Joker Costumes for 2008

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The Joker – Batman’s Arch Enemy


The Dark Knight’s Joker villain from the latest Batman movie is assured of being one of the most popular costumes going this Halloween season. From neighborhood trick-or-treaters to adults looking for the ultimate costume for their Halloween parties, everybody is going to be looking for that ultimate representation of Batman’s villainous foe- the Joker.

Nearly 70 years after "Batman" #1 first hit the stands, there still is really only one name that perfectly fits the Dark Knight's greatest adversary, a villain alternately portrayed as a harmless prankster and a vicious sociopath, a man who's equal parts deranged, goofy, psychotic and comical: the Joker.
Throughout history there have been various reincarnations of The Joker, up to and including his appearance in “The Dark Knight.” Created for the comic book's first issue in 1940, the Joker - with his green hair, white skin and permanent smile - was based on a character from the silent film "The Man Who Laughs." Since then, he has remained the most prominent villain in Batman's increasingly large gallery of foes. The Joker is someone who doesn't follow any rules. He's a complete question mark capable of anything. All you get with the Joker is a wild card.

The Joker spent his first few decades as that wild card, portrayed mostly as a harmless prankster. This version of the character reached his peak as portrayed by Cesar Romero on the "Batman" television show of the 1960s. His appearance never changed, but his motivations and crimes did. He ceased to be an anarchist and became, instead, yet another storied criminal.

In 1989, the Joker changed yet again. Played by Jack Nicholson, the Joker was a stone-cold killer, a little bit frivolous, and maybe little bit too funny, perhaps.
It would be 19 years before the Joker was given another shot at big-screen glory, in this summer's "The Dark Knight." Played by the late Heath Ledger, this Joker didn’t crack jokes, he cracks skulls. He's the embodiment of evil made all the more terrifying because he's made much more real. His plan was to show Batman how absurd the world is by blowing up just about everything that he could.

Whether it's been Romero, Nicholson or Ledger behind the makeup, however, and whether he's been a maniac or a prankster, a clown or a killer, one thing has always remained constant with the Joker: the laugh.

So with all that history, how could “The Joker” not be a big hit this Halloween? What kind of Halloween activities you plan will dictate whether you purchase your complete costume or make one yourself. Certainly for the kids going trick-or-treating, a complete costume purchased as a set is the best way to go. For the adults going to Halloween parties, you might want to try and make your own unique Joker creation. Certainly the supplies can be purchased to make incredible Joker faces. Wigs and masks are available in many versions if you want to get that route.

Whatever you approach you choose, have a lot of fun and a great Halloween! Get your Joker Costumes right here.

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