The Joke Is On Him
(I’m at the mall food court debating what to eat after work. I’ve changed out of my uniform and am wearing a Joker and Harley Quinn shirt. Note: I’m a girl.)
Guy: “Tch, nice shirt.”
Me: “Um… thanks?”
Guy: “Do you even KNOW who they are?”
Me: “The Joker and Harley Quinn from the Batman franchise.”
Guy: “WRONG! Comics! Not franchise! Stupid fake geek girl!”
Me: “Um, no. Harley Quinn first appeared in the Batman animated series. Created by Paul Dini.”
Guy: *blinks and sputters*
Me: “So I say franchise because Harley was from another media.”
(I turn and leave and get my food. I take a seat in the food court, then the same guy with two more guys approach me.)
Guy: “You think you’re hot stuff, huh!?”
Me: “Not at all, but I know I’m not a fake geek girl.”
Guy: “Oh, yeah!?”
Me: “Yes.”
Guy: *smirks* “Name his real name!” *pointing to the Joker on my shirt*
Me: “I can’t—”
Guy: “See! FAKE GEEK—”
Me: “Let me f***ing finish, a**hole! I can’t because we don’t know. It’s common knowledge that he’s referred to as ‘Jack,’ sometimes by the full name ‘Jack Napier.’ But he’s also been known as ‘Joseph Kerr’ AND most recently ‘Oberon Sexton.’”
Guy: “Uh—”
Me: “Also, he has several apparent backstories. One story has him as a sad starting comedian who couldn’t get a decent gig. This one sometimes leads him getting into mob and gang relations and has him be the Red Hood. Other stories just have him as the Red Hood from the beginning. The last is that he is a gangster known as Jack Napier, who, once again dons the Red Hood identity. Now, will you leave me alone so I can eat or do you want me to give you the brief history of Harley Quinn PRE-new 52?”
Guy’s Friend: “Dude… you’re an a**.”
Guy: “But girls aren’t supposed to know that!”
Guy’s Friend: “Shut up, man. She’s a geek. Leave her alone.”
(The guy continues to sputter and claim that since I’m a girl I couldn’t know all of that stuff and still say I have to be fake, somehow. After they leave, a cashier from the place I ordered my food comes over and gives me one of the desserts.)
Me: “I didn’t order this…”
Cashier: “On the house. Our manager insisted, for a fellow comic fan, and to tell you the Joseph Kerr storyline was her favorite.”
Me: *smiles* “Mine, too.”
This story is part of our Awesome Girl Gamer roundup!
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