In the superhero world, everybody spends so much time worshiping their favorite heroes. We all love Batman, Superman, and whomever else you may like on the side (I say this, because we all love some really weird character that few others know, no?) However, how many villains have earned such fanfare as the original arch nemesis, The Joker? The Batman has had such trouble dealing with the Joker, and his story has changed several times over depending on the comic book age and the writer involved. Was he one of the Red Hoods? Was he Joe Shill? Was he some poor lab technician who got in over his head and had a run in with Batman? I believe the Joker put it best at one point, 'If I have a history, I prefer it to be multiple choice!'
So, the real question is which is your favorite version of the Joker? Do you like Jack Nicholson and Heath Ledger, or does the best Joker only exist in paper and ink? The first aspect of the Joker should be believability. There's just something about a man who is absolutely out of his mind – to the point of sharp terror and a wicked uncertainty - like playing around with a friendly, rabid pit-bull. Even if you manage to entertain, sooner or later, you'll get chomped. The Joker is not one to remain truly loyal to his 'friends' Even the one person who stays with him all the time, Harley Quinn, tends to get thrown to the proverbial wolves regularly. So who does it better, the movies or the comics?
I suppose the next facet of the Joker would be style. From that off-purple and green motif to just that twisted grin, the Joker literally bleeds his own fashion. His 'face/makeup' is also an important chunk of the puzzle. His face is always scarred, but the nature of the scars can change somewhat. Is it from a chemical burn or a Glasgow smile? What completes the character more effectively is really the idea. His love/hate relationship always remains the same with the Batman though. Perhaps the Joker is just envious of all of those 'wonderful toys.'
Attitude is probably what sets the Joker apart from the entire rogues gallery of the superhero world. Sometimes, he's 'jovial' and doesn't really end up hurting all that many people. Comparatively, other times he is literally a stark raving psychopath willing to kill anybody. I tend to think the movies try to portray the character in a split light, but that might just be me. The comics lay down his foundation as a fairly rigid plot device. What are the Joker's primary motivations? What makes him the person he is? Can anybody make any sense of the Joker from either the comic or the movies?
What makes the Joker such an icon? Why are we so enthralled by someone who appears to be so lost to the rest of us? Did the movies make him a part of us, or did the comic books seal the deal? These are the questions I pose to you, my good internet denizens. People should be willing to defend their opinions, and somewhere along the line, you may find yourself at our webpage trying to find your favorite version of the Joker! After all, the only sensible way to live is without rules! You can see our entire selection at
Joker Tshirts