Wait'll They Get a Load of Me

There are bad guys. There are villains.

And then there's the Joker.

The modern epitome of a classic archetype that rises to top of the villainy food chain.

Day 2 | This city needs a better class of criminal...

In just 10 days, the "Dark Knight" will be upon us. It isn't possible to be more excited about this movie. It just isn't. It's going to be like hitting a walk-off home run, losing your virginity and finding a fifty-dollar bill all rolled into one — for nerds. So, starting today, you could theoretically claim that I've gone bat-guano insane. Or, I've just been overcome with hype. Regardless, to span the time from this very moment that you are reading this to 12:01 a.m. on July 18th, I'll be exploring the good, the bad and the bad-ass about the Batman. Enjoy.

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catalyst (n.): an agent that provokes or speeds significant change or action.

There's a reason the story of Lucifer is so compelling. Whether it was rebelling against God or tempting Eve into tasting the forbidden fruit, he proved to be the ultimate villain.

Not because he was evil incarnate.

In the first instance he split heaven into two factions. And, if you are following along at home in your biblical-theory/character-archetype workbook on Page 666, this is where Lucifer instigated violent and significant change that forever altered our perceptions of good and evil.

In the second, well, if God created man, then Satan brought about humanity. If Eve isn't swayed by the temptations of apples, then you're not sitting around eating doughnuts and surfing the INTERNETs fighting your own temptations to google Rue McClanahan+naked pictures.

(Some of you may not be comfortable with the typical Judeo-Christian version. So, here's the Norse mythology equivalent: Loki. The shapeshifting villain killed Baldr, the second son of Odin. Of course, I don't need to tell you, the death of Baldr was one of the many events that percipitated Ragnarok.)*

In "Dark Knight," Heath Ledger puts on the makeup and takes a ride with the devil. Judging from the early reactions and the trailers, it's not so much acting as it is transformation.

His death earlier this year makes things much more complicated when evaluating his performance. But, I mean, the stuff I'm reading. Wow.

It's hard to compare the Jokers. (People already want to compare Heath to Jack — which might just be the case but it seems just a little early to make that comparison.)

Jack Nicholson's Joker has always been my template for villainy. He's devious, intelligent, intent, complicated and charismatic.

Which is exactly what the Joker was like in one of the greatest of the Batman comics, "Killing Joke." (More below.)

(Less complicated and sinister is Cesar Romero's Joker. But, while he was campy and all, but he still was the genius behind most of the evil plans. And that mustache under the face paint provided much more unintentional comedy than you could ever imagine.)

Nicholson's Joker was a catalyst. The embodiment of evil with the complications and temptations and power of something far more sinister. He was a true catalyst —a character that forces the entire perspective of the hero to change. He provides the cause, the spark, the push that forces the hero's hand. Or completely alters the perspective of the movie.

Which is why the Joker (and Anton Chigur in "No Country For Old Men") are the two best villains in movie history.

And there really isn't anyone close. (Though Nurse Ratched, Col. Kurtz, Jack Torrance and Max Cady fill out my Top 5.)

In my opinion, Darth Vader, the Wicked Witch of the West, Jigsaw and A.C. Slater don't make the cut anymore as villains. Darth isn't really a bad guy when you get down to it. The Wicked Witch would've been if the movie would've been about the oppression of munchin-land and not Dorothy's journey.

Jigsaw is just a sadistic creep. There is no journey in the "Saw" movies. Unless you count the journey I had to take to believe that Donnie Walhberg was a likable character.

Don't get me started on A.C. Slater.

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Catch Up On The Comics: Alan Moore and Brian Bolland's "Killing Joke." Published in 1988, it tells the story of Joker's quest to unravel Commissioner Gordon and wage psychological warfare on Batman. It's genius. IGN ranks this as the third greatest Batman story and Christopher Nolan has mentioned that it served as an influence for Ledger's version of the evil clown.

Useless Bat-Trivia: At one point, Warner Bros. considered doing "Batman" as a big-budget comedy in the vein of the popular television series, with Bill Murray considered to play Batman, and Eddie Murphy considered to play Robin. Maybe they thought Judge Reinhold could've played Riddler. (source: imdb.com)

So Great I Have to Share: Have you read Michael Bay's version of the Dark Knight?

Who's Line Is It — Porn or Batman?: "Never rub another man's rhubarb!" **

Quote This: "Jack, it's an important job. I need ... someone I can trust. You ... are my number one ... guy." — Carl Grissom, played the wonderful Jack Palance.

Today's Bat-Villain: Go back to the beginning of this entry. Or, just read more.

Holy Bat-Tube Batman!: Side by side, Heath and Jack.

*Those of you not swayed by the biblical-theory/character-archetype discussion could very easily compare The Joker/Loki/Satan to the big bang. (Or you could compare him to the Flying Spaghetti Monster. You get the point.)

** Not porn. That's The Joker in Tim Burton's "Batman." Pervert.