How did the joker really get his scars?

Question

How did the joker really get his scars?

Answer 1

There is no answer to how he got his scars in the movie.  In the comics he doesn't even have scars, just chalk white skin, red lips and green hair he got when he fell into a vat of chemicals.

The "multiple choice" thing that Haley said is spot on, they used that to it's full extent in the movie.

Answer 2

The whole point of the Joker is that he is very hard to read... somewhat of a psychopath. He tells different stories in the dark knight because he's...well...crazy. So we'll never really know how he got those scars. Because once you do, you get to know a little bit more about his mental state and understand how he got to be the way he is... if we did then it would sorta ruin it I guess. I don't know.

Answer 3

The comic book says chemical burn and he was horribly deformed from it.

and then throughout the comic book series he says "when it comes to my history, I prefer it to be multiple choice"

Answer 4

Every time he makes up a new story of how he got them. It's like in the comics and cartoon. Here's a quote:

"Harley: (about The Joker) He told me things. Secret things he never told anyone.

Batman: Was it his line about the abusive father or the one about the run away mom? He's gained a lot of sympathy with that one.

Harley: Stop it! You're making me confused.

Batman: What was it he told that one parole officer? Oh yes. "There was only one time I ever saw Dad really happy. He took me to the ice show when I was seven."

Harley: (starts to cry) Circus. He said it was the circus.

Batman: He's got a million of them, Harley."

Answer 5

I was told he had an abusive father who wanted him to smile all the time, so he cut those scars on his cheeks to make him look like he was smiling.