With the new film "Suicide Squad" out in theaters this weekend, I thought it was very fitting to dive into past portrayals of DC Comics' most infamous villain, the Joker. In my humble opinion, Heath Ledger's Joker was the most masterful of all; he was able to bring a new, slightly more psychotic spin on the character; he not only played the joker in "The Dark Knight," he became the Joker. Here are the top five reasons why Heath Ledger's Joker is the best Joker portrayal of all time:

1. He nailed the Joker's voice.

Let's be honest, Heath Ledger's joker voice made "The Dark Knight." The Aussie actor was barely recognizable throughout the entire film; his high-pitched, somewhat childlike, sinister voice was the product of Ledger isolating himself in a hotel room for four weeks to prepare for his role as the Joker. In an Interview with FHM, Ledger said, "I just locked myself away and formed a little diary and experimented with voices… I ended up making him within the realm of a psychopath kind of like zero empathy or very little to no conscience towards his acts which is fun because there's no real limits on their boundaries to what he would say or how he would say something or what he would do…" (Powers 2008).

2. His mannerisms were unique, yet still true to the character.

Heath Ledger's Joker was a departure from the typical flamboyant portrayal of the Joker. Ledger purposely put his own spin on the character, making him more psychotic and strange. Heath Ledger masterfully captured the Joker's weirdness through his unique tics, like licking his lips constantly.

3. Heath Ledger's Joker redefined the character.

The Joker was redefined as a complete psychopath. The audience was able to see how twisted the character's mind really is, unlike previous portrayals of the Joker.

4. Ledger's portrayal was more realistic and modern.

Unlike Jack Nicholson's dapper, flamboyant Joker, Heath Ledger's portrayal of the Joker came across as realistic and modern. The character's entire aesthetic, from his unkempt green hair to his disheveled clown makeup, completely modernized the character and made him more realistic overall.

5. Heath Ledger completely embodied the Joker.

Heath Ledger didn't just play the Joker, he completely embodied the character. Fans barely recognized him in the film because his portrayal was so transformative. He put everything he had into his last movie role and will be remembered for his incredible talent showcased through it.