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    Joker

    Character » Joker appears in 4210 issues.

    The Joker, Clown Prince of Crime, is Batman's arch-nemesis. An agent of chaos known for his malicious plots, wacky gadgets and insidious smile, he has caused Batman more suffering than any other villain he has ever faced. His origin, name, and true motivations remain a mystery.

    Is the Ledger Joker a better version than the Joker we have today

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    batmanary

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    #1  Edited By batmanary

    IMO Heath Ledger's Joker was good, but it didn't feel like THE joker , it felt more like a psycho henchman or something, simply because of the way he was played. How about you guys? What do you think?

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    Icarusflies

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    #2  Edited By Icarusflies  Moderator

    I actually preferred Ledger's Joker…I'm not much of a fan of the comic version, never have been.

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    The_Ghostshell

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    #3  Edited By The_Ghostshell

    Batman's R.I.P Joker was easily my favorite comicbook version (Allstar Batman & Robin coming in second). I dont know if its the  the early death or just great acting, but I loved Ledgers Joker. Sad we'll never get to see a follow up.

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    Sydpart2

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    #4  Edited By Sydpart2

    Personally I don't see much of a difference between them. Ledger's was less flamboyant but that's about it...maybe it's because I've just gotten to the point where I treat the Joker Blogs as canon with the rest of the Nolanverse stuff, but I just see the Ledger version as an accurate representation of the comic character.

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    Primmaster64

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    #5  Edited By Primmaster64

    Mark Hamill

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    deactivated-59acec0996df7

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    Ledger treated him as purely psychotic, dirty and grimy, which works well today with the contempory times.  But I didn't care for him much. For that's all he was. Flat and one dimensional, IMPO.  
     
    But I think Mark Hamill's version from the TAS series was just amazing. Jokey, horrid puns, flamboyant, some great lines, reckless, human and twisted. He was insane and his plans had no meaning most of the time, yet he was also very intelligent and resourceful. Hamill's voice work was profilic on the show, the wide range of laughs and cackles. His humor, he was a genuinely funny and interesting character.  Seeing him in 'Mask of Phantasm,' they pushed the limits on him more making him more psychotic and darker, it was a blast to see. Made me wonder how they were able to get  a PG rating. 
     
    'Kaiser and I will settle this man to clown.' 
    Great stuff. 
     

    Mark Hamill's Joker
    Mark Hamill's Joker
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    GabrielNox

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    #7  Edited By GabrielNox

    Yes, much better. So is Batman, what with the lack of pj's and everything.

    The only reason I like the movies is because they're not stuck in the past and have the nuts to "break the icon" as it ware.

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    batmanary

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    #8  Edited By batmanary

    I like the movies too, and I like his portrayal, but the flamboyance and even the craziness of the Joker seemed lacking, in the movie. He actually seemed sane. And yes I know that the Joker in the comics is sometimes called sane, and is acting crazy, I just feel Ledger's Joker felt a bit generic, even if his performance was good.

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    yousuck137

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    #9  Edited By yousuck137

    I thought ledger was good as the Joker, but maybe a little overrated. I feel like he was praised for acting like he had horrible cotton mouth the entire movie.

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    WW-Fan

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    #10  Edited By WW-Fan

    Jack Nicoleson was much better Joker 
     
      
      here is a comparison of Heath Laugh and Jack one :)
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    DeathpooltheT1000

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    I am still in shok about the fact that people like the Joker just as a plain dumb clown.
    I like him more like Ledger, Dimaggio, Arkahm Sylum, psycho, clear insane, funny in his own way Joker.

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    Pokeysteve

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    #12  Edited By Pokeysteve
    @batmanary said:
    " IMO Heath Ledger's Joker was good, but it didn't feel like THE joker , it felt more like a psycho henchman or something, simply because of the way he was played. How about you guys? What do you think? "
    I agree with this. I always feel like an outsider because of my feelings for Ledger's Joker. He was missing something. At the end of the Dark Knight if he had blown up both those boats anyways and then laughed in Batman's face he would have been the perfect Joker. He lacked the body count. 
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    InnerVenom123

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    #13  Edited By InnerVenom123

    All jokers kick equal amounts of @ss imo.

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    Pokeysteve

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    #14  Edited By Pokeysteve
    @InnerVenom123 said:

    " All jokers kick equal amounts of @ss imo. "

     
    Oh really? 
     
    Joker
    Joker

       
    =D
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    Vitality

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    #15  Edited By Vitality

    Ledger's joker was most definitely the best Joker of all...in my opinion.
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    howlettgrowl

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    #16  Edited By howlettgrowl

    heath's Joker was really freaking good...but i love mark hamill 's joker as well...that's why i'm pissed when i found that batman: arkham city will be the last time that he will voice the joker...pissed...

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    KenTheProfile

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    #17  Edited By KenTheProfile

    For my money the Best Jokerin the movies was Ledger.  The best comic Joker was in "Joker" he was a mix of the two Jokers. 
     I don't get when people say Ledger  was not like the Comic Joker. He did things I thought were scary and funny things just like in the comics.  
    the thing about Ledger's Joker was you never once could tell it was him if you did not know it already. it was a type of role he never did before

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    SC

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    #18  Edited By SC  Moderator

    Ledger's Joker was great, it should have been, much more creative freedom, as little continuity constraints as wished by the director, a chance to pick some of the best aspects of the Comic book versions, and refine them, to provide a perfect antagonist to a similar refined and altered Batman. Honestly can't say that this version is best though. Perfect for the movie, but mediums change things, they have their own issues and problems that need to be dealt with in different ways respectively. Advantages and disadvantages. Superficial things only possible in certain mediums can become a huge deal, depending on again the medium. Facial ticks, liplicking gestures, even compare TAS Rogue's accent to her comic book accent. Actually hearing her can make a huge difference. I too am fond of Mark Hamill's version. Comic versions, depends on the writer.

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    .Mistress Redhead.

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    no, not at all.

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    Eyz

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    #20  Edited By Eyz
    @Pokeysteve said:
    " @InnerVenom123 said:
    " All jokers kick equal amounts of @ss imo. "
     
    Oh really? 
     
       =D "

     
    You have to be truly insane to paint your 'stache!
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    FadeToBlackBolt

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    #21  Edited By FadeToBlackBolt

    The comic Joker IS the Joker. In particular Alan Moore's and Grant Morrison's Joker which is the greatest villain ever to appear in a fictional medium.

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    CrimsonAvenger

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    #22  Edited By CrimsonAvenger
    @Pokeysteve said:

    " @batmanary said:

    " IMO Heath Ledger's Joker was good, but it didn't feel like THE joker , it felt more like a psycho henchman or something, simply because of the way he was played. How about you guys? What do you think? "

    I agree with this. I always feel like an outsider because of my feelings for Ledger's Joker. He was missing something. At the end of the Dark Knight if he had blown up both those boats anyways and then laughed in Batman's face he would have been the perfect Joker. He lacked the body count.  "
     
    Exactly How I feel about his Joker, he felt more like a henchmen than Batman's greatest foe.  I would have thought he would have blown up the boats, I mean that could have been his defining moment as The Joker and then did crzy laugh.
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    Pokeysteve

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    #23  Edited By Pokeysteve
    @Eyz said:
     You have to be truly insane to paint your 'stache! "
     
    Damn true story haha.  
    Mr. Romero we are going to have to shave your... 
    NO! Just paint over it! OOOOHHHOOOOOHOOO!  
     
    Crazy. 
     
     
    @CrimsonAvenger said:
    " @Pokeysteve said:

    " @batmanary said:

    " IMO Heath Ledger's Joker was good, but it didn't feel like THE joker , it felt more like a psycho henchman or something, simply because of the way he was played. How about you guys? What do you think? "

    I agree with this. I always feel like an outsider because of my feelings for Ledger's Joker. He was missing something. At the end of the Dark Knight if he had blown up both those boats anyways and then laughed in Batman's face he would have been the perfect Joker. He lacked the body count.  "
      Exactly How I feel about his Joker, he felt more like a henchmen than Batman's greatest foe.  I would have thought he would have blown up the boats, I mean that could have been his defining moment as The Joker and then did crzy laugh. "
    I was actually on the edge of my seat waiting for it. They chose instead to give the people on the boats a little story line. The cool black guy on the convicts boat was pretty awesome though lol. 
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    Jonny_Anonymous

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    #24  Edited By Jonny_Anonymous

    Ledgers joker was awesome i thought... Why so serious? his joker as well as the one in Batman R.I.P are my fav. 

    No Caption Provided
    all I want now is for johnny Depp to play this version of the Riddler in the next movie and il be happy. 

    No Caption Provided
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    X-MEN55

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    #25  Edited By X-MEN55
    @Vitality said:
    " Ledger's joker was most definitely the best Joker of all...in my opinion. "
    Agreed.
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    punchline

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    #26  Edited By punchline

    Mark hamill's joker was and still is the best. If you don't believe me I have proof. Not only did he own the role in the Batman

    No Caption Provided
     
     
     
     
     
     
    The animated series  but also in

    No Caption Provided

    Arkham Asylum Video Game . Having voiced the role in both. Two different media's same great laugh
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    Cervantes

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    #27  Edited By Cervantes


    I see where you're coming from, because Ledger seemed to create a purely sociopathic anarchist - sometimes felt like the son of Marlon Brando's Godfather with his line delivery. But he did SUCH an awesome job I think most people just rolled with it. Even though it wasn't the Joker.  
     
    Also, Dark Knight basically was Batman: the War on Terror - everything was translated into a metaphor for the War on Terror: 

    Batman: Special Ops 
    Cops: coalition military 
    Joker: Bin Laden 
    Bat Cave's Cell Scanner: Echelon program 
    Lucius Fox: civil libertarians 
    Convoy carrying Gordon: coalition convoy 
    Joker's human shields: human shields
     
    Ironically, by those terms Batman HAS killed the Joker! Bye bye, Bin Laden...  

    Loved Hamill in BTAS, great laughs, great writing 
     
    Here's something that could NEVER happen that'd I'd like to see in the comics... JOKER, INC.

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    Cervantes

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    #28  Edited By Cervantes
    @.Mistress Redhead.
     
    Here's the version I prefer, but this could NEVER happen: JOKER, INC.
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    SensitivePsych0

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    #29  Edited By SensitivePsych0

    My favorite movie is the Dark Knight, but i would say Hamill's Joker is only a little bit better. Although the Ledger Joker is one of the greatest characters ever made.

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    Adnan

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    #30  Edited By Adnan

    Ledger Joker captured the psychological undertones of The Joker, but still kept elements of that playfulness in there. Keeping in mind that this would be Batman and Jokers first meeting in this story, I think he did a spot on job. Comic-book Joker is far more developed than Ledger Joker though, it's a nonsensical comparison.

    I seriously felt like I was watching The Crow again at some points though (not a bad thing)

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    Joygirl

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    #31  Edited By Joygirl

    Briefly, no. He was terrific, and a great interpretation of the character. But as we've seen by imitations (Young Justice Joker, anyone?) that interpretation can't be pulled off by everyone and is honestly not true to the character. When I read comics I hear Hamill's voice, and that should never change.

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    luckydomino1

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    #32  Edited By luckydomino1

    although i really enjoyed the heath ledger joker i like the old one better

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    the_stegman

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    #33  Edited By the_stegman  Moderator

    to me, ALL of the jokers we've seen in other media are all slight personality traits of the comic joker 
     
    Ledger's Joker showed the dark demented side 
     
    Nicholson's Joker should the clownish, comic relief side 
     
    Hamil's Joker showed a mixture of this, and got close to the comic joker, but due to tv age appropriation, couldn't get fully explored 
     
    but one thing's for sure,they ALL keep me laughing 

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    Rapthorn2ndform

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    #34  Edited By Rapthorn2ndform

    The Animated Joker was the best

    I did enjoy Heath Ledger, but i REALLY don't think i'd be nearly as popular if he had lived. Don't get me wrong he was REALLY good, but not as good as everyone says

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    Joygirl

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    #35  Edited By Joygirl

    ^ Which is why Arkham Asylum Joker is best. That perfect blend of horror and comedy -- rated M for Mature. That interpretation is what I consider to be exemplary because it coalesced all of the best elements of the character throughout the decades.

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    218Comics

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    #36  Edited By 218Comics

    The Dark Knight's Joker and Batman are the pinnacle of what characters should and could be. From my view, there will never be a better Joker.

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    Croaker

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    #37  Edited By Croaker

    Absolutely not. Ledger did well for Nolanverse, but he is not THE Joker.

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    Zomwolf

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    #38  Edited By Zomwolf

    Ledger did a great job I thought

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    Gambit1024

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    #39  Edited By Gambit1024

    As much as I absolutely adored Ledger's Joker performance, that's not the Joker I hear when I read the books.

    Hamill's Joker is the one and only for me.

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    DeathpooltheT1000

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    JOHN DIMAGGIO!!!!!

    Sorry guys, but after Heath the only Joker that scares me is Dimaggio, Hamill iso verrated, i mean he and conroy will be nothing without the amazing universe Paul Dinnin and Bruce Timm created for TAS.

    People dont rememebr why that cartoon was so good why since then the Batman cartoon have being pretty crappy.

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    monarch2016

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    #41  Edited By monarch2016

    @DeathpooltheT1000 said:

    I am still in shok about the fact that people like the Joker just as a plain dumb clown. I like him more like Ledger, Dimaggio, Arkahm Sylum, psycho, clear insane, funny in his own way Joker.

    this

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    RoyalDivinity

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    #42  Edited By RoyalDivinity

    @Gambler said:

    Batman's R.I.P Joker was easily my favorite comicbook version (Allstar Batman & Robin coming in second). I dont know if its the the early death or just great acting, but I loved Ledgers Joker. Sad we'll never get to see a follow up.
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    hulkbuster94

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    i think ledgers joker is a bit overrated due to his untimely early death do not get me wrong i liked the joker in that film alot but thing that annoyed me was how he had an army of fanboys due to his death i mean if they look for a new joker i would pick johnny depp he could do it especially after alot of his darker films

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    CheeseSticks

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    Mark is doing the voice only. Ledger is acting and doing the voice. I think Ledger is better !

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    dernman

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    I think Joker is the type of character that can be all those things at different times.

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    TDK_1997

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    In the Killig Joke it was something special,the best Joker.Right after that version is Hamill's portrayal in Batman TAS and right after him is Ledger's Joker.

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    Joygirl

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    No

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    Taye

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    @ww_fan: Jack Nicholson's Joker sucked...

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    Taye

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    @pokeysteve: He actually did try to blow up the boats, but then Batman arrived and stopped him..

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