I thought your plot was well laid out with the information given to the public from those associated with the films. I was thinking it would be different for the Joker to have a small "troupe" of goons, perhaps Harley Quinn and then two brutes wearing the Greek masks of Drama and Comedy. Just something that would be different, yet play into Joker's theatrics.

--Gregg

I think it would be a great twist on the revenge idea, that the Joker go after the new DA of Gotham city... Harvey Dent. My plan would be that a young hot shot ADA (Dent) put the Joker away years ago. But now that he is out (hopefully due to that asylum incident that took at the end of the first movie) and Dent is now the high profile district attorney (cause his predecessor died in the first movie), it would be a perfect fit. Obviously he does not succeed in killing the newly appointed DA, however Dent becomes horribly scarred. The acid or poison that Joker uses to try to kill Harvey causes some sort of chemical imbalance, on top of having to relive the event over and over in his head. This causes Dent to become a psycho path himself. This is just a theory I had on how they can bring in the Joker and then create the new super villain for the next story, all the while staying with the Joker taking revenge on the Gotham elite. Just a theory though.

--Thomas Russell

Oh, man, that was an extremely superb article. You should get a badge for that private eye detective work, very in-depth and enticing thoughts of my own from those questions you pose at the end. If the Joker's portrayal in TDK is anywhere close to what you've described in detail from Batman #1, then I'm massively stoked. "Smile without mirth" but with "death" is very intriguing, making me think it's going to be all about the eyes as you suggested, and not the smile or insanely over the top laughing.

I can only commend a superb job well done for this article, you've most definitely piqued my interest in the Joker character again since I first read The Killing Joke. Your article makes me want to get the first issue right now, great job in acquiring it. I'm gonna have to search the web to get it, gonna be extremely hard and rare and expensive! Again superb job on the article and hope it all comes true.

--Moeez Siddiqui (a huge fan of your work)

One thing that is left open in Batman Begins is whether or not Joker looks like Joker yet or if his "acid bath" type accident is still an event for The Dark Knight. If not, then Batman didn't create him, as in 1989's Batman. How did that happen in the original comics?

--Mike

I love your take on The Dark Knight. I expect something of the sort to happen in TDK, but I really don't expect the movie to focus a lot on The Joker that much; Joker is rumoured to have a small and mysterious role in the movie and might make his first appearence in the middle of the film (like Batman in Begins). Well, I do have an idea of how things might unfold for TDK. Roman Sionis (who is Black Mask in the comics) is rumoured to be in this movie. Like in the comics, his cosmetic company produces a cosmetic that scars the Pre-Joker, and then turns him into The Joker. Joker then sets out to kill Sionis, and in the process, turns him into Black Mask. Just a thought, and it does kinda tie in to your speculation on the plotline. Well, great article, and I enjoyed reading it a great deal.

--Nick

Personally, I think it is a great plot theory. I would love to see Ledger's Joker have a hideout in an old cemetery. That's a great visual. I think linking the Joker in some way to Begins is a good idea and making Gordon the cop that busted him would be great too. Having Joker hiding in peoples houses to kill them is genius, I didn't know that about his early days. If done that way, The Dark Knight could be a really good, creepy thriller. Great article, Stax!

--Kevin

You don't really get to clearly at the Dark NIGHT aspect of The Dark Knight. What about your possible plot synopsis plays on the mental battle Bruce/Batman must go through - his own darkest night, his struggle between revenge/justice. That seems to be the lynchpin to the plot - something that isn't really speculated on in your plot predictions.

--Stephen

I think this sounds like a great idea for the next Batman film. It's got a very interesting storyline that appears to have more realistic feel to it then that of the old Batman movies. The Joker as villain seems more dangerous and more frightening when he is taken seriously as this film will hopefully do. Showing a darker and more menacing Joker will undoubtedly make this a great film. Hopefully this all turns out to be true and the Joker is used as a homicidal thieving maniac!

--Jason

I really like your ideas for the plot, but I have this to add. What do you guys think of Batman's relationship to Lucius Fox? I think it will dramatically evolve because of both charaters positions in fighting the war on crime in Gotham. Lucius Fox & Bruce Wayne run one of the largest weapons-producing organizations in the world. It's kind of like the Q & James bond relationship ideal. Lucius could create new (specific toys) for Batman now that they have this solid relationship established. Maybe the Joker may figure out were Batman gets his "wonderfull toys!"

--Francis

I just wanted to make a comment about a possible character in the next film. There was a young boy in Batman Begins that made several pointless appearances. The first was when he walked out on the balcony and spotted Batman climbing the wall, he said no one would believe him and Batman gave him a something. The second was near the end were Katie Holmes is holding him after being saved from the toxic gas. I believe this kid might possibly become Robin during the next film. And as a surprise twist like in the book, he's murdered by the Joker. You heard it here first, Robin Begins! lol.

--jaymerri

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