Review of the Joker One:12 Collective
Deluxe Action Figure

Introduction

One way to make a low production series of collectibles viable is to re-use and re-purpose parts, pieces, and sometimes complete figures.  Creating variations, variants, special editions, and new exclusive characters that are *close* to previous releases are all great ways to add to the bottom line profit of a series.

Mezco have been masters of this with the One:12 Collective. Sometimes, it's re-purposing a character into a new, similar character, like the Flash and Reverse Flash. Sometimes, it's producing multiple versions of the same character, but altering the paint or color scheme, like the Ascending Knight Batman. And other times, it's re-issuing the same character, but throwing more stuff at him, creating a 'deluxe' release. That's what I'm checking out tonight - the deluxe (and exclusive to the Mezco store) Joker.

This guy is now shipping, and originally cost $90, up slightly from the usual $80 price on exclusives. I'm betting that will be the new norm, with regular releases at $80 and exclusives at $90 moving forward.

Packaging - ***
The usual cardboard box, which isn't nearly as much fun as the tin boxes, but does the job.  It's all collector friendly of course, with multiple trays inside holding the figure and accessories. There's an exclusive sticker on the cover as well to further distinguish it from the original release.

Sculpting - ****
Here where we get one of the biggest updates to the figure. The original had, like most One:12 releases, two portraits. This figure includes those...and adds three more! Better yet, while one of these five heads is *technically* the same expression that we got with the original release, they've added a hat to create a whole new look. If you have both versions, you end up with six very different portraits!

As we discuss the portraits, let's keep in mind scale. These are small, with the Joker coming in at just about 6 1/2" tall without the hat. It's the Mezco version of 1/12th, and the amount of detail at this size is quite impressive.

Both figures have the portrait below, the crazed, wild eyed, big smile "I'm nuts" expression. This is a fantastic portrait, with lots of tiny detail in the hair and skin. The tussled hair works well with the expression, and this will be a common go-to look for the figure.

Next up, we have the other portrait from the original release, this time wearing the cool hat. Yes, it's a permanent thing, but the scale is fantastic, and he looks great wearing it. You can use this head without the outer coat - more on that in the Outfit section - but it really works best in combination with it.

The next three are unique to this release. The first is very prim, very proper, with slick backed hair and a shrewd look on his face. This is a cold, calculating Joker, less crazy, more business. Again, it has some amazing detail work in the hair and skin, and this is perhaps the most evil looking portrait of the bunch.

Up next is a great portrait to pair with any Batman figure. The Joker has taken a beating, with missing teeth and one eye swollen shut. This is the sort of portrait that really adds value, because it creates a unique and interesting display opportunity with another figure.

Finally, there's my least favorite. This is purely a matter of taste though - all the same amazing detail work is present, and it's just as realistic as the others. With his hair in disarray, squinted eyes, and purse lips, he has a petulant, whiny look that isn't working for me, but might just be your favorite.  That's the beauty of so many portraits - you're sure to find at least a couple that really speak to you and your impression of the Joker. His photo is below the Paint section.

Paint - ***1/2
Again, remember scale - these might look like sixth scale, but they are half that size, making the work much more impressive.

However, the paint does fall a little short for me this time. The teeth on all the portraits are a little sloppier than we've seen with some previous releases, and the wash, used to bring out the wrinkles and folds in the face, is over done on a couple of them. These are minor nits, no doubt about it, and the work on the eyes, skin tone, eyebrows, and hairline are extremely impressive.

Articulation - ****
I'm going up a half star over the regular release here, although I would not have expected better articulation.

There are a couple areas where it seems that they are getting better. The ball jointed neck worked great of course, and the heads swap easily.  The shoulders and elbows allow for good arm poses, and I was able to get a deeper bend in the elbow than I expected.  The wrists also seem slightly re-designed, with the ball not quite so deep in the forearm, leaving the hand a bit more posable.

The torso, hips, and knees all work great, but they did before. The ankles seem to have more rocker movement this time, and we've seen that with other releases as well.  Sometimes the figures seem to be too tight or restricted in the ankle...other times, like here, the foot can be placed flat on the ground in deeper stances.

Accessories -****
Let's face it, when you give me five portraits, you're going to get four stars. The addition of the new heads was enough to boost this score well beyond even a top score.

But that's not all they added. There's a number of other extras here, as well as alterations to some of the original goodies.

There are hands of course, with seven in total. There's the fists he comes wearing, plus the gun grip right, splayed left, card holding right (with card), and a tight grip pair that can work with various other accessories. These swap easily, and I had no problems with the wrist pegs.

He has his chattering teeth again, with a new paint decor, but that's about the only other re-used accessory from the first release. That's not too surprising - he didn't come with a lot the first time around.

Added in is a TNT style bomb, complete with watch timer; a bloody crowbar; a Kabar style knife; an opening straight razor; a pistol machine gun with two magazines; a handgun also with two magazines (and purple grips of course); and a gun blast effect that fits in the barrel of either gun.

We've seen the blast effect before of course, most notably with the Punisher, but I don't think I've ever mentioned that there is a bullet at the very tip, as if caught in flight in that split second...it's really a cool extra.

The last extra that all the figures have is the standard display stand with Joker colors and emblem. You can use this with a simple foot peg, or you can use the included transparent support rods to create jumping or leaping poses.

And yes, there's also a coat, but I'll get to that in the Outfit section.

Outfit - ****
Most of this is the same outfit - shirt, tie, vest, suit coat and suit pants, shoes...but with an all new color scheme that I think most people will like a lot more than the original release.

The shirt is a straight up green, with green and purple tie and orange vest. It's a striking combination, and much more in line with the Joker's style. The tailoring is great, and the fit is tight and clean, particularly considering how many layers there are in this small scale.

There's a big change to the suit too, and it's clear Mezco listens to their fans. The original wore a single color suit that was very plain. Here, they added a nice pin striping that seems much more appropriate.

The tailoring on this suit is the same as before of course, but I did have more trouble keeping the lapels flat this time around. Not sure what's up, and you can pull the jacket quite high on the shoulders and still have the issue.  I think a water treatment may be in order, and I'm betting they will lay much flatter afterward.

The shoe sculpt looks great again, and I think I prefer the lighter brown color they went with this time. And yes, there are painted socks underneath those pant legs again, but this time they are green with little bats.

A new addition to the costume with this release is the outer coat. The soft, leather-like material is quite stretchy, which is good because the fit is very tight. Be careful pulling on it around the shoulders and chest, to avoid stretching it out too much or damaging it.

The coat looks great, and I'm betting that most collectors will end up sticking with it for their display. There's a wire in the two ends of the belt, which will allow you to pose the belt itself in dynamic ways, creating more realistic action stances. The lapel worked much better with this coat too, but the best head sculpt to use with it is the hatted version, which might not be everyone's first choice.

Fun Factor - ****
With a ton of accessories, multiple portraits, costuming options, and lots of good articulation, you'll have a ton of fun posing and re-posing this figure. If you're looking for a toy that will speak loudly to your eight year old self, this is it.

Value - **1/2
At $90, he's up about ten bucks from previous exclusives. However, he has a lot of additional accessories, far, far more than most exclusives (where less is usually the norm). I have no problem with the price point, although it's not a steal by any stretch of the imagination. Regular readers will know that an average value here does not hurt or help my overall in any way.

Things to Watch Out For -
Not much. Be careful inserting the small plastic post into the gun barrel, and as always, take a little care swapping the hands, but you should be fine.

I will mention that the slide on the handgun wanted to pop off on mine. In fact, you can see in the Accessories photo where it's slightly lifted up. I noticed it and popped it back on, but it might be something to keep an eye on.

Overall - ****
I really, really liked the first Joker, although I had a few issues.  It's like Mezco listened and corrected them all, creating about the best Joker figure I've ever owned.

The cloth outfit isn't for everyone. I realize that there are still people who aren't on the One:12 bandwagon. But for those that appreciate the quality and style of these figures, this will be a favorite.  More portraits, more accessories, better articulation, even a better costume - he's got it all going on.

Score Recap (out of ****):
Packaging - ***
Sculpting - ****
Paint - ***1/2
Articulation - ****
Accessories - ****
Outfit - ***1/2
Fun Factor - ****
Value - **1/2
Overall - ****

Where to Buy 
Originally, this was a Mezco store exclusive, where it cost $90. Your best option know is to search ebay for a deal.

Related Links -
You'll want to check out the original release of course, as well as other recent releases in the One:12 line, like Ascending Knight or Deathstroke. I've reviewed just about all the One:12 figures, so searching the library would be fruitful.

You should also hit the Search Reviews page, in case any other applicable reviews were done after this one was published.

Discussion:
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