The Joker

Review by Atom
So if you read my review of Hot Toys Iron Man (MK III) you already know how outstanding their products are. Hot Toys specializes in 1/6 scale poseable figures generally licensed from popular film, video games and TV shows. Based out of Hong Kong, Hot Toys is quickly becoming the “go-to” company for 1/6 scale collectibles.
Normal releases (if you can call them normal... attention to detail and accessories have always been top-notch and overly abundant) are released in their standard line, Movie Masterpiece Series (aka MMS) The Joker we are looking at today is the first of a new branch of the line MMS DX. What makes the DX line so special? Let's take a look...
First the package. Some feel a box is a box. It's something to put the product in and ship it out. However, Hot Toys really understands presentation and when you have a 5-star product you need to present it as such.
The box is a nice, heavy-gauge cardboard with a reflective sheen over it. If you look carefully you can make out a classic style Joker image embedded in the cover. It's subtle yet effective.
It opens like a book with magnets holding the flap closed. Inside the cover is a text description about the Joker, describing his part in Christopher Nolan's film The Dark Knight. Over the main tray is a lid with playing cards tucked into it. These look just like the props from the film. A nice touch.
Removing the lid reveals two trays stacked on top of each other. The top tray holds the Joker figure and an alternate head and costume ( I thought the Gotham Police uniform was a proper 2nd figure, it wasn't until I took it out to shoot photos for this review that I realized it's a hollow shell holding the costume and 2nd head.) The 2nd tray holds all the accessories. And he has a lot...
- Deluxe Stand - Features 2 LED lights that act as spotlights... 3xAAA batteries not included
- Grenade string
- 7 purple gloved alternate hands
- 2 white gloved hands
- Pistol (with movable chamber and removable clip)
- Switchblade (blade extends)
- Gotham Police Hat
- Gotham Police badge
- Rifle (moveable bolt with bullets in the chamber)
- Deck of cards (all Jokers)
- Black socks
- Dress shoes (for Gotham Police Uniform)
The main attraction in this box is, of course, the newly re-sculpted Joker...
While Hot Toys has previously done a Joker from The Dark Knight, this is a completely new sculpt and it shows. The previous head sculpt was nowhere near as accurate as this new one. When I compare this release to photos of the first release the difference is night and day.
The likeness to Heath ledger is uncanny.
The figure features over 35 points of articulation and will hold any pose you throw at it. An interesting (and different) feature are the feet and hands. Usually on a 12-inch scale figure the feet and hands are permanently attached in a doll-like fashion. This makes holding poses (especially with the feet) difficult sometimes. Hot Toys has these designed more like action figures, using a ball and socket style attachment.
If looking stunning and being well accessorized wasn't enough Hot Toys has a new gimmick for their DX line of collectibles. The Parallel Eye Roll System (P.E.R.S.)
P.E.R.S. features translucent iris's creating a much more life-like look. But it doesn't stop there...
A lever is cleverly hidden inside the head to allow you to move the eyes in any direction you see fit. The back of the head comes off to gain access to the lever and is held in place by a magnet.
Such a nice touch especially if you're the type that can spend way too much time tweaking poses on your collectibles till they're “just right.”
Like I mentioned earlier in the review, a 2nd outfit is included with the set. A Gotham Police uniform.
Sadly I really do not want to deal with redressing my Joker figure so these pictures are the best you're going to get.
However if you're the type that would want to pose both outfits on display you could break down and pick up a 2nd body from Hot Toys separately (Prices range 25 to 30 dollars.) For me it will stay in the box but it is nice they included it and all the appropriate accessories from the scene it appeared in.
Yeah this is a no brainier, if you're a fan of the Batman franchise this is the Joker you want to add to your collection. Hands down the best interpretation of the character made to date. Period. End of discussion.
HD Video embedded below for the curious.
Comments
31 comments postedExcellent, concise, and complete review of a really stunning toy. I do have a question about the price though... in the 1/6 community, many older fans are lamenting the rapid price increase Hot Toys' lavish movie figures are instigating. Do you think this Joker figure is worth $180? I paid about that much for my HT Iron Man Mk I and was satisfied, but that figure comes with an entire detailed and functional suit of armor, with more fully painted components than I have ever seen on a toy. At the end of the day, the Joker is a really well-made body with a well-tailored suit (well, two suits) and an innovative new head. I am only just getting into 1/6 myself, and while I love it, I still can't help but look at a figure like this and see it being 'just' a guy in a nicely made suit. Do you think the value's there?
Thanks!
http://prometheusrising.wordpress.com
Thanks for the response, that's exactly what I wanted to know. I've been buying Ashley Wood stuff lately, and his 1/6 figures are all hand-finished and spare no expense, but the human figures still don't break that pricepoint. Like you said, the character is a big part of it as well... I was happy with the Iron Man at that price, but wouldn't buy the Joker. I like thinking of it as a physical representation of an 'idea' more than just being a character figure though... very true in this case.
http://prometheusrising.wordpress.com
I have no interest whatsoever in figures. We all know this about me already, right?
You're right- that is a spot-on head sculpt of Ledger.
What made my jaw drop, though, is that the eyes can move! Holy S-bomb, Batman- how long have manufacturers been doing that? Now that is creepy...!
Good review, Atom.
------------------------------
CollectionDX Staff
I believe it is effectively a brand-new feature designed for this toy.
http://prometheusrising.wordpress.com
Great review, Adam. I really like the head shots. They really capture essence of the character through the quality of the figure. You're slowly pushing me towards some kind of Hot Toys purchase.
Wow Atom! Great review of a seriously cool figure. I may have to start collecting these Hot Toy figures.
-Dan
CollectionDX LLC
Vice President/Co-Owner
Great review! I had 2 of these in my store and they sold out in less than a week after their arrival and they weren't cheap. They were incredible to behold, no pictures can do this figure justice! It has to be seen with your own eyes to be appreciated. Hot Toys is amazing!
P.E.R.S. is a really great gimmick, but whoever came up with the name/ acronym deserves serious marketing props. I don't get the police uniform though. Was that in the movie? It seems to reveal too much about the Joker.
Agreed. If it had been P.E.E.R.S. (how I hear it pronounced), that may have made more sense at-a-glance (no pun intended).
As to the Joker having a police uniform...
--SPOILER ALERT!--
...
...
...
During the assassination attempt on Gotham's mayor during Commissioner Loeb's funeral, we see the Arkham inmate [that Dent confronts later in the ambulance] in a uniform before the Honor Guard fires. Then, right next to him is the Joker without makeup, and as the Guard prepares another shot, he wheels right and fires at the mayor. While we see him run amidst the scattering crowd from behind, this is the only moment we see him without makeup, and his face is partially obscured by the rifle.
It is literally a blink-and-you-miss-it moment.
So, the figure reviewed above is the first time I've gotten a clear look at him as such.
------------------------------
CollectionDX Staff
For the record
HT didn't come up with the moving eyes.
Enterbay did about 4 years ago with their Bruce Lee figure
This was a high demand on the HK boards for future Hot Toys figures for years and years.
No pencil ?! :(
"Dinobots, destroy Devestator!"-Optimus Prime TFTM
LoL
------------------------------
CollectionDX Staff
I love the multiple hand gernades with one string,that was my favorite part about the Heath Ledger Joker.
I'd never buy this,though. I don't really like toys based on the current movie versions of iconic characters. For almost 200 bucks I would want the definitive version of the character,not just the currently cool version,nothing against Ledger.
And yes,SPOILER ALERT he does dress like a cop in the movie. Why haven't you seen this yet?!?!?! If you're into this kind of stuff at all you should go redbox this movie. Hell,I bought a copy for only 6 or 7 bucks!
---------------------------------------------
A master of mind control who hides inside a Ford Pickup
I've seen it twice. I think by that point in the film my eyes start to glaze over, as I seem to lose more patience with each viewing. Even though I love what Ledger does in this flick, I'm still waiting for the definitive Bat Man movie.
This is a great movie,but I see what you're saying about waiting for the definitive Batman movie.
As a comic reader,I couldn't help but notice Ledger Joker really has very little to do with his comic book counterpart. Two Face really got short shrift,and seemed to be rammed into the story just to have a second villian.
IMO both Nolan films are made well,I reccomend you watch both of them,but they really aren't any truer to the source material than the two Burton movies.
---------------------------------------------
A master of mind control who hides inside a Ford Pickup
Wow, Materialist Zen, that's basically the first semi-negative experience I've ever heard about this movie from someone I know! Pretty wild. Well, bummer that you didn't like it that much.
Anyway, not to get too far from the review of this particular toy, I just wanna say that I don't think there CAN be a definitive Batman movie. I mean, as we've discussed (in the Batmobile review, I believe), there's no definitive Batman in the comics!
I mean, the 60's tv show with Adam West was super-cheesey, but so was the comic of that era! So, arguably, THAT show was the most "definitive" screen representation of Batman because it matched it's contemporary comic counterpart so perfectly.
I happen to be a fan of the 80's Miller Batman (Year One), so these movies are great for me (granted, I could do with a slightly toned down growly Christian Bale voice when he's Batman!). Conversely, I hated the Burton films...mainly because I was never into Batman comics done in that style...
--
Sanjeev
Since we're discussing movie moments here...
--SPOILERS!--
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
At the end of the movie, Gordon says of Two-Face "Five dead, two of them cops." But I can only think of three-
-cop in the bar
-Mob boss (name?)
-boss' driver
Who are the other two?
------------------------------
CollectionDX Staff
Atom... you have a way of reviewing high end stuff and actually making me want to save up for em! I hope I dont miss out on this one. I have a question, what is the difference between this and the Movie Masterpiece one that doesnt have the cop uniform? is it the same sculpt/detail/PERS?
I have to admit... you really owe it to yourself to track down one of the TrueType Slim bodies to put together the Police Uniform figure... it's not just an alternate costume, but a whole'nother figure with its own accessories and everything. It'd make a great Part 2 to this review to show the rest of the set in all its glory ;)
http://prometheusrising.wordpress.com
I think once you get past a certain price-point, it goes beyond a casual purchase. A guy might love Planet of the Apes, but to spend $300 on a giant Dr. Zaius, he's gotta really want that item.
I think a lot of the Hot Toys stuff is great - like the 12 inch scale ALIENS Power Loader or the Robocop - but I just couldn't pull the trigger when I had the chance to buy them.
I sometimes wonder why I wind up waffling on the things I want that I don't buy - like the GNU Dangard Ace. Wanted an awesome Dangard for a decade - now that he is available, why can't I pull the cash together for him? Strange logic.
I love the eye mechanic.
Yeah, it's a funny thing how the pricing of new toys works. The thing is, this is a 1/6 figure, and higher-end ones have cost well into the hundreds for a long time. Years ago, I picked up the Alfrex Wakayama Tomisaburo (as Ogami Ito from the Lone Wolf & Cub films). I think the set retailed for close to $300...and that was nearly ten years ago. And now, there's just more and higher-quality stuff with these Hot Toys releases, so I don't have any issues with what Hot Toys is charging.
Sure, 1/6 figures are a whole different animal from your typical modern chogokin. But notice how similar their pricepoints are. Like Atom said, it comes down to whether or not you love the character (and obviously, whether you're into 1/6 figures). Is a fan going to get as much fun out of this toy as your average modern chogokin? Probably. So why not?
Great review, Atom! I had the pleasure of messing around with this figure at CDX HQ some time back and I was quite impressed with it. The accessories/clothing wasn't fiddly at all and the joints on the figure were rock solid. Great articulation...including the eyeballs! Seriously...the range of motion on the eyes, alone, are freaky!
--
Sanjeev
There are plenty of collectors of 12 inch dolls out there like Barbie and so on who regularly spend this sort of money on them,and wouldn't feel it was overpriced.
You or I might say,yeah it's nice but it's just a 12 inch figure with clothes. A doll collector,though,could easily look at a Valkyrie and say it's "just" a toy robot.
A normal adult would say both the doll fan and the anime fan are stupid for blowing money on useless crap.
---------------------------------------------
A master of mind control who hides inside a Ford Pickup
"A normal adult would say both the doll fan and the anime fan are stupid for blowing money on useless crap."
Hey, it's better than drugs.
;)
--
Sanjeev
Hear-hear!
------------------------------
CollectionDX Staff
great review...sorely tempted to get...but will stay with diecast...
BTW...BigBadToystore
has it for 164.99
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=HOT10209&mode=retail
Well... I just pulled the trigger on this bad boy. Whew!
Even though I got the new Police Officer version, I will not re-dress. I will track down a Truetype body for the Joker accessories. This was a rough decision even though I got it for $143.99. I have just seen and heard too many great things about this DX version and I couldn't live with the regret of not purchasing it. I have always wanted a good Heath version Joker and this one looks to be on top of them all.
Grandzinga....