Wednesday, April 26, 2023

Action Figure Review: The Joker (Infinite Frontier) from DC Multiverse by McFarlane Toys

 

   The Joker has received quite a few figures in McFarlane's DC Multiverse and there are at least three different versions you can at retail right now. I know, because I've picked up the Heath Ledger Joker, the DC Vs. Vampires version of the Joker, and this Infinite Frontier version of the Joker. This was the first of the three I picked and I've had him for a little over a month now. At first I was planning on skipping him as I already have plenty of Joker figures (including at least six previous DC Multiverse versions) but when I saw this guy in person I decided I really needed to pick him up. It didn't hurt that GameStop was running a 25% off sale the week I found the entire new series of these figures. This Joker is based on the Guillem March cover of The Joker #1 from Infinite Frontier and he's holding an eyeball in his hands. Yikes! That's a crazy detail! Lately I've been reading DC stuff that's kind of it's own thing (White Knight, DC Vs. Vampires, Last Knight on Earth) so I'm not completely familiar with this storyline. I ended up ordering the first trade of this series, so hopefully it's as good as this figure. Let's take a look at the Infinite Frontier version of the Joker after the break...






The Facts:

Height: 7 1/4ths inches

Articulation: Hinged toes, double swivel hinged ankles, double hinged knees, swivel thighs, swivel/hinge hips, balljointed waist, balljointed mid torso, swivel/hinge shoulders w/ ballsockets, bicep swivels, double hinged elbows, swivel/ hinge wrists, and a barbell jointed neck.
 
Accessories: Knife, collector card, and display stand.
 
Non-Scalper Price: $20 dollars







The Positives:

* This version of the Joker is based on Guillem March's cover art for issue #1 and it does a nice job of capturing the look and feel of the character. He's still wearing a very distinctively Joker outfit with a fancy purple suit and a green vest, but the suit looks a bit more trendy and yet more casual as well. There's a yellow boutonniere (which looks a bit withered), and an untucked black shirt with the top unbuttoned. No tie! The colors are great and while there isn't a lot of paintwork, what is here is all neat and clean. 
* The headsculpt definitely makes this figure. The Joker still looks like the Joker but he also seems more modern. Maybe a bit hipsterish? He has a very satisfied smile on his face, a massive with visible laugh lines on his cheeks, and a missing eye. Yeah, the Joker is missing an eye courtesy of one Ms. Harleen Quinzel. The missing eye has a stitched up socket and it looks pretty cool. the good eye is also pretty neatly painted, though, and the Joker is clearly cocking that eyebrow up just a bit. 



* Flip around the figure and you'll be amazed at how great the Joker's hair looks. If Steve the babysitter from Stranger Things were giving the Joker hairstyling tips, this is how things would turn out. The green color is great and there's a ton of detail in the Joker's messy do.  



* Just like on the cover of The Joker #1, this figure is holding an eyeball. Is it the Joker's own eye? Someone else's eyeball? What's going on here? It's crazy, pretty disgusting, and it's a fantastic detail. I didn't realize the eyeball was in the Joker's hand when I first bought the figure, and then I discovered his missing eye. Crazy stuff.


* I really like the articulation and the feel of the DC Multiverse line. The articulation is excellent and it feels like things are always improving. Th Joker is a solid, sturdy, figure with an impressive  range of motion in most of his joints. He does seem to have the standard balljointed waist and mid-torso, but they're both covered by his torso which is softer and more flexible. 



* The Joker comes with a really impressive knife. Seriously, that's a nice looking knife that looks like some sort of custom job. 




*  God bless McFarlane Toys for including a stand with each of their releases these days. It's just a simple disc stand with the DC logo on it but it works well and keeps the figure standing upright in most poses. A stand should be mandatory with every action figure released!




* The standard collectible card is also included with the figure sporting an image of the Joker on the front and a standard Joker bio on the back. It's very cool, though it doesn't match this figure. It's odd that McFarlane didn't use the Guillem March art that this figure is based on. 


The Negatives:


* Joker's shoes are quite nice except that the peg for the toe hinge is the same color purple as the suit. Why not black? I don't usually mind the presence of a joint on a figure but at least match the colors for the pegs/hinges/ etc.

   There are many Joker figures in the DC Multiverse line but I find myself really liking this one. He may not be my favorite, but this is a very solid figure of the Joker that stands out due to his crazy hair, trendier suit, and the fact that he's holding an eyeball while his own eye is missing. The paint and sculpt are fantastic, the headsculpt is incredible, and the knife is really pretty cool. An extra hand or two would have been appreciated, though overall I'm really pleased with this guy. He's a Great figure and a pretty fun Joker figure. 

   lately I've been selling off large portions of my DC Direct/ DC Collectibles collection and upgrading to the DC Multiverse line, so I've been picking up some older figures from the line here and there. I'm really enjoying the quality of the line and I'm kind of regretting not jumping in earlier. I really wasn't sure how long this line would last back in 2020 nor how deep it would go. I'm glad it's continuing to impress and do so well.




Looking for more reviews of the Joker? Check out The Joker's Funhouse for all of my Joker reviews! Love that Joker!

1 comment:

  1. That would be an easy fix. I still need to track down some Gundam markers. I have a comic shop near me that carries them. I just need to go grab some from there.

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