Joker's Millions

Awkward adaptation of 1950's story--period now considered the LOW for Batman, comics censorship of time weakened it, Joker reduced from mass murdering maniac to confused clown here , radical revamping in 1960's needed to avert complete collapse. Episode not helped by animation ATROCITY made of the Joker, lost his expressiveness from before frozen mask. Also on dismal display JERK Ryder stealing Summer's reporting role, BAD at it, wooden, stiff, CHORE to listen to, there to be comics CATASTROPHE from later in the 1960's, The Creeper lasted just six issues, was considered for THE series, was REJECTED, here in the second second-RATE one, because DC decided to start new series and used this show to help sell it, sacrificing Summer. By the time epiosde aired, new comics HAD failed, sadly Summer sacrifice FOR NOTHING.

'Joker's Millions' has one of my favorite lines:

"I may be crazy enoughto take on Batman, but the IRS? Noooo, thank you!"

I think that perfectly illustrates the tone of this episode. The Joker, fallen on hard times, suddenly inherits a windfall from a rival gangster and has attracted the attention of the Internal Revenue Service. And even though he'll get in a life-or-death battle with Batman, he wouldn't dare upset the bean-counters. Suddenly, he has a line that won't be crossed. Loads of credit goes to Mark Hamill in the role, but you've gotta love Paul Dini's flair for a good Joker story.

7/10