Who else could it be, really? There are anti-heroes, heroes and villains that reach certain levels of intensity in comic book movies, but there's only one Joker. It's a true tragedy that Heath Ledger passed away after his best-ever performance in a career that wasn't exactly wanting for them, and a real waste of an iconic character redefined for a whole new generation. Rumours spread in the aftermath of Ledger's death from an accidental overdose that the actor had gotten too deep into the role, which was kind of offensive and harmful. Especially because the amount that the actor fleshed out the villain was incredible, impressive and the whole reason this Joker is so beloved. The Joker in Heath Ledger's hands is not only one of the most intense performances in a comic book film the scene with the hostage video remains genuinely chilling but one of the most intense in movie history, putting paid to Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight seriously transcending the genre and being just great movies. Has anyone bettered The Dark Knight's opening twenty minutes in the seven years since? Nope, and that's because they didn't have Heath Ledger wearing a clown mask and knocking people off.
Tom Baker is the Comics Editor at WhatCulture! He's heard all the Doctor Who jokes, but not many about Randall and Hopkirk. He also blogs at http://communibearsilostate.wordpress.com/