Underrated Rogues: The Prankster 

The distraction for hire version of Prankster sounds really interesting personally. As for rogues galleries, I think he would works well as a Superman villain, but only if he's used sparingly (once every now and then).

This is sad the prankster should make a silly comeback

I love the way Oswald was used before the New 52 happened; it was creative and made sense for the character, plus it finally gives a reason why he fights Superman in particular; after all, who would be more important to distract than the most recognisable, powerful superhero on the planet? I genuinely think that the old Ozzie has a place among the Super-Rogues, and deserves recognition as one, even if it's as a B-Lister like Rampage or Kryptonite Man. His New 52 counterpart's fine as a Nightwing Rogue, but shouldn't be associated with the Prankster brand name if he shows up again.

I like the Prankster's classic design best, but I like his role and personality in the 2000 comics. The idea of him distracting Superman from other villains is a pretty cool idea. I also like how this character is portrayed as kind of callous, like everything is just a joke to him. Again, that's kind of similar to the Joker, but I think it works for him.

Congratulations on 8k. Prankster is one of Superman's great foes. He is definitely a unique and crazy rouge.

The Joker has become such a nihilistic mad terrorist character (even before the Nolan films) that there's pretty much a void in the DC comics' continuity for a criminal whose crimes and weaponry are themed around jokes and old slapstick which is fine for "Uncle Oswald". As for whom he should belong too, I kind of hate it when super-villains are traded to another hero's rogues gallery, so I feel he should remain in metropolis or thereabouts. I agree that it takes effort on the writing staff to come up with a story where his high stakes con artistry and intellectual crimes are of the level requiring Superman's help, but I think we should demand more of our comic book writers than is often given to us. And besides, the super-pranks performed by his revived Byrne-era variation (as well as the Arcade-esque "master of distraction" phase) make for the needed big screen action that keeps fans coming to Superman comics. Now, as for which look he should go with -- the gap-toothed Vaudeville comedian or the snazzy contemporary game show host -- that's a whole different problem that's too big for me!

A shame Loomis was never big enough to warrant merchandise. LOOK at his traditional look before they made him more normal.. He was like a living dashboard bobble-head doll.

Bring back Prankster as a mix of his classic and "Distraction for Hire" versions, and make the New 52 version his Son and Enforcer.

Prankster teamed up with Mr. Freeze in the spin off comic Smallville Season 11. Superman and Batman teamed up and met in that issue.

I think one good way to give the Prankster his own niche would be to emphasize how DIFFERENT he is from the Joker, even though there are a few surface similarities. For instance, the Joker chooses to do jokes - he's crazy, but his mania clearly isn't so much joke-related as chaos-related; he chose the persona of the Joker because of his twisted sense of humor. He has occasionally done other things, and they haven't clashed with his established character. But what if the Prankster DOES have a joke-mania - specifically, for practical jokes? What if he's like the Riddler - he plays pranks because he HAS to play pranks? Let's say he has a genius for slapstick and gag humor, and sees possibilities for it everywhere, but his obsession for it has reached such a fever pitch that he can't help but follow up on those possibilities. How is he a match for Superman? Simple - Superman is one of the most powerful superheroes in the world, if not THE most. In order to make him look silly, he has to pull truly gargantuan pranks, ones so large-scale and well-orchestrated that even the Man of Steel, with all his powers, is caught flat-footed - and maybe the sheer difficulty of this keeps his mind occupied and distracts him from having to constantly give people hotfeet and pass out whoopee cushions. Without a Superman-scale challenge, he HAS to be a clown, twenty-four seven - with one, he can lead a semblance of a normal life.

Prankster holds a special place in my heart since he really feels like a good Silver Age villain who never aged pass his creation. I absolutely loved that story by Kurt Busiek where Oswald created a Super-Hero Distraction business. It's probably my favorite story of his. I honestly think Prankster would work great in a movie and not just as a cold opening baddie. Johnny Knoxville would be my choice for the guy since he definitely has that pain-in-the-butt grin that makes you want him to see him get beaten up.

Wow... he wasn't weird-stupid enough for the silver age... ouch.

It'd be cool that, if the Prankster was brought back, that his big life goal was to pull a prank on every superhero on Earth, something that required careful research of their behavior, dastardly intelligence and planning, and possibly even amazing resources - only for a completely trite payoff that only embarrasses the hero and lets the Prankster check another name in his pranking notebook.

I think they should go back to a guy for hire by villains to distract superman

The pre-Flashpoint variant seems a pretty interesting and versatille way to use the character in a long run. They should keep this version with the original look.

I think the dude deserves more attention. He's an awesome character. Shame he's so underused. I want to see him in DC Rebirth.

I wish Prankster and Toyman would return to Superman comics. Even since new 52 they have rarely appeared anyway. Both are fun villains but can be dangerous when written well

I like his reimagining before the New 52. I feel like he would've found a place in the DC universe as a criminal aid and written well maybe even the Suicide Squad.

Yes! Johnny sorrow, one of my favourite villains is getting an underrated rogues video. Thank you Rogues. And as for prankster, I think he could work as a superboy villain.

Oswald actually made a cameo appearance in the same episode Captain Cold made his first appearance on The Flash

His career highlight was in Alan Moore's "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?"

I liked the business version of The Prankster as well as the New 52's concept. They sounded like more evolved ideas on how they can use him. Too bad he does get the love like other rogues.

Prankester , trickester and joker should team up

Prankester is a interesting rogue that should be used more

There was a version of the prankster just called prank who was the jokers one time sidekick in the 2004 "the batman" animated show

Hm, I get the Vibe that Basically the Classic Prankster is a Kind of Man who likes to broadcast a Warm Self Image and Reputation to gain Public Opinion and Favor among the Rich and Powerful only to Prank them or make them fall from Grace or commit other petty crimes using the shield of his newfound popularity and Self Image to get off Scott Free with his connections. The only way to make him different from the Joker though I imagine would be to give the Prankster a Strict "Honor Code" or "Honor among Thieves or Clowns" and a No Killing Rule he enforces on his men or hired guns by killing them if they kill a life under his jobs, "for the kids" as he reasons. Maybe also make him idolize the Era of Pop Crime with zany schemes and wacky gadgets which amuses some of the bigger villains who hire him for his distractions for their bigger schemes. Though he refuses to work with the Joker because of his honor code and all of the "Joker Stories" in the DCU. Probably be the Best way to Relaunch the Character.

He looks like the love baby of Mr Pringle and Alfred E Neuman. Maybe he should team up w Gaggy.

Yes ive been waiting all these years for jonny sorrow he i think is the best nicely dress super villain ever 😎

nice run-down on a lesser known Villain. He adds a touch of Chaos to the hero's world

he is a really fun villain. and yes very underated.

You raise excellent points about this guy not being fit to be a Superman rogue but I honestly don't know where else I'd put him (I guess Nightwing is probably the best bet). Would love to see a team-up between Prankster and Mxyzptlk, that would be awesomely zany.

I think he could be a great Justice League or JLA rogue, maybe even going against the suicide squad.

I actually remember that Superman series 06:53 and that episode I think. From what I remember the Prankster's criminal acts were centered around his obsession with Baseball where he kidnaps a professional team and forces them to play a game against his own team of robots, including Superman who does so because he has Lois and Jimmy captive.

In my opinion, Prankster should appear as a playable character in the next Lego DC video game. If I were casting director for that, I'd cast the Prankster to Mark Hamill, as kind of a running gag of him voicing joke-themed super villains (he's already voiced the Joker and the Trickster).

They should make a story where the joker the trickster and the old Superman villain prankster team up

I personally like the "middle of the road" Prankster the best. I actually did like the Nightwing character - he had a great design and was pretty cool, in my opinion - but he didn't feel anything like the Prankster I knew; he was the Prankster in name only. Sort of like the way the New 52 handled Dr. Death, come to think of it. My personal favorite Prankster is the one that came around in the Modern Age, where he acted as a distraction for hire. Maybe it's just me, but I think they should have just stuck with him that way! The Gold and Silver Age Prankster was a fun, goofy character, but he really was just a Joker clone. Speaking of: in answer to why the Joker has cornered the prank villain market: I think the fact he's literally called the Joker, and the fact that, as you say, he can work both ways, where some of the others can't, is a big part of the reason. Not to mention he sort of came first; after he became such a smash success, every other villain even remotely similar has had the "Joker Clone" Accusation thrown at them, often unfairly, at that. Not only was the modern Prankster unique in his style of working - I can't think of any other villains who work that way, aside from maybe Killer Moth, who, again, is more of a joke character than anything else - but I felt the design they gave him was great, too. It was a good update of the classic look from years before, keeping the same colors and zany style, but giving him a slicker, more trimmed-down, less cartoony appearance. Not that there's anything wrong with looking goofy, in this character's case, but he always felt like he belonged in Archie or something, just based on his design alone. It worked for the early days, but now I think that modern look fits best; it's not necessarily a DARKER look, but it's definitely one that's able to fit into the new universe slightly better, at least in my opinion. If/when they do bring the character back, I hope they stick with that version.

I like the way his goal was to ruin Superman's perfect image. You could combine that with his previous distraction for hire gimmick and it would work really well, even in today's DCU.

Prankster, Trickster, Joker, Riddler? How many of these guys do you need DC?

I forgot to mention that I'm torn on the new52 costume for Prankster. When I saw him on the cover, I thought it was Trickster since his primary color is yellow and not green. His new origin mirroring Dick Greyson as another guy who had his parents killed by Tony Zucco. I liked that Nightwing knew better not to let him get a free pass (he was raised by Batman after all). But in the end, the new52 Prankster is so different in design, motive, and threat since he's a hacker that I wonder why he wasn't just an original character instead.

Good choice of music

Loved The Prankster in the animated but short lived Ruby Spears 1988 Superman... an underrated 💎

I think I like the distraction for hire. I the age of flash mobs and prank videos I think he could be a pain in the butt of any supper hero. I say put him in the Suicide Squad I am sure Amanda Waller could put him to good uses.

Hey Mr.rogues, can you do a video on mister mind from the shazam comics ? He's such an underrated and overlooked villain imo yet he's really original and since the shazam movie is coming out, a lot of people are gonna be interested in his rogues gallery.

Another great video! The Prankster is probably one of the most underrated Superman villains.

If the Prankster ever showed up in live action again, at least on TV, I think he should be played by Paul Elliot, best known as one of the Chuckle brothers. He shares a lot of similarities with the Prankster and even kind of looks like him, I mean the slimmer version.

Great video! Prankster isn't a villain that would make me want to buy an issue of Superman! I think some villains are best left to fade away! Can not wait for your video on Johnny Sorrow!

Even Bruce Timm and Paul Dini couldn't seem to find a way to make the character work, despite being able to reinvent the Toyman into something entirely new and interesting.

This is a Underrated character, it should be a Young Prankster that eventually gets put in ace chemicals just like the joker, & becomes a Deadly Prankster Joker. It'll have Dark Humor, Odd Behavior, & of course Scariness, when coming across The Prankster, you can live or die, but mostly dying part.

I think he should remain as a member of Superman's Rogues Gallery as there's not that many prank themed villains in comics and other media. One more thing, if Supergirl can make a light hearted, comical villain like Toyman and turn him into a serious foe then certainly the show can do the same for the Prankster but keep the Golden age outfit for balancing goofiness and seriousness.

I personally prefer his iron age game show design and being like arcade is not a bad thing at all.

the prankster actually made an appearances in the flash 2014 show in the episode Going Rogue where he is played by an African American actor Jesse Reid he shows up as a Host of Trivia Night at Jitters this was the only episode he appeared and we never saw him again and its unknown if we will ever see him again in the arrowverse

Prankster is a bit of an odd duck, especially in a post-Mxy world where his gimmick has been co-opted and repackaged in a form more suited to Superman's sci-fi roots, but I kinda like how he does stick out from the crowd. In a roundabout way, his evolution reminds me of the Riddler. Both villains are defined by their gimmicks, which are somewhat narrowly defined, making it tough to keep them in good circulation, especially once the grim-n-gritty movement made their kind of innocent hijinks an endangered species. The main difference is that Riddler eventually found a new niche that suited his skills as an information broker/detective rival to Batman. Prankster has yet to find a role that will acclimate him to the modern age (the Nightwing version is fine, but should really have had a different name).

What if psychologically. You can write him to be a man whose desperate for attention. After losing his tv job, and becoming recognizable and in the spotlight. He loses it and he just loses his mind and tries to find elaborate ways to make himself the biggest possible person to be in the spotlight again. So this way people will know who he is and he would be a full time villian. He will just want to have the spotlight and superman is the biggest spotlight their is to get the medias attention onto him again. He needs it to survive, it's all he is. That's why he creates these pranks, to stir up attention to him again. Cause he needs it.

I think the Prankster’s classic look holds him back quite a bit actually. Yeah he is funny looking, in a Mad Magazine way, but he is kind of unpleasant to look at. He doesn’t seem innocent like Alfred E. Newman so he isn’t adorable or cute. I want to write paragraphs of description comparing and contrasting him with the Joker, but basically he looks both evil and incompetent, aggressively unappealing to the eye, and one-dimensional. His look doesn’t allow him to do anything but be a joke villain doing joke villain things.

There is another issue to The Prankster besides being a poor mans Joker: he is also kind of a dollarstore Mr. Mxyzptlk. Both are mainly mischievous annoyances in Superman's life, but Mxyzptlk has the advantage of being nearly omnipotent. He isn't a villain that Superman can defeat with his strength or speed, so he HAS to use his brain. Prankster on the other hand is just a man using convoluted schemes and wielding weaponized gag items. Heck, besides the Joker, he has to compete with guys like Riddler and Trickster, who is a lot more defined and interesting with their looks and backstorys as opposed to a guy looking like the middle-aged version of the Mad Magazine kid.

Wow...I absolutely hate the way this guy looks. I seriously can't look at the classic design without feeling uncomfortable, and not in a good creepy villain way like Two-face or Scarecrow or even the Joker when written this way. That said, I think the newer designs really lose sight of the character. I don't know, I just really don't like this guy for some internal reason and am ok with him drifting into obscurity. Great video though!

Honestly i always really liked this little weirdo, I like both is classic design, as well as the one from the Knightwing story, I do honestly think that the Nightwing one has potential, I do honestly wish it was a separate character, though, like a new version of clue master.

I think subs treats a lot of his super villains the way a parent does a misbehaving child. He knows Prankster at his core is just a child wanting attention.

I love the Prankster so much! He's perfect for Underrated Rogues since he is just that! I wish the Prankster was still around and still as popular as he was back in the 40's, I think he'd make for a surprisingly effective rogue against Superman, kinda like Toyman, you know? a normal-ass guy who uses gimmicks and peripherals to outwit supes. The cyber terrorist version of Prankster really doesn't tickle my fancy though, he easily could've been a new character entirely, I just don't see the reason for him using the Prankster title.

The new 52 prankster is interesting, but tbh they should’ve just made him a completely different character considering how different he is.

Congratulations on hitting 8k!

Another great video man, the pranster is basically a discount toyman I think.

I am writing a new and great Prankster story. It will expand upon his origin story. His new story will depict him as the writer of the Gossip Column in Metropolis High newspaper. His crimes and actions all stem from a need for attention and desire to be popular. His parents gave him next to no attention, despite him being extremely smart and having good looks. He eventually got popular off the pain and humiliation of others. He then set up his own website where he pulls pranks on other people in metropolis, such as spilling buckets of paint on the mayor while he was giving a speech, or when he put laxatives in all the staff's coffee at school . But everything changed when Superman showed up. He now had someone to really challenge. Not only does Oswald have the whole city wired with cameras and has a huge social media following, but some people are actually rooting for him to make a fool of the Mighty Man of Tomorrow. Sooner he decided to aim bigger and brighter. He's going to prank the entire Super Family, and turn the whole city on it's tail. It's gonna be called #Superdweeb. Maybe you could help me with this series of DC stories I'm writing. No one knows DC Super Villains better than you do.

I think prankster should be with green arrow. He needs more villains, and because both green arrow and prankster will make jokes and stuff, it will be a cool back and forth. And i'm just a sucker for golden and silver age comic books and charecters.

6:40 -- That is one of Cruella's goons from Disney's 101 DALMATIONS or I'll eat my hat!

Actually. I have a oc created villain named Pranker. He looks a lot like a rowdyruff boy, except he's much taller, doesn't have super powers, is 13 years old, and has actually killed one of my oc hero's parents.

The Rupert Pupkin of DC.

They should definitely bring him back, maybe for Nightwing, but classic version.

Forgotten rogue hypnota

If it were up to me to redesign the Prankster, I would make him a young man pulling cruel pranks on society. He would record himself planing out his and enacting his pranks and uploads them to different sites for the attention and notoriety. He could be like a reflection on the cruelty of the prank culture on RU-vid and other social media. He could be desperate for attention and doesn’t care if this isn’t the right way to do it. Also he should have a robot sidekick because why not.

I think Mr. Bloom is quite an underrated villain you could cover. He was only used in one recent story, but he was very interesting and I think he could be tuned up.

I believe that Trickster Jr. took up the mantle of Prankster in his second appearance of the CW Flash show. Also in one episode of The Batman Joker went looking for a sidekick to match Robin and his name was Prankster. (Only one episode and I'm pretty sure he has nothing to do with this character.) Anyhow I absolutely love the idea of a "distraction" villain. It seems like a perfect idea for the comic world to explore deeper into.

I prefer the Distraction for Hire version. It's a status quo change that makes sense for the character. Not at all forced. Not a total reinvention.

That’s a great first story. I would enjoy him being a thorn in nightwings side. Not enough to arrest; just slows nightwing down every so often.

I found out that the prankster did appeared in superman video game he appeared in the 1992 superman game made by sunsoft this was the only appearance of the prankster ever in any dc video game and it wasn't even on the wikipedia page for the prankster and someone should add it right now

I hate the New 52...but I really like that version of him.

He and Joker should team up more often.

Myxy is already there- no Prankster needed!

IVE BEEN WAITING FOR SOME JOHNNY SORROW LOVE

He's still a famous Superman villain (if you look up Superman villains)

I'm all for sillier, more light-hearted supervillains like the Prankster, but the fact that he's trying to cause trouble for Superman of all heroes makes him look more pathetic than endearing. I agree that he would be a better fit for Green Arrow or the Flash.

Myx's name is pronounces Mixes-Spit-Lick.

As to Prankster's look. The original is too goofy but the tall lanky is too serious. Get rid of the buck teeth, keep him a bit overweight, keep the height, and the vaudeville outfit. As for the jut a guy. So is Lex Luthor and he's considered Superman's greatest foe. As too making stories it's not that hard right off I can make two. The Pranksters classic pranks. Metropolis residences receive a prank paper that ha shocking fake stories, and one about how the Prankster is going to make millions from classic pranks. Meanwhile the warden gets two phone calls. The first asking if he has a particular person in the can. He does? He better let him out. Then a call asking if his refrigerator is running. Suddenly the warden;s refrigerator being carried by a robot smashes through a wall. The robot says then you better catch it. The prisoner is of course in the fridge. Superman confronts Prankster who offers him a cigar. Supes refuses, and Prankster laments you can't give anyone an exploding cigar these days. Saying the squirt gag never goes out of style blows Kryponite gas on Supes and escapes. Using the prisoner he busted out of prision Prankster then plays the ultamite ding dong ditch by setting off every alarm in Metropolis. And if Lex can have a powersuit Prankster can have the Powerprank suit.

can you do more marvel villains please 😊🙏?

His original incarnation seems good enough. Congratulations on the 8 k! any celebration coming?

I think Prankster, Puzzler and Toyman belong in Nightwing's Rogue's Gallery. Batman may have trained Richard but Superman gave Grayson his name. Plus, they (Prankster, Puzzler & Toyman) are more of a threat to Nightwing than they ever would be to Superman. Also, Funny Face could join Nightwing's foes too; I really like him and hate for a good villain to be wasted. Funny Face would bring interesting visuals to any comic.

Yes! Can't wait for Johnny Sorrow, I love him. At first his design reminded me of the Psycho-Pirate, so I remembered him and look for stories in which he features... Great Toyman review BTW, his design from the New 52 reminded me of some "Batgirl:Rebirth" recent Babs villain; Ethan Cobblepot aka "Blacksun", the son of the Penguin. (Especially in his second appearance, for the mask) He looks a bit like a Younger version of his father in the Telltale games IMO, I wish to see more of him in "Nightwing" or "Red Hood and the Outlaws", after what happened to the Penguin... , since Batgirl:Rebirth is terrible IMHO. Thanks a lot for your videos, always a pleasure to watch; au revoir l'ami o/

Could you ever review Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? You'd probably have a much greater appreciation of that story.

The Prankster sounds like a Poor Man's Mr. MXYSPTLK

Mr. Rogues, ever heard of Punch & Jewelee? Pre-existing before Joker & Harley were even an item.

If Prankster makes a comeback, I could see Patton Oswalt portraying him. As for a future episode, how about the Marvel villainess Mindblast?

I'd say give Prankster to either Green Arrow or Nightwing as God knows they need more Rogues themselves. Keep his goofy, whimsical personality while trying to maintain him in a more grounded light in their stories, compared to his Golden Age days. Also, don't make him as dark as other characters like Joker, we need a bit more light-hearted Villains again. I'd like to see this character back in Rebirth with these ideal changes, and I personally lean him more into Nightwing territory as Dick tends to be a more of a nice guy, and would like to help the Prankster change his ways to pick himself up from his tragedy. Plus it would be a nice call back for when Joker use to be a more comical villain for the Batman, now the Juniors deal with their own problems. Although based on his origin with his show falling into obscurity and bankruptcy, I can see Ollie taking him as a rogue.

Prankster vs Condiment King vs Paste-Pot Pete who would win in a fight?

Sigh. All modern heroes just seem like they wouldnt work for him He is definitely street level so that wipes out half of the popular heroes He shouldn't be dark and edgy so the pool is halfed again oy. maybe flash? Think about it his pre new 52 version distracts people right? Well why wouldn't some bank robbers need more time to escape before flash catches them keeping the best version of the character but putting him in the rouges gang (captain cold mirror master weather wizard ect) either that or we could revamp him into a magic based character that specialises in illusions (Not like mysterios illusions but much more realistic) and have him annoy that end of the dc universe I can imagine zatana being pestered by him

He looks like the boy from the Mad magazine.

Have they ever done a full on Joker vs Prankster story.

So basically- Superman's Riddler

0:20 - The prankster's stories 7:20 - Rogue's opinion

can you do the Jester Underrated Rogues

I really like the pre flashpoint and new 52 versions