Christmas With the Joker

"Christmas with the Joker" is the second episode of Batman: The Animated Series. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on November 13, 1992. It was written by Eddie Gorodetsky and directed by Kent Butterworth. The episode marks the series' first appearance of The Joker, as well as the first time the character would be voiced by Mark Hamill; he would go on to voice the character for many years in various animation works and video games. Plot On Christmas Eve, The Joker escapes from Arkham Asylum using a rocket hidden inside a Christmas tree. Batman and Robin begin patrolling Gotham City to search for him, with Robin being skeptical of this particular patrol being worthwhile, opting to relax and get into the holiday spirit at Wayne Manor. After finding Gotham to be uncharacteristically peaceful, the Dynamic Duo return to Wayne Manor to watch It's a Wonderful Life when they discover that Joker has hijacked Gotham's television signals. He announces that he is going to broadcast his assault on Gotham City as a Christmas special. Joker is speaking to a "live" studio audience consisting of cardboard cutouts of Gotham's various public servants, including Batman and Robin. Joker tells the camera that because he does not have a family to spend the holidays with, he has kidnapped Commissioner Gordon, Summer Gleeson, and Harvey Bullock to serve as one. Joker tells the camera that if Batman isn't able to track him down by midnight, he will kill the three hostages. Using the Batcomputer, Batman accesses Gotham's electrical mainframe and pinpoints the location of Joker's signal by tracking power surges. Joker's hired thugs, Donner and Blitzen, blow up one of Gotham's bridges, just as the 11:30 train is about to cross. Gleeson reveals that her mother is on the train, prompting a taunt from Joker. Batman and Robin hurry to intercept the train. Robin uncouples the passenger cars, while Batman rescues the engineer just in time for the train to careen off the blown-up tracks and into the valley below. Batman determines that Joker's signal is coming from the observatory at the top of Mt. Gotham. The Caped Crusaders head to the top of the mountain, and discover a radio transmitter left by the Joker. Joker reveals that he has replaced the observatory's telescope with a cannon, which he fires upon Batman and Robin.