@Zatoichi666: To me, Bale sounded great in the movie, and I'd find it somewhat interesting if he were the voice of this Batman game. Best of both worlds perhaps?

Nettacki

Whoa, I never knew Mark Hamill did the voice for the joker in that show, I really like it. Even if this dude is in some of the best movies ever, he should have had the opportunity to make more.

GodKiller0

Hamill rules!

LittleBigPlaneteer

great news, will preorder tomorrow.

Grumpz®

Oh wow, that is awesome. Mark Hamill has my favorite voice for the joker. I still can't decide if I liked him more overall as the joker then Heath Ledger though.

Sir_Crocidile

If they can get Kevin Conroy to do Batman
I'll buy 2 copies....

Bale just sounded stupid in the movie....Don't get me wrong I really liked the movie. He's perfect for the roll. Just didn't need to alter his voice so much.
Oh and I hated the Costume :)

DEAD END BATMAN BATSUIT > every other rubber nipple batsuit

I'm also glad they didn't get that Boner guy from Growing Pains. although he wasn't bad as the Joker...but that's another story

later

yes i have alot of Batman shit....yes even Batman boxers.....

Zatoichi666

Man, Hamill always did a great job voicing the Joker. I grew up watching the 90's Batman animated series, his role as the Joker was of of the things that sold that series to me. Good news indeed.

Mr_Raccoon

Now I have to buy the game if only to hear the Joker. Mark Hamill is an excellent voice actor

Tilimorf

This just sold the game to me.

And it makes me smile to know the world hasn't forgotten the 'greatest' Joker. Not Nicholson. Not Ledger. Not even Cesar Romero. Hamill, who put the 'Joker laugh' hauntingly in my mind forever and ever.

Komrade_Kayce

If they confirm this with Kevin Conroy as Batman i'm partially sold, gameplay is still what matters but man I love Hamil's voice as the Joker. Doesn't get much better then that.

WolfGod

Why not go all out and reunite the whole of TAS' vocal cast? I think those performances defined Gotham for an entire generation.

tinkyXIII

meh, I'm probably not buying the game sooooo....ok

chaos_isnt_here

@BillLehecka: I would preorder this if that was the case. ^_^

I can't wait to find out the details for the fan contest. I will definately try-out. If you're a Batman fan, what's better than having your own scribbles of madness appear in the game.
^_^

superfrogsavestokyo

AWESOME.

eastshore4

@BillLehecka: Ooo I hope.

belo

Hamill has always been my favorite representation of The Joker.

I grew up watching all the Batman series.

belo

THE voice of the Joker has returned.

ZenGaijin

Just watched Return of the Joker last night

As far as voices go Hamill is THE JOKER

Neon

I thought Mark Hamill is working in a Best Buy in the West Los Angeles area?

AokiShinya

He's my second favorite Joker *The first going to Heath Ledger's Joker, something I didnt think would happen*, so this is definately awesome.
"And kind of like a kid opening his christmas present, I must admit, it's sadly anti-climactic. Behind all the stern and batarangs, you're just a little kid in a play suit, crying for mommy and daddy. It'd be funny if it wasnt so pathetic...oh, what the heck, I'll laugh anyway." *Cue awesome Joker laugh*

TheSonicGamer

If Hamill's in, does this mean Conroy follows close behind?

BillLehecka

Oh, this is wonderful news.

I'm completely sold now!

Scottendo

Awesome. I love Mark Hamill's Joker voice. The laugh is amazing!

Quilt

I like Hamill as the classy, insane Joker in the nice suit, and I like Ledger as the messy, insane Joker in the disheveled suit. Ledger's great as the best movie Joker I've seen, but Hamill's voice fuels the Joker that matches the comics the most to me.

Chef

Hamill is all well and good as a voice actor, but nothing can beat the nihilistic psychopath that is Ledger's Joker. He's the bee's knees.

Anarchist_Gamer

@Strangelove:

Bale has a sort of off sound to his American accent (He's a Brit). I believe the Batman voice caused him some grief. Although he did a better job in Dark Knight than Batman Begins.

MonkeyBiz

Thank god. I just wouldn't be able to take any other voice seriously. No other voice actor I've ever heard of can pull of that insane giggle.

Insomnia Bob

Conroy is not god. But it'd be nice if he was doing the voice. When I think about it, Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamil are the only voices I have known for their characters, and it seems strange without. The amount of hours spent with BM:TAS growing up just ingrained it.

MonkeyBiz

Trivia - Mark Hamill voiced Goro Majima from Yakuza. Speaking of which... didn't Yakuza 2 come out today? When I get some money, gonna have to buy it ASAP cause the first one was good and Yakuza 2 got a higher rating so I'm looking forward to owning it soon. (hopefully)

RTW

@2NinjasTapedTogether:
I agree. Hammil is the difinitive Joker, Ledger's came close to matching the brilliance live which is a big feat but the cartoon Joker is still PERFECT.

iameleveneight

This is absolutely great. Hamill's voice work is consistently great, from the Batman cartoon to Full Throttle.

@TheIrishNinja:

Bale's Batman voice almost ruins the movie for me. It's like a caricature.

Strangelove

Obviously God is a gamer and a Batman fan.

Batousi

Mark Hammill is still the best Joker in the history of Batman. Yes, even better than Heath Ledger. Feel free to sharpen your pitchforks and bring out the flaming arrows, but it is, in fact my opinion.

Ledger was amazing, but... Hammill is THE person I associate with the Joker.

2NinjasTapedTogether

My interest in this game just went up by 100%.

And, I also agree that Conroy as Batman would seal the deal.

Seroth

Wasn't this revealed in Game Informer?

destinrl

hamill's voice is synonymous with the joker. hell, he even kinda looks like him nowadays. either way, i'm sure this game will be fun. cant wait.

TacoGrande

I was having a pretty crappy day until I came home and read this... now I'm happy. I own every other Batman game so getting this is a no-brainer... but now I feel great about the purchase.

Conroy for Batman!! Unlikely Bale would lend his voice to a game unless it was licensed like the Batman Begins game. That Justice League game had Ron Pearlman as Batman and it just was off.

Dick.Blake

We just need to hear Kevin Conroy playing as Batman, and things should settle nicely from there.

Even though Ledger played a good Joker, he doesn't compare to Mark Hamill's Joker voice. He goes ballistic when he does his recording sessions, according to Andrea Romano and the VA's that work with him.

n2Depth

HELL. YES. Mark Hamill was/is/and always will be the BEST Joker voice actor. This game already had promise... and now with this news... I just got bumped up to 'Total-fricking-win'.

CheckersMcGavern

@AokiShinya: Psst, your ignorance is showing.

Abno

@Nettacki: bale sounds great as wayne. as gritted-up bats voice, its still somewhat laughable, and makes me (presumably others) wish conroy's voice somehow came out when he spoke, rather than "SWEAR TO MEEEEEE"

TheIrishNinja

great, great news. most know Hamil's spot-on for the joker, but i gotta say, after Wolverine's revenge, he's a fine voice for Logan as well.

TheIrishNinja

Anticipation... level... rising...

theuglyteradon

This is guano awesome. This definitely puts a lot of points into my getting this game, but I do wanna see more details first.

vid3oman64

@TheIrishNinja: Yeah I was pleasantly surprised at how good his Logan was. Shitty game but the voice acting was good.

I hope this Batman game is good.

Netnavi

Am I the only one who thinks Joker's bite is hella wide since all his teeth look the same?

zgrowler2

@DigitalHero:

Best Joker ever.

@hagridore:
Indeed, the best Batman with the best Joker together.

datafox

Next step: get Kevin Conroy.

hagridore

Mark Hamill's Joker is indeed the best voice acted Joker.

DigitalHero

I actually don't know about that. Part of Hamill's success with the Joker was the already-established childish air about the Joker. This one seems a bit too dark, and I fear there may be a contrast.

Great voice, I just hope it actually fits with everything.

NeonLight

This is simply awesome.

Mark Hamill had one of the best joker voices.

It'd be cool if Kevin Conroy also did the voice for Batman.

dady5000

If you want some more Kevin Conroy Batman goodness, you all should really check out Gotham Knight, the animated DVD that ties together Begins and the Dark Knight.The commentary has some great anecdotes in it from Conroy, and it also contains Paul Dini's 4 favorite episodes from the Animated Series in addition to the new stuff.

Sadly no Hamill Joker, but there was a fair amount of fan service for the DC comics readers be including characters like Deadshot and the man who became the new Spectre.

AlKusanagi

I've heard about this game and I'm actually excited about it. I should stay pessimistic but I really want it to turn out good.

Shykin

Awesome news. All we need is Kevin Conroy and the rest of the TAS cast, in the same radio drama format TAS was recorded in. I'm a dreamer.

Do Kesubei

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@hagridore: I concur.

TheCleaningGuy

I hope all you 'Mark-Hamill-as-Joker' fans also know some of the extensive other voice acting he's done. He's quite talented:
[en.wikipedia.org]

I can't help but love how he's also multiple characters in Metalocalypse. What a guy!

ninjafetus

that is fucking phenominal! this game is looking better and better all the time! >^.^<

demonknightinuyasha

You forgot to mention Senator Stampingston from Metalocalypse......

Dragoona

When I originally found out he was the voice of the joker, I had to do a double take. I couldn't believe it. Especially notable is "Batman: Mask of Phantasm". Watching that seven years later as an adult and it still blew me away. Excellent animation filmmaking there. Can't wait for this game now.

kylo4

@angelus-errare: Could be. That was an amazing graphic novel, btw...

But if they do that, then surely they'll throw in the mix of the already confirmed villains other than the few presented in the g. novel.

And if Bane is in it, I want terrorist Bane. Not "Schumacher Bane". I want the Man that Broke the Bat. (if anyone remembered that...)

Dammit I'm so excited~

Mesren_Makai

Glad that most people here found Hamil to be the definitive Joker.

I mean, I liked Heath 'n all, and he did an amazing job. In fact, he was the definitive Film Joker. But Mark Hamill...well...he IS the Joker.

I'm happy : D

Now Mr. Kevin Conroy, you know what to do.

Mesren_Makai

Does anyone know if the game will be anything like the Batman: Arkham Asylum graphic novel (by Grant Morisson and Dave McKean)? One of my favorite Batman stories ever, and it had the creepiest artwork.

It's quite possible that Kevin Conroy will be in the game (he still seems to be interested anyway, after performing in Gotham Knight). And by choosing Hamill for the role of the Joker, it feels like they're catering to us Batman fans. :) All for the better.

angelus-errare

best game of next year im bettin on that batman plus hamill plus the dark gritty violent tones of the comic book equals one great buy and may great playthroughs. call it in.
btw-would you want to meet batman in an ally if he had bales snarl???

phoneykiller

To me, Mark Hamill wasn't just the best voice acted Joker, he wasn't just the best Joker, he WAS the Joker. Heath Ledger's was great and totally made the movie, but The Animated Series Joker is just the definition of Joker to me.

Which is why I am pleased with this news. If they can get Mark Hamill, they can get Kevin Conroy.

PuppyGuarder

Btw, this game looks like it'll be great. Especially if/when Kevin Conroy signs on.

kadaj24

@AokiShinya: Very funny. Mark Hamill left the movie biz himself because he wanted to pursue what he wanted to do, cartoons and voice acting. Just because he never had mass success after SW doesn't mean he isn't successful. He is living his dream, not everyone else's. I admire Mark Hamill for doing what he wants despite criticism and misconceptions.

kadaj24

am i the only one who thinks that pic looks like Michael Keaton as Beetle Juice?

invadrzim

I'm really surprised there's a lot of Mark Hamil as the Joker love here. Not that I mind. I just expected the typical "meh" or whatever hate-filled post.

This is indeed good news! Yeah I'm with everyone here that also wants Kevin Conroy in it. His voice as the Batman sounded smooth yet menacing at the same time...

This game seems to be hitting all the right notes/ I really hope the gameplay is up to snuff.

That promotion thing where you can appear in the game is pure marketing genius. If it's true...

excaliburps

Ledger's laugh gives me chills.

Hamill's doesn't.

Murderdolls

Mark Hamil as the Joker -- this game is going to evoke the same level of authenticity as Batman: The Animated Series, which was a huge success in my opinion!

Agreed with Kevin Conroy for Batman as well; I can't imagine anyone else pulling it off.

If done right, this will be the BIGGEST Batman videogame to date!

ChiChi_BBQ

"face of Luke Skywalker in Star Wars"

lulz

subterfunk

Mark Hamill`s Joker is awesome, that might just get me to buy the game ;)

PITwelve

@NeonLight: I understand your hold-up, since that was one of the first things I thought after reading the headline then seeing the pic. But I think it'll be fine, they just have to work the audio more so that it sounds like he's speaking in a room and his voice has a more echo-ish sound (or something like that).

Ditto on the return of Conroy. By why stop there? Richard Moll was and is my favorite version of Two-Face, and let's not forget Michael Ansara's cold, heartless Mr. Freeze. If Clayface is in the game, let's bring back Ron Perlman.

Slight side note, I haven't heard Hamill's work as of late, but if it's anything like what I've heard so far (anything in the DC:AU, and Laputa: Castle in the Sky, then it all sounds the same).

By the way, does no one remember "Batman: Vengeance" from last generation? That had a return to form from the animated series and was a good, if not great, game (at least as far as look, story, and acting; game play had some hold ups, but it was one of the better Batman games, and I've played several). Still kinda want to try the co-op Sin-Tzu one....

thespyderboy

I would love so much for that "be an inmate" competition to be won by Brandon Routh

oskarkeo

Thank goodness. I actually bought Rise of Sin Tsu because I loved Kevin Conroy's voice work on Batman. I just wished Mark Hamill had a Joker part in that game. Fortunately there's this and I hope they have Conroy do Batman's voice.

questworld

Never has been a better joker than the skywalker himself. He has allways been #1.

Eternal

Eeeeeeeeeeeee! :-D

*fangirl squeal*

*reattaches manhood* Ahem. Yes, this is good times.

CyricZ

I can't wait to enter that contest. I got an idea that'll blow 'em away.

Of course, it'll probably be one of those "Limit X amount of words per entry".

WittyUserName

I believe that's a little TOO awesome.

Now all we need is a Luke Skywalker cameo npc and we'll be set.

Talleh

That promotion about appearing in the game has already been officially confirmed two days ago, by the way.

[ps3.ign.com]

Abno

@Chef: That is my thoughts exactly. Ledger was perfect as what a realistic Joker would be like, but Hamill gave me (and many others of my generation) THE Joker I read in comics to this day.

Conroy in would be auto-buy, but this news makes a purchase almost as likely.

Mal-Content

@Sziphix:

+ Watch video

Sziphix

">Oh yes.

I really like Mark's VA work, with The Joker and Fire Lord Ozai being my favourites, Ledger did a great job portraying The Joker, but I find Hamill's effort more fitting for the joker.

Sziphix

@AokiShinya:

No, he's been doing voice acting since the 90's.

VenomMelendez

I hope that TFU will get a sequel starring Mark Hamill as older Luke Skywalker. That would be awesome.

Al87

@Murderdolls:

Funny, it's the other way around for me.

especially since Hamil had a different laugh depending a Joker's mood.

VenomMelendez

@NeonLight:

His was pretty damn dark too though.

VenomMelendez

@Al87: They did that already. He was in Jedi Knight II.

Xylophone

Great news!!
Now, it's time to Kevin Conroy returns. :D

GuedesGothamKnight

Oh, yes! I love the mark hamil Joker! He really made that show great. Was anyone else realy surprised when they found out it was "luke skywalker" voicing the creepy yet hilarious badguy of all animated badguys? I know I was!

JokesJokes

@TheSonicGamer: "If you don't like the movie, I've got slides."

Zero_Beat

Man, this is great news. I just hope the game turns out even better!

Infallible