So-Called Batman Fans Demand Joker's Retirement

[phantom stranger]

Look, I love the Nolan films and I love Ledger's portrayal but these people are morons. I don't care if he's the only Joker they accept---that's their right.

But to say that the character should never ever be played by anyone again? Gimme a break!

A group of Heath Ledger fans have taken their reverence for the late "The Dark Knight" star to a whole new level.

Followers of the actor, who electrified audiences with his chilling reinvention of the Joker in the second Batman blockbuster, are calling for the character to be retired from the movies permanently.

Ledger supporters at new Web site, The Ultimate Joker, launched a petition last week calling for studios to remove the Joker from any future Batman movies. The petition currently has 2,431 supporters.

"We think Heath deserves this honor," the site's team leader, Fer Barbella, told CNN from Buenos Aires, Argentina. "He is the ultimate Joker.

"We are Batman fans from the comics and from the movies," he said, "After we saw 'The Dark Knight,' we thought this Joker was really the best. It deserves to be withdrawn from any Batman sequels.

"When Michael Jordan retired, they withdrew the number 23 jersey as an honor. It's the same thing with Heath."

Full article:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Movies/02/12/ledgerjokercampaign.screeningroom/index.html

[Dark Knight Detective]

I bet these people haven't even read Batman comics prior to TDK & are probably fans of Heath Ledger just b/c of his Joker portrayal, that's it.

Prior to TDK's release, people were skeptical about this casting mostly b/c of his role in Brokeback Mountain. Now they say that he's the greatest in order to cleanse themselves.

[Batman]

What. A. Bunch. Of. Retards.

Seriously. Heath Leadger would have never stood for that. I wish, that one day, a statement/ sound clip/ video of Heath would be uncovered where he states he'd hate people to identify with the character the way he's portrayed him. It would probably stop a couple of those nut jobs to go take these extreme measures.

I mean, don't they know that he and Jack Nicholson met and became "friends"? Or that he is a fan of Jack's Joker and that he didn't feel like a comparison should be drawn?

[Paul (ral)]

To be fair, this isn't even news worthy. 

CNN are the bigger morons for reporting it.


over 2,000 signatures for their petition? Our soundtrack petition would be served with those! 

[batass4880]

I heard that Ledger thought that comic books and superhero movies were stupid. This was prior to TDK so maybe his mind changed, as far as Batman is concerned.

As far as retiring the Joker--Good luck guys!

[Batmoney]

These morons think Heath would be happy if they made him bigger than the role itself. These people are a disgrace to what being a fan is.

Didn't Heath always dislike the spotlight anyways? You seriously think this is what he would have wanted?

I think he would be quite happy with the awards and praise for a spectacular showing on his part, but not this...not this at all.

[thecolorsblend]

"We are Batman fans from the comics and from the movies," he said, "After we saw 'The Dark Knight,' we thought this Joker was really the best. It deserves to be withdrawn from any Batman sequels.

"When Michael Jordan retired, they withdrew the number 23 jersey as an honor. It's the same thing with Heath."

Flawed analogy.  They retired Jordan's jersey number... they didn't retire his position, which is the basic equivalent of what these geniuses are asking for.

[Sandman]

SERIOUSLY WHAT A BUNCH OF RETARDS, What the **** is going on in there head? Yes Ledger did a great job overated but still great but retireing Batman greatest enemy just because of it give me a break, if there going todo that why don't they just retire everything that is Batman because what if? Dare i say it? A more accruate Joker come along...Oh wait a sec it has in pretty much every other Batman film or Cartoon out, and they say there Batman fan's i think im going to be sick .

I bet these people haven't even read Batman comics prior to TDK & are probably fans of Heath Ledger just b/c of his Joker portrayal, that's it.

Prior to TDK's release, people were skeptical about this casting mostly b/c of his role in Brokeback Mountain. Now they say that he's the greatest in order to cleanse themselves.

Way to true, I remeber people saying that he was Crap and wouldn't end up being The Joker anyway, But of coruse that all changed when he died.

I heard that Ledger thought that comic books and superhero movies were stupid. This was prior to TDK so maybe his mind changed, as far as Batman is concerned.

As far as retiring the Joker--Good luck guys!

Yes you are 100% Right i have that article in which he say "I don't like comicbooks or superhero's i ****ING hate them"

Well even if they don't retire him they will boycod any other Joker that comes out over the next say 20 years or so, even if it sh*ts all over Ledgers. I know this because they are already doing it on Imdb (aka Nolanite city) giving The Wrestler, BB and Milk 1 out of 10 because TDK didn't get the Best movie Nom.

[DocLathropBrown]

Best just to ignore such children.

[The Dark Knight]

I agree Joker shouldn't appear again for the Nolan franchise, which will surely end after number 3, but retiring the character in Batman films forever?! No way. That's just a joke in itself.