Review of Harley Quinn - Birds of Prey
Sixth Scale Action Figure

Introduction

My current favorite incarnation of the terrific Batman character Harley Quinn is the cartoon version on HBOMax. Personally, I can't wait for the new season to drop. However, I also love Margot Robbie and her take on the femme fatale, especially in more recent films i.e. after the first Suicide Squad.

Hot Toys has produced several versions of the character based largely on her different costumes, and the latest release is from Birds of Prey. She just started shipping here in the States, and will run you around $260.

Packaging - ***
The box is attractive, with some nice movie graphics, and it's all completely collector friendly. It's pretty standard stuff though, with no real changes from any standard release.

Sculpting - ***1/2
Hot Toys has done a number of beautiful Robbie sculpts, and yes, this is one of them. In fact, it's one you've seen before. And that's why they are getting a slight ding here.

This is the hair from the Caution Tape figure popped on the portrait from the Suicide Squad Prisoner figure. In combo it's new, but at this price point, getting a re-used head sculpt is a bit of a disappointment.

Now, I bet some people will claim this sculpt is different. That there's a millimeter alteration to the eyes, or the chin is just a little bigger, or the cheeks slightly different. And while you can convince yourself there's differences if you stare hard and long enough, it's due to different angles and paint. I'm going to tell you right now that Hot Toys did not spend the money on a brand new sculpt, and even more costly, new molds based on that sculpt, just to change it a millimeter or two. This is the same portrait.

It is a gorgeous one though, and it has that going for it. The simple expression, with a smile that suggests things are about to get real, and the soft skin texture and finely stranded hair are quite realistic.

Some folks may not like the exposed elbows and wrists, but I am not one of them. I don't mind seeing these joints when I'm getting useful articulation, and the rotating hinge elbows are less obtrusive than say, double pin elbows.

She stands just under 12" in her roller skates.

Paint - ****
Hot Toys master perfect production paint work years ago, and they continue to set the bar that the rest of the market strives for. We'll see if any new companies can surpass it this year.

The skin tone is excellent, and the soft freckling adds an amazing amount of realism. The blonde hair suffers a bit from the yellow color so often used with action figures, but the darker roots and variations really make it pop.

The darker make up, especially the lipstick, is appropriate for this figure, and is clean and neat.

The various tattoos are properly aligned and placed, and the small heart on her cheek is faded just the right amount. It's another excellent paint job from Hot Toys, but that has become the expectation, particularly at this price point.

Articulation - ***
The underlying body has all the usual articulation, and it works pretty much as expected.

The neck has plenty of lean and tilt, and the shoulders, elbows, and wrists can take most natural arm poses. The single joint rotating hinge elbows can't bend quite far enough to do a perfect 'rest the mallet on her shoulder' pose, but you can get it close.

The torso leans and tilts too, allowing you to break up those straight lines in the upper body. But the hips, knees, and ankles are pretty restricted by the costume.

The overalls are made from a fairly stiff material, and sitting poses, or extreme knee bends, aren't going to happen. You have a choice between the boots or the skates, but neither allow for a ton of ankle articulation. You'll actually get more out of the skates, which are a little shorter, than the boots.

Accessories - **1/2
She doesn't come with much, especially when you take into consideration how much you paid.

She does have five extra hands to swap in, sculpted in various poses and grips. These include an assortment of sculpted rings as well.

She comes wearing a pair of gold Beatle boots (or Chelsea boot), but these can be swapped for a set of roller skates. The wheels actually turn on the skates, and while that might sound like they are hard to use to keep her standing, they are not. They are definitely my preference on the shelf, although either set looks great.

She has a large mallet too, sort of a standard Harley weapon. There were some early marketing photos that showed a bat as well, but no bat was included.

One of the common extras for Hot Toys these days is the cardboard backdrop. It comes with two black cardboard triangles that are used to hold it upright. While it's colorful and bright, it's also not something I'd ever use in a display. Your mileage may vary.

Of course, there's also the display stand with crotch support rod.

Outfit - ***1/2
If you're looking to rank the outfits on the more recent Harley releases, I'd say this one falls in the middle, between the superior Caution Tape, but ahead of the inferior Dancer Dress.

The outfit consists of the necklace, jumpsuit, boots (or skates), and crop top. The tailoring is great, and in simple poses the outfit looks excellent. It's not particularly complex, but the quality of materials and manufacturing are great.

It's worth mentioning the real metal necklace, with tons of small charms. It's a great look, and very high quality.

The slightly stiff material on the jumpsuit can bunch up in odd ways though in certain poses, and I am a little worried about the shinier diamonds. It looks like it could crack and peel over the long haul, but only time will tell.

Fun Factor - **
This is a great looking figure, but it's not one you'll return to with any regularity. I suspect you'll find one pose you really like, and that's how she's going to be on your shelf for a very long time. With so few accessories, there's not a lot of reason to change it up.

Value - *1/2
This is not a $260 figure. With Hot Toys raising their prices, even a basic figure like this is reaching prices that just a couple years ago were reserved for the best releases. You're getting a re-used sculpt, a couple accessories, and a fairly simple costume, all at a premium price.

How will the market respond to it? Obviously they'll sell fewer units, but will the increase in price make up for any reduction in sales, or will they find they have to drop back down again? We saw this happen a few years back, when they tried to increase their average pricing to the $230 - $240 range, and it clearly didn't work out, as they dropped back to the $220 range again for quite awhile. Now they feel like it's time to try again, perhaps because companies like InArt are coming in at $300, or perhaps because they feel the licenses they have - Star Wars, Marvel, and DC - will allow for a higher price. We'll see.

Things to Watch Out For -
Not a thing. Everything was sturdy and well made, and swapping hands and feet was easy.

Overall - ***
It's a great looking sculpt, with excellent paint work. While it's really a re-use, the combination of hair and portrait does give you a slightly different look on the shelf if you've been picking them all up, and the costume is definitely eye catching, especially in the skates.

At $220 or $230, I'd have gone another half star, easy. But at $260, it's a lot harder to call this a great figure. The simple reality of a price point like that is collectors are going to get much, much more choosy about who they buy, and the fourth variant of a character is going to be a tougher sell. My worry is that we'll still see plenty of Ironman, Captain America, and Clone Troopers, but the unique characters, who always sell in lower numbers, are going to become even less profitable for them, and therefore less likely to get produced.

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

Where to Buy 
Online options include these site sponsors:

- or you can search ebay for a deal.

Related Links -
Other Hot Toys Harleys include the Suicide Squad Prisoner Outfit, and original Suicide Squad release.

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