Are any of my readers DC comic enthusiasts, per chance? If so, then you've probably seen the trailer to the 2016 "Suicide Squad," a film about a collection of anti-heroes forced into saving the day--in their own unique way. Due to strong holds from the U.S. government, these former-villains band together and become exemplars. But one of the truest of DC villains makes an appearance in this film. Yes, I'm talking about the infamous Joker. Throughout the years, many different actors and writers and directors have painted a different character that is similar, yet distinct from, the predecessors from the films before, as well as from the comic books where the character was originally created.

In modern cinema, one of the first actors to ever take on the sadistic role of the Joker was the legendary actor Jack Nicholson. Nicholson portrayed the role with the same sort of dual-identity that Batman has: separating his sadistic persona at "the Joker" with his daytime identity of "Jack Napier." You read that correctly; Jack was paid to play a character named "Jack." Now, unlike Bruce Wayne, Napier transforms because of a toxic accident of chemical waste on his face. His face is bleached white and his hair turns a wild green. On top of that, due to a surgical error to fix these physical disturbances, he is stuck with a fixed grin that cannot be shaken no matter what.

[http://batman.wikia.com/wiki/The_Joker_(Jack_Nicholson)]

Now, I believe Nicholson did a good job with the character he was given, but due to how far movies had advanced by the time I first saw this film, it didn't strike me. I felt Nicholson's disfigured face was unappealing. Not that it was necessarily bad; it just didn't appeal to me. However, costume and facial gimmick aside, I thought Nicholson himself was fantastic. His acting was really top-tier. In fact, his face would be what would pop up in my head when the Joker ever came into discussion [which, as a DC nerd, happened often]. This would occur until the supreme Joker came into being.

In 2008, Christopher Nolan would direct one of the greatest Batman films known to man: "The Dark Knight." While Christian Bale did an amazing job portraying the millionaire vigilante that is the Batman, the real actor that stole the show is the late Heath Ledger, who took on a new "Joker."

[http://moviepilot.com/posts/2014/12/10/there-s-a-s...]

From the moment the audience first sees him, we are made perfectly aware that he is a lunatic. Notice the difference in physical features: Wild hair, scarred face, smeared makeup. More so, notice this Joker's behavior. He's never in a bad mood, and he loves to shake things up. The late Heath Ledger did something truly remarkable with this role. In many ways, Ledger's Joker STOLE THE SHOW from Bale's Batman. People saw the movie to see Ledger play the Joker. When that happens to an actor... well, that's when you know you've made it.

But where does that leave us? Did Ledger leave the bar so high that no one should dare attempt to take the role again?

Of course not.

This leads us to now and "Suicide Squad." While this will be a rare occurrence where the Joker is introduced in a non-Batman segment, I would say that the Joker's actor, Jared Leto, will bring a performance that will be in Ledger's level of superior pleasantry. Take a look at Leto's teaser:

Let's battle the few things that most people automatically voiced their frustrations over: The "grills" covering his teeth, his body tattoos, and his "cheap" line.

I don't major in Jokery at Ramapo (I would if I could), but I'd like to give my unprofessional opinion in an attempt to explain the metal in his mouth. First and foremost, notice that this Joker is truly deranged, which is a different type of insanity when compared to Ledger and Nicholson's Joker.

With Nicholson, the character is a combination of gangster and mobster. His accident at the chemical plant is what changes his skin, but it isn't the driving force of his malice.

The same cannot be said for Heath Ledger's Joker. He is a lot more comedic, and a lot crazier. In a meeting with the criminals of Gotham, he comes strapped to several explosives... yeah, that type of crazy. According to the "The Dark Knight: Wikipedia page, Heath Ledger reported that in order to prepare for the role, he "lived alone in a hotel room for a month, formulating the character's posture, voice, and personality, and kept a diary, in which he recorded the Joker's thoughts and feelings."But even in his madness, he makes sense. Ledger's Joker plays on the weaknesses and inhibitions of the people around him, which usually turns out to be in his favor. Of course, his last go-around ends tragically, for both character and actor. Nevertheless, Heath Ledger made himself an important part of the Joker canon.

As I stated before, with the bar set so high with the late Heath Ledger, it would prove almost impossible for Jared Leto to please the masses with another Joker. In the upcoming "Suicide Squad," the Joker sees his only shown love-interest in Harley Quinn, which already shows layers of the Joker that haven't been shown in the previous Batman movies. So far, it seems to me that whomever was cast to play the Joker was going to be facing major heat, just because of the admiration of the previous performance. This could be a wrong interpretation, but it is the only thing I can put together, as it seems people have already disregarded this film based on the 30 seconds of Joker that we were able to see. I think Leto is a phenomenal actor, and I think he's going to kill it (or them) in this role, and I cannot wait.

I believe his role in the teaser is pure perfection. And I actually disagree with the negative thoughts of the Joker having tattoos. I believe he would genuinely get a kick out of writing "HA HA HA HA HA" across his body, or "damaged" on his forehead, especially if he were in confinement when doing so. It would make sense, just because it's something to do when there's nothing to do. A good theory on the mouth tattoo across his forearm could be his parallel for the Batman's cape shroud. As Batman covers his mouth with his cape, the Joker covers his mouth with... another mouth! I mean, that bad punchline delivery is classic Joker. But, for those who disagree, or agree but with different points, please comment below! I would like to learn more on what you think about the new face of the Joker.