The Dark Knight

Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy has loved the ‘Batman’ franchise since he was a kid.

There’s a certain theatrical nihilism to Donald Trump that lends itself well to Batman’s greatest nemesis, as we’ve seen Mark Hamill repeatedly demonstrate with his Joker-ized take on Trump tweets. As it turns out, the parallel works eerily well with other Jokers, as The Daily Show discovers with horrifying precision.

Eight years is certainly long enough for the bloom to wear off the rose a bit, but we can all agree that 2008's The Dark Knight is still at least a pretty good movie, right? I mean, Batman suplexes a truck in that film, and while there are certainly other concerns to be taken into account when you're trying to decide the merits of a piece of media, you can't get around the fact that Batman suplexes a truck, and that has to count for something. Point being, if you're a fan what Christopher Nolan, Christian Bale, and Heath Ledger did in that movie and you're also going to Emerald City Comic-Con in Seattle next weekend, April 7-10, you might want to go ahead and clear a spot on your wall, because Mondo is releasing its latest print, in which Jock takes on The Dark Knight with predictably awesome results.

But Batmen can come in all shapes and sizes, from the bulky and gritty of the latest movie, to the vibrant and comical stylings of Batman in the ‘60s, or even the new costume that debuted in the comics just this week. Whether fans are going after that classic Adam West appeal, the dark and macabre visions of Tim Burton, or the more combat suit-oriented look, there’s plenty of variety to be had underneath that cape and cowl. Cosplayers around the world have shared their favorite visions of the playboy-turned-vigilante to produce some fantastic results. We’ve combed our archives to assemble an overview of our favorites. From specialized scene photos to conventions crawling with caped crusaders, this gallery brings Dark Knights from all walks of life together. We hope you’ll enjoy this gallery of the best Batman cosplays ever.

Since the close of last year, it's been all quiet on the Mondo front. After the bit Marvel art show and subsequent print sale in mid-December, poster and art junkies have been eagerly awaiting the first glimpse at Mondo's plans for 2016. Not only is the Austin art house bringing its first new pieces out today, they also happen to be based on a little movie you might have heard of called The Dark Knight. The Dark Knight, and Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy in general, have long been a favorite for Mondo's artists. There have been more than a dozen different prints featuring the Nolan-helmed features since Batman Begins arrived a decade ago. While you might think there aren't many new things to do with a poster for The Dark Knight, that's not the case, and these new pieces by Laurent Durieux and Mike Mitchell show there's still plenty of creative territory to be mined.

Since 2006, fans have flooded the Javitz Center year after year for New York Comic Con, but until this year, they've never been witness to magnificent pieces Sideshow Collectibles offered. Sideshow does its fair share of shows, but 2015 marked the first time the company made an appearance at NYCC. Though the booth may not have had the same square footage as Sideshow's SDCC presence, it was still packed with loads of incredible sculptures featuring many fan favorites and some of the company's own creations. Most of what was on display at NYCC had been seen before at other conventions, but the more diminutive booth allowed for a more focused presentation. Where the SDCC collection was three or four times larger, that also meant there were that many more products vying for your attention. While it was definitely cool to see so many new things a few months ago, there was definitely some "cool stuff" overload happening. Notably missing from the NYCC booth was a great deal of Hot Toys, which was represented at New York with a handful of First Order Stormtroopers, and that's it. Sideshow put the spotlight on its own goods, including the DC and Marvel premium format figures due to arrive over the course of the next year, and its outstandingly creepy Court of the Dead line.

We may have finally reached the peak of Joker merchandise. Everyone else can pack it up and go home. Nothing you do will be more terrifying than this upcoming Good Smile Joker Nendoroid. There's something extra sinister about a the way this chibi-style figure turns the Joker into a childlike anarchist. It also doesn't help that with the flat facepaint, instead of looking like madman who paints his face for battle, this Joker looks like a kindergarten student attending his first Gathering of the Juggalos. Try getting the image of an anime Insane Clown Posse out of your head now. To a degree, just about every single Dark Knight Joker figure that's been released to this point has been decidedly adult. It's not that they're all adult-focused toys, but they each respect the fact the Joker is a mature character, and one that isn't to be mistaken for an Imaginext villain in a child's Fisher-Price collection. The whole point of Nendoroids is to put this cutesy spin on familiar faces, and what Good Smile has done here certainly hits that mark. It's been a lot more successful with other franchises, and even other DC characters, like the Nendoroid Batman that's already out. I just can't get past how straight evil this Joker looks.

Seven years ago, Christopher Nolan tapped Heath Ledger to play arguably the most iconic comic book villain in his sequel to Batman Begins. As the Joker in The Dark Knight, Ledger made a lasting impression on the fanbase that's often remembered as one of, if not the, most memorable performance in a comic book film. At least part of that reverence comes from the fact that it was Ledger's final film role, but it's also due to the fact that his Joker was so different, strange and captivating. Since that film's release, Joker action figures have constantly been in the rotation from various companies, including Hot Toys, NECA, and recently, Medicom. The Japanese manufacturer has been slowly releasing figures based on the final two films in the past year or so, including a Batman, Catwoman and a purple-suited Joker. Next, Medicom's MAFEX line will introduce the Joker from his brief time as a bank robber in the earliest moments of The Dark Knight.

People love Batman. People love Batman movies. People love Batman toys and statues, and underpants and t-shirts, but mostly the toys and statues. Sideshow Collectibles knows this, and has managed to combine those core loves into one convenient package. Based on Christian Bale's appearance as Batman in The Dark Knight, the company's latest premium format figure finds the hero of Gotham rendered in a ready-to-battle pose facing off against an unseen opponent. Now, we do know that there will be a Joker statue in the same vein, thanks to its appearance at SDCC this year, and the fact that it's in the promotional images for this Batman piece, too. Being a premium format figure, the Batman makes use of mixed media, and features a cloth cape to go along with the more solid body. At 20" tall, there's plenty of room for detail, which this figure has in spades. There's tremendous texturing in the Kevlar portions of the suit, with the more armored sections standing out due to the great paint job giving them that brushed metal vibe.

If you've been waiting to play Batman: Arkham Knight with the new Burton Batmobile, and fly around in the Keaton suit, we've got some good news for you; it's out today. As has been previously disclosed, you'll be able to play with the classic 1989 Batmobile through two race tracks inspired by Batman and Batman Returns. What's more, Rocksteady has clarified the Batmobile's usage outside of these specific race tracks. You will be able to drive around the streets of Gotham with this version of the vehicle... provided you've already eliminated all the tanks on every island. That's right, kids; the 1989 Batmobile can only be used if the streets are barren of the Arkham Knight's tanks which patrol every street and sideroad for almost the entire game. If you were hoping to whip around in New Game+ with the DLC car, that's just too bad. You'll still have to destroy all the tanks, and finish off the drone tank segment for the Knightfall protocol first. Coooooooool. Maybe the newly announced The Dark Knight Tumbler will actually fare a bit better in that department.