I think he wasn't the next Joker, he was a new type/brand/breed of Joker. I love both types but they cannot be compared completely fairly because they are made to be two very different characters. And yes, Christopher Nolan I feel was trying too hard to re-create the Joker as a different icon...it worked so well because Heath Ledger was allowed to have so much control over the Joker. E.G the Joker homemade videos in the film were directed and written by Heath Ledger. Christopher Nolan just said make a film with this basic point and handed the reigns to Heath.