Everyone loves the Joker. And it's not without reason he's Batman's most popular and enduring foe. But there's an abiding temptation to make Mr. J the be-all and end-all of Batman's crime fighting career, just as the Arkham games insisted on keeping him front and centre of every instalment. While the DCCU has already found its Joker in the form of juggalo Jared Leto and his tattoos, one might suggest holding off on his overexposure, letting someone else get a bit of the spotlight. For the first two, at least. We've had Romero, Nicholson and Ledger (plus Hamill) and no doubt Leto will be a fine addition, but there are so many other villains out there that it would be waste to keep running over the same old ground. Even (especially) if it does involve the whole 'death of Robin' thing, as it inevitably will. No-one is clamouring to see Black Mask or the Ventriloquist on the screen, but isn't it time, at last, for The Riddler to shine again?
A film critic and professional writer of over ten years, Joel Harley has a deep and abiding love of all things horror, Batman and Nicolas Cage. He can be found writing online and in print, all over the Internet and in especially good bookstores.
