I know it’s been awhile since my last post, but I have not forgotten!
Meet Jack Napier, well known inner-city comic. A true “American” mixed with enough races that no real ethnic title will do him justice. Since childhood, his hair was always big and curly and red, dawning him the nickname “Joker” from a young age. Always being skinny, he could not stand up for himself when picked on, so he had to use his whit. Unfortunately this only led to more beatings. Having no one his size to pick on, he would let out his frustration on anyone, or thing, smaller than him. After enough time outs, spankings, and suspensions, Jack understood that he had to stop his torment on others, so he coped with frustrations through humor. He was always the class clown, and was eventually picked on less because of his “winning” personality. Jack eventually dropped out of college to pursue a life in stand up comedy, which worked out enough for him to make money to live, but not enough to make him famous. With his life of being the underdog and being too smart for many in his circle of influence, he grew cynical of society, government, and suspicious of people in general, giving him a foundation from which to base most of his routines.
His charm, intelligence, and exotic, handsome looks made him a man to be desired of many women, giving him the pick of the litter, every time. Eventually, Jack found someone who made him want to quit the game, so he did and they were wed. Jack became well known enough that some big names in the comedy club business started looking his way and offering him full time jobs, and he eventually accepted the best offer, the Yak in Gotham City. The move was one of the best things to happen to both Jack and his wife, they were excited at what future they had there.
When Jack’s wife got pregnant, he really had to stop and think if their current position was suited for their future child, so he made some options for himself. Finish college, go to a tech school, pursue acting, or take comedy to the next level. He decided to try and get some wider recognition with his stand up by targeting popular figures and attempting to go viral on Youtube, and it worked. The amount of people that watch his videos doubled the amount of people making a point of seeing him in Gotham. He did what he had to from there, get more ridiculous and invasive about more people. In the midst of this plan for fame, Jack was diagnosed with the skin altering disease vitiligo. It started out mild, and mostly in areas under clothing. Eventually splotches of white skin appeared on his face and neck, but this did not stop him, in fact he used it to his advantaged and carried forward.
Jack got a nationwide tour and had a winning routine planned and ready to go. The first night revealed his main target, Gotham Mayor candidate Harvey Dent. The problem for Mr. Dent was that the jokes he was making were based on true scandals that had already surfaced and even some that Jack himself had researched, from some of his conspiracy theory contacts. Normally such “here-say” wouldn’t catch anyone’s attention, but Jack was getting pretty big by this point and was openly mocking Dent and airing out his dirty laundry. This was something Dent could not allow, so he sent some men out to shake Jack.
He was kidnapped and blind folded. When the mask was taken off of his head, he found himself in a room with a few big guys, he knew exactly what was going on. They told him to change his routine, or there will be hell to pay. Jack laughs in their face, and mockingly tells them to do their worst, cracking jokes the entire time. Eventually they start beating Jack, in the face, in the side, knocking him over in his chair. After a good 3 minutes, they take a break, and sit Jack back up. He’s not speaking, he’s almost crying in pain. The lead thug chuckles, “No more jokes, funny boy? That’s what I thought. I don’t want to leave you on such sour note, though. How about this? Let’s put a smile on your face!” With that he pulls out a knife and cuts his face from the corners of his mouth up to his ears on both sides.
The take the screaming and bleeding comedian to the local hospital and throw him out of the car on to the side walk in front of the ER. Eventually word was sent to his wife where he was, and she rushed over to find Jack in terrible shape, with his face almost completely bandaged. After 3 days he was allowed to go home, the tour being cancelled. When his stitches on his face were revealed, Jack could tell his wife was bothered by his appearance, but he kept silent. After a few days he noticed she was becoming more and more closed off to him.
One night, on their way back from the hospital for a check up, Jack brings up the issue, and she starts to deny it. It eventually grows into a full blown fight and the truth came out. She was disgusted by Jack now, and she didn’t want her child to grow up with a monster for a Daddy. This shut Jack up, cut him deep. Just as she turned her head in shame, their car got t-boned by a large pick-up truck not paying attention to the stop sign. Jack’s car rolls twice before landing back on it’s wheels. He stammers out of the car, trying to grasp what just happened, he’s met by the pick-up driver who was in shock, but not hurt at all. Jack ignores him and realizes his wife was with him and darts to the passenger side. She was killed on impact. The driver was hysterical, yelling, crying, apologizing. Jack slumps down and sits leaning against his wrecked car. He drops his head while the driver carries on, unsure what to do and completely remorseful. Jack starts laughing, slowly and deeply, then stands up, head down, laughter building. He then speaks up, as if he just had an epiphany, explaining that life is 100% random and unfair. There’s nothing you can do to control what will happen at any given moment, but rather just live for what you have, and do whatever you want. He’s explaining this while laughing, in between chuckles. He then puts his hands on the drivers shoulders, looks him in the eyes and says, “And today, you killed my wife and unborn child, accidentally, but killed none-the-less. You were lucky enough to come out unscratched from the accident, but unlucky that I didn’t!” And with a screech of laughter he knees the driver in the stomach, grabs his head, and smashes it on a piece of broken car, killing him instantly.
This is the moment when Jack Napier starts his campaign to liberate society from the crippling organization that is democracy by revealing to all peoples that the attempt to organize the randomness of life is not only impossible, but it is also allows for the destruction of the very freedom that America lives and dies for.
Kandee Mann Designs 