Dark Knight: The Joker’s Game Continues on Black Friday *UPDATED*

Posted by Neil Miller (neil@filmschoolrejects.com) on November 23, 2007

Since right before Comic Con this August, the folks in the Warner Brothers marketing department have been weaving an intricate web — a web that has delivered one of the finest viral marketing campaigns in recent history. At the heart of this campaign is the clown prince of crime himself, The Joker. It is appropriate, seeing as Heath Ledger came under some initial scrutiny for being chosen as The Joker. Fans didn’t believe that he was the right choice for The Dark Knight, but thanks to a wicked cool marketing campaign, at least we’ve got something else to talk about.

This week’s update comes as a result of the RorysDeathKiss.com game, where Joker minions sent in their pictures from all over the world. Fans had from Halloween until November 17 to send in their pictures and in return The Joker was going to send them “something”. A message on RorysDeathKiss.com said this: “What a crime scene! The clock’s struck 12 and I’m sending something for each and every one of you clowns who made my list by the deadline. The fun-filled times should roll in shortly after the bird’s been carved! Don’t you just love the taste of envelope glue?”

This week fans began posting pictures of that “something” over at the SuperHeroHype! Boards. Their special packages included 25 copies of “The Gotham Times”. You can view the pics below by clicking the thumbnails below.

As you can see from the picture, there is a small classified ad that reads: “Charming handsome man with dazzling smile seeks amateur clowns for discreet encounters. No previous sense of humor nexessary. Criminal record a plus. Interested? Write to HumanResources@WhySoSerious.com in the full understanding that we have your email address and might send you alarming, disturbing, or annyoing material at any moment.”

If you send an email to the address, you get this reply: “See you found my little message. So, do you think you have what it takes to be a part of my circle of friends? Are you a backstabbing, self-promoting, ambitious clown who will do anything to prove yourself to me? If so, the first step of your application process awaits…if you know where to look.”

Based on all of the information at hand, everyone has turned their attention to TheGothamTimes.com. It is due to get an update on Friday. Speculation would say that it will be an online version of the articles from the newspapers. But then again, it may be something else. We will be tuned in. Will you?

UPDATE (Friday 11/23 @ 1:13pm) – TheGothamTimes.com has updated with 4 newpaper pages with various articles. The headline on the first page reads: “CITY AT WAR”. At first glance, this is really just setting the stage for a Gotham City in peril — could this be the work of The Joker? I’m sure he has something to do with it. If you spot anything interesting or see any clues in the paper, feel free to leave them in our comment area below.

UPDATE (Friday 11/23 @ 10pm) – The puzzle continues to unravel. If you click around the pages of The Gotham Times, you will find the following five new viral sites:

- TheHaHaTimes.com
- RememberingGina.org
- GothamNationalBank.com
- WeAretheAnswer.org
- GothamPolice.com

A phone number was also found: 1-866-237-6480. If you dial 1, you can leave a message.

Isn’t this fun?


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  • sDf
    this is bloody cool. Very subtle... Can't wait for the movie!
  • Donald
    I got an email for tipping on the wearetheanswer.org site, I was told I will be contacted in 1-2 business days.
  • Darkelysium
    I got an email from ginas aunt when i posted my story.
  • Elysium Darkstone
    Humor is a passion quite in fashion with the news.
    But as we all know without a smile we march single file
    Like sheep to the slaughter we are cannon fodder
    For a clown who does not frown
    known as the joker

    simply put hand over foot
    just like a rat that is the bat
    we will live happily ever after when we kill it with our laughter
    With our sadness cured by madness
    so says the joker

    and as i write, i lack no foresight
    The suspense is killer, quite the thriller
    for just like the poet who does not know it
    death is only a stroke away, quite simply a joke away
    with the joker
  • Joker Freak : )
    Nice comment, you sound like a homisidle madman- The Joker!
  • Donald
    Yeah me too, did you read about the two cops in the letter from her brother? If you report those guys, the time 7:30 pm, Fillipazzo Community Festival, and type something like gun fight in the description, you'll get an email from Gotham's DA office saying you'll be contacted in 1-2 days.
  • Donald
    What's that poem you posted?
  • Darkelysium
    Yeah what is the poem from?
  • The Ledger resistance is four fold: "10 things I Hate About You", "A Knight's Tale", "Brokeback", and replacing Jack. Having said that he'll probably end up doing a decent job.

    Every time I get a chance I have to complain about what makes me so mad about, "A Knight's Tale". I'm fine with having Queen as the joust music, but to have the a medieval crowd stomp their feet to music produced hundreds of years later? That's why Freddie Mercury haunted Heath Ledger in to doing Brokeback Mountain.
  • Bemidia
    I just wanted to let you guys know... I found http://www.chelseagrin.com/blog/ which seems to be The Joker's blog. It points out more clues... Including a link to Gotham City Rail. Happy hunting.
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