The Joker is the most popular super villain of all time and, strangely enough, a cultural icon. Coming out from Batman's sizable shadow, the Clown Prince of Crime has evolved from a comic prankster to a homicidal maniac in any number of books, television shows, and movies. The Joker has literally altered the course of the entire DC Universe in a myriad of ways, from killing the second Robin, to paralysing Batgirl to murdering Alex Luthor, The Joker stands alone as an agent of chaos, a platonic villain, and a textbook lunatic. From headlining his own comic series and successful graphic novel and novels, The Joker has garnered himself legions of fans who flock to his unique brand of villainy, to say nothing of his singular sartorial style and laugh-till-you-die methods. The book will contain 250 pieces of comic art from such notable artists and writers as including Bob Kane, Grant Morrison, Dave McKean, Neil Gaiman, Geoff Johns, Alan Moore, Brian Bolland, Brian Azzarello, Lee Bermejo, Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, and Jeph Loeb beginning with his inception in the 1940s to today, as well as images of his many animated incarnations (including Batman: The Animated Series, Justice League, The Batman, and Batman: The Brave and the Bold), video games (Arkham Asylum, Arkham 2, and the DCU MMO), as well as the impressive lineup of actors who have donned the purple suit to cause mayhem throughout Gotham: Cesar Romero, Jack Nicholson, and of course Heath Ledger, who posthumously won an Academy Award for his portrayal.
