| “ | A boy needs a dog, Frank! | ” |
| — Joe talking to Frank about getting a dog. | ||
Joseph "Joe" Heffley is the brother/rival of Frank Heffley, brother-in-law of Susan Heffley, and uncle of Greg Heffley, Rodrick Heffley and Manny Heffley.
Synopsis
Role in Rodrick Rules
Joe comes to Greg's house late for Thanksgiving. His children all call their uncle "Aunt Fwank (Frank)." Susan says that this is cute but Frank says that Joe taught them to do that. When Frank goes down to the basement to do edits to his Civil War diorama, Joe sneaks down and says "Nice toys, big brother!" Frank explains everything to Joe, but Joe didn't listen to a single thing he was saying. Greg mentions that the year before that book takes place, Manny was approximately 2 weeks from getting out of diapers, but Joe puts a stop to it by saying "Watch out for the 'potty monster,' little fella!" Every-time time Frank had to change a dirty diaper after that, he started cursing Uncle Joe under his breath!
Role in The Last Straw
Joe as a teenager
Joe makes a brief appearance on Easter at church. Greg says that when the songs start, he holds Greg's hands, even though he doesn't have to. Greg also says he has an iron grip. when they sat down Greg makes a cuckoo sigh to show he wasn't part of the holding hands to Holly and the rest behind him.
Role in Dog Days
Greg says he asked Joe to encourage Frank to buy a dog. Joe slaps Frank's back saying "A boy needs a dog!" Later he is at Greg's birthday party and his dog Killer eats some of Greg's birthday cake.
Role in The Ugly Truth
He and his brother Frank are trying to get Greg to be more responsible and not end up like their brother Gary Heffley. He appears at Gary's fourth wedding and the Heffley family reunion.
Personality
Uncle Joe is evidently one of the more troublesome character in the series, who inadvertently embarrasses, annoys and harms Frank by causing him lots of pain and disgust. Uncle Joe is classified as very immature, childish, and overly-affectionate.
Appearance
Uncle Joe is shown having a Mexican-style mustache, black hair and western-style clothing, looking more like a cowboy in Greg's illustrations. Even though he appears to be designed like a teenager.
Relationships
Frank Heffley
Frank is Joe's brother whom despises Joe who often makes fun of him. Joe convinced his kids to call Frank "Aunt Fwank", much to Frank’s annoyance.
Gary Heffley
Not much is know about is Joe's relationship with his younger brother Gary Heffley, though it is better then Frank’s.
Trivia
- Though Joe's implied to be younger than Frank, the illustration of his mustache and other features may imply that Uncle Joe is older than what Greg portrays him to be.
- Uncle Joe is quite possibly the only character to be universally disliked by Greg, Rodrick, Frank and Manny.
- The Ugly Truth is the only book in which Uncle Joe gets along with Frank.
- He does not have a visible mouth in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid Online version.
- He doesn't appear or is mentioned in The Third Wheel, Hard Luck, The Long Haul, Old School, Double Down, and The Getaway.
- In a flashback in Cabin Fever, when Greg snuck into his mother's email account to tell everyone to coordinate all of the Christmas presents they will get Greg, Joe's name can be seen.
Appearances
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid Online (First appearance)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (First book appearance)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw (Minor appearance)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever (Indirectly Mentioned)