Language is fluid and the meaning of a word can change over time. And that’s why it’s not weird. The Joker launched a wave of “Boner Crimes” against Gotham in 1951. Batman #66.
To be clear, in this context, an erection refers to any sort of misstep or mistake one can make – and Nothing otherwise – so some context is needed. In a particularly embarrassing failure, the Joker and his gang attempt to rob the Gotham Electric Company, but their escape is foiled because no one realized that cutting off the building’s power supply would render the elevators useless. Abandoning the loot and resorting to the stairs, the criminals narrowly escape Batman’s clutches and the Joker is outraged to read the next day’s headline: “Joker Pulls Boner of the Year!”
Gotham’s Clown Prince of Crime exclaims, “So! They’re laughing at my blunder, right?! I’m going to show them! I’m going to show them how many blunders the Joker can make!” The title seems to have sparked inspiration: “This focus on blunders gave me an idea for a new crime adventure! Gotham will regret the day it mentioned the word blunder!” Joker concocts a plan to commit crimes based on the biggest “boners” in recorded history, with his first strike recreating the 1950 grounding of the USS Missouri, except this time it’s a ship full of diamonds for the taking. The next day, the headline read: “Stunned by his erection, the Joker turns back! Looting of the blocked coating!”
Promising that he designed “a special erection just for Batman”, Joker continues his madness. His next crime is based on the failing infrastructure of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, which Joker calls “one of the greatest architectural blunders in history!” The Clown destabilizes a mansion tower to gain access and rob the building, declaring that its designer, “…didn’t bargain on the Joker – and his crimes of madness!” The Joker takes to Gotham’s airwaves to gloat over his feat, promising “more crimes to come” and that “soon, Batman will make the blunder of the year.”
“What does he mean, Bruce?” Robin asks. “How can he force you to get hard?” Unsure of the meaning of the cryptic message, Batman suggests to the two men: “…continue our study of the greatest men of all time.” Joker eventually launches his Batman Boner, his master plan being to trick the Batplane’s navigation and land it in England instead of California. And that’s it. This is the entirety of his sinister “special gaffe.”
But it actually works and this perceived mistake somehow turns public opinion against Batman, with the next day’s newspapers declaring it “Batman’s Greatest Boner!” But as Joker hosts a celebratory dinner, the Dynamic Duo burst through the door, revealing that they had already deduced and planned his plot to discredit them. After taking down the Joker and restoring his reputation, the final panel sees the Joker behind bars as Batman triumphantly declares, “Let’s hope we have the last of things like boners – and Jokers!”
It’s hard to wrap up a story as stupid as this in a serious way, so here are some more choice quotes from Batman #66:
-
“But only a sense of humor like the Joker’s would think of translating erections into crimes!”
-
“These blundering crimes give us a bad image! And I’m worried about the blunder he’s planning for you!”
-
“It’s good that I’m ready to trap him her blunder!”
-
“You were so busy making me hard that you forgot you were getting one yourself!”
-
“Our city – and indeed our nation – owes you an apology, Batman! In fact, they committed the biggest erection of all – by losing faith in you!”
Next: The Joker’s Most Twisted Act: Cutting His Own [SPOILER]
