Now That Hamill Is Retired...

[AlgeaX]

How would you feel about John DiMaggio becoming DC's new "go to guy" for the voice of the Joker? I thought he pretty much nailed it in Under The Red Hood and would love to see him do more with the character.

[mgr91686]

I wouldn't like that at all, while he is far from the worst he isn't the best. I think they have some searching to do before they find a Joker that will equal Hamill.

[Wonderwall]

Well I don't buy Hamill being retired considering he's said it twice now( I have a hard time buying retirement if it has to be done more than once ) but for the sake of the topic...I liked DiMaggio, there were times that to me he sounded like Hamill so I wouldn't mind if he became the guy.

But I don't think he's an automatic choice either, I mean there were a few instances where he sounded like Bender and I couldn't help but think "When is he going to tell someone to bite his shiny metal ass?" and I'm not sure if that's what I should be thinking when I see Joker.

[JTMarsh]

I'd be fine with having John DiMaggio voice the Joker again.

[Silverstar]

I've never heard John DiMaggio's Joker, so I can't comment on that. I do think Kevin Michael Richardson did a decent Joker voice for The Batman; I know a lot of people hated his performance as Joker (mainly because TB itself gets a lot of hate from viewers), but I actually thought Richardson's Joker voice was credible. I'm not saying that he should be DC's go-to guy for voicing Mr. J from now on, but KMR's Joker wasn't as bad as some people say.

[Goodfellow]

John did a fantastic Joker, and in most ways, did it better than Mark. I love Mark's Joker, but except for Return of the Joker and Arkham Asylum, Mark's Joker was toned down. John's Joker was not and that is what helped win me over, especially the scene with the water glass. It was like the pencil trick all over again.

[defunctzombie]

But I don't think he's an automatic choice either, I mean there were a few instances where he sounded like Bender and I couldn't help but think "When is he going to tell someone to bite his shiny metal ass?" and I'm not sure if that's what I should be thinking when I see Joker.
Hey, I thought he was going to add "Ya?" after half his sentences like Wakka. :D

The guy is a good VA, I'd welcome him as the Joker again. Thing is, we haven't heard enough examples yet to make a good decision.

[theRedDeath]

Hamill only came back from his "first" retirement because he retired after the first Arkham Asylum game, and they went and made a sequel, so he HAD to come back. He was probably contractually forced to.

As for after Hamill? I'd really REALLY like to hear Tim Curry's take on the Joker. He was originally the B:TAS Joker, and those recordings have still never been released. He was replaced with Hamill because supposedly his Joker was "Too dark".

I'd love to see what he could do as the Joker in a DtDVD or something. Honestly, I wish he was the Joker in "Under the Red Hood" rather than DiMaggio.

---

[Funkatron]

Hamill only came back from his "first" retirement because he retired after the first Arkham Asylum game, and they went and made a sequel, so he HAD to come back. He was probably contractually forced to.

As for after Hamill? I'd really REALLY like to hear Tim Curry's take on the Joker. He was originally the B:TAS Joker, and those recordings have still never been released. He was replaced with Hamill because supposedly his Joker was "Too dark".

I'd love to see what he could do as the Joker in a DtDVD or something. Honestly, I wish he was the Joker in "Under the Red Hood" rather than DiMaggio.

---

Really? I was not aware of this. I would love to hear Curry's audition tapes; his darker Joker sounds intriguing.

[RyanE]

John Di Maggio worked for me as the Joker. And while his delivery did take getting used to, he nailed to role for me.

But if he is coming back, he needs to have a story that fits his version of the Joker.

As for Mark Hamill, well it has been a fun ride with him, but all thing have to end. :( Still the guy was fantastic as the Joker.

But it all comes down to what type of Joker the story is using. Hamill's take was more silly, but still creepy and violent. Di Maggio was more in line with the new film, but still managed to make the Joker scary.

It all comes down to what we as fans prefer.

[ABrown]

During the first 1/2 or so of Batman:UTRH, I didn't really care for DiMaggio's Joker. But as the movie went on, I thought his performance went up. I thought that during the first 1/2 of the movie he was just talking too naturally. But during the second 1/2 or so, he sounded more Jokerish.

[Wonderwall]

Hey, I thought he was going to add "Ya?" after half his sentences like Wakka. :D

I also expected him to call the guys chumps, the women chumpettes, and the paddywagon a pimpmobile:p


Hamill only came back from his "first" retirement because he retired after the first Arkham Asylum game, and they went and made a sequel, so he HAD to come back. He was probably contractually forced to.

Was he contractually forced to do DC Universe Online? The guy will probably still play Joker here and there until he gets too old to do the role which probably won't be for awhile.

[theRedDeath]

Was he contractually forced to do DC Universe Online?

A) Yes, he likely was.

B) The voice work for DC Universe Online was probably finished YEARS ago. That game has been in development forever, and the writing and cutscenes would have been finished long ago.

As far as Hamill's chronology goes, he was probably working on DCUOnline just before or during the same time as Arkham Asylum 1. Arkham Asylum 2 is still in the works (Though by THIS moment, he's probably done with that too by now).

If DCUOnline ever has any extra DLC or expansions, then he might be contractually obligated to return AGAIN. But you never know.

---

[Munkiman]

I prefer Jeff Bennett's suave Joker from The Brave and the Bold to Dimaggio.

[Green Lantern]

Now That Hamill Is Retired...

Hardly because he'll be voicing Joker again in DCUO.

http://twitter.com/jimlee00/status/18964845823

[suss2it]

Hardly because he'll be voicing Joker again in DCUO.

http://twitter.com/jimlee00/status/18964845823
Read TheRedDeath's posts.

[RyanE]

During the first 1/2 or so of Batman:UTRH, I didn't really care for DiMaggio's Joker. But as the movie went on, I thought his performance went up. I thought that during the first 1/2 of the movie he was just talking too naturally. But during the second 1/2 or so, he sounded more Jokerish.

Yeah me too. I had the same reactions with Heath's joker the first time I saw TDK. I think it is just hard to get used to someone else playing the role, in Hamill's case we had Di Maggio, and in Nichloson's case we had Ledger.

But after a while you do go yet used to it.

[BigFatHairyDeal]

DC Universe Online might not look anything like the DCAU and the DTV's, but it's certainly going to sound like it. Conroy and Hamill are Bats and Joker again. Superman:Doomsday combo of Adam Baldwin and James Marsters are reprising Superman and Lex, respectively. Gina Torres goes from Superwoman to Wonder Woman (note she also played Vixen). Also included in the cast are DCAU veterans Yuri Lowenthal, Greg Cipes, and Khary Payton. But that's off topic...

(Watch the trailer if you haven't seen it yet http://www.gametrailers.com/video/exclusive-who-dc-universe/702050?type=flv#comment_head_text).

I'm guessing contract info for Hamill isn't something readily available to read about online. I'm totally used to, and comfortable with, Hamill as Joker, so I don't want to see him go, but a lot of good actors can do the role, including DiMaggio. I think at this point, though, I'd rather see a lot of different actors instead of a full time replacement. Changing of the guard is a bit of a comics tradition, anyway. Writers leave, artists leave, shows end.

Back to Hamill, I guess we're just going to have to enjoy Arkham Asylum 2 and DC Universe Online if that's the last we get of him. That trailer, though, really got me excited for the game, and I normally dislike MMORPG's.

[theRedDeath]

combo of Adam Baldwin and James Marsters are reprising Superman and Lex, respectively.I did not know that. I loved Superman/Doomsday and Marsters' Lex has been my favorite voice for the character ever since.

Man, I just with DCUO wasn't Pay to Play, or at least had an offline version. I don't like online games, and I refuse to pay subscription fees, but I would have loved to play a game like that. Where you create your own character and fight alongside the JL. Oh well I suppose.

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[BigFatHairyDeal]

I did not know that. I loved Superman/Doomsday and Marsters' Lex has been my favorite voice for the character ever since.

Man, I just with DCUO wasn't Pay to Play, or at least had an offline version. I don't like online games, and I refuse to pay subscription fees, but I would have loved to play a game like that. Where you create your own character and fight alongside the JL. Oh well I suppose.

---

I'm with you 100%. Not only that, sometimes you want to play solo, not having to find 5 other random people to help you beat a mandatory mission that you have no chance to win on your own.

But congrats to SOE for making a trailer look so awesome, it makes me consider playing a genre I generally have no intention of playing.

[Lighthammer]

I've been very, very, very, very critical of Jokers in the past but I have to say, even though I didn't INITIALLY like DiMaggio in Under the Red Hood, he grew on me throughout the movie.

Almost nailing Mark Hamill's trade mark Joker laugh late in the movie is what won me over.

Even though I think this particular performance wasn't spectacular, I think it shows great, great, great potential.

I'd certainly like to see DiMaggio be given a chance to improve his character. I think the thing that will make or break it for DiMaggio is if he takes initiative like Hamill by suggesting ways to improve the script to allow him to shine more as well as being able to add a little improve. I have a feeling the areas that didn't feel strong to me in the movie may have been partially because of the script being too confined and not giving DiMaggio enough liberties.

While we're talking Under the Red Hood voice actors, I have to say, I think Neil Patrick Harris is doing a great job as a voice actor, but I really didn't like him as Dick Grayson. I also have to say Bruce Greenwood did a fantastic Batman but his Bruce Wayne was very meh.

[suss2it]

I also have to say Bruce Greenwood did a fantastic Batman but his Bruce Wayne was very meh.
To be fair we didn't see any Bruce Wayne out of costume.

[Lighthammer]

Well we do, but he's not talking in said scenes.

[suss2it]

Well we do, but he's not talking in said scenes.

Then how's his Bruce Wayne very meh?

[Lighthammer]

We've seen him talking with his cowl off and when he was telling Dick to go home and rest up.

He was very obviously in the Bruce Wayne mindset and not the Batman one. That part really didn't feel right to me.

Although, it was such a small scene, its hard to really judge it without giving Bruce Greenwood some REAL parts to play as Bruce Wayne.

[theRedDeath]

I thought his Bruce Wayne was fine and I don't really care about this discussion...

But he did speak as Bruce Wayne/out of costume, in the scene where he was digging up Jason's grave.

That's all. I'm not saying anything about that scene. Just nitpicking.

---

[Venom Melendez]

Are you sure he's retired?I thought he was just done with Joker.

I mean, isn't he doing work for the New Avengers toon?

As for the next Joker voice, they will probably just get someone new.

[cwp13]

I admit that John seems like a perfect voice actor for Mark to pass the torch to. He has a great resume with Futurama, GOW (Marcus I think), and obviously Batman: Under The Red Hood. I give 100% pass to John if he were to become the next "go to guy" for the infamous Clown Prince Of Crime The Joker.;)

[Thorn]

I've never heard John DiMaggio's Joker, so I can't comment on that. I do think Kevin Michael Richardson did a decent Joker voice for The Batman; I know a lot of people hated his performance as Joker (mainly because TB itself gets a lot of hate from viewers), but I actually thought Richardson's Joker voice was credible. I'm not saying that he should be DC's go-to guy for voicing Mr. J from now on, but KMR's Joker wasn't as bad as some people say.

I'm just going to go ahead and completely agree with you here. Immediately succeeding Hamil in the role was a thankless job, and I honestly think some initially dodgy scripting and a character design I still loathe have eclipsed a genuinely good performance in people's minds. Richardson was honestly excellent in The Batman vs. Dracula.

That having been said, I am also quite pleased with the more muted menace of DiMaggio's turn.

[AlgeaX]

Are you sure he's retired?I thought he was just done with Joker.

I mean, isn't he doing work for the New Avengers toon?

As for the next Joker voice, they will probably just get someone new.

Sorry, I should have specified retired from the role of the Joker.

[Superpan]

Eh, I don't know if we need an official voice again. The only reason Hamill lasted so long was because of the DCAU and video games. That's a long fine run and I want to see many new actor's do their interpretations now of him. Dimaggio did a good job, but do we want to have one actor have a monopoly on the role just because the DCAU kept using the same actors? I don't think so.

[SSJBatman]

Eh, I don't know if we need an official voice again. The only reason Hamill lasted so long was because of the DCAU and video games. That's a long fine run and I want to see many new actor's do their interpretations now of him. Dimaggio did a good job, but do we want to have one actor have a monopoly on the role just because the DCAU kept using the same actors? I don't think so.
I don't think they mean have a monopoly on it, just someone to see a bit more regularly. Like for a series of things, have them as a regular, while other things still cast other people.

I for one would like to see Dimaggio be the voice of The Joker for a while (Like, in a new Batman series) or something, but that's just my personal opinion.

Just as long as he stays OUTRAGEOUS.

[JTMarsh]

Hamill only came back from his "first" retirement because he retired after the first Arkham Asylum game, and they went and made a sequel, so he HAD to come back. He was probably contractually forced to.

As for after Hamill? I'd really REALLY like to hear Tim Curry's take on the Joker. He was originally the B:TAS Joker, and those recordings have still never been released. He was replaced with Hamill because supposedly his Joker was "Too dark".

I'd love to see what he could do as the Joker in a DtDVD or something. Honestly, I wish he was the Joker in "Under the Red Hood" rather than DiMaggio.

---
I would also be interested in hearing what Tim Curry could do with the Joker vocally. Heck, if they ever wanted to do Emperor Joker I'd be more than happy to give that to Curry.

[Itchy]

Hamill's Joker was truly amazing and I doubt there will ever come anyone as good as him. But out of all the people to come after him, Dimaggio has come the closest so I would like to see him voice Mistah Jay in future projects.
Kevin Michael Richardson and Jeff Bennet are great voiceactors but their Jokers didn't really work for me.
The amazing thing with Marks' Joker voice was that it worked on so many different levels. It was perfect both for a Cesar Romero-type silly clown Joker and a evil psychopath Joker.

[Aaron]

He said he was retiring with Arkham Asylum. Then along comes Arkham Asylum 2. And he's in that. THEN he's retiring. But he's also Joker in DC Universe Online. And that's an online game, so I'm assuming he'll be coming back for expansions and story continuations right?

It seems to me like that weird then celebs and athletes do, where they announce they're retirement from something only to come back a short time later.
Eventually it just gets cheap. It's like "Oh no! This is his LAST performance! I must buy it!". So it's a sales boost. Then behold, he has ANOTHER last performance in something else.

Whatever.

[dark knight 90]

He didn't actually say that Batman: Arkham Asylum would be his final time protraying The Joker... simply that he didn't expect to be cast as the voice on a regular basis and that this may be the last time he gets to do this.

Of course the game was a huge hit and they decided to continue... He's playing opposite HIS Batman (Kevin Conroy) and his favorite Joker writer Paul Dini is back. Of course he would come back. However perhaps the story concludes here for the Joker and Hamill is thinking... ''You gotta know when to leave the party''.

I presume DC Universe Online was in the works before Batman: Arkham City.

[Venom Melendez]

Eh, I don't know if we need an official voice again. The only reason Hamill lasted so long was because of the DCAU and video games. That's a long fine run and I want to see many new actor's do their interpretations now of him. Dimaggio did a good job, but do we want to have one actor have a monopoly on the role just because the DCAU kept using the same actors? I don't think so.

That's what i think too.

After Hamil, there probably won't be a "Go to guy". The next show/movie/game will just have someone new.




I presume DC Universe Online was in the works before Batman: Arkham City.

It also comes out before Arkham City.