The Joker is probably the one comic character that, if done fantastically by the actor could easily be given an Oscar nod, it's just a shame that the Academy wouldn't do it, no the Oscars have no place for 'children's material'. A film adaption of a character who's origins just happen to be from a 24 page comic book is no different from adapting a character from a 600 page best selling novel or short story, many actors have been nominated and won Oscars for their portrayal of such characters, why should anyone portraying a character adapted from a comic be denied such an accolade? If the performance is amazing, what style or genre of the film is should be irrelevant. But alas, it is not meant to be, as with comedy films and actors, films adaptions from comics will never be taken seriously by the Academy, no matter how good the movie is.