Brought to viewers by the same studio that produced JoJo’s Bizarre Adventures and the mind behind Soul Eater, Fire Force takes “fight fire with fire” to a rather literal level. While Shinra Kusakabe’s ability to produce flames from the bottoms of his feet serves his desire to become a hero within the Special Fire Force Company 8, it also catches the attention of characters like Joker.
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Working alongside Company 8’s scientist behind the scenes, Joker is a rather independently-motivated character who has the strong desire to lay bare evil intentions like those found within the Holy Sol Temple. He initially projects onto Kusakabe his idea of what the boy should be but soon finds the protagonist unshakeable. All throughout, viewers learn more and more about what makes Joker the character he is - not quite straddling the line between an anti-hero and an ally - influencing them to ask for more.
10Long-Term Voice Actors Play Him
Whether it be dub or sub, the sound of Joker’s voice might sound familiar to viewers. For the dub, Don “Sonny” Strait (left) holds a place in this role. Strait is best known for playing the role of Krillin and Bardok in Dragon Ball Z after Funimation took over its production in 2003.
More recently are his roles like Joker in Fire Force, Moe in the anime adaptation of Ace Attorney, and he served as ADR director and voiced a father figure in Tsuki Ga Kirei. Kenjiro Tsuda, on the other hand, is also known as Seto Kaiba in Yu-Gi-Oh! He’s recently played the role of Nicholas Brown in the anime show GANGSTA and The Beholder in To Your Eternity.
9Former Codename: Five-Two
Joker was previously known under the codename Five-Two after being reeled into the Holy Sol Temple’s Shadow group of trainedassassins. Isolated and targeted by the Shadow Captain because Joker was easily skilled in this line of work, he was often beaten and assaulted.
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His newfound name, Joker, mimics the song “The Joker” by the Steve Miller Band. The connection is linked only by a singular scene where Joker is going head-to-head with the leader now as an adult. He sings the lines:
I’m a midnight thinker.
I’m a smoker.
I’m a joker.
The original song lyrics go as follows:
I’m a midnight toker.
8Dressed For a Fight
When in doubt, wear it out. Joker’s outfit carries a 19th-century appearance. Bowler hats originated in 1849 by Thomas and William Bowler. The poet’s shirt beneath his purple waistcoat also points toward the 19th century. There appears to be no motivation for why he dresses the way he does.
7Can Do Anything With A Deck Of Cards
Outside of blowing out a smokey farewell, Joker utilizes cards as his main fighting tool. These cards are flammable catalysts into which he projects his power. In doing so, he can make them explode and slice through items and people like butter.
6Has 53 Cards
Claiming he had 52 cards in his battle against the Shadow Captain was a smooth tactic he played alongside his use of psychedelic smoke. In the end, Joker had one more card up his sleeve, and it wasn’t an ace. Using an inflamed Joker card, he sliced his abuser to pieces with ease.
5Lost His Eye Due To An Adolla Lock
In his duty as Five-Two alongside Leonard Burns, the duo worked to clear Infernals from within the Amaterasu. When they’d come to face the last one, Joker failed to see that there was something off about it and instead attacked it without thought.
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The attack forced Burns and Joker into an Adolla Link, where the two were transported into another realm and bore witness to the Evangelist, the leader of the White-Clad cult. Due to the intensity of the transportation on their bodies, both men lose an eye.
4Short-Lived Family Time
Jokerlost his family twice. The first time was when he was abandoned. Viewers and readers know little to nothing about them. The second time came after his escape from the Holy Sol Temple. He was found on the street by a girl around the same age as him. Her family took him in, fed him, and showed him kindness despite his being a stranger. This kindness didn’t last long, though, as the members of the Holy Sol Temple found out and murdered them.
3Generation Not Yet Confirmed
Joker will never need anyone to light his cigarettes for him because he can easily light his own at any time he pleases. Because of this and the fact that most of his abilities involve igniting rather than manipulating, it’s implied that he is a Third Generation pyrokinetic. However, nothing has been confirmed, and viewers know by this point that characterscanbe hybrid generations.
2Joker Chose Shinra As His Pillar
There are eight pillar characters throughout Fire Force, one of whom is the protagonist, Shinra Kusakabe. Each pillar is assigned a Guardian who protects them. While Kusakabe already has a guardian in the form ofcomradeArthur Boyle, it’s worth noting that Joker chose to be a second guardian for the boy.
Much like a devil and an angel on the shoulders, Joker encourages Kusakabe to stay angry and fight with a vengeance in mind, whereas Boyle reminds his comrade to use his strengths for his heroic goals.
1Not The Main Villain, Not A Villain Per Se
Joker was set up to look like an upcoming villain, but in reality, he is more so a self-motivated trickster of sorts. His motives lead him to take means to whatever end he desires. From protecting the protagonist to defeating someone who left a traumatic mark on his life, Joker is not without morals. Yet at the same time, he will play whatever cards he needs to to get what he wants.
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