When it comes to villains and rogues against Batman, you could hold a special position in the hearts of the comic book readers. Not only has this character been able to outsmart Batman a lot of times until the very end, but the unpredictability of this character is something that brings psychopaths a whole new sense of fear.

One of the most famous and recognizable characters from Batman, Joker is unquestionably one of the most important character in the series. Not only has this character been able to take the mantle of villainy in the Batman comic series to a whole new high, but this person has been able to bring about a lot of change in how people are able to perceive Batman and all the other things that are supposedly wrong with Gotham.

Over the years, there are a lot of actors that have played the role of the Joker to the best of your abilities, making comparisons easy (or difficult!). One could honestly say that there is a startling revelation at how people tend to portray Joker in their own sense.

5. John DiMaggio

Well, this character did a voice-over for Batman in under the Red Hood. Yes, although this may seem to be something of a departure from the normal character to be played on the screen, but voice-over artists are also to be taken into consideration when making the list. We have to remember the Batman was a comic series before being turned into a full-fledged franchisee by the DC comics.

So, when people to realize about the need for characters that can play Joker, they have to remember that there are talented artists that have played the Joker in the voice-over cartoons, and they have not only been able to bring forward accolades and add a new layer to this character, but they have brought the character forward in a lot of other ways.

Building a storyline to Joker is not mean feat, hence John DiMaggio is a person that is to be reckoned with in case one is to take into account the different types of character outlays and portrayals that the Joker has gone through since the time of its inception in the television and movie theatres.

4. Caesar Romero

When Batman was on prime-time television, and would be a television series for the entire family to watch, Caesar Romero was your joker. Not only has prime-time television never seen the popularity of a cartoon character and successful transition, but Caesar Romero made it worthwhile for people to watch this series.

There were many villains of Batman; nobody would be able to match the feats of Joker, neither would they be able to match the acting talent that Caesar Romero brought to the table. Yes, this was definitely one of the light-hearted, family friendly entertainments that you would find on television, which is fit for family viewership. You realize the potency of the character when even in family drama which is relatively a watered-down version of what can be portrayed about a character, Joker still amongst the most hated villains in the Batman franchise.

So, Caesar Romero not only helped people come to the conclusion that the Joker was one of the most terrible villains and Batman, but they also realized that without Joker, Batman is not the same. There is always a character that brings the best out of the superhero, and Joker is that person in the Batman series. The television series was not too dark or gritty, rather it brought a sense of understanding amongst the people about Joker, and how the character evolve Batman into a more sensible person.

3. Mark Hamill

A person that not only brought Joker to life, but also made sure that he would be able to retain the same kind of charisma in animation as well as in live-action, Mark Hamill is the ultimate persona of the Joker.

Since the time that he had lent his voice to the voice-over of the Batman animated series, Mark Hamill has been able to create a person out of Joker through only his voice. Yes, much like the computerized voice of Luke Skywalker, the voice of Mark Hamill went on to become one of the characters that is not only psychotic, but glorifies the persona on-screen. Apparently, it was left to Mark Hamill to understand how further you would like to go with the character, and given the shower of accolades that is falling on him; you realize that he has taken his art very seriously.

That has not been a single transition of the Joker from the animated series to the live-action that has been able to gather a fan following of this nature. Mark Hamill not only made sure that he would be able to gain a certain sense of freedom in this character, but then this character went on to devour him, ensuring that he would be one of those people that would be immortalized in the comic world as the person that had the golden voice of the Joker.

2. Jack Nicholson

Before Christopher Nolan took over the Batman franchisee; there was Tim Burton and his portrayal of Batman. Well, it did not go on to become a huge success as that of the Dark Knight series, but then there is no doubting the fact that Jack Nicholson made for a terrific Joker. After all, along with Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson was one of the most favorite characters in the Batman franchisee, and went on to grab a lot of eyeballs with his portrayal of this unique character without any kind of problems. Rather, he took to it like fish on water.

Jack Nicholson is a terrific actor; there is no doubt about it. However, when this actor takes on a comic book character, there are bound to be a lot of naysayers. However, looking back at what Jack Nicholson brought to the table, this not only made Joker one of the most beloved super villains in the comic book franchisee, but it brought a certain sense of belonging to the people that would go to idolize Joker is one of the best villains in this decade. Audience finally got to see a character in the shade of what they would like in Joker.

As a bonus, Jack Nicholson also got some of the best catchphrases in the film, making up for any kind of tardiness that would be found in the overall screenplay of the movie. One can only say that Jack Nicholson not only stole the show, but went on running away with the words that would obviously have been the typical catchphrases for many people for years to come.

1. Heath Ledger

You know that there is something special about a person and his acting finesse if he has been in only one film of the Batman series, and goes on to take the number one position as the top Joker portrayals in the Batman series. There were a lot of people that mentioned about Heath Ledger and his inability to take on the portrayal of the Joker in the Batman series, and boy were they wrong. Not only did this person run away with all the awards, but upon his death tragically after the completion of the Dark Knight, he was posthumously awarded the Oscar for his portrayal of this character.

To any person watching the Batman series in this decade, Heath Ledger would not only be their ultimate portrayal of the Joker, but there would not be any other portrayal of this villain for many years to come. Yes, such was the impact of Heath Ledger and his acting on Joker that it went on to create a wonderful caricature of how Joker would look on various other characters, but then no one could even come close to what Heath Ledger has been able to accomplish with just a single film.

The portrayal of the Joker is not only psychotic, but borderline chaos-creating persona that is hell bent on making sure that Gotham could have its fair share of quality villains. Yes, the Joker realized very early that without Batman, he is nothing, and vice versa. So, you realize that Heath Ledger not only brought about a certain sense of villainy to this character, but he has been able to give a new whole meaning to what villains could and should be able to achieve in any superhero movie.