Joker venom

Joker venom, also called Joker toxin or Smilex, is a fictional toxin, a favorite murder weapon used by The Joker in the Batman franchise of movies, comics, and cartoons. It has had a variety of names depending on the writer, including Smilex, Smylex, Laughing Gas, Joker Gas, Joker Juice, Laughing Toxin, Laugh-A-loads, Joker Toxin, Happy Gas and Perma-Smile.

Analysis

Joker venom can exist in liquid and gas states and has been used to great effect. The gas form is slightly denser than air and in some portrayals dissipates over time. The effects are similar to the legendary Sardonic herb which supposedly causes laughter until the point of death. In reality, the venom exhibits the combined effects of both the real-life hemlock water dropwort, or Oenanthe crocata, a poisonous plant which causes face muscles to contract into a grin, and nitrous oxide, or laughing gas.

In a 1980s comic book, the Joker facilitates one of his many escapes from Arkham Asylum using the venom - by mixing together the common cleaning chemicals found in a janitor's closet.

The DC Technical Manual: S.T.A.R. Labs 1993 Annual Report

The DC Technical Manual: S.T.A.R. Labs 1993 Annual Report (a sourcebook for Mayfair's DC Heroes Roleplaying Game) stated that Joker Venom is "a hellish mixture of hydrogen cyanide and Strychnodide (a strychnine derivative), the toxin causes immediate cessation of heart and brain functions. As a side effect, the victim's muscles contract in such a way as to severely...
Read More