People think the movie was twisted? What if that first concept Joker was used. Creepy.

Zombie Joker.

i think the 1st or 2nd one would have been really creepy to use, but im glad they used the version they did. it made Heath stand out more and let him use his facial expressions. the 2nd picture concept wouldn't have allowed him to do that.

aaaaaagh those are creepy. Though I do agree with Chance - I think more emphasis on the scars would have made it harder for Ledger to act through the makeup.

...still though, they're pretty fucking intense. Particularly that first one. Yeesh.

Nah, trust an actor like him to do his job. Give the man some credit. He is a complete actor, who uses his entire body and - more importantly - his entire being to inhabit and enable the characters. Fuck, that'd be scary as hell.

This art remind anyone of that shot of Hannibal Lecter in the ambulance in Silence when he's wearing the cop's face, before he pulls it off? Oooh, snap!

Hell yeah awesome concept art. I love the 1st and 2nd I think they shouldve used those instead. But, only if it didn't interfere with Ledgers acting. Creepy, intense, and maniacal.

Considerably creepy.

the first one is creepy as hell but it doesnt look like what the joker would in my opinion. at a quick glance it looks like an intruder from "the strangers". i think they went as far as the could while still making it look like the joker in tdk...

Holy shit, that first one is crazy-looking.

But the end result ended up being the most striking. I love when you can see the evolution of a great design. And where it comes from.

I would like to see more scans from this book

Also that first one isn't as far off as what we ended-up getting. The reason why it sticks out so much, especially the scaring. Is that he doesn't have any of the clown-make-up on. So the emphasis is heavily on the overlit, giant, wounds.

If you remember. In TDK there's that one scene when Gordon gets shot and Ledger has no clown make-up on. And it looks really fucked up.

ooooooooooooo crrrrrrrreeeeeeeeepppppppppyyyyyy

Is that Elijah Wood in the bottom right frame.

I read in a interview they went with a more dirty, gritter look because they saw Joker as someone who doesn't care about himself. So maybe that was the reason for the change

Why do the first couple of them look like Gary Oldman's character from Hannibal?

The first ones look really scary, more like a horror movie.

Far out. Maybe these could still be used as the basis for the Riddler? Part punk, part aristocrat, all creep.

Marvin,

Yes, and that's why I loved Ledger's Joker. His attitude in character manifested so well on him and onto others. I did love the small things he did. Like comb his hair back when he saw Rachel or trying to drink from the empty glass of champagne when he spilled it all out?

haha

My God!!!

Interesting. They ended up going with a sloppier color design than any previous Jokers that I can think of, including the conceptual one here. I wonder when the idea of the smeared makeup came into the planning process?

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure pic #3 is a photoshopped pic of Sid Vicious from the sex pistols.

those first two really make heath's 'speaking like a ventriliquist doll' approach seem very logical. with scars like that, he would've been forced to adjust the way he spoke - they up and down way the dolls mouth moves - like nolan has said. but i prefer the what they chose to go with.

Those are cool, but I don't think Heath would have been able to do the little things that people liked, such as lick his lips, possibly talk, and more.

Looks like LEATHERFACE

Wowee! And to think I thought Heath's Joker was creepy when I first saw him. These concepts are Crazy!

Yeah, first couple pictures are "sick"!

The second one is my favorite, looks very thin manny.

#3 looks like the bass player from Green Day and #4 defintely looks like Elijah Wood.

#1 and #2 creepy.#3 and #4 could have been his henchmen. They all cut their mouths and dress the same to show strength and unity.

creepy. yet wonderful.

"I did love the small things he did. Like comb his hair back when he saw Rachel or trying to drink from the empty glass of champagne when he spilled it all out?"

Is it wrong that I found that utterly charming?

Scott Weiland.

If anyone ever does a Batman movie as a really gritty drama/horror film, that first Joker would be perfect.

wow, they're so much different.

I dunno... they're cool, but clearly more in the vein of Jack's Joker back in the day, more calculated and less completely insane. I wouldn't change Heath Ledger's Joker for the WORLD, he is hands down one of my favorite characters from ANY movie I've seen.

Im used to the Joker being really handsome and creepy
I remember watching the old Batman shows (the cartoon ver.)
he was crazy and handsome..
and hey!! what happened to Harley Quinn?!

I'm pretty sure the one on the bottom right is Thom Yorke from Radiohead!!

Vinnie I think you are right about it being tom

So much more creepy!

As great (and terrifying, in the case of the first two) as these concept pictures look, I'm glad they went for a more grungy, less slick and butchered-looking joker. The fact that he was grubby and lank made him seem genuinely deranged as opposed to just a purely evil figure.

I'm sorry, he looks like Good Charlotte. The one they picked was clearly the best choice and it fit Heath the best.

That is a pretty cool idea! I like it just as much as the actual concept, if not more.

Amazing book written by a good friend of mine from DC Comics, definitely worth the money to have all the pre-production stuff in one place, not to mention the shooting script.

I'm glad that Ledger got the part because his rounder facial features made him look more like this evil cherub. The concept are shows this thin ghoulish character that looks too disconnected from humanity.

heath's character was creepier!

Loving these so much.

The only scarier one is the first pic. And that reminds me of the Shinigami from Death Note anime/movies.

Twisted.

i prefer the one they went with

Bea,

Not at all :)

The hastily thrown on makeup, shabby clothes, and disheveled hair kept his appearance mild, that set the stage for his personality be the true shocker. I'm glad some directors are finally catching on to this. When a character's initial appearance is the most interesting thing about that character, it can only go downhill from there. Thinking about previous superhero flicks with shiny rubbery costumes and perfectly groomed hair makes me sick now -they've set the bar high on this.