The Joker: Through the years

"All-Star Batman & Robin the Boy Wonder, Vol. 1" (2008)

The Setup: In this new take on the classic characters, again written by Miller, the Joker appears as a tattooed thug who seduces and has sex with a successful female prosecutor before he strangles her. He’s also responsible for the death of Robin’s parents, setting up the Boy Wonder to choose between revenge and mercy.

The Punch Line: The Joker morphs into a creepy sexual predator capable of convincing intelligent and successful women to have sex with him. That sort of over-the-top pulpy tone has been lambasted by fans, who are likely to prefer the more realistic and political approach of Ledger’s portrayal in "The Dark Knight."