IGC Talks To Mark Hamill [Archive]

Psykoboy2

08-11-2009, 10:34 PM

This Thursday, August 13th, we'll be talking to the ONLY voice of the Joker - Mark Hamill.

We won't have very much time with him, only 30 minutes, but we'd still love to know what you would like to ask him. Keep in mind we are only allowed to talk with him about Batman: Arkham Asylum so please keep the questions within those confines.

Iron Past

08-11-2009, 10:47 PM

How different was it working on a video game versus the show?

Is he a gamer? What does he think of the story/gameplay of the game?

How cool was it to get back into character for the game and would he be open for voicing sequels?

What does he do to prep for Joker voice work, and in this case did he do anything different since it's been a while?

Will he buy a lightsaber accessory for his Avatar? :p

(Pretty stock questions, I know, but maybe I'll come up with more)

Sandman

08-11-2009, 11:26 PM

Can he do a phone message for me? ;)

Here's a real question...the first was real if you want it to be.

Which character does he think is more awesome?
A) The Joker
B) Luke Skywalker
C) Cocknocker

StarGypsy

08-11-2009, 11:28 PM

When I would read the comics the characters would describe The Joker's laugh as "Chilling" or "Terrifying". I never really understood that. How could a laugh be that scary? Then I heard Hamill's version of the laugh. He nailed it.
My question would be "How he came up with the laugh?"

Feel free to ask the question in a way that make sense. I don't think I'm phrasing it right.

digitalErich

08-11-2009, 11:31 PM

Given the more darker and adult tone of the game vs. the animated series, was he able to do anything with the Joker character in the game that he had always wanted, but was unable, to do in the series?

Also, seeing as he's worked with the character so much, what are his personal thoughts on what makes the Joker such a great villain?

Xerxes

08-11-2009, 11:41 PM

_gBWpWwIBKw

BLeeP

08-11-2009, 11:41 PM

Obviously everyone should be asking Mr. Hamil questions about his work as The Larry 3000 on the short lived Cartoon Network program "Time Squad". The show was a great idea but I don't think it was executed all that well 8-(.

SenatorSpacer

08-12-2009, 12:16 AM

Awesome man, you guys get the best interviews :D That sucks you can only ask him about Batman, I wanted to hear a bit about Darksiders.

No questions on the top of my head, can't wait to hear it :D

Scaryfaced

08-12-2009, 12:16 AM

It seems that the Joker from Batman: Arkham Asylum has an overall darker look and personality to him than the cartoon versions Hamill has previously portrayed. Did he take the darker tone into consideration and change his voice accordingly or is his Joker consistent through out all of his work? If he did change the voice to suit the game, did he look to any particular comic versions of the Joker for inspiration?

Many of the voice actors from Batman: The Animated Series have reprised their roles in Batman: Arkham Asylum. What's it been like to get back into character while working with so many people from the old cast? Is it easier to do it as a group then working with new voice actors?

MrBibbz

08-12-2009, 12:36 AM

Have you ever stepped back in awe at how popular Batman and Joker are amongest gamers, movie fans and comic buffs?

If there was anything you would do to refine the Joker, what changes would you make? And why?

Also I too second the phone message request! :D

digitalErich

08-12-2009, 12:39 AM

Yes, yes we've all seen that video...I'm curious to hear an answer that isn't edited. I'm sure it won't make a huge difference but I'm still curious.

pronounconnoun

08-12-2009, 12:45 AM

_gBWpWwIBKw

Why did they use a lot of scenes from the bad Batman? Joker did look cool though.

The only question that I can think of that's kind of lame is:

Was there any pressure to change what he perceived as the Joker's personality after the Dark Knight's portrayal?

Xerxes

08-12-2009, 12:47 AM

Bad Batman?

digitalErich

08-12-2009, 01:54 AM

Was there any pressure to change what he perceived as the Joker's personality after the Dark Knight's portrayal?
This right har.

mightbe

08-12-2009, 02:20 AM

That's great! I'll definitely catch it in 'cast form.

Feel free to pimp the t-shirt thread as well ;)

Hawkzombie

08-12-2009, 02:49 AM

Bad Batman?

I was wondering this as well. I found both sets of animation to be awesome, because the only thing that really changed was just the animation. The stories and characters were still amazing.

EDIT: Here's a good question though

What was it like working with a number of the original voice actors from the television show again?

Savok

08-12-2009, 04:53 AM

Faced with Mark Hamill I'd be reduced to frothing fanboyism in seconds. Question? I don't know, how did you get so awesome?

I want to ask what was up with the voice direction in AA but that's a really unfair position to put him in and just not cricket. Don't ask him as a joke either, I'd just like it to be on the record that even in the face of such star power I'm still my hateful self.

Doogie2K

08-12-2009, 08:01 AM

Was there any pressure to change what he perceived as the Joker's personality after the Dark Knight's portrayal?

This was also the one I thought of. A lot of people have Heath Ledger in their heads now when they think of the Joker. I wonder if that had an effect, or if he knew this was going to be by the animated-series people, for the animated-series fans, so he could stay within the confines of "his" Joker.

Beyond that, I got nothing. I know nothing about the Batman Animated Series. If I talk to my brother-in-law before tomorrow, there might be something else, but I'm out.

DarkDay

08-12-2009, 08:30 AM

Is it hard on your voice to to constantly do that voice and that laugh? Or does it help to get a little raw with the warmup? Friends of mine who do VERY well in the same industry all of whom you know talk very highly of you and your skills, but how did you come to be the Joker? Not from a business side but did you ever have doubts that you could pull it off let alone have any idea at the beginning that it would lead to the kind of career you have now?

Uno Ill Nino

08-12-2009, 08:43 AM

Ravenlock

08-12-2009, 09:03 AM

Great interview to score. Bravo.

All the questions I'd want asked are already posted, but thank him for being such a big part of getting a whole generation of kids interested in the Batman fiction, and by extension comics in general.

I know my personal exposure to that stuff was almost none until I started watching Batman The Animated Series in high school. Like almost everyone else who watched it, I'm now a Batman nut. So thank you for that. ;)

cppcrusader

08-12-2009, 09:18 AM

Since a large chunk, if not the majority, of fans consider his Joker to be the definitive one I'd be interested in his thoughts on the other portrayals by Caesar Romero, Jack Nicholson and Heath Ledger. If there was anything in the portrayals prior to his that he drew from to come up with his Joker?

Iron Past

08-12-2009, 10:15 AM

I didn't say it in my first post, but since others brought it up... I'd bid so hard for a Joker Voice Mail if you did that raffle thing again. Like, enough to really piss off my wife.

pronounconnoun

08-12-2009, 12:05 PM

Bad Batman?

After season 3 they made the show less dark and more cartoonish. It was around the time Superman got his own show and they made it to look similar so they could do all those crossovers. I thought the plots were not as deep and it tried too hard to tailor itself to a younger audience. Joker (without lipstick) was fine in those shows. I mainly had problems with Scarface, who was the Al Pacino Scarface and not Howard Hawks' version of Scarface.

Psykoboy2

08-12-2009, 12:13 PM

After season 3 they made the show less dark and more cartoonish. It was around the time Superman got his own show and they made it to look similar so they could do all those crossovers. I thought the plots were not as deep and it tried too hard to tailor itself to a younger audience. Joker (without lipstick) was fine in those shows. I mainly had problems with Scarface, who was the Al Pacino Scarface and not Howard Hawks' version of Scarface.

Interesting. I thought it was too cartoonish when they had Robin in there after the film version and wanted to sort of match what was on screen. When they went to the "Gotham Knights" version (more streamlined character animation, red sky, black & gray suit, Nightwing), it felt like they went more dark and adult. I thought some of the best episodes came from that version of the show (the final season essentially).

Savok

08-12-2009, 12:15 PM

That interview was an extra from the Season 4 DVDs, there's one for every villain all but Joker's mention what they did for the redesign, why it's full of Season 4 imagery.

Why was it done? New animation studio, old one went broke and they figured they may as well update their designs with their current style.

Ravenlock

08-12-2009, 12:35 PM

Savok

08-12-2009, 12:46 PM

Mad Love was an adaptation of the double sized comic of the same name (by Dini and Timm). It won an Eisner and a Harvey, your memory doesn't fail you. Hilariously Mark Hamill is quoted on the back saying it's like the storyboards to the best Batman episode never made.

And Season 4 really is their darkest season, you only have to look at the Ivy and Scarecrow episodes for that. There was a scene with Babs in a Scarecrow ep that was basically the most horrific thing they ever did (until Return of the Joker anyway).

EDIT: Here it is (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIbEHxvp6v0), around 1:20, spoilers for those who haven't seen it.

Ravenlock

08-12-2009, 12:58 PM

Ooo yeah I had forgotten about the flashback scene in Return of the Joker. That was some amazing stuff. (The unedited version, anyhow.) In my mind, if the Joker ever has to die, that's how it goes down.

...Goddammit I loved that show.

pronounconnoun

08-12-2009, 01:14 PM

Mad Love, one of the episodes on the last disc of Season 4 (after the animation style shift, obviously), was easily one of the best episodes of the show, and might be one of the best Batman stories I've ever seen anywhere, period. My memory may be wearing slightly rose colored glasses, it's been awhile since I watched it, but I remember it as being just fantastic.

Obviously pronounconnoun is talking about the later seasons as a whole, but to call Mad Love "cartoonish" or "tailored for a younger audience" would be way off the mark. It was one of their darkest stories.

Yeah, I remember that episode. That was a great episode. The joker episodes were fine, even in the video they keep showing clips from when the Joker inherited the mob kingpin's estate. That was a hilarious episode.

In general, I like more episodes of the older Batman rather than the new ones.

Edit: Return of the Joker was the best thing to come out of Batman: Beyond.

digitalErich

08-12-2009, 01:54 PM

That youtube was from the Season 4 DVD extras? Wow, there was some terrible animation work that I have no memory of. What the hell is up with the 4:00-4:10 mark?

Savok

08-12-2009, 02:08 PM

Actually that's a previous season. If you look back hard over the episodes on DVD you'll find a lot of problems. The first Mr Freeze ep was a mess of errors, but it was so cool you didn't care.

TheFlyingOrc

08-12-2009, 02:50 PM

And Season 4 really is their darkest season, you only have to look at the Ivy and Scarecrow episodes for that. There was a scene with Babs in a Scarecrow ep that was basically the most horrific thing they ever did (until Return of the Joker anyway).

The content might be darker, but the animation is much more bright and cartoony. It makes Batman more flash and less brood.

As for a question...I'd ask Mark if the somewhat-less-violent tone of the show held back his interpretation in any way, and whether the game allowed him to really cut loose on the character at all.

Also he should tell me the full villain list.

Savok

08-12-2009, 02:54 PM

It was also more fluid, lose something gain something else.

Also: owaMoWmD2vE

Hawkzombie

08-12-2009, 03:03 PM

Ask him if he'd be willing to attend our bi-monthly sci-fi convention (Bi-Mon Sci-Fi Con) and knock over a few cardboard cutouts of stormtroopers on stage. :D

Sorry, I couldn't resist. +1 if you get the reference.

What the robots from Battlestar Galactica beat up the gay robots from Star Wars!!

I can understand where people might get the idea that the last 'season' of Batman was more cartoony than the previous seasons, but ultimately I think it managed to do better for the show in terms of movement and flow. Look at Arkham Asylum and the combat. It flows like butter. The animation of Season 4 did pretty much the same thing. It didn't feel as clunky as the previous seasons.

That said, it took me a while to get used to it and appreciate it, as I grew up watching the original animation. But the stories, Savok already pointed out the one ep with Babs and the Scarecrow and what happens there is literally shocking for a kid's show. I remember watching it when it was actually aired, and I gasped and went wide-eyed for a few moments, unable to really comprehend what just happened.

I love Batman, and this show is why.

EDIT: Of all the villains, Scarecrow got the best face lift, and Jeffery Combs nailed the voice.

H.Bogard

08-12-2009, 03:20 PM

What does he think of Ledger's joker?

TheFlyingOrc

08-12-2009, 03:30 PM

That said, it took me a while to get used to it and appreciate it, as I grew up watching the original animation. But the stories, Savok already pointed out the one ep with Babs and the Scarecrow and what happens there is literally shocking for a kid's show. I remember watching it when it was actually aired, and I gasped and went wide-eyed for a few moments, unable to really comprehend what just happened.

Too bad they broke continuity for Batman Beyond.

Hawkzombie

08-12-2009, 03:39 PM

Too bad they broke continuity for Batman Beyond.

How so? From what I recall, they kept it all pretty solid between the series.

cppcrusader

08-12-2009, 03:39 PM

Too bad they broke continuity for Batman Beyond.

How did Batman Beyond break continuity?

Ravenlock

08-12-2009, 03:51 PM

The content might be darker, but the animation is much more bright and cartoony. It makes Batman more flash and less brood.

As for a question...I'd ask Mark if the somewhat-less-violent tone of the show held back his interpretation in any way, and whether the game allowed him to really cut loose on the character at all.

Again, I would point to Mad Love, or the flashback scene in Return of the Joker. He beats the shit out of Harley Quinn and throws her out a window, and straps Tim Drake to a surgical table and tortures him with electrical clamps.

How "cut loose" would you really expect them to let him get? Short of shooting Barbara and actually killing Robin, the animated series' Joker was about as twisted as any other. For a kids' show, it was astounding how far they were able to take him.

lucklesswonder

08-12-2009, 04:33 PM

Likewise, everyone has already asked any questions I would pose. Only thing for me to add is that The Man Who Killed Batman is probably my favorite Joker episode. It emphasized just how much the Joker needed Batman.

pronounconnoun

08-12-2009, 05:55 PM

"Then I picked up a rock...and I threw it at him!"

Xerxes

08-12-2009, 06:11 PM

"Then I picked up a rock...and I threw it at him!"

It was a big rock.

crazyD

08-12-2009, 06:17 PM

My 3 favorite episodes came from after they changed the art style. Mad Love, Legends of the Dark Knight, and Over the Edge. That said, I do prefer the older art style, especially on certain characters. The females especially lack depth, particularly Catwoman and Batgirl.

Xerxes

08-12-2009, 06:41 PM

Instead of comparing Jokers, I'd just asked if he liked the Joker from Dark Knight? I doubt it influenced his portrayal and it doesn't appear Heath really took anything from Hamill and still like Hamill's best. Not as much killing for his character but the voice, laugh, and apparently mannerisms seem to nail what you'd expect.

Hawkzombie

08-12-2009, 08:52 PM

"Then I picked up a rock...and I threw it at him!"

God that was a great episode.

bulletfood

08-13-2009, 01:15 AM

Dammit guys, you had to wait until I'm 6841 miles away to get an interview with Mark Hamill. thanks.
Ask him if he wants anything drawn/written on a JDAM. :)
Seriously now. I saw him back in 96 at Dragon*Con and he was able to slip into the Joker pretty instantaneously. Was he able to get right back into the character?
The Joker in Mask of the Phantasm was pretty dark compared to the series, how does Arkham Asylum compare to Phantasm's meaner Mr. J?
If he does play Arkham Asylum, which system will he play it on?

Iron Past

08-14-2009, 10:05 AM

So how did the interview go?

Psykoboy2

08-14-2009, 11:17 AM

Quite well. Mark was more of a talker than we ever could have expected. I'm working on the editing today.

Iron Past

08-14-2009, 12:06 PM

Quite well. Mark was more of a talker than we ever could have expected. I'm working on the editing today.

Very cool. Is it being attached to this week's show, next week's show, or as a standalone? Or am I just bothering you too much with questions you don't know the answers to?

Psykoboy2

08-14-2009, 12:08 PM

It will be a standalone episode. You won't miss it.

TheKeck

08-14-2009, 12:51 PM

How did I not know that Mark Hamill is the joker? :eek:

Xerxes

08-14-2009, 12:52 PM

~_~ I so miss the live show.

Primus

08-14-2009, 12:57 PM

Oops too late :(

ThievesAmongUs

08-14-2009, 01:20 PM

How did I not know that Mark Hamill is the joker? :eek:

Seriously ? You didn't know that ?

Savok

08-14-2009, 02:12 PM

How did I not know that Mark Hamill is the joker? :eek:
He's been all sorts of things (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000434/).

"Grundy wants his soul!"

TheKeck

08-14-2009, 02:30 PM

Seriously ? You didn't know that ?
Seriously.
He's been all sorts of things (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000434/).

"Grundy wants his soul!"
So, he has. Not a lot of those are familiar to me, but wow, yeah, didn't realize he was such the prolific voice actor.

Ravenlock

08-14-2009, 02:33 PM

He was Wolverine in the X2 - Wolverine's Revenge video game?

Shitty game, as I understand it, but damn, that's some range, especially since Hugh Jackman was well established as the "real" voice by then.

Savok

08-14-2009, 02:40 PM

So, he has. Not a lot of those are familiar to me, but wow, yeah, didn't realize he was such the prolific voice actor.
The man loves voice acting and he's damn good at it, even casting a bunch of his fellow voice actors (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0361462/) in his movie (which is a lot better then the IMDB rating lets on, of course being a voice actor/comic book nerd like myself helps).

Dark Prince

08-17-2009, 04:00 PM

I can't believe I missed this, I wanted to get my question in. :(

Awesome opportunity though guys, sounds like it was fun. Can't wait to hear it.

Did you guys get him to do the laugh for you?

Psykoboy2

08-17-2009, 04:51 PM

I can't believe I missed this, I wanted to get my question in. :(

Awesome opportunity though guys, sounds like it was fun. Can't wait to hear it.

Did you guys get him to do the laugh for you?

A few times (http://www.ingamechat.net/audio/hamillpromo.MP3), actually.

Said he freaked out the dogs doing that one.

Dark Prince

08-17-2009, 05:54 PM

A few times (http://www.ingamechat.net/audio/hamillpromo.MP3), actually.

Said he freaked out the dogs doing that one.

That's awesome. Can't wait to hear the rest of the interview.

Abyssion

08-17-2009, 06:05 PM

That's awesome. Can't wait to hear the rest of the interview.

Same here!!

Doogie2K

08-17-2009, 06:10 PM

A few times (http://www.ingamechat.net/audio/hamillpromo.MP3), actually.

Said he freaked out the dogs doing that one.

Apparently, I'm burning a copy of this interview for my brother-in-law, who's a big fan of Batman: TAS. (It will fit on an 80-minute disc, won't it?)

Ghostbear

08-17-2009, 11:23 PM

When can we download the interview?

Straximus

08-18-2009, 12:11 AM

Pretty sure we'll have it up later today.

lucklesswonder

08-18-2009, 12:28 PM

A few times (http://www.ingamechat.net/audio/hamillpromo.MP3), actually.

Said he freaked out the dogs doing that one.

That was just absolutely wonderful.

pronounconnoun

08-18-2009, 12:29 PM

That was just absolutely wonderful.

I cried a little.

Savok

08-18-2009, 01:34 PM

Please tell me you guys didn't ask him to do the voice....

TheFlyingOrc

08-18-2009, 01:47 PM

How did Batman Beyond break continuity?

Maybe my memory is fuzzy, but didn't Batgirl get killed in the original series?

Psykoboy2

08-18-2009, 01:48 PM

We asked him the questions we had. Our only request was for the promo, but no specifics on anything, he added the voice at the end on his own merit.

Psykoboy2

08-18-2009, 01:49 PM

Maybe my memory is fuzzy, but didn't Batgirl get killed in the original series?

In the original series of the animated show, no...she never got killed and "The Killing Joke" never happened.

In the comics, she was never killed, although the Joker shot her in the spine making her wheelchair bound for life.

pronounconnoun

08-18-2009, 01:52 PM

In the original series of the animated show, no...she never got killed and "The Killing Joke" never happened.

In the comics, she was never killed, although the Joker shot her in the spine making her wheelchair bound for life.

I guess that throws a wrench in Batman Beyond's Barbara Gordon becoming Commissioner.

Savok

08-18-2009, 01:55 PM

Maybe my memory is fuzzy, but didn't Batgirl get killed in the original series?
That was a Scarecrow induced hallucination, Babs is fine, doesn't even end up in a wheelchair.

And ok, that's good. Just a pet peeve of mine is when these god damn idiot interviewers (Australian ones are shocking for it) ask an actor to "dance" for them, sometimes literally. I'm surprised John Travolta hasn't killed someone the numbers of times he's been asked to dance.

cppcrusader

08-18-2009, 01:56 PM

Maybe my memory is fuzzy, but didn't Batgirl get killed in the original series?

I don't remember exactly how it ended, but that episode during the Gotham Knights era where she died was a what if scenario. I believe it was all imagined by either Bruce or Barbara getting dosed with fear toxin.

Savok

08-18-2009, 02:03 PM

It was Babs, her greatest fear being what the consequences of her death "on the job" would be.

TheFlyingOrc

08-18-2009, 02:05 PM

That was a Scarecrow induced hallucination, Babs is fine, doesn't even end up in a wheelchair.

Ah. That would explain my confusion. I'm not sure I've ever seen the whole episode, just the video clip of her falling on the car.