Lee Berjemo is an interesting figure in the shaping of Heath Ledger's look as the most famous comic villain in history... The Joker in this summer's THE DARK KNIGHT. Back in 2006, when the popular rumor was that Australian actor Lachy Hulme was fan favourite to play the Crown Prince of Crime in the BATMAN BEGINS sequel, Berjemo came up with this concept drawing for what The Joker should look like based Hulme's appearance for Batman On Film. What was so interesting about the image, apart from looking extremely creepy was that it was the first time The Joker had ever been portrayed with a "cut smile". A permanent scar which looks to have been crafted from a knife rather than from falling in the vat of acid. It gave The Joker all kinds of added possibilities as to the mystery of his origins. Was he abused by someone, did he do it to himself etc. Amazingly of course, based on this concept art.. Warner Bros. who smartly kept a close eye on fan talk and suggestions for THE DARK KNIGHT, modeled Heath Ledger's The Joker similarly to this look. Now after much fan acclaim for the very modern feel to The Joker's look from Berjemo, the artist decided to team with writer Brian Azzarello to draw an original graphic novel from the P.O.V. of the character. The book, you could almost say, is a sequel to THE DARK KNIGHT. It begins with The Joker breaking out of Arkham Asylum (interestingly where the character probably ended up after this year's film) where he returns his Gotham to see that in his place more costumed villains and heroes have taken residence. The book features cameo's from Dent, Riddler and of course Batman among many other characters with The Joker described as being "eerily eerily similar" to how he was portrayed in Christopher Nolan's movie. Brian Azzarello says... "Well, if you like that characteryoure gonna love our book". Hell, the book was originally to be titled JOKER: THE DARK KNIGHT (as Azzarello already did LEX LUTHOR: THE MAN OF STEEL... a graphic novel about Supes big nemeis) but WB canned that title, thinking the novel was dangerously close to being percieved as a sequel to THE DARK KNIGHT anyway. I would suggest, if you have never read a comic book in your life but you have always had a slight interest in the medium, I can't think of a better starting point for you right now. What a better way to jump on board than an original graphic novel, with usch amazing artwork that you could certainly read as a sequel to THE DARK KNIGHT. I.e... you haven't needed to read several decades of DC Comics History to really get this book. You can now read the first four pages of the graphic novel on MySpace. Or you can pre-order the hardcover version of the book due out next month (U.K HERE... U.S. HERE). source - newsarama
