For a character that’s been a mainstay in American Pop Culture for over three quarters of a century, it doesn’t seem like The Joker’s popularity has waned a bit. On the contrary, Mr. J seems to be in the spotlight today in ways he never has been in the past, making frequent appearances across many mediums such as movies, comics, television shows, and even video games. If anything, we are seeing a resurgence of the character; a new golden age of The Joker, if you will. It’s quite an interesting fact to note that in another twenty plus years, the character will be a century old- yet it still feels as if he’s something we’re not overly familiar with. But why? Could it be the fact that his character in and of itself is such an enigma? Is it because of the very nature of Mr. J himself just seems to hit us in the sweet spot of our subconscious minds? There are many, many explanations as to why The Joker remains so fresh and relevant, not only in America, but internationally as well. I, personally, would like to think that a very palpable answer to that question lies in the fact that there is such a monumentally vast assortment of source material to take from. He’s a villain that has countless incarnations, none of which being any less legitimate than the other, but all sharing a common theme: Madness. And as far as the modern day film goes, two names have been pretty much burned into our common psyche: Jack Nicholson and Heath Ledger. Both actors were critically praised for their portrayals of The Clown Prince of Crime, with both interpretations being completely dissimilar to one another. The late Heath Ledger even went on to earn a posthumous Oscar for his anarchist rendition of the character in Christopher Nolan’s 2008 epic ‘The Dark Knight’, the second installment of his highly-praised ‘Dark Knight’ Trilogy. This portrayal of The Joker would go on to be the most infamous version of the character, as far as live adaptations go, that is. His performance remained the active talking point of the character’s legacy for years after the film was released, up until it was announced that a new incarnation of Mr. J was set to appear in DC’s ‘Suicide Squad’, the third entry in the newly established DCEU (DC Expanded Universe). There was, of course, immediate buzz. The internet exploded with speculation; who would play the part? And what source material would the actor be deriving inspiration from? Well, we got one answer when it was revealed that Oscar-winner Jared Leto would be taking on active Joker duty, apparently diving head-first into the character and outspokenly determined to not emulate the fantastic work of his predecessors. In spring 2015, Suicide Squad director David Ayer treated us to our first official publicity photo of this new Joker- an iteration unlike anything the public expected:
Needless to say, massive controversy erupted around the whole ordeal. It became apparent rather quickly that the fans were divided in a way they’ve never been, with many criticizing the look, saying it was too ‘Hot Topic’, etc. Others, however, embraced the change of pace, instantly taking to blog posts and meme creations to show their support of Leto and this new version.
The big question, as always, was how this new portrayal would turn out. After all, this is one of the most beloved characters of all time, so the stakes for Leto were extremely high, especially considering he was the first actor to portray the villain in a live adaptation since Heath Ledger; huge shoes to fill, to say the least. But this was Oscar winner Jared Leto- he couldn’t’ let us down. Right? The initial footage we saw of Ledger in character brought a sense of relief to many, with Leto’s portrayal obviously leaning towards a very dark portrayal of the character. Hardcore Joker fans, however, remained divided.
As far as I could tell, the big concerns among everyone was how this version of the character would relate to the established DC Expanded Universe, a world where Batman and his rogues gallery have already been active for over 20 years, and in fact, so has this Joker. This Joker was not fresh to Gotham as Ledger’s was in ‘The Dark Knight’. No, this Joker, had been active in Gotham for decades, just as The Bat had. And from what we saw in both the trailers for ‘Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice’ and the film itself, it was revealed that this Joker had in fact carried out one of the most important DC storylines ever: he had killed Jason Todd, the second Robin. It appeared that, if Nicholson was the unhinged gangster version of the character, and Ledger was the chaotic anarchist, then this iteration was definitely more on par with the darker, more established comic-book versions of Mr. J- a fact that soon had the divided fan base coming together to talk about these revelations in a very positive way. For many who hated the idea of a tattooed Joker, though, the concept of ever accepting Leto’s version was taboo, to say the least. But these were physical aesthetics- a common trait not limited to Leto. A similar situation happened with Ledger’s Joker when it was first revealed that he did not have bleached skin, but was in fact purposely donning clown make-up to ‘scare people’. This wasn’t something Joker fans had ever really seen before, and that, like the situation with Leto’s tattoos, had the fans heavily divided. That is, of course, until ‘The Dark Knight’ finally hit theaters and has had fans giving Ledger’s rendition universal acclaim ever since. But could Leto pull the same thing off? Could he turn taboo into glory? Audiences would have to wait until August 2016 to find out for sure- but luckily, in the meantime, we were treated to several trailers and TV spots that showcased the kind of Joker we would be getting; a Joker that would become the long-running iteration character for as long as the newly established DCEU would endure.
Finally, the time had come. What began with 2013’s ‘Man of Steel’ and continued with ‘Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice’ would now, for better or for worse, progress with David Ayer’s villain-heavy ‘Suicide Squad’. As the lights went down in theaters across the country on opening night and we saw that grungy, neon-colored ‘Warner Bros.’ appear on the screen before us, we held our collective breaths and watched. Intently.
This is where things once again get tricky. Critics left and right were panning the film, with many hardcore fans following suite. There’s never been such division between the fans, with many hating the film as a whole, and also many who absolutely loved the film. There didn’t seem to be much of an ‘it was ok’ vibe to the film’s hype; you either loved it or hated it. Personally, I fell into the category of those who downright loved the movie. I thought the performances of the actors were on point, the storyline was abstract yet easy to follow (and very comic-book, to say the least), the music (both the original score and the soundtrack comprised of recording artists) fit the tone of the film almost perfectly, the cinematography was lush and beautiful, the editing was fantastic; I loved every minute of this movie. I honestly couldn’t understand what critics and fans alike didn’t like about it. I’ve seen the film excessively in theaters as well, 9 times so far, to be exact- and each time I’ve gone, I’m still excited for each act, even though I know the film’s composition in and out. I think, with each viewing, and why I keep going back to see it in theaters (in particularly, the 3D IMAX showings), is because the film is a ride, through and through. It really is a fun experience that we don’t get very often; almost never. I keep trying to see what the critics are saying when they berate the film, and I just can’t seem to find much that I don’t like. Perhaps having Enchantress as the film’s final villain was a slight misstep, but even that grows to charm you. All in all, in the same way audiences are still divided over ‘Batman v. Superman’, I think audiences will continue to be divided over ‘Suicide Squad’. However, the film continues to do monstrously well in theaters across the country and overseas, so it definitely still has a buzz, and there is obviously a large, large group of people who love the film as I do. But, with everything said and done, whether you loved it or hated it, there are two things that have parties on both sides of the spectrum talking: Harley Quinn and The Joker, played by Margot Robbie and Jared Leto, respectively.
I’ll save the discussion of Robbie’s’ performance as the Clown Princess of Crime for another article, because I think she was completely fantastic in the role and deserves her own dissection elsewhere, but for now, as the title of this article states- it’s all about Joker; the one character out of the film’s entire ensemble cast that has everyone talking- even more so than Harley Quinn. Never has an audience been so divided on the execution of one particular character, nor have they ever been so divided over the portrayal of said character by its respective actor. Some love and embrace Leto’s Joker while others hate it and seem to deny his very existence as the maniacal madman. But, in similar fashion to the uproar Leto received when that first controversial publicity photo was released last year, whether you loved it or hated it- it has you talking about it. As a matter of fact, everyone is talking about it.
Now, when Jack Nicholson played the role in 1989’s ‘Batman’, he was more or less just being Jack Nicholson in Joker getup, which is not to say it wasn’t amazing- but is clearly not the most accurate depiction of the character originally envisioned by Batman creator Bob Kane. It was similar to what Caesar Romero did with the role in the campy 60’s television show, but with a slightly darker, more aggressive direction. A very fun portrayal, but not what I would deem as the supreme rendition. But, as I’ve said earlier in this article, is there really such a thing as a supreme rendition of the Joker? There’s so much content and source material to pull from that it would seem it’s virtually impossible to have any one version of the character that’s considered the staple. Right?
Ledger’s rendition received worldwide critical acclaim and became, for all intents and purposes, The Joker’s icon for the modern day era. Unlike any iteration of the character to come before, however, this version was not a product of falling into an acid bath and being reborn as a cackling, bleached-skin madman. On the contrary, Ledger’s Joker willingly made the transformation into Gotham’s clown prince of crime, by donning crude face paint and adorning his ‘Chelsea Grin’ with vibrant red lipstick. This Joker was very much a product of America’s own wartime- a character created by what was happening in the Middle East and alluding to the post 9/11 fears in the United States; this Joker was a terrorist whose only goal was to reach a state of anarchy by means of sheer and utter chaos. This is the role that one Ledger his posthumous Oscar and it redefined The Joker for a new generation- but make-up and purple suit aside- was this really The Joker? A decent argument can be made in favor of either or- but once again- can there really be one?
And finally, our most recent incarnation: Leto’s Joker- the official Joker of DC’s Extended Universe, and as I’ve said already- the figurehead of massive controversy among critics and fans alike. But going back to what we’ve been talking about in this entire article- can there really ever be ONE Joker to rule them all? Could there really be one Mr. J that depicts what Bob Kane had originally intended all along? Some would say that the staple version would have to be Hammil’s Joker from the 90’s animated series (and various other mediums), and prior to ‘Suicide Squad’ I would have agreed- however I think Leto just might have taken it a few steps further. Shocked? Don’t believe me? Let’s dive in, shall we?
#1 - An Established Villain
Leto’s Joker is a villain that’s been in Gotham city for over two decades- and he’s obviously mingled with Batman on more than one occasion. He IS Gotham’s chief villain, just as he should be. Whereas Mark Hammil’s Joker was more of a prankster with no real objectives, Leto’s Joker is much more in line with Kane’s original version. This Joker has plans, this Joker has objectives; he IS, by hook or by crook, whether incarcerated in Arkham or back on the streets, in complete control of Gotham’s underworld- something hinted at by Nicholson’s Joker and a goal Ledger’s Joker sought but never fully reached. No, Leto’s Joker IS the ultimate Gotham City Gangster, one who has long since taken over the mob and the street level gangs, something extremely close to how Mr. J was first depicted back in his early years; the fact that he’s a bleached psychopath is just an added aesthetic to the gangster the Joker has always in fact been.
#2 - A History Rooted in Lore
This Joker killed Robin. Plain and Simple. This takes us back to one of DC’s mainstay Joker storylines where Jason Todd, the second Robin, was beaten to death by The Joker. This is a huge deal in that they’re bringing the fact that this version of the Joker is a brutal killer into the forefront. No matter what punches he may pull or how many smiles he cracks, this guy took a crowbar and beat a helpless teenager to death with it. We see more of this side when he abruptly murders Common’s character in the semi-introductory club scene in ‘Suicide Squad’. Considering the death of Robin was brought on as canon for the DCEU, albeit adding Harley Quinn there as an accomplice to said murder, we can pretty much assume that many of the popular Joker/Batman storylines have been kept canon as well. Of course we can only assume this as of right now- but considering Robin’s death is canon, and we haven’t seen Batgirl anywhere, it’s a safe bet to assume Mr. J has already shot and paralyzed her some time ago (a staple from ‘The Killing Joke’). Also, this Joker clearly is the same Joker that falls into the Acid Wash at Ace Chemicals and is hence ‘reborn’. We know this for a fact since in a ‘Suicide Squad’ flashback we see him take Harley to the same chemical plant to propose her own ‘rebirth’. His teeth have been knocked out and broken at some point in the past from a previous run-in with Batman, something that has happened in the comics (and hence why in ‘Suicide Squad’ the broken sections have been filled in or replaced by silver caps). When you step back and take a look, almost everything about this version comes right out of the literature; from His run-ins with Batman, his stints at Arkham Asylum, the fact that he’s King Boss of Gotham City- these all lead to storylines of a well-established villain- one with a history rooted deeply in the lore of the source material.
#3 - The Attitude
Unlike Nicholson or even Ledger’s interpretations, whom you could probably sit in a room with and have a legitimate conversation- Leto’s Joker is quite the opposite. This guy seems to lack patience or understanding of anyone else’ point of view, really. When we see him in ‘Suicide Squad’, if he’s not directly communicating with Harley Quinn herself than he seems completely detached and remorseless; his thought occupied only by the fact that he has to, no matter what, ‘save’ his queen. Although this is incredibly romantic in an unhinged sort of way- it is extremely important to the character- as this guy is a Joker with solid goals and aspirations, and will clearly set himself on the paths that need be, until he sees them through. The same couldn’t necessarily be said about Nicholson’s Joker, and certainly not Ledger’s Joker since his goals were purely driven by his desire for anarchy. As far as comic book faithfulness- this aspect is dead-on. A psychotic gangster gifted with the tormented guise of bleached skin and green hair- a choice he didn’t make but one he will embrace to the fullest to get what he wants. There’s something wrong with him, he knows there’s something wrong with him, and instead chooses to use it as a tool, which makes him incredibly dangerous to everyone around him. It’s almost… Shakespearean.
#4 - Dress Code
Like in many of the comic-book storylines, the Joker is an avid fan of fashion- and it’s heavily shown in ‘Squad’ as well. From golden jackets to black tuxedos to purple, gator-skin trench coats, our new Joker is ahead of his time as far as fashion goes. The gold chains, the earrings, the bracelets and watches- these are additives added in to update the overall look of Mr. J for a modern time- a look that although is despised by many, works perfectly for this rendition of The Joker and does in fact make a lot of sense, palpably, in a modern-era Gotham who happens to be Gotham’s biggest Crime Lord. Many like to think these additives ruin the dynamic of the Joker- saying he doesn’t care that much about fashion- but I would contest that argument altogether, and find me a storyline besides the recent ‘Death of the Family’ arch where the Joker isn’t a complete fashion guru . He’s always had a special soft spot for his lavish and expensive purple suits. He’s the city’s most notorious gangster, ladies and gentlemen. He’s got a lot to live up to, psychopath or not, and is more in line, fashion-wise, with the well-dressed and elegant drug lords of ‘Narcos’ and or ‘Scarface’ than he is with a street-level thug or even a modern-era American mobster.
#5 - The Tattoos
As with the gold chains and jewelry, the tattoos were an attempt by DC and Ayer to bring The Joker in the modern era of crime and what a current times crime lord may look like. This was somewhat of an unexpected move; however it’s not one completely ignorant of the source material. The Joker, in several storylines, does in fact boast tattoos, and in ‘Squad’, Ayer only chose to give Leto designs that were relevant to his character’s back-story and the Joker persona itself. One example of the ‘meaningful’ tattoos, so to speak, would be the ‘damaged’ tattooed on Joker’s forehead. This was done by the Joker during one of his Arkham stints, doing so to remind Batman of the long-lasting damage he’s done to his face. According to Ayer, the Joker had a message for The Bat, “I was beautiful, and you damaged me”. If this Joker is in line with the comics origin, which he most likely certainly is, the ‘damaged’ tattoo could have a double meaning besides referencing his broken teeth- but the fact that he fell into the acid vat in the first place and became this toxic creature; a scenario that may or may not have been caused by the bat; albeit indirectly. Other tattoos that are simply there to embrace his Joker identity would include tats such as the ‘JOKER’ across the stomach, or the teeth tattooed across his hand, among many others. Again, fans are divided on the tattoos, but I personally think they work perfectly with this rendition of Mr. J.
#6 - His Relationship with Harley Quinn
Now, this is a dynamic in the film where things were slightly altered from both the 1992 animated series and also the comics that followed thereafter. For those familiar with the Batman mythos, we know that Harley Quinn never originated from the comics, but instead from the 1992 ‘Batman: The Animated Series’. Much like in ‘Squad’, she was a doctor who ended up being assigned to the Clown himself, and eventually falling in love with the madman. Their relationship was very abusive, to say the least, with the Joker often degrading Harley and even striking her on occasion. When the character was finally incorporated into the comics, the abusive dynamic remained and became a staple among the pair. This was not the case for ‘Squad’, however. The relationship between the two, as it appears in the theatrical cut of the film, is one that is much more along the lines of a bonnie and Clyde rather than an abuser and his abused. Some speculate that there were in fact scenes of abuse filmed and that they were cut after test audiences didn’t appreciate the content, but DC or Ayer have yet to confirm or deny any of those rumors. What does matter is what’s on screen, though, and for whatever reason, the final version of Joker and Harley’s relationship that we get to see in ‘Squad’ is one that isn’t of abuse, but of pure love and dark obsession. And unlike the ‘New 52’ version of Harley, where she’s forcibly pushed into the chemicals by The Joker and sort of unwillingly becomes crazy- in this film, her infatuation leads them both to Ace Chemicals, where he was originally ‘born’. There, he gives her the choice to either follow him to the end and become ‘reborn’ like him, or simply go their separate ways. She, of course, decided to do it. It’s her choice. And in order to get his queen back, Joker’s main cause in the entire film is simply it get her back. It’s incredibly romantic and fascinatingly dark and I very much prefer this version toward the abusive comics and animated series. A lot of complaints about their relationship in the film is mostly people angry by the fact that’s it not in fact an abusive one, which I don’t understand. Do we really want to see that? I get that it’s Joker and Harley; two psychos, but allowing them to be the one thing in each other’s lives that is human and something they hold precious not only makes the characters stronger, it makes their craziness all the more extreme- because they’re willing to go to any extreme no matter the size for one another. It’s fantastic.
In my opinion, Jared Leto nailed it. He embodies everything that’s made The Joker work so well as a character for over 75 years, and to me, it clearly outshines the portrayal of every other actor we’ve seen don the purple suit- and yes- even Heath Ledger and Mark Hamill; it’s simply and utterly perfect. He’s lost himself in the role, much in the way we never saw Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight- we never see Jared Leto in Suicide Squad. His performance perfectly captured the tone and abstract of classic Joker, as well as the frenetic energy of both the new 52 incarnations as well as the 90’s animated series, and he’s genuinely frightening. My only complaint is that we didn’t see enough of him in ‘Squad’, but seeing as how the DCEU is really just getting started, we’re 100% guaranteed to see more Leto Joker down the road. Hopefully sooner than later.