Which Joker figure to collect? The guide by incarnation, from cinema to comics

There isn't one Joker, but a whole gallery of Jokers, and that is exactly where the collector's dizziness begins. Choosing your clown figure isn't choosing a character: it's choosing a memory, a specific laugh heard in a dark theater, a comic panel that chilled you to the bone. The most portrayed villain in movie history forces you to answer a question Batman himself has never settled: which of his faces is the real one?

Because the Joker has no official origin — he gives a different one every time someone asks — every actor and every artist has been free to reinvent his silhouette without ever betraying the character. The result: a Gotham fan's display case can line up five or six radically different clowns and still be perfectly coherent. This guide isn't a ranking of the most beautiful pieces — for that, the ultimate guide to Joker figures already does the job. Here, we take a different approach: incarnation by incarnation, to help you find yours, the one that feels like you and deserves the best spot on the shelf.

Why the Joker is the most collected villain of all

No antagonist in pop culture has been molded, painted and reissued as often as the clown of Gotham. The reason lies in his very nature: where a hero has to stay recognizable to reassure, the Joker thrives on mutation. The makeup changes, the suit swings from royal purple to acid green, the smile shifts from scar to painted grin — and every variation becomes a piece in its own right. A collector who loves Batman inevitably ends up owning several nearly identical Bruce Waynes; one who loves the Joker owns a menagerie.

This diversity also comes from the character's longevity. Appearing as early as Batman #1 in the spring of 1940, he has lived through every editorial era, with each decade imposing a new tone on him. Understanding that means understanding why so many molds coexist: for this, nothing beats rereading the Joker's story and his tortured psyche. What matters here is the concrete consequence for your display case: each incarnation tells the story of a different Joker, and the store's Joker figure collection covers exactly that spectrum, from the affordable toy to the collector's piece. The question remains which one is right for you.

One last landmark before getting into the details: unlike Batman figures sorted by era, where you follow an almost linear evolution of the suit, Jokers don't rank over time. The 1989 Joker isn't "outdated" by the 2019 one: they coexist, each serving a distinct imagination. That is the logic of the entire guide that follows.

Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight (2008): the anarchist who became the ultimate benchmark

If you could own only one Joker, it would probably be this one. Heath Ledger's performance in The Dark Knight redefined what a supervillain could be, to the point of earning a posthumous Oscar — a first for a superhero movie. This Joker has neither plan nor logic: he is an "agent of chaos," a force that simply wants to watch Gotham burn. He is the clown even criminals fear.

Visually, he is instantly recognizable: cracked, dirty white makeup, Glasgow smile scars stretching the grin across both sides of the face, greasy green hair, a rumpled purple suit and a bottle-green vest. Nothing flamboyant, everything grimy, worn, realistic. A good figure of this Joker is judged on those details: the makeup should look hand-applied, not smooth, and the scars should read clearly. This is the incarnation that speaks to fans of The Dark Knight trilogy, to those who associate the character with an almost documentary tension rather than a comic opera.

Which fan does it speak to? The one who considers The Dark Knight the best Batman movie and wants the exact image etched in their memory on the shelf. It is also, very often, the gateway into collecting: affordable, universally recognizable, it never disappoints the person who receives it. To extend the immersion, many pair it with the movie's full cast and the Hans Zimmer soundtrack, so much has this version become a universe of its own.

Joaquin Phoenix, Joker (2019): the man before the monster

Here is the most human Joker ever brought to the screen, and paradoxically one of the most disturbing. Joaquin Phoenix's Joker, with an Oscar and a historic box-office run to its name, never faces Batman, a unique case in the Dark Knight's movie timeline: he is just Arthur Fleck, a man broken by a society that ignores him, until the final transformation. This version divided audiences, fascinated them, and above all left a lasting mark on popular culture.

His visual signature is unique in the gallery: a blood-red suit, a mustard shirt, a green vest, clown makeup applied with an almost childlike sadness, and that thin, hunched silhouette dancing down the stairs. A successful figure of this Joker stands out through its pose — often captured mid-movement, arms spread wide — because it's the gesture, more than the grin, that defines Arthur. It is the most "cinematic" incarnation to display: it tells a scene, not just a character.

It speaks to the fan who loves the Joker for his tragic dimension rather than his menace, to the one who was moved as much by auteur cinema as by the blockbuster. A note for completists: the sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux with Lady Gaga, extended this aesthetic while dividing audiences even further — which makes the figure from the first movie all the more precious to those who loved the original work. On the shelf, this Joker creates a striking contrast with the flamboyant clown of the Burton years, which we cover right now.

Jack Nicholson, Batman (1989): Tim Burton's theatrical gangster

Before Ledger, there was Jack. Jack Nicholson's flamboyant Joker in Tim Burton's Batman remains the template for every "classic" figure of the character. Here, no grimy anarchy or social tragedy: a gangster, Jack Napier, who fell into a chemical vat and was transformed into an artist of murder, hammy, seductive, obsessed with the aesthetics of his crimes. This is the Joker who laughs loudly and stages every heist like a stage act.

Visually, he is the "purest": smooth, permanently white skin, a frozen bright-red smile, an impeccable purple suit, a matching hat, gloves. Nothing grimy — everything is clean, saturated, almost cartoonish, just like the gothic, stylized Gotham that Tim Burton reinvented in 1989. A good figure of this Joker relies on bold colors and an elegant silhouette; it ages remarkably well precisely because it doesn't imitate realism.

It is aimed at the day-one fan, the one who discovered Batman at the movies in the '80s and '90s, and at anyone who prefers the Joker as a pure showman rather than a psychiatric case. It is also the ideal version to pair, on the same shelf, with a figure from Burton's Batman Returns universe: same visual grammar, same world. Nostalgic fans often place it next to movie posters from the great Batman eras to build a true dedicated corner. A Dark Knight poster on the wall is often enough to complete the setup.

Jared Leto, Suicide Squad (2016): the street-gangster Joker, divisive by nature

This is the most debated Joker on this list, and therefore, for some collectors, the most interesting one to own precisely because he divides opinion. Jared Leto's Joker, glimpsed in Suicide Squad and its take on the comics, reinvents the clown as a tattooed 21st-century crime boss: metal teeth, loud tattoos (including the famous "Damaged" on his forehead), silvery skin and the swagger of a drug lord. A radical break from everything that came before.

The figure of this version is instantly recognizable: it is the only one where the tattoos and accessories (chains, gold jacket, bare chest) carry most of the identity. It targets a specific audience — those who love the modern, streetwear aesthetic and embrace a Joker that is more provocative than iconic. Its other strength: it is inseparable from Harley Quinn, since this is the film in which audiences rediscovered their toxic relationship. Many collectors buy it already thinking about the duo, and complete their display case with the Harley Quinn figure collection to recreate the couple.

A collector's tip: this incarnation truly comes into its own in a "couple" setup. If that is your plan, reading the guide on the relationship between Harley and the Dark Knight explains why this version, more than any other, calls for a figure of his partner in crime by his side. Those who take the idea all the way to cosplay find the same obvious match among the Harley Quinn costumes.

Mark Hamill, the animated series: the definitive Joker for many fans

He is often forgotten because he has no flesh-and-blood actor's face, and yet, for an entire generation, THE Joker is Mark Hamill's. His voice, heard in Batman: The Animated Series, defined the character's laugh for three decades, from the cartoon to the Arkham video games. A Joker both funny and terrifying, able to switch from gag to horror in a single line.

Visually, the figure from this universe adopts the show's "Art Deco" style: clean lines, flat colors, an exaggeratedly long chin, an elongated silhouette. It is the most stylized, most "drawn" incarnation — and that is exactly what its buyer is looking for. It does not aim for realism but for graphic iconicity, and it pairs perfectly with other animated pieces, such as those inspired by Batman Beyond or the great Batman animated series. In the same graphic vein, the LEGO Batman figures offer their own Joker, even more cartoonish.

It speaks to the fan at heart, the one who grew up watching the show and for whom no live-action performance will ever match that voice. It is also often the version paired with an animated Batman figure to recreate the hero-villain duo in its original style, the one that lastingly shaped the imagery of Gotham.

The comic book versions: The Killing Joke and the classic DC Joker

Beyond the screen, it is on the page that the Joker reaches his purest — and most disturbing — form. Figures drawn from the comics target the collector who knows the sagas era by era, not just the films. The ultimate reference remains the one inspired by The Killing Joke, the most unsettling face-off between Batman and the Joker. Alan Moore's one-shot gave the character his most definitive version: Hawaiian shirt, camera around his neck, chilling grin. An image that has become iconic, one that every serious display case eventually wants.

But the comics universe offers many other faces. The Joker of Death of the Family, with his stitched-back face, embodies the pure horror of the modern era; the one from Batman Endgame pushes the confrontation to its peak; and for fans of more recent stories, Joker War delivered a flamboyant new aesthetic. Each of these sagas produced its own iconography, and therefore its own figures.

Finally, there is a category apart, for collectors seeking the ultimate thrill: the versions from the Dark Multiverse, first and foremost the Batman Who Laughs, the nightmarish fusion of the Dark Knight and the Joker. Technically, it is no longer really the Joker — it is a Batman contaminated by his laugh — but no reasonably ambitious clown collection ignores him, so fully does he embody the logical culmination of the character's obsession.

Which incarnation to choose for your profile and level

Now that the whole gallery is laid out, the real question arises: where to start, and how far to go? As with any piece of Dark Knight merchandise, the answer depends less on your budget than on your relationship with the character. If you are just starting out and want the safe bet, the one that never disappoints, go for the Ledger incarnation: universally recognized and affordable, it is the ideal foundation for a clown collection and goes with everything else in your display case.

If you are a reader before being a viewer, if the sagas matter more than the films, the Killing Joke version or a premium collector's piece drawn from the comics is the obvious choice: it signals a level of knowledge and stands as the centerpiece. If your heart beats for a specific memory — Hamill's voice, Phoenix's red, Nicholson's purple — then let that memory decide: a sincere collection is always better than a "complete" one. And if you are aiming for the duo, think Leto incarnation plus Harley Quinn as his partner, Gotham's most iconic couple setup.

One last principle, valid for any figure collection: coherence beats accumulation. Better three Jokers that echo each other — one film, one comic, one animated, for example — than a dozen visually redundant duplicates. This logic of thoughtful building is detailed in the guide to building a Batman figure collection, whose principles apply as-is to the clown. And if your passion extends beyond the Joker alone, the logic remains the same for the entire gallery of villains: figures of Batman's allies and those of his enemies follow the same selection rules.

Finally, note that a figure can extend a costume, and vice versa. Many collectors who own the piece then want to embody their favorite version: the guide to the Joker costume by film incarnation and the Joker costume collection meet exactly that desire, while the makeup tutorial by version (Ledger, Phoenix, Nicholson, Leto) lets you faithfully reproduce the face of the figure that sits on your shelf.

The Joker, a mirror we collect

Choosing your Joker figure is, at heart, choosing what the character means to you: Ledger's chaos, Phoenix's tragedy, Nicholson's theatrics, Leto's provocation, Hamill's stylization or the horror of the comics. There is no wrong answer — only yours. And that may be the secret of his dominance over every other villain figure: the Joker does not ask you to love him, he reflects back whatever you project onto him.

To go further, take the time to explore the collection dedicated to Gotham's clown, continue with a landmark saga like The War of Jokes and Riddles, or expand your display case with Harley Quinn figures, his inseparable partner in crime. Gotham is vast, and your shelf is only just getting started.

Frequently asked questions about Joker figures

Which Joker figure should you choose when starting a collection?

Heath Ledger's incarnation in The Dark Knight is the best starting point. It is universally recognizable, affordably priced, and its instant recognition makes it a Batman gift that never disappoints. It fits into any display case and lays a solid foundation before you add more specialized versions, such as a comic piece or an animated figure.

What is the most "collectible" version of the Joker?

Figures drawn from the comics, especially the one inspired by The Killing Joke, sit at the top of the range. More detailed and often released as premium editions, they are aimed at connoisseurs of the sagas. The version from the Dark Multiverse, the Batman Who Laughs, is also highly sought after by advanced collectors who want a prestige, standout piece.

Can you mix different versions of the Joker on the same shelf?

Absolutely, and that is the whole appeal of the character. Unlike a hero whose variants look alike, each Joker has a distinct visual identity: film, comic and animated versions coexist without redundancy. The trick is to favor a coherent selection — three versions that echo each other are better than a dozen duplicates — as recommended in our Batman collector guides and tips.

Do you need a Batman figure to go with your Joker?

It isn't mandatory, but the hero-villain face-off remains the most satisfying display. An animated Mark Hamill Joker facing a Batman from the same universe, or a clown from the Nolan trilogy facing his Dark Knight, creates a strong visual story. The Batman figure collection offers the ideal counterpart, in the style that matches your version of the Joker.