OVA
Description
Joseph Carpenter, known by his codename Joker, serves as the head of the British Library's Special Operations Division, a position he holds across the Read or Die OVA and the subsequent television series R.O.D the TV. He is of English nationality, and his traditional demeanor often leads others to see him as the quintessential English gentleman, a figure whose composed exterior and skill with language are his most effective tools. In the television series, which takes place some time after the OVA, he is also referred to as Mr. Carpenter. This period has visibly aged him; his face is more lined, he walks with the aid of a cane, and he carries the weight of his responsibilities as the division's leader following the death of his own superior, a mysterious and powerful figure known only as Gentleman.
Joker's personality is initially defined by a calm, reassuring, and perpetually smiling facade. He appears easy-going and collected even in the most dire circumstances, projecting the image of a cool-headed and clever strategist. However, this exterior masks a far more complex and sinister nature. As events unfold, his character is revealed to be that of an ambitious and ruthless elitist. He becomes progressively more violent and high-strung, demonstrating a willingness to pursue extreme measures to achieve his goals. His core motivation is a deep, almost fanatical desire to restore and secure the global influence of the British Empire, which he believes has severely declined following the death of Gentleman. This drive stems from a belief in human selection and nationalist supremacy, principles that align him ideologically with the very I-Jin villains he once fought against. He is committed to doing whatever it takes for the success and safety of his nation, regardless of the human cost.
In his role within the story, Joker is the commander who directs the operations of special agents, most notably the paper-manipulating Yomiko Readman, for whom he is the former boss. He is the subordinate of Gentleman, who acts as the all-seeing eye and true source of Britain's power over global affairs. Joker's ambition is a key driving force across the narrative. In the original story, he is shown to be extremely clever and ambitious, with the ultimate goal of destroying Gentleman after being granted control of the British Empire for nine days, in order to seize power for himself. In the television series, however, his goal shifts. Disappointed by Britain's weakened state without Gentleman's mastermind, he becomes fiercely loyal to the empire's legacy and works to resurrect his former master. He orchestrates a scheme called Operation Sleeping Books, aiming to download Gentleman's vast knowledge and personality into a suitable human host to re-establish Britain's control over the world.
Key relationships define his actions and downfall. His relationship with Gentleman is central, progressing from loyal subordinate to a would-be usurper in the OVA, and then to a devoted servant trying to resurrect his power in the TV series. His dynamic with Yomiko Readman shifts from being her supportive superior to being an antagonist whose grand plans she ultimately thwarts. He is also aided by his faithful and occasionally clumsy assistant, Wendy Earhart, who remains by his side. Joker's plan to create a new Gentleman involves using a powerful child named Junior, who was born from two I-Jin clones, as the host for the Gentleman's data. This scheme is stopped at its peak by a group of heroes, and during the failed data transfer, Junior mentally and physically shocks Joker. This event drains him of his life force, aging him dramatically and leaving him in a comatose state from which he eventually begins to recover.
Joker does not possess any supernatural or paper-manipulating abilities like the agents he commands. Instead, his notable abilities lie in his strategic genius, his cool head under pressure, and his skill with words, which he uses as his primary weapons to manipulate and control situations. He is also a master of psychological manipulation and is known to employ sophisticated methods of information control and even torture utilizing books. His authority as the president and chief director of the British Library grants him immense resources and the power to orchestrate schemes on a global scale, making him a formidable antagonist who acts from the shadows.
Joker's personality is initially defined by a calm, reassuring, and perpetually smiling facade. He appears easy-going and collected even in the most dire circumstances, projecting the image of a cool-headed and clever strategist. However, this exterior masks a far more complex and sinister nature. As events unfold, his character is revealed to be that of an ambitious and ruthless elitist. He becomes progressively more violent and high-strung, demonstrating a willingness to pursue extreme measures to achieve his goals. His core motivation is a deep, almost fanatical desire to restore and secure the global influence of the British Empire, which he believes has severely declined following the death of Gentleman. This drive stems from a belief in human selection and nationalist supremacy, principles that align him ideologically with the very I-Jin villains he once fought against. He is committed to doing whatever it takes for the success and safety of his nation, regardless of the human cost.
In his role within the story, Joker is the commander who directs the operations of special agents, most notably the paper-manipulating Yomiko Readman, for whom he is the former boss. He is the subordinate of Gentleman, who acts as the all-seeing eye and true source of Britain's power over global affairs. Joker's ambition is a key driving force across the narrative. In the original story, he is shown to be extremely clever and ambitious, with the ultimate goal of destroying Gentleman after being granted control of the British Empire for nine days, in order to seize power for himself. In the television series, however, his goal shifts. Disappointed by Britain's weakened state without Gentleman's mastermind, he becomes fiercely loyal to the empire's legacy and works to resurrect his former master. He orchestrates a scheme called Operation Sleeping Books, aiming to download Gentleman's vast knowledge and personality into a suitable human host to re-establish Britain's control over the world.
Key relationships define his actions and downfall. His relationship with Gentleman is central, progressing from loyal subordinate to a would-be usurper in the OVA, and then to a devoted servant trying to resurrect his power in the TV series. His dynamic with Yomiko Readman shifts from being her supportive superior to being an antagonist whose grand plans she ultimately thwarts. He is also aided by his faithful and occasionally clumsy assistant, Wendy Earhart, who remains by his side. Joker's plan to create a new Gentleman involves using a powerful child named Junior, who was born from two I-Jin clones, as the host for the Gentleman's data. This scheme is stopped at its peak by a group of heroes, and during the failed data transfer, Junior mentally and physically shocks Joker. This event drains him of his life force, aging him dramatically and leaving him in a comatose state from which he eventually begins to recover.
Joker does not possess any supernatural or paper-manipulating abilities like the agents he commands. Instead, his notable abilities lie in his strategic genius, his cool head under pressure, and his skill with words, which he uses as his primary weapons to manipulate and control situations. He is also a master of psychological manipulation and is known to employ sophisticated methods of information control and even torture utilizing books. His authority as the president and chief director of the British Library grants him immense resources and the power to orchestrate schemes on a global scale, making him a formidable antagonist who acts from the shadows.