It’s a bit of a running gag these days that McFarlane Toys is overly zealous about “Jokerized” figure variants, usually of Batman-adjacent characters looking like they were vandalized by the Joker. Hot Toys was arguably doing it first; for Suicide Squad, they made a figure of Jared Leto’s Joker wearing the Ben Affleck Batsuit. Now they’re at it again, but on an even higher end, with this Artisan Edition of the Joker (Batman Impostor Edition), as NOT seen in the Christopher Nolan Dark Knight trilogy.
Why So Seriously Expensive?
This isn’t simply a head-swap with a new paint job, though. In Hot Toys’ interpretation of what might have happened if Heath Ledger‘s Joker stole one of Christian Bale’s Batsuits, he has also worn the cape ragged, and rigged it with grenades as he did his purple coat in The Dark Knight. He comes equipped with both Batarangs and playing cards — the late Harvey Dent would be proud of the duality on display. Like other Artisan Editions, he has hair made of wool implants for an ultra-realistic feel and appearance, as well as the creepy individual rolling eyeballs. He also includes multiple hands, a shotgun, and “vandalized” display base.
Only 3,000 of these figures will be made, available in limited markets. These are yet to be announced, but the exclusivity and high-end hair should drive the cost up even initially, and definitely on the secondary market. If you want to know how your pocketbook got those scars, well, there should be quite the story to tell to amuse guests at parties.
Get a load of this caped clown in the official images below. Surely this is one repaint that will make everyone start losing their minds!