Joker

It was only a matter of time until the DC Bombshells made their way to the realm of Funko Pop. The characters that started as a statue series, then got their own series, and then got action figures and more collectibles based on that comic series have officially come full circle. As with any bit of pop culture though, you haven't truly transcended your medium until you get a Funko figure. Now that the DC Bombshells have found their way to the affordable vinyl figure series, they're even more unstoppable a force than they were before.

Odds are you’ve probably rolled your eyes more than a few times after hearing Jared Leto’s approach to playing the Joker in the upcoming Suicide Squad. We’ve talked here before about the actor’s refusal to break character and his uncomfortable gifts to his costars; what we should also remember is that Leto’s Joker seems to be the perfect version of that character for Zack Snyder and David Ayer's vision of the DC universe. If Leto’s take on the Joker proves the quiet optimists like me right, DC Films would do well to give audiences a chance to see Ben Affleck’s Batman and Jared Leto’s Joker in action.

When it comes to an icon like Batman, creation of a true foil requires care and precision, and there is perhaps no one better to fit the bill than the Joker. Created by Bill Finger, Bob Kane and Jerry Robinson, the Joker debuted in the first issue of Batman back in 1940. Originally meant to be killed off in his debut, The Joker instead survived to become Batman’s perfect antithesis in morality, philosophy and methods. He is a criminal mastermind who has been in the spotlight in many of Bruce Wayne’s most trying of times as defender of Gotham. No doubt, it is his place high on the throne in the pantheon of Batman baddies that drives cosplayers to take up his iconic bleached skin, green hair, and sinister smile. From the toothy grin, to the flashy get-up, these cosplayers bring the Joker to life in a fashion that will leave you calling for the Caped Crusader. These are the best Joker cosplays.

If there’s one thing we’ve learned from our years on the Internet, it’s that there’s no aspect of comics that can’t be broken down and quantified in a single definitive list, preferably in amounts of five or ten. And since there’s no more definitive authority than ComicsAlliance, we’re taking it upon ourselves to compile Top Five lists of everything you could ever want to know about comics. This week the bats are out of the belfry as we look at five of Batman’s greatest team-ups!

In honor of the caped crusaders of the convention scene, ComicsAlliance has created Best Cosplay Ever (This Week), an ongoing collection of some of the most impeccable, creative, and clever costumes that we’ve discovered and assembled into a super-showcase of pure fan-devoted talent.

Today is, of course, April Fool's Day, which means that there's a pretty good chance that you're going to be spending a good amount of time dodging "pranks" that are really just lies masquerading as good-natured shenanigans. If that's the case, and you're looking for something to read while you try to dodge all the mischief in the air, then I have some good news. Comixology is celebrating the day with a big sale featuring that most Aprilest of Fools, the Joker.

If you watched the DC Comics panel at last weekend's WonderCon in Los Angeles, then you saw the reveals of all the titles and most of the creative teams for the company's upcoming "Rebirth" event. Mixed in with those, though, was one more announcement about DC's upcoming plans: When Justice League #50 hits shelves next month as the climax to "The Darkseid War," Geoff Johns and Jason Fabok are planning to give the Joker a "real identity" that will presumably go beyond just being Gotham City's most notoriously murderous clown. It's a bold move, especially since it's happening in the company's flagship team book rather than in a solo Batman title. In the days since the panel, the news has got a whole lot of people --- myself included --- talking about the possibilities of what we're going to see in April. If the Joker's not just the Joker, then who is he?

We don't know about Gotham City, but we do know the Joker is no longer wreaking havoc on the citizens of Springfield, Florida. The town's police department has seized a 1978 Chevy Impala with a picture of what looks like the Joker from 'Batman' painted on the side.