Obfuscating Insanity: Difference between revisions

** There was a particular story ("Case Study" by [[DCAU|Paul Dini]] and Alex Ross) that really explored this facet. The story was told from the perspective of two psychiatrists at Arkham, who had found a psychiatric analysis of Joker that revealed him as sane, but faking insanity to get into mental institutions where it would be easier to break free. Hopeful that they can use this to get Joker transferred to a prison, they're disappointed to find out that the person who wrote the analysis was {{spoiler|''[[Mad Love|Harleen]]'' ''[[Psycho Supporter|Quinzel]]'', from before she went insane.}}

** Oddly, this changing personality is ''also'' something that exists in-story, {{spoiler|as noted by the very same Dr. Quinzel,}} after being driven mad. She theorized that he reinvents his personality entirely on a day-to-day basis, so that one day he may be a funny guy with a penchant for stalking the Bat, then the next he's a [[Complete Monster]], then the next he's a glibbering loon. Her madness, of course, shows in her conclusion that the only constant is his love for her.

* [[Deadpool]] also uses this trope to its full advantage, confusing and exhausting his enemies with [[Talkative Loon|unstoppable mouth and wacky babbling]].

** Like the Joker, Deadpool really is insane (a different kind of insane, though) and knows it, but he plays up and (possibly) exaggerates his insanity for tactical benefit. For example, against the Taskmaster, whose signature skill is [[Awesome By Analysis|figuring out any opponent's fighting style (and copying anything useful from it)]]. This ability doesn't work on Deadpool because [[Confusion Fu|his insanity leaves him with no identifiable fighting style]].