Nicholson Vs Ledger - Who was the Best Joker?

September 19, 2008 by
W Thomas Payne  
W Thomas Payne
W Thomas Payne
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Jack Nicholson  |  Nicholson  |  Beetlejuice
Comparing the portrayals of the iconic villain known as The Joker by Heath Ledger and Jack Nicholson is more than just looking at their acting - it is also a study in how two different teams approached the entire
Batman mythos. To say Ledger's version of The Joker is better than Nicholson's is to say a banana is better than a giraffe; it makes little sense when taken out of context.

First consider that Nicholson portrayed The Joker under the direction of fantasy filmmaker Tim Burton in the 1989 version of "Batman". Burton is unarguably best known for creating surreal adult fairy tales such as "Edward Scissorhands" and "The Nightmare Before Christmas." Prior to making "Batman", Burton's major turns behind the camera were as the director of "Pee-wee's Big Adventure" and "Beetlejuice," which are known for their strange characterizations and offbeat humor.

Secondly, consider that the 1989 "Batman" was co-scripted by a comic book writer (Sam Hamm) and Warren Skaaren, whose previous scripts were for "Beetlejuice" and "Beverly Hills Cop II."

Lastly, consider that all of the major players involved in creating the character of The Joker - Nicholson and Burton - were influenced heavily by the highly successful, and extremely campy, "Batman" television series of the 1960s, and the rework of the Batman mythos into a sinister creature of the night was just beginning in the comic book realm - which shines through more clearly in Michael Keaton's portrayal of Batman than it does in The Joker.

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I've read the Kane stories, and the Miller stories. And your insulting tone is highly unappreciated. This piece is an OVERVIEW comparison, not a historical analysis of the development of the Batman mythos, the details were glossed over. I know EXACTLY why both the Joker and Batman took that turn to the stupid. And the 1986 story was the real turning point in the character IMHO - just before the first movie was released - proving my point.
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Posted on 12/02/2008 at 5:12:17 AM

Well to be Exact the Dark Batman image was re introduced by Dennis O'Neil in the early 1970's the Campy batman that many who are uninformed such as yourself is a byproduct of the comics code Authority who banned blood and death in comics something of a dark age for them, however the original Joker stories written by Bob Kane clearly show the Joker as a homicidal maniac by doing things like gassing some school kids in the classroom .. he thought it would be funny. The darker image was emphasized again in the 1986 Return of the Dark Knight .. which if you have not read that and the Jokers Wild and .... put it this way if you have not read all the the Bob Kane stories from the 1930's on, all the the Grant Morrison and anything Frank Miller did on Batman you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about.
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Posted on 12/02/2008 at 12:12:16 AM

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