5 Things We Asked After Seeing Jared Leto as The Joker

The Internet was abuzz last week when a photo of Jared Leto as The Joker from the upcoming Suicide Squad film began circulating. While some were excited for this new take on the classic Batman villain, others expressed concern for the direction that Leto and Suicide Squad director David Ayer would be taking the iconic comic book baddie. In honor of Free Comic Book Day on May 2nd, here are five questions we asked ourselves after taking a look at this new Joker.

1. WHAT’S UP WITH THOSE TATTOOS?!

It’s weird to see the Joker outfitted with prison tattoos, including a teardrop tattoo in the shape of a “J.” That’s the first “inkling” we’re given that something is different about this Joker!

2. WHERE’S HIS TRADEMARK OUTFIT?

Nowhere to be found in this image of the Joker: his trademark green suit or question mark-covered green leotard. And what about the green mask and green derby that he wears to help conceal his identity? Maybe Jared Leto didn’t think the classic Joker clothes were a good “fit!”

3. WHAT ABOUT HIS TRADEMARK QUESTION MARK CANE?

The Joker is known for twirling a question mark cane around. It’s hard to imagine this Joker going to battle against the forces of good without the tricks and weapons he’s known to conceal within his question mark cane. Without his “cain,” will this new Joker be “abel”?

4. WHY DOES HE HAVE GREEN HAIR?

This certainly seems like a departure from the Jokers of the past: Frank Gorshin’s Joker from the old Batman TV series sported slicked-back hair, while Jim Carrey’s madcap take on the Joker in 1995’s Batman Forever saw the demented do-badder dye his hair pinkish-orange. Maybe Jared Leto is getting to the “root” of a new Joker!

5. WILL HE STILL TELL RIDDLES?

The Joker is known for his devious riddles—after all, that’s why he’s known as the Joker! While the tattoos of the word “HAHAHA” and of a creepy smile suggest that his twisted sense of humor will still be on display in the form of his puzzles, it’s possible that this Joker might be “rid” of his riddles altogether.

Sometimes, there are just some comic book movie casting choices that make sense immediately, like Danny Devito as “The Penguin-Boy” in 1992’s Batman Returns or Ian McKellen as “Magnetic Man” in 2000’s X-Men. And sometimes they don’t make sense until we see them on the big screen, i.e., Heath Ledger’s iconic take on the Riddler in 2008’s The Dark Knight. We’ll just have to wait and see how Jared Leto does as the Joker when Suicide Squad hits theaters in 2016!

Jamison Webb is a member of the Second City Touring Company. Follow him on Twitter at @jamisonwebb.