10 Iconic Batman Comics That Should Be Movies (But Won't Ever Be)

7. Batman: The Man Who Laughs

Given Batman's long history in comics, it's natural that new writers would revisit older concepts, putting their own stamp on the crucial moments that define the Batman mythos. In theory, this approach could upset purists, but when you're as a good a writer as Ed Brubaker, that doesn't seem to be a concern. In Batman: The Man Who Laughs, readers are reintroduced to a younger Joker and his first encounter with the Caped Crusader. We've already seen the two meet for the first time in Christopher Nolan's masterpiece The Dark Knight, but this predates that movie by three years and is actually based on issue #1 of Batman published way back in 1940. What makes this noirish tale so thrilling is the way Brubaker brings the Joker to life, capturing both his psychotic impulses and playful nature in one insane yet frighteningly coherent character. While this works perfectly within the source material, providing a strong counterpart to Alan Moore's classic The Killing Joke, the content here is just too brutal for a mainstream Batman movie. Future solo endeavours may receive a higher rating than the PG-13 given to Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice, but it's hard to imagine Warner Bros ever giving an adaptation like this the R rating it deserves. Furthermore, while it would be great to see Batman: The Man Who Laughs on the big screen, we've already seen plenty of the Joker and are set to see even more with Jared Leto's take on the character. DC may want to consider giving the Clown Prince of Crime a rest once Suicide Squad and a possible appearance in the next Batman movie have run their course.