10 Comic Book Supervillains Who Created Their Own Worst Enemy

2. Joker And Batman (1989)

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Warner Bros.

Batman 1989 is just class, isn't it?

Boasting gorgeous set design, an exemplary score from composer Danny Elfman and two iconic performances from Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson as Batman and the Joker respectively, Tim Burton's gothic rendition of the Caped Crusader is as brilliant as it is influential, inspiring arguably the definitive incarnation of the Dark Knight in Batman: The Animated Series, which premiered the same year as 89's follow up, Batman Returns.

For all that the film captured the darker tone of the Bronze and Modern Age Batman comics though, it did diverge from the source material in several areas, the most notable of course being Batman's origin.

Rather than having Bruce Wayne's parents be gunned down by Joe Chill or a random Gotham crook, Burton and screenwriter Sam Hamm made it so that the Joker - then going by the name of Jack Napier as a smalltime Gotham gangster - was responsible for their murder.

Your mileage may vary when it comes to whether or not you think it adds or detracts from the story, but there's no denying just how electric Keaton and Nicholson were when they were on the screen together.

Content Producer/Presenter
Content Producer/Presenter

Resident movie guy at WhatCulture who used to be Comics Editor. Thinks John Carpenter is the best. Likes Hellboy a lot. Can usually be found talking about Dad Movies on his Twitter at @EwanRuinsThings.