Review of the Joker
Batman the Animated Series statue

Introduction

I've espoused my love for Batman The Animated Series many times, so there's not much point in doing it again. If you're a big fan and didn't know it, there's a blu-ray compilation of the entire series coming next week on October 30th, and yes, I'm getting it.

Kotobukiya has added the BTAS license to their ArtFX+ series of statues. These are smaller than the ArtFX line, coming in around 7" or so, and are far more cost conscious than most collectibles. They have released Batman, the Joker, and Harley so far, each in the $50 - $55 range.

I'm checking out the Joker tonight, after reviewing Harley last week. Have no fear, I'll be looking at Batman soon, and will be picking up any more of these they produce.

Packaging - ***
The graphics are attractive, and the plastic trays inside - similar in design to other Kotobukiya lines - keep the statue and accessories safe. It's relatively collector friendly, although there's a bit more tape than you might be accustomed to.

Sculpting - ****
I liked Harley - I love the Joker. The design is terrific, with a jaunty pose and giddy portrait. Better yet, he comes with two more heads you can swap in, and if you bought the Harley statue you have two more on top of that!

All the expressions are great, and they are unique enough that you won't confuse one for another. Unlike Harley, these heads swap completely minus the removable hat.

The zoot suit has an appropriate poofy-ness to it, and the overall scale is very good, with the Joker coming in at almost exactly 7" tall without the thin metal base.  The tommy gun is loose, counting as an accessory as well.

Another big plus is the magnetic feet. They include a metal base - more on that in the Accessories section - and the strong magnets will keep him upright without any fear of toppling and no annoying thick base! This is a terrific idea, and I hope we see more companies approach the idea this way.

Paint - ***1/2
Keep in mind that the price point on these is in the $50 range. That's a ridiculously good price for any statue this size, and the paint quality is much better than I expected.

There's a blip here or there - like under the flower on his jacket - but most of the lines and edges are clean and even. The eyes, lips, and skin color look terrific, and the bright colors on the suite are consistent and eye catching.

Articulation - N/A
This is one of those FYI categories, and this is the last time I'll be mentioning it in regards to this series. But since it's a new series, I thought it was worth pointing out that yes, these are true statues - no joints here, even in spots where it look like there might be cuts. When the arm is in a different pose, it's because I swapped it with the extra that came with Harley.

Accessories - ****
A statue with real accessories? You betcha!

I mentioned the machine gun, with its basic animated style sculpt and paint job. He also has two distinct Joker heads you can swap in, and if you bought the Harley, there's two more very cool face plates you can use with her!  I love this idea of adding in extras for the one with the other, since many of us die hard fans are likely to go with both members of the happy couple.

As with Harley, the Joker has magnets in both feet and a cool printed metal base. I didn't include a shot of it this time, but you can find one in the Harley review.

There's a similar cardboard present too, which can hold a few of the smaller extras.

As I mentioned earlier, Harley also came with extras for the Joker including a differently posed right arm, two different right hands, a card, and two more heads.  I've swapped those items in with various photos in this review.

Value - ****
It's tough to find statues for less than $75. Even the smaller Batman Black and White series, done roughly in a 1/12 scale, run $70 - $80. Getting these for around $50 is a steal, particularly with the quality of the paint and sculpt, the inclusion of multiple extra pieces, and the magnetic feet.

Things to Watch Out For -
Not a thing!

Overall - ****
This is a great design at a great price, and I've found my new completist obsession. Hopefully we'll see a lot more of the characters produced, although I'm a little worried because there hasn't been any additional product announcements yet. A Penguin, Man-Bat, Clayface, Catwoman, Batgirl, etc. etc. etc. would make for terrific entries in the line up!

Score Recap (out of ****):
Packaging - ***
Sculpting - ****
Paint - ***1/2
Articulation - N/A
Accessories - ****
Value - ****
Overall - ****

Where to Buy 
Online options include these site sponsors:

- Entertainment Earth has Harley and the Joker for $60.

- or you can search ebay for a deal.

Related Links -
I just hit up the Harley last week, and I'll be looking at the Batman very soon. Other great Animated Jokers include the statue from DST, the action figure from DCC, and the ancient Warner Brothers maquette.

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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