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Introduction
I'm a huge fan of all things Batman, and for me, the best version has always been the Animated Series. I'm also a big collector of all things BTAS - here's my collection from almost a year ago - but the sixth scale action figures from Mondo hit all the right notes for me. They've hit up Batman three times so far, plus given us Joker, Catwoman, and Mr. Freeze. We also have Man-Bat and Phantasm coming, and I'm hoping for plenty more.
The latest is Harley Quinn, Joker's number one and a tremendously popular character. She was created specifically for the show, and while I do like her more modern interpretations, there's something about the original animated costume that works so well.
As with most releases from Mondo, there's a regular release (at $185) or the 'timed release' exclusive that was $200. And as with almost every exclusive release, they are giving you way more than just $15 worth of extra stuff. I'll be checking out this timed edition in the review, but the only differences will be in the accessories.
Packaging - ****
The packaging is very attractive, with some great Harley artwork and
decent text. Inside the figure and contents are all packed in a very
collector friendly way, so there's absolutely no reason to keep her
in her plastic prison. You can remove her and her goodies with no
damage to any of the packaging.
Sculpting - ****
The key component to these 'timed' editions is the accessories,
especially the portraits. The regular release figure comes with two,
while the exclusive includes a whopping five.
Let's start with the two you get either way. She comes wearing the smiling portrait with both releases, a basic look that fits her character nicely. It's not too extreme, but you get the general feel of the character.
She also has an angry, battle portrait with both editions, much more extreme and much more villainess.They did a terrific job sculpting the cartoon mouth, with the teeth and tongue looking perfect. While I'm betting most collectors will end up with one of the other softer emotions on their shelf, this is a really great addition.
Perhaps my favorite is her smirking expression. The smiling mouth is closed, and there's a ton of attitude in the sideways glance of the eyes. I'll be using this one on the shelf, at least for now.
To round out the four masked expressions, we get a smiling surprised or extra happy look. With a big smile and wide eyes, she looks pretty damn joyous here. Perhaps she just had an epiphany and realized Ivy is way better for her than Joker?
Finally, there's the unmasked portrait, complete with pony tails. Again, she's definitely a happy camper, and this portrait has a terrific hair sculpt. It can be tough to do hair in an animated style - there's never going to be a ton of detail - but the combination of sculpt and paint really work well here.
The proportions on the body are excellent, but I did have one nit. The elbow joint is really above the elbow, with the elbow itself rather round and large. It's a tad distracting, even in person.
She stands about 11 1/2 inches tall, pretty much identical to Catwoman. She'll look small next to the Joker, but I fault the oversized nature of their Joker rather than Harley being too short.
Paint - ***1/2
One area that can be really tricky with these animated sixth scale
figures - which are really just big action figures - is the paint.
There's fewer details and broader colors, and it makes the finish
and edges all the more critical. Plus, this line has had issues with
paint rubs, particularly at the joints.
Lets start with the latter - I had no issues with any paint rubbing off here, including on the neck as I was swapping heads, or around any of the arm or leg joints. I'd still take some care of course, but it's nice to see it's not a serious issue.
The quality of the paint work on the body is excellent, with sharp lines defining the reds, blacks, and whites. They've also added some nice cell shading around the neck and wrists, giving it a bit more depth and detail.
The smaller details are on the face, especially with the eyes and lips. Whether or not they nailed it depended on the portrait, and I'm betting your mileage will vary. Some were absolutely spot on, like the smirking expression below.
Others, like the extra happy face, has some issues around the eyes and mouth. It can be tough working with black and white right next to each other, since any slip is all the more apparent.
Articulation - ***
Overall, the body is nicely articulated, but there are a couple
joints I wish I could get more out of.
The ball jointed neck works well, and the various heads swapped easily enough. You still might want to use a bit of heat on the head though, to ensure you don't damage the paint on the neck itself.
The arms is where I had most of my issues. The shoulders are simple rotating hinge joints, similar to what you'd see on older NECA figures. They are a bit limited, and the rotating hinge elbows don't help a lot. The sculpt keeps the bend in the elbows fairly small, although being able to rotate the forearm is a plus. The wrists are the usual, and the hands swap easily.
The rocker torso joint leans, twists, and turns in every direction, and is a big positive. The hips are ball joints, slightly confined by the sculpt of the pelvis, but the double pin knees and cut/rocker ankles can manage natural shallow to deep stances.
Accessories - ****
Here's where the big difference is between the regular release and
the timed version.
I've already discussed the five portraits vs two. Remember, this version was only $15 more than the regular, and getting three extra heads is already worth way more than that.
Both releases have five sets of hands, each set designed to work with the other accessories, or for particular poses. They swap pretty easily, and remained attached while I was posing the figure.
Harley needs her big hammer, which is her main weapon here. She also has a poison perfume bottle, and a mannequin arm. They like to do very specific episode items like this, which is a big seller for me.
For her saner moments, she has a purse, as well as a certificate proving she's sane. Hey, it says so!
As Joker's girlfriend, she has his scepter, and as Batman's nemesis, she has both his belt and his cuffs. She can wear the handcuffs as well.
Finally, both releases have the Bat symbol display base with support post. It's not necessary to keep her standing, but it's a regular part of every release.
Now the exclusive adds more than just three more portraits. For just $15? Yea, it's crazy!
The big addition is Bud and Lou, her two hyenas. While the body sculpt is the same on both, they have unique expressions, and the scale is excellent. Because you get these two, you also get a food bowl for them, a bone, and a steak.
So for a mere $15, you get three more portraits, two hyenas, and three more accessories to go with them. Yea, it's insane not to get the timed release, and unlike other exclusives, they actually give you a window to order within to ensure you get it.
Fun Factor - ***1/2
While the articulation is a little restricted, there's tons of
potential with this figure and both the Batman and Joker releases.
While she's a little small next to Joker, I'm loving how she looks
with the overall series on the shelf.
Value - **1/2
When they released the Joker, the regular edition was $225. Here,
the price is forty bucks cheaper! And the timed edition was just
$200, well within a reasonable price range even for a figure without
clothing. I'm going with an average score here, with the price not
affecting my Overall either up or down.
Things to Watch Out For -
While I had no issues with paint rubs, you'll still want to handle
her carefully. That's particularly true with head swaps, where too
much exuberance could be an issue. I'd also take some care with the
joints, especially the elbows, the very first time you pose them.
They were a tad tight, and I wouldn't want you to snap anything.
Overall - ***1/2
Mondo has been doing a fantastic job with all their animated action
figures over the last few years - BTAS, MOTU, Marvel - and the
quality of Harley is no surprise to anyone who's been collecting the
line. Unlike Batman, she doesn't have the huge upper body/tiny feet
design issue that can cause problems standing on the shelf, and the
animated look is classic. I can't wait until we get Man-Bat and
Phantasm, and I certainly hope they won't be the end of the line.
Interestingly, Mondo is now expanding into the overall sixth scale market with some clothed realistic characters, starting with MacReady from the Thing. His timed edition just went up for sale today, and you have until Friday to snag him. Don't skip it and regret it later...
Score Recap (out of ****):
Packaging - ****
Sculpting - ****
Paint - ***1/2
Articulation - ***
Accessories - ****
Fun Factor - ***1/2
Value - **
Overall - ***1/2
Where to Buy
Mondo was the place to pick up the timed exclusive for $200. However, the key
word here is 'timed'. You have to purchase directly from Mondo
within a set period of time, which is long past. Online options
include these site sponsors:
- Entertainment Earth is at $185 as well. Use my link once it's in stock and get an additional 10% off, plus free shipping!
- or you can search ebay for a deal.
Related Links -
Other Mondo BTAS figures include the Joker, Catwoman, Mr. Freeze, and Batman.
You should also hit the Search Reviews page, in case any other applicable reviews were done after this one was published.
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This product was purchased for the review by the reviewer. Photos and
text by Michael Crawford.
