Suicide Squad: Empire's Jared Leto Joker Cover

     There's been quite a controversy over Jared Leto's Joker in the months since they released the first images of his physical appearance for the David Ayer directed Suicide Squad.  Much of the criticism has been about the ridiculous tattoos all over his body.  And I have a feeling this new cover image for Empire Magazine is going to relight some of those fires.

     Leto said of his portrayal, "I always get the sense that The Joker may be much older than people think. It's something different. If you don't break rules, you're not going to strike new ground. I think I'll be cooling down for the rest of my life."
     And Ayers explained about the way Leto's version will differ from other portrayals of the Clown Prince of Crime, "The Joker is the third rail of comic book movies. There's a power to that character, and by some freaking miracle, through the incredible things Jared has done and the photography and all the other millions of things that went into it, we've cooked up something transcendent. He's scary."

     To be fair, his acting- in the brief trailer moments- is spot on, but that look that he has seems to be off kilter.  He's what I imagine a bunch of goth-hipsters working in a Hot Topic might design him to look like.  Arkham sweatpants (patient bottoms), barefoot, with a leather coat and cane.  That dichotomy seems to really push the opposing forces and idea of insanity in his mind, and it isn't even the strange choice of wardrobe that still bothers me- it's those damn tattoos.

     This is one of those times where I feel that he is definitely playing a Red Hood/Jason Todd in the role of the Joker, and the torture scene from the trailer might be Harley Quinn.  It feels a lot like a cheap ploy.  Granted, it could very well be a completely new take on the iconic Joker, but it still appears like something is "wrong" with him as a character.  At least with Ledger, everyone that complained about him shut the hell up when they saw him in make up and costume, that is not the case here.  The only image I don't hear any complaints about is the one where he's sitting in a straight-jacket with Harley.  I'll have to wait and see as more information comes in.

Another look at The Joker via Empire #SuicideSquad pic.twitter.com/InVBvICRls

— Christopher Marc ΩU (@_ChristopherM) October 26, 2015

    Source [ ComicBookMovie ]