How do you like your Batman characters?

[JayzusB.Christ]

I may well have asked this before, and I don't read a whole lot of DC comics, but supporting characters within the Bat-verse change their appearance, abilities and character so much that sometimes you'd be hard-pressed to know they're the same person.  I'm thinking about the screen and comic versions here; and I don't have any hard answers myself.

Alfred - Gotham has finally convinced me that a hard, working-class one can work well (the shaven-headed, youthful hulk on an animated Batman series a few years ago notwithstanding).  But I think I'll go with the slightly-built, dry-humoured toff of the Dark Knight Returns (pity about all that's happened with this franchise since).

Two-Face - my introduction was the babbling oddball of Grant Morrison's Arkham Asylum.  Great character but it's hard to imagine him as a hardcase crime-boss when he's outside the place.  For me, I think the Joker's creation of the Dark Knight movie wins this.

Killer Croc - I know he's meant to be a crocodile man, but I found Brian Azarello's huge black guy, normal-looking apart from a weird skin condition, a lot more interesting.

Jim Gordon - I'm going with the one from Year One.  Just as tough and smart as he needs to be.  Gary Oldman's one comes second, I think.

Joker... no, I'm not getting into that one.   

[Funt Solo]

I also like the Alfred in The Dark Knight Returns, and have a fondness for the Michael Caine rendition.

Stay with me on The Riddler, but I like Jim Carrey's version when he's gone insane in the asylum at the end of the movie.

Totally with you on Year One's Jim Gordon.

For the Joker - my preference is for the version in The Killing Joke.

[Colin YNWA]

In pretty much all case as by Alan Grant and Norm Breyfogle is the short and simple answer. Their version just resonates with me - maybe as it was the big run I got into when I was first into comics - though I had read others, including DKR and Year One before.

[JayzusB.Christ]

For the Joker - my preference is for the version in The Killing Joke.

Hmm. Not quite evil enough for me... I like the Arkham Asylum version, but I think I'll take the utterly ruthless and strangely camp version in DKR.

Now, why the same writer would later make Batman a cackling psycho and the Joker a grim-faced stoic, I'll never know.

[Leigh S]

Adam West, Burt Ward, Alan Napier, Cesar Romero, Burgess Meredith, Julie Newmar... especially Julie Newmar.

[Jim_Campbell]

...with fava beans and a nice chianti...?

[Tjm86]

In pretty much all case as by Alan Grant and Norm Breyfogle is the short and simple answer. Their version just resonates with me -

Blood aye!  Although Kelley Jones is a close second.  [that said, preferred hid Deadman work].

'twas a shame Breyfogle had to pull out of the FCBD prog a few years back.

[JayzusB.Christ]

I haven't read many stories with the Mad Hatter, apart from Arkham Asylum, which was my introduction to the character.  So I'll go with that; I thought the unsettling atmosphere he created was perfect (although, and i might be misremembering here, that version was [spoiler]fond of kids in the worst possible way[/spoiler]).

I do know that the Gotham version - David Blaine with silly clothes - is rubbish.  Hypnotism just doesn't work that way, or was there some supernatural power whose explanation I missed? Either way up, he isn't even close to as charismatic and spooky as the programme seems to think, and gets on my tits.

The Scarecrow isn't someone I've read much of either, so I'll go Judgement on Gotham here - Cillian Murphy was way too young, handsome and Irish.  He looked cool on the horse though.

And Jim Carrey Riddler - why not?  Manic energy works for me.

[JamesC]

I think the 90s animated series did a really good job of nailing down archetypal versions of the characters.
Other than that I'll take the Grant /Breyfogle versions, but they didn't do a huge amount of work with the classic villains roster.

One character I've never had much time for is Poison Ivy. The minute they introduce ambulent man eating plants I switch off. I'd like to see the character as a smart, ruthless eco-warrior with specialist knowledge in botanical toxins. And she doesn't have to wear a green bikini.

[Colin YNWA]

Other than that I'll take the Grant /Breyfogle versions, but they didn't do a huge amount of work with the classic villains roster.

That's actually a very fair point, certainly at the start of their run and i think the Joker was off bounds for a while after killing Robin, though they got one Flashback story. Its one of the great things about their run is they dared to shake up the Rogues Gallery and a even added a couple that have become very popular.

They did a great run of stories in the second half of their run with most of the classics. The Penguin story being particularly good, but also fine Catwoman, Doc Croc and Scarecrow tales. And of course they revitalised Clayface(s).

They didn't do a Two-Face (always my afv Bats villian) story - though Jim Baike did just before they took over with Mike Barr (I think it was - just after this run with Alan Davis) - anyway that got Two-Face spot on he's a Dick Tracey villian basically - so the scarred side of him is a slightly manical gangster nothing more or less.

The brilliant Matt Wagner did a fantastic examination of the character in a 'Legends of the Dark Knight' tale called 'Faces' as I recall. This absolutely nails him.

[13school]

For the Joker - my preference is for the version in The Killing Joke.

Hmm. Not quite evil enough for me... I like the Arkham Asylum version, but I think I'll take the utterly ruthless and strangely camp version in DKR.

Now, why the same writer would later make Batman a cackling psycho and the Joker a grim-faced stoic, I'll never know.

I always thought Miller's take on the Joker (which remains pretty much my favourite) was that he was a humourless grim-faced stoic unless he was actually fighting Batman, in which case he'd clearly be cackling away having the time of his life.

[CalHab]

The Sam Kieth drawn Penguin is pretty definitive for me.

Possibly because he looked like the much-disliked head of department at my old Uni.

[JayzusB.Christ]

For the Joker - my preference is for the version in The Killing Joke.

Hmm. Not quite evil enough for me... I like the Arkham Asylum version, but I think I'll take the utterly ruthless and strangely camp version in DKR.

Now, why the same writer would later make Batman a cackling psycho and the Joker a grim-faced stoic, I'll never know.

I always thought Miller's take on the Joker (which remains pretty much my favourite) was that he was a humourless grim-faced stoic unless he was actually fighting Batman, in which case he'd clearly be cackling away having the time of his life.

Not the way I saw it - he was clearly having a grand old time as [spoiler]he murdered that TV audience[/spoiler].  He doesn't even smile in ASBAR.  But then ASBAR is a terrible Batman comic, and DKR is the best Batman comic ever written.

[sheridan]

One character I've never had much time for is Poison Ivy. The minute they introduce ambulent man eating plants I switch off. I'd like to see the character as a smart, ruthless eco-warrior with specialist knowledge in botanical toxins. And she doesn't have to wear a green bikini.

I'd have to re-read it to be confirm (and I'm not incredibly familiar with the character anyway) but I'd probably go for the version in Gaiman and McKean's Black Orchid mini-series.

[CalHab]

The Gaiman version of Poison Ivy in Secret Origins is brilliant.