 J.R. Geiger. All rights reserved.
Regular reviews are a general comments about the work read. Provide comments on plot, character development, description, etc.
In-line reviews allow you to provide in-context comments to what you have read. You can comment on grammar, word usage, plot, characters, etc.
Hello, my friend... thought I'd drop in and see what condition my condition is in and what I might find here in your world. So... I found plenty.
Wow! You established a dark opening that sets up the Joker as truly irredeemable - that contrast should work well with the redemption themes you mentioned. The violence feels purposeful since you're clearly building toward something hopeful later. I can see you're going for that "darkest before the dawn" approach. I can't wait to see how that works out.
The Joker's dialogue captures his voice very well, especially the theatrical way he talks about choices and punchlines. That line about "a person will do anything to protect their family" hints at where you might be taking this story with the family themes you mentioned.
With that said, I will have to make my way into Chapter 1 to see how this plays out. Sounds like it's gonna be a fun ride!
Happy trails,
MJ
Author
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It's definitely going to he a fun ride for everyone who reads it.
It's a labor of love years in the making.
It's complete, but I eep going back and tweaking things. LOL
I'll be posting new chapters often since it is a complete story.
Ah, okay. Somehow I missed the prologue before starting on chapter 1. Skipping it didn't make me feel like I missed much. The book works without it. Not to say that it's unnecessary -- it's a solid set-up for what's to come.
In a comment I made for ch. 3, I mentioned that I didn't know if Bruce knows who Harleen is. Maybe because she looks different now. I'm not sure you made it clear that he already definitely knows who he brought home. Maybe add an internal thought to that effect. Or perhaps have Alfred question Bruce's decision to bring her to Wayne Manor.
whatta
Author
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He knows. From his past dealings with her and Joker.
His reaction and thoughts when he met her at the old zoo gates.
I tend to prefer to leave inline reviews when possible, because then I can comment on whatever little things I feel like without having to explain the context. Plus figuring 50 words to say "Nice job" on such a short piece is difficult enough as is.
I think some of the issue—that may be too strong a word?—is that Batman is one of those things where he's something different to everyone, and there's so many different versions and different substories with the side characters that it's difficult to just jump in without context.
I did not grow up reading the comic books. I know there was some controversy about the newer ones (especially the New 52 releases, I think they were called?). It never really bothered me, because to me, he wasn't a comic book character. He was a TV character. Reruns of the Adam West and the Just League Friends (or whatever that was called) was my exposure to him. And then the Tim Burton/Joel Schumacher series. And then the Animated Series (in my opinion, the BEST version; Kevin Conroy is/was my Batman), which is where Harley Quinn (quickly one of my two favorite members of his rogues gallery; animated Ivy's the other) was first introduced. I've played some of the Arkham series. I've played all of the Lego titles. I've watched all of the Nolan and Snyder films (extended versions, of course, never the theatrical versions). I'm a fan of all the Arrowverse shows (including both Batwomen). But I've almost never touched a comic book. I've read two comics/graphic novels. Harlequin #1 and The Killing Joke (since it introduces Oracle's origins).
Anyway, point is: other than agreeing with you that Harley would not in good faith kill children—she'd kill their abusers, no doubt, or anyone that she might think might be their abusers, which pretty much means most adults, I suspect—I don't really comprehend what you're protesting. Which is fine. I might not be the audience to that protest. :)
As for the actual fiction:
It's interesting, knowing who Harleen Quinzel is/was, to see him killing a doctor. At first I thought you were doing away with Harley entirely. ;) I haven't read beyond this point. So I'm guessing that he's on the hunt for someone to corrupt, and that she ends up being his victim? So the redemption story is hers? The fall and rise of Dr Harleen Quinzel?
Anyway. Reads good. No notes, other than above.
Author
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I believe you'll find this story a very interesting read as you continue.
At least I believe you will.
I look forward to your opinions and critique on the rest of the story as I post it.
This is a powerful, albeit dark. You've captured the Joker's distinct and terrifying blend of philosophical madness and visceral violence exceptionally well.
The opening establishes a chilling mood immediately. Phrases like "laughter... a sound so devoid of joy that it was a black hole" and the smells of "old blood and rusted metal" create a strong, oppressive setting. This quickly immerses the reader in a truly horrible place.
Author
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I'm happy you like the Prologue.
Like in my note, this was a project stemming from my disappointment with DC and the notion... I can do better.
I do hope you keep reading. I post chapters pretty regularly.
The entire story has been finished for a long, long time.
I don't want to post it all at once, but I'm absolutely dying to because I want everyone to see where it goes and how it ends up.
The prologue is written with intrigued to keep my interest going. I wondered what secrets the woman was hiding and I'm curious what it is. How did the Joker catch her and why? My curiosity about the woman is intriguing to me. I want to know who she is exactly. The Joker went out his way to capture her a reason.
I see a lot of twists and turns to follow. Love this story.
Author
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Thank you SO much!
I'm glad you're loving it so far.
Keep reading. I'm hoping you will keep loving it.
There are plenty of twists snd turns.
Hey, J.R. - That was one hell of an opening scene! My experience with the joker was primarily from the old TV series and one Bat Man flick, so seeing the Joker in this way was startling. I haven’t seen the later Bat Man movies, so perhaps this version of the Joker fits current expectation, but it blew me away. Cesar Romero he isn’t.
The writing was excellent, though that first sentence seemed off to me. Black hole sounded inapt, in that you had the laughter echoing, thus traveling, what a black hole doesn’t allow.
Great start.
Jack
Author
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Ceasar is still the best Joker! He was campy and fun.
However, in the comics, the Joker kills if it's funny or when he's been slighted. He's sadistic and evil.
The Killing Joke and A Death in the Family shows the true depth of his evil.
Im glad you liked the prologue. I think you'll love the book. I post chapters every few days.
There's 29 chapters. It's been finished for a while.
Opening of creepy laughter really sets the tone. Terrifying predicament that just keeps building, tightening tension. Fine descriptions all through—frayed purple suit. And phrases, . . . Macabre conductor. . . Shark in a baptismal font. . . Dialogue works well between the two.
Then I had a problem with POV shift to the woman. Maybe use double space shift? Other problem is the boy isn’t specified until . . . Crying of child drifting from the next room . . . Until then, I even wondered if the Joker might be referring to unborn child in woman’s womb as the boy.
You’ve done a wonderful job with the Joker—he is terrifying and unrepentant. Terrific job that’s a cliff hanger for reading chapter 1. Soon.
Author
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I'll see if I can go back and tighten things up. Thank you!
Marilyn Johnson