So what's wrong and what's right with The Dark Knight's Joker? Regardless of how the performance grabs the audience, The Joker presented here is even less in keeping with the Comics than Ol' Jack's was in 1989. What's accurate and what's way off track?
Clown White or Toxic Blight: The Joker's white skin and green hair weren't explicitly explained to be the results of deformities due to a chemical bath in the Joker's first appearance. In fact, the origin (one of several variations) of the Joker wasn't revealed until eleven years after his debut. However, since 1951's "The Man Behind the Red Hood" (Detective Comics #168), this has become virtually the only constant in the Joker's mythos. The fact that the Joker is "bleached" and not wearing makeup is such a central point to the overall Batman mythology that the Joker has to apply flesh-toned makeup to appear normal in disguise (as he did in 1989's Batman). In The Killing Joke by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland (claimed to be one of the inspirations for this film), the Batman only realized he was dealing with an imposter in the Joker's Arkham Asylum cell when he realized the inmate was wearing white makeup. In The Dark Knight, the filmmakers made the fact that the Joker wears makeup a central part of his character, showing it to smear grotesquly and, at one point, be completely removed. Verdict: *WRONG!* The Origin Stories and Alternate Histories: Though the above is left out, the Joker does have an implied origin story in his very look (with the divergent makeup and the Glasgow Smile). The Joker tells at least two (completely different) stories about how he got the "Chelsea Smile" scars (as they're also called), all the while licking his lips annoyingly and acting like Bozo on Acid. However, in many of the deeper stories about The Joker (including The Killing Joke) it is revealed that he remembers his own origin different ways at different times (with the implication that none of them may be the reality). Although here he seems to be fitting his story to what ever might be most frightening (good luck) to his victims-to-be, this is somewhat in keeping with the DC Comics Continuity. Verdict: *Right!* Let the Punishment OUTFIT the Crime: The Joker wears a costume here more garish and clashing in its predominant Purples, Yellows and Greens than anything any Doctor (except maybe the Sixth) from Doctor Who might wear. Although the character has been known to wear alternate costumes, it has been a near-constant that he is seen in some form of purple suit (usually with tails) with clashing colors to accompany the Violet... Yep, this looked pretty accurate, kids. Verdict: *Right!* Original Ideas or Faithful to the Original: The marketers and makers of The Dark Knight claim that this version of the Joker is based primarily on his first two appearances in Batman #1 (from 1940). That comic brings us a Joker who is motivated by sport and profit, taunting police as well as Batman by telling them whom he is going to both rob and kill by what time and daring them to stop him. In The Dark Knight, the Joker is in it only for the sport and offers impossible ultimatums, such as demanding someone's execution, lest he blow up a Hospital. Verdict: *WRONG!* A Career in Henching: The Joker's Gang is a constantly changing gaggle of thugs in clown masks, who often don't survive their assignments. In the Comics, the Joker is seen quite often working alone, but also manages to keep gangs of generally petty, unimpressive thugs, much like we saw 19 years ago in Batman. Often, in both the comics and in The Dark Knight the deaths of the Joker's men are by his own white hand. Verdict: *Right!* It's the TUDE, dude!: The Joker of the Comics has an unpredictable personality. At one point he might laugh uncontrolably or poison his own allies with smilex, just to be funny, at another he might be cruel and sadistic and gruff, at still another, he may treat reality as a game, seeing if he can kill a city filled with people just for the humor he finds in it. In The Dark Knight, The Joker is consistently cruel and taunting, constantly growling and licking his lips, only laughing occasionally, and usually sarcastically. The result is a predictable character with few dimensions or surprises. Verdict: *WRONG!* The "Calling Cards" of the Ha-Hacienda: In The Dark Knight (as well as at the end of Batman Begins The Joker leaves joker cards from various decks around, sometimes just to show he's been there, sometimes as part of a more elaborate scheme. This is similar to his occasional use of the Joker Cards in the comics as both calling cards and weapons. Verdict: *Right!* -Bat-Macek!

So what's wrong and what's right with The Dark Knight's Joker?

Regardless of how the performance grabs the audience, The Joker presented here is even less in keeping with the Comics than Ol' Jack's was in 1989. What's accurate and what's way off track?

Clown White or Toxic Blight: The Joker's white skin and green hair weren't explicitly explained to be the results of deformities due to a chemical bath in the Joker's first appearance. In fact, the origin (one of several variations) of the Joker wasn't revealed until eleven years after his debut. However, since 1951's "The Man Behind the Red Hood" (Detective Comics #168), this has become virtually the only constant in the Joker's mythos. The fact that the Joker is "bleached" and not wearing makeup is such a central point to the overall Batman mythology that the Joker has to apply flesh-toned makeup to appear normal in disguise (as he did in 1989's Batman). In The Killing Joke by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland (claimed to be one of the inspirations for this film), the Batman only realized he was dealing with an imposter in the Joker's Arkham Asylum cell when he realized the inmate was wearing white makeup. In The Dark Knight, the filmmakers made the fact that the Joker wears makeup a central part of his character, showing it to smear grotesquly and, at one point, be completely removed.
Verdict: WRONG!
The Origin Stories and Alternate Histories: Though the above is left out, the Joker does have an implied origin story in his very look (with the divergent makeup and the Glasgow Smile). The Joker tells at least two (completely different) stories about how he got the "Chelsea Smile" scars (as they're also called), all the while licking his lips annoyingly and acting like Bozo on Acid. However, in many of the deeper stories about The Joker (including The Killing Joke) it is revealed that he remembers his own origin different ways at different times (with the implication that none of them may be the reality). Although here he seems to be fitting his story to what ever might be most frightening (good luck) to his victims-to-be, this is somewhat in keeping with the DC Comics Continuity.
Verdict: Right!
Let the Punishment OUTFIT the Crime: The Joker wears a costume here more garish and clashing in its predominant Purples, Yellows and Greens than anything any Doctor (except maybe the Sixth) from Doctor Who might wear. Although the character has been known to wear alternate costumes, it has been a near-constant that he is seen in some form of purple suit (usually with tails) with clashing colors to accompany the Violet... Yep, this looked pretty accurate, kids.
Verdict: Right!
Original Ideas or Faithful to the Original: The marketers and makers of The Dark Knight claim that this version of the Joker is based primarily on his first two appearances in Batman #1 (from 1940). That comic brings us a Joker who is motivated by sport and profit, taunting police as well as Batman by telling them whom he is going to both rob and kill by what time and daring them to stop him. In The Dark Knight, the Joker is in it only for the sport and offers impossible ultimatums, such as demanding someone's execution, lest he blow up a Hospital.
Verdict: WRONG!
A Career in Henching: The Joker's Gang is a constantly changing gaggle of thugs in clown masks, who often don't survive their assignments. In the Comics, the Joker is seen quite often working alone, but also manages to keep gangs of generally petty, unimpressive thugs, much like we saw 19 years ago in Batman. Often, in both the comics and in The Dark Knight the deaths of the Joker's men are by his own white hand.
Verdict: Right!
It's the TUDE, dude!: The Joker of the Comics has an unpredictable personality. At one point he might laugh uncontrolably or poison his own allies with smilex, just to be funny, at another he might be cruel and sadistic and gruff, at still another, he may treat reality as a game, seeing if he can kill a city filled with people just for the humor he finds in it. In The Dark Knight, The Joker is consistently cruel and taunting, constantly growling and licking his lips, only laughing occasionally, and usually sarcastically. The result is a predictable character with few dimensions or surprises.
Verdict: WRONG!
The "Calling Cards" of the Ha-Hacienda: In The Dark Knight (as well as at the end of Batman Begins The Joker leaves joker cards from various decks around, sometimes just to show he's been there, sometimes as part of a more elaborate scheme. This is similar to his occasional use of the Joker Cards in the comics as both calling cards and weapons.
Verdict: Right!

-Bat-Macek!