The Joker: Through the years

The Joker

He's been called the Clown Prince of Crime, the Harlequin of Hate, the Ace of Knaves and even simply Mr. J. He’s the Joker—Batman’s No. 1 foe in print and on screen for nearly seven decades—and he’s darker and more dangerous than ever in "The Dark Knight," opening in theaters July 18.

Played with haunting power by the late Heath Ledger, the new Joker is a radical expression of a character interpreted as everything from a harmless trickster to a ruthless murderer. With a history as long and rich as that of any comic book hero, here’s a look at some of the Joker’s best and most memorable stories—on screen and on the page.  —Thomas J. McLean, Special to Metromix