Bananium is a fictional strain of cannabis that originates from the DC Comics universe. It first appeared in stories featuring the Joker, Batman’s arch-nemesis. The Joker is known for using bananium in his crimes and schemes, often to comical or chaotic effect. While bananium has hallucinogenic properties, it is primarily used by the Joker for humor rather than mind-alteration.
What are the origins of bananium?
Bananium was created by DC Comics writers as a plot device for the Joker character. Its first appearance was in Batman #313 in July 1979. In the comic, the Joker uses bananium to create “Joker venom,” a poison that makes victims laugh uncontrollably with a grotesque, clown-like grin, resembling the Joker’s own disfigured face.
The concept of bananium was likely inspired by real-world hallucinogens and toxins that can cause effects like maniacal laughter or spasms. However, bananium’s properties are exaggerated for dramatic effect in the fictional DC universe. The name “bananium” is a play on words referencing bananas and zaniness, highlighting the Joker’s eccentricity.
Key facts about bananium
- Fictional hallucinogen from DC Comics
- Associated with the Joker character
- Causes uncontrollable laughter and delirium
- Used in Joker-venom poison
- Exaggerated for comic effect, not scientifically accurate
While not realistic, bananium allowed writers to have the Joker use chemical warfare against Batman in increasingly absurd and humorous ways. The bananium plot device proved popular and began to appear regularly in Joker stories over the following decades.
What are bananium’s effects and properties?
As a fictional hallucinogen, bananium can have whatever effects and properties DC Comics writers need for a given Joker story. However, some consistent traits have emerged for bananium over decades of appearances in DC comics:
Laughing gas-like effects
The most common effect of bananium is uncontrolled, hysterical laughter, similar to real-world nitrous oxide or “laughing gas.” Victims often cannot stop laughing, even if they find nothing funny. The laughter can be incapacitating and interfere with the victim’s ability to breathe.
Psychedelic hallucinations
Bananium can induce vivid hallucinations, especially around the visual perception of color. Those exposed may experience intense visual distortions, imaginary patterns, or synesthesia-like blending of the senses.
Confusion and suggestibility
In some depictions, bananium intoxication leaves victims in a disoriented, confused mental state. They become highly impressionable and open to hypnotic suggestion, losing their sense of inhibitions or rational judgment.
Decaying Intelligence
Prolonged bananium exposure may cause a lasting deterioration in mental faculties like memory, attention, and problem-solving. However, the timescale varies across different Joker stories.
Paralysis
In some cases, bananium can induce full-body paralysis or weakness, leaving victims powerless while still able to feel sensations. The Joker often uses this effect to toy sadistically with paralyzed victims.
However, as a fictional substance, bananium has no definite scientific properties. The effects shown are exaggerated for entertainment purposes. The specifics can change to serve the needs of a given Batman or Joker storyline.
How does the Joker weaponize and use bananium?
The Joker often concentrates bananium into a chemical weapon to use in his crimes. His bananium-based tools and traps have included:
Joker Venom
The Joker’s most famous application of bananium is Joker venom. This poison makes victims die with a rictus grin resembling the Joker’s own disfigurement. The venom may be delivered through darts, gas, explosives, or other methods. Even small doses of the toxin can be rapidly fatal.
Laughing Fish
In one story, the Joker adds bananium to Gotham’s water reservoirs, affecting the fish. The “Laughing Fish” are rigid with constant convulsions, appearing to die laughing. The Joker tries to patent the fish to earn royalties from any sale of them.
Bananium Pie
The Joker bakes bananium into a pie as a trap for Commissioner Gordon, who nearly dies laughing after eating a slice. Only an antidote from Batman saves him.
Exploding Whoopee Cushion
A large whoopee cushion filled with compressed bananium gas explodes at a police ceremony, releasing clouds of bananium and incapacitating the police force with laughter.
The Joker’s cunning and cruel imagination allows him to weaponize bananium in many unpredictable ways. He uses it primarily to sow chaos, confuse victims, and cruelly mock Batman’s efforts to protect Gotham.
What are some key storylines involving bananium?
As a longtime part of the Joker’s arsenal, bananium has played a role in many iconic Batman storylines over the years:
The Laughing Fish
In this 1978 story by writer Steve Englehart, the Joker contaminates Gotham’s fish with bananium to render them rigid with constant laughter. He tries to trademark the grinning fish to earn money from their sale. However, the Patent Office refuses his ridiculous claim, sending the Joker on a violent rampage.
The Killing Joke
In Alan Moore’s acclaimed 1988 graphic novel, the Joker shoots Barbara Gordon (Batgirl) with a bananium-laced bullet, paralyzing her from the waist down. The attack devastates her father, Commissioner James Gordon, who the Joker has also psychologically tortured.
Emperor Joker
In this 2000 storyline, the Joker gains god-like powers from the cosmic villain Mr. Mxyzptlk and uses it to remake the universe in his own twisted image. At one point, he resurrects and kills Batman over and over via bananium poisoning.
Death of the Family
In this 2012-2013 arc, the Joker returns after having his face cut off a year earlier. He spikes the Gotham Reservoir with bananium, attempting to paralyze the city with laughter before enacting his endgame against Batman.
As one of the Joker’s signature weapons, bananium has enabled some of Batman’s most deranged and memorable confrontations with his archfoe over the past 40+ years of DC comics continuity.
Is there a real-world equivalent to bananium?
There is no actual compound known as “bananium” with the exact properties seen in Batman comics and media. However, bananium does have some loose roots in real-world science:
Nitrous oxide
The uncontrolled laughter induced by bananium is similar to the effects of inhaling nitrous oxide or “laughing gas.” In dentistry, nitrous oxide can reduce pain and cause feelings of euphoria and dissociation.
Scopolamine
Scopolamine is a real drug synthesized from plants of the nightshade family. In large doses, it can induce hallucinations and make people highly open to suggestion. The CIA even experimented with scopolamine as a mind control drug.
Tetrodotoxin
The paralytic effect of bananium is reminiscent of pufferfish or fugu poisoning. The pufferfish toxin tetrodotoxin blocks nerve signals, leading to muscle paralysis while the victim remains fully conscious.
However, bananium combines and exaggerates all these properties into a single fictitious substance for fictional comic effect. There is no real chemical identical to the version of bananium seen in Batman stories.
Conclusion
In summary, bananium is a fictional compound created for DC Comics stories featuring the Joker. Although not scientifically accurate, it has entertaining hallucinogenic, paralytic, and lethal effects that help the Joker sow his signature chaos. Bananium poisoning has driven many classic Batman vs Joker storylines over the past 40 years. This zany fictional substance perfectly encapsulates the Joker’s twisted, comical insanity that so often pushes Batman to his limits.