So, my computer crashed, and I'm doing this review via the blogger app on my ipad, so I'd like to apologize if the formatting ends up being a bit off.
The Basics:
Scale: 18"
Price: $99.99 -$150.99 online
Character Bio:
With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon and the committed new District Attorney, Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to destroy organized crime in Gotham City for good. The triumvirate initially proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a rising criminal mastermind known as The Joker, who thrusts Gotham City into anarchy and forces The Dark Knight ever closer to crossing the fine line between hero and vigilante.
Packaging:
Here are some pictures of the really awesome packing of this figure. I have to give it to NECA, they really know how to make amazing packaging.
Sculpt and Paint:
This is my 4th purchase from NECA's line of 18" figures and although I say this every time, THIS is my favorite figure to come from the line. The face sculpt is miles ahead of some of NECA's previous 18" figures such as the Henry Cavill Superman and the Thor figure. It is incredibly lifelike and the eyes just bring it alive. It's incredibly eerie to look at in all the right ways. Out of the entire figure, the hair and jacket are sculpted out of a softer, more pliable plastic, and the vest/ undershirt/ tie piece is also a softer plastic, due to the type of torso articulation (more on that later). The jacket has a wonderful texture to it making it feel real, and the pants pinstripes are actually sculpted on instead of just being painted on. The shoes are also insanely detailed, with all the laces and details there.
As far as the paintwork goes, it's perfect. The face makeup is applied in a sloppy manner, as it should be. In The Dark knight, the Joker applied his makeup, or war paint, in a sloppy manner. The paint on the jacket has some really nice dry brushing to add depth to it and even has dirt around the wrists, and torso to show that it's been lived in. The shoes have insane paint apps to make them look worn out and old. The gloves have really nice paint apps with a dark wash around the stitching to make it pop. One thing to note, that's really a nice touch, is under the gloves they painted the wrists skin tone. That's awesome. Even his ears are painted to show skin tone seeping out from the make up.
Articulation and Accessories:
The joker has some really good articulation for this scale, his head has a really nice ball joint that allows for some really great poses and incorporates emotion into the head's angle. He has a swivel-hinge at both shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees. He has ball joints at the wrists and ankles, and swivels at the hips. Now, for the waist, under the soft plastic shirt piece is a type of ball joint system, that allows for some great movement, but retains the sculpt and looks very natural. All of the joints are nice and tight, and unlike previous NECA 1/4 scale figures, he doesn't fall over easily, but all the same, he is a big heavy figure, and I think it's best to use a stand. Better safe than sorry.
For accessories, he comes with some awesome stuff. First off, he has his signature pocket knife, which I honestly thought could be retracted, but it can't. That's a testament to the sculpting in my opinion, and the paint, while simple, is perfect. The knife fits snugly into his left hand only.
Next, he comes with a pistol with a llllooonnnggg clip, seriously, it's massive, and like the knife, the paint work and sculpt are perfect. It only fits into the right hand.
Last up is my favorite accessory, his sub-machine gun. My God this thing is awesome. It's really detailed, with a nice dry brush to make it look aged and battle-worn. It is very fragile so use some serious care when putting it into his right hand, the only one it goes in.
Overall:
This figure was easily my most anticipated release of the year, and it did not disappoint. I was so happy once I was able to order him and even happier once it arrived (the weekend of comic-com ironically enough. I cannot recommend this figure enough to fans of Batman, Joker, or just a really well done figure.
10 OUT OF 10!!
Excellent review there & I like all your pictures & poses!
ReplyDeleteI'm extremely tempted to get this, but the one thing that's holding me back is the eyes. Not specifically with this figure mind, more so with standard of Neca's other 1/4 figures. I wasn't that impressed with the eyes on their 1989 Batman-they just didn't look real & were not in keeping with the rest of that figure (I wasn't particularly impressed with the proportions of that figure either, the head was way too big-like a potato).
So what are the eyes like on this joker in person, do they have a bit of gloss to them? Are the pupils distinguishable from the iris'?
Keep up the fine work! I hope that your work gets the exposure that it deserves.
I know what you mean about the eyes. I have four of the NECA 1/4 figures, and out of all of them I think he has the best eyes. They are really life-like on this figure, and unfortunately photos don't do it justice. They do have a gloss to them that looks great when the light hits it in the right spot. As far as the pupils and the iris' they aren't that distinguishable unfortunately. The way the character's eyes are sunken in, even if they were distinguishable you wouldn't be able to tell. Despite that, I still think these are the best eyes on a NECA 1/4 next to the Arkham Batman, because on that one the blue iris' really pop against his pupils', but on this one, they just look very life like. Proportion wise, I think he s perfect. That was actually the one thing I was worried about but he turned out great. I think NECA definitely went all in on this figure. Thank you for the kind words, and I really hope this helps you decide on whether or not to get him. He isn't a Hot Toys, but I think he's the next best option.
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