The Laughing Fish: How To Make a Bad Joke Good

Welcome back to Adaptations Done Right; today we’re covering the Laughing Fish. This post is actually inspired by a video by ComicsExplained. Long live the Rob Corps. The video explains a couple of Silver Age Batman comics that serve as the source of an episode of Batman: The Animated Series.

The Premise of The Laughing Fish

The episode features The Joker trying to capitalize on his image by using toxins to make Gotham‘s fish bear his resemblance. With this, Joker planned to make a copyright on all fish market related products in Gotham. It’s as ridiculous as it sounds; but this is a product of the Silver Age when comics are more tame. At least compared to the Golden Age where Batman and Joker are cold-blooded killers.

Bad news for the Joker though; copyright offices denied his request since by all rights Joker had no claim on the fish. So Joker goes on a toxin spree, using his Joker gas on the office workers who denied his request. Everything ends by the time Joker falls in the water.

Comics at the Time

But as the comics display, Silver Age Batman isn’t the World’s Greatest Detective he’s known for in most media. In fact, he’s kind of an idiot especially when it came to his girlfriend Silver St. Cloud who always found out Bruce Wayne is Batman. Joker even managed to get away with his schemes because Batman was so stupid.

Some Heat and Salt

The Animated Series fixed these issues by quite a bit. For one Silver is tarnished and frankly good riddance. Her appearance in the show Gotham just pushes Bruce’s failed relationship status. Also despite the similar setups and lines, they feel natural compared to the comic. For one thing, Joker’s twisted sense of humor is a theme including his contingencies. The use of a jingle and a whoopee cushion to signal his goons to get into position? Crazy… but genius! It’s also a nod to how this version combines the murderous clown with the more prankster-like one.

Also during Joker’s first attack on the paper pusher Francis; it was the police’s guard against the Joker that causes Francis’ downfall. Batman actually figured out Joker’s methods and hideout with deduction. Harvey Bullock is certainly no slouch in that department either despite his less than ideal situation. Everyone acted the way they meant to and the scenes in the show highlighted how things would flow. Did I just rhyme?

The Laughing Fish is Like Gold

Man, I’ve heard of adaptations of good stories made into something bad but a mediocre story made good? And it’s not even a movie. Batman: The Animated Series really was the crowning achievement of its time and industry. This instance gets a 9/10, only because this was more of an introduction and display of characters rather than a deeper portrayal of them.