I can tell you now from the top of my head, the many 80s cartoon series/flicks that had influenced me to become the geek that I am now. Among the flicks that had captured my imaginations was the 1989 Tim Burton Batman movie starring Michael Keaton as the protagonist lead character and the stellar Jack Nicholson as the convincing psychotic criminal mastermind, The Joker. Hot Toys had given us both 1/6 figures i.e. DX-08 (The Joker) and DX-09 (Batman) but I'd only pre-ordered The Joker because I was still on the fence (till now) about splashing heaps of cash for a DX figure that has no human headsculpt included with it ('half-faces' do not count y'all!). For the record, I still think that the Keaton resemblance is very good on the DX-09 figure albeit we'd only get to see his darkened eyes behind that Bat mask and the lower half of his face(s) but whether I'd go ahead and get the DX-09 is another question.
Anyway, let's get on with tonight's spotlight on the DX-08. As this is only an 'un-boxing' review, don't be disappointed to see less pictures of the actual Joker figure (you can see tonnes of those from the Hot Toys 'stock' photos people!). I'd snap more pictures soon when I have more time on my hand....as for now, let's have a quick gander on this excellent DX release!
The outer brown box is a standard we've come to expect from Hot Toys in recent years. I can't understand why some collectors chose to discard this since it does the job well in protecting the actual Hot Toys packaging inside. It's a brown box....and it does its job well. 'Nuff said.
Here's the front packaging showing the freaky portrait of the Clown Prince grinning at us. I love the movie collage underneath. We also have a glimpse of the Bat logo just on top of the Joker name print.
Inside, once you open the magnetic enclosure you'd be presented with these.....
A closer look at the back-story of the character....actually these were taken off the synopsis of the '89 movie for the benefit of those who'd never watched it before in their lives (is that even possible?). It tells us how Jack Napier (that's The Joker's real name) proceeds to overtake Grissom (the incumbent criminal lord in Gotham) as the main bad guy in the city.
A quote uttered by the Joker taken off the movie. You'd also get that "Joker-signal" thingy for you to flash over with a flashlight.
Here's how the "Joker-signal" looks like up close. Real nice portrait of the 'classic 60s' Joker. This is supposed to emulate the "Bat-signal" that came with the Keaton Bats. Use a flashlight and point this towards an empty wall.....bla...bla...bla....voila, you'd get your own "Joker-signal"splattered across your room wall.
Once you take the first board/foam layer off, this would be the first thing you'd see......ol' Uncle Jack in his 12" glory!
Here's an up-close view of the headsculpt as it lays down in between the protective black foam.
Take the purple cardboard off and you'd be able to see part of the accessories that came with this figure. His purple velvet-y hat and 3 pairs of extra hands and extra hand-pegs, just in case you broke the ones already stuck to his hands (typical of Hot Toys).
Without even taking the figure out from the foam, anybody could definitely see that this is undeniably Jack Nicholson shrunk down to a 1/6 scale.
Once you remove the first foam-layer tray (with the actual Joker figure), you'd immediately see the second foam tray which contains the rest of the accessories for the Joker. More on these later when I have more time to explore every each of 'em.
A DX release meant that this figure came equipped with PERS capability i.e. eyeball movement mechanism. Upon first glance you're definitely bound to miss the 'seamless' removeable hair-piece that can be taken off to reveal the PERS toggle....that's just how good them guys at HT are!
A little look the the right......
......and to the left!
THE REBEL'S VERDICT: Need I even say more? If you fall anywhere within the Tim Burton/DC Comics/superheroes flick/Jack Nicholson fan categories, then this divine piece of geek masterpiece is truly a MUST! No two-ways about it, especially considering that this is probably the best (thus far) action figure of Uncle Jack you're gonna get in modern times. I'm guessing that after having this Joker figure in hand, it'll probably influence many who'd previously swore that they're just gonna pick up the DX-08 to finally give in to their evils to purchase DX-09 too.....and I'm saying this because now I am ALSO inclined to do the same....LOL. Man, I just have to have that '89 Keaton/Bats standing next to this one! Will I succumb to my inner geek desires? We'll see...... =p
Comments
Did you get this one for your colelction bro!