Perhaps the perfect 21st century villain, Heath Ledger's Joker is less a force of evil than an agent of chaos, delighting in whatever reaction he can elicit from a world numbed by modernity. Visually upsetting, like a fungal rot has started to take hold and have its way with him, and without any actual history, The Joker appears fully formed, no origin needed. No mere details of birth and education could explain the joy he takes from blowing up an ambulance or killing off his own henchman during a robbery or the pencil trick. He is damaged in a way that run deep, right to his DNA. We're not afraid of werewolves or vampires anymore, but when we see someone who takes this much pleasure in, as Alfred puts it, watching the world burn, that cuts right to the heart of what really keeps us up at night.

-Drew McWeeny