The Joker is one of the most iconic and prolific characters in comic book history, boasting a 58-year-long career in both cinematic and TV DC adaptations, some of which are sorely underrated. With the DCU soon to get underway in earnest with the release of Superman in July, we will soon be treated to yet another rendition of the Clown Prince of Crime as the DCU’s version of Batman is finally established in the new cinematic franchise. It will be a challenge for whoever portrays the DCU’s Joker, as iconic renditions like Heath Ledger’s set an extremely high bar.

In fact, Ledger’s Joker is so paradigmatic that it can even overshadow previous takes. There have been nine adaptations of the Joker in live-action alone, not counting questionable additions like the mystery character seen at the end of Joker: Folie à Deux. Animated versions of the character, meanwhile, are even more commonly overlooked. Still, I think both mediums house their fair share of criminally underrated interpretations.

10

Harley Quinn’s Joker

Voiced By Alan Tudyk

Harley Quinn depicts the тιтular villain in her journey to completely divest from the Joker and their toxic relationship. Despite playing a pivotal role in the story’s set-up, Joker mostly takes a backseat as a secondary character to Harley Quinn’s critically acclaimed solo series. Still, Joker does receive his fair share of the limelight, such as when he runs to become Mayor of Gotham against Commissioner Gordon and wins.

As a black comedy, you could be forgiven for not taking Harley Quinn‘s version of the Joker too seriously, but I think that would be doing Alan Tudyk’s rendition a disservice. Harley Quinn depicts a strangely relatable version of the character, particularly when he is shown enjoying a happy family life with two stepchildren. Tudyk is also a serious contender to Mark Hamill’s iconic voice for the character, though Tudyk’s version easily earns more laughs.

9

Batman: Mask Of The Phantasm’s Joker

Voiced By Mark Hamill

Mark Hamill reprises his role as Joker in the animated spin-off movie, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm. The movie was released between seasons 1 and 2 of Batman: The Animated Series, where Hamill established himself as one of, if not the most beloved, Joker actors. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm reaffirms that sentiment, as Hamill’s chaotic version of the character wreaks havoc as the тιтular Phantasm seeks revenge against him.

The reason I believe this version of the Joker is overlooked is mostly because he is overshadowed by Hamill’s work on Batman: The Animated Series. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm was a box office flop but has since earned widespread acclaim as one of the greatest DC animated movies ever released, building upon the stellar reputation of the show. Hamill’s Joker is largely to thank, delivering a frenetic and humorous take on the character that still holds up today.

8

Gotham’s Joker(s)

Played By Cameron Monaghan

Gotham delivers an incredibly unique take on the iconic Batman villain by splitting Joker between two characters. Jerome and Jeremiah Valeska are identical twins that each embody certain facets of the Joker persona. After Jerome – a chaotic and wantonly violent psychopath – meets his demise in Gotham season 4, Jeremiah picks up the slack with physical attributes that more closely resemble the Joker and a more cunning and methodical criminal mind. Later, after falling into a vat of acid, Jeremiah becomes an amalgamation of both Valeska twins, and even closer to an accurate Joker as a result.

While Jerome’s introduction stoked some controversy, I love this fresh yet ultimately faithful take on the Joker mythos. Having the character embodied by two separate people speaks to the Joker’s fragmented mental state, and Jerome’s positive outlook towards dying due to the idea of Joker living on is a compelling representation of Joker’s insidiousness. Jeremiah’s haunting visage towards the end of Gotham is also a sight to behold.

7

The Batman Series Joker

Voiced By Kevin Michael Richardson

Not to be confused with the movies of the same name, The Batman was an animated series that ran from 2004 to 2008. This show’s rendition of the Joker stuck to a familiar playbook with regard to his origins, as the mild-mannered man he once was was driven mad and bestowed with his signature color scheme by falling into a vat of acid. Although he retains his psychopathic tendencies, The Batman‘s Joker is rather unique insofar as he sports a matted mane of hair, bare feet, and is notably more acrobatic than typical iterations of the character.

Thankfully, I think this uniqueness is what makes this Joker so memorable. The Batman had a tough act to follow with Batman: The Animated Series, and Batman aficionados are more likely to pin the iconic Joker contained within that series at the top of their lists than any other. Nevertheless, I think Kevin Michael Richardson’s take on the character deserves ample recognition for delivering a take on the widely adapted character that still feels exceptionally fresh.

6

The Dark Knight Returns Part 2’s Joker

Voiced By Michael Emerson

The Dark Knight Returns is a two-part animated movie that depicts Batman’s return to vigilantism after retiring for over a decade. Now 55, he struggles with the physical shortcomings of his age, but news of his return brings Joker out of his catatonic state in Arkham. Joker then embarks on a rampage that leaves dozens ᴅᴇᴀᴅ, culminating in the indiscriminate shooting of several innocents at a fair. In a visceral final brawl, Batman bests his old nemesis, partially breaking his neck and expressing regret over not killing him sooner. The Joker then proceeds to finish the job by fully breaking his own neck.

This is Joker at his most unhinged. It’s difficult to think of a more terrifying take on Batman’s arch enemy, as Michael Emerson’s Joker joyfully embarks on a murder spree simply to goad Batman. His iconic wit is on full display in their final bout as he antagonizes the Caped Crusader, while his final line, “See you in hell,” before breaking his own neck, should be more immortalized in the Batman zeitgeist than it is currently.

5

Batman: The Brave and the Bold’s Joker

Voiced By Jeff Bennett

Batman: The Brave and the Bold strikes a distinctly more kid-friendly tone than many other Batman animated series. As such, its version of the Joker leans into the character’s more humorous side and foregoes the gruesome psychopathy often depicted in modern live-action takes. He is one of the most recurrent characters across the show’s 3 seasons and 65 episodes.

While he may not measure up to the unique Joker from The Batman, Jeff Bennett’s Joker expertly leans into a more classic interpretation ripped straight from the Golden Age of Comic Books. With that said, I enjoy the fact that the Joker in Batman: The Brave and the Bold exhibits greater comedic flair, living up to his name more accurately than many others. Despite following Mark Hamill’s iconic rendition of the character, Bennett delivers a performance that is worthy of similar recognition.

4

Suicide Squad’s Joker

Played By Jared Leto

2016’s Suicide Squad is one of the most controversial live-action adaptations of a DC property, and Jared Leto’s Joker had a lot to do with the backlash. Just as animated Jokers face a challenge in following Mark Hamill’s rendition in Batman: The Animated Series, live-action Jokers will forever be compared to Heath Ledger’s celebrated performance in The Dark Knight. Leto’s Joker, for its faults, certainly carved out a distinct idenтιтy that is almost unrecognizable by comparison, save for age-old characteristics like their green hair.

I often feel that Suicide Squad‘s Joker earns too much flak. I immediately appreciated Leto’s attempts to make his Joker unique, and what he delivered was a Joker that had the potential to be just as terrifying as Ledger’s, exuding a sadistic quality that is often overshadowed by his penchant for abject chaos. I think this grounded, gangland-inspired take on the character is still worth exploring, and I’m sure that Leto’s Joker would have won more fans had he been afforded more screen time and better writing.

3

The Batman’s Joker

Played By Barry Keoghan

The Joker barely features in 2022’s The Batman, but Barry Keoghan’s almost entirely obscured debut in the final cut of The Batman was enough to stoke excitement about what’s to come in the franchise. He didn’t have to be named for fans to recognize the mysterious prisoner’s idenтιтy after letting out an instantly recognizable cackle. However, a deleted scene for The Batman delivers a much closer look at the character as he is interviewed (while still partially obscured) by Batman in an attempt to learn about the Riddler’s mind.

I’m excited to see where Matt Reeves and Barry Keoghan intend to take this distinctly grittier take on the Joker. While we don’t see his entire face, it’s plain to see that Reeves has opted to adapt the most heavily scarred version of the character thus far committed to the big screen, teasing an intriguing backstory that I want to see fleshed out in The Batman – Part II. Whether Keoghan will return as that movie’s arch-villain remains to be seen, but I’m keen to see them capitalize on his proven acting talents.

2

The LEGO Batman Movie’s Joker

Voiced By Zach Galifianakis

The LEGO Batman Movie is a spin-off of the wildly successful The LEGO Movie. It depicts a decidedly fresh take on the Batman mythos as it is an out-and-out comedy, with any darker elements quashed by the fact that all characters are plastic toys and the movie is largely geared towards kids. The result is a hilarious spin on Joker, voiced by legendary comedic actor and stand-up comedian, Zach Galifianakis, who portrays a Joker who feels spurned by Batman’s ambivalence towards their rivalry.

While there have been plenty of humorous takes on the Joker, such as Jeff Bennett’s in Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Galifianakis’ rendition is easily the funniest. The fact that he doesn’t strive to put on a high-pitched voice only adds to this. I’m additionally won over by the character design, with animators giving LEGO Joker pointed teeth in addition to his typical green-and-purple garb.

1

Joker: Folie à Deux’s Joker

Played By Joaquin Phoenix

Whereas 2019’s Joker became a cultural phenomenon, becoming the first R-rated movie to gross $1 billion at the global box office and earning acclaim from moviegoers, its sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux, failed to capitalize on that momentum. Both movies star the тιтular villain, whose real idenтιтy in this darker universe is the tortured Arthur Fleck, but fans immediately soured on the character in his second big-screen appearance. Admittedly, the Joker persona didn’t boast much screen time, which is partly what drew so much ire.

Nevertheless, I’m happy to double down on my ᴀssertion that Joker: Folie à Deux and its eponymous character were better than general sentiments might suggest. The movie ends with Arthur renouncing the Joker persona and another Arkham inmate possibly filling his shoes, but the desperation that forces Arthur into this decision is kind of the point. The movie is the bleakest depiction of the character ever seen, and while I certainly didn’t leave the DC movie feeling happy, I still think it’s one of the most compelling and interesting takes on the character ever made.

The Joker

Created By

Bill Finger, Bob Kane, Jerry Robinson

Cast

Cesar Romero, Jack Nicholson, Mark Hamill, Heath Ledger, Jared Leto, Joaquin Phoenix, Barry Keoghan

First Appearance

Batman (1940)

Alias

Red Hood, Clown Prince of Crime, Ace of Knaves

RELATIONSHIPS

Batman (archenemy), Harley Quinn (former psychiatrist, on-and-off girlfriend), Penguin (frequent collaborator), Two-Face (frequent collaborator)

Alliance

Injustice League, Legion of Doom, Injustice Gang

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