1/6 INART (Queen Studio) - The Dark Knight - Joker Collectible Figure

[BrooklynWolf X]

I think HT/Howard are aware that several brands are catching up to them in terms of quality and innovation, but they don't really care, Queen Studios has licenses for figures that will never sell as much as MCU or Star Wars figures, and the ones they do are limited to China only which means if anyone living elsewhere wants a Joker they'll have to pay a hefty fee to get it, while Hot Toys dominates the market with official distributors like Sideshow.

It's definitely true that Hot Toys has gotten lazy and comfortable in their position but people forget they've pionered the whole industry for the past two decades and they have a monopoly on all the best factories around, including their own, as we've seen with the latest Batman figure, they are ready to compete in order to remain as the top dog and at the end of the day it will all come down to 3 things, price, availability and value, HT has all those in the bag already, while QS is just getting started with 1/6.

All that combined with QS already saying that the Marvel/Star Wars licenses will be hard to negotiate with Disney, I don't think this will be the "war" people are hyping up, HT and QS will certainly butt heads whenever they make the same DC based figure but for now Hot Toys still reigns over the market with the most valuable licenses under their belt but QS is smart, they are trying to eliminate all third parties and other licensed brands by aquiring licenses Hot Toys hasn't touched in a while, and other licenses that have been the saving grace of some companies, they're even planning to do video game stuff, if anything this "war" will be fought between Asmus, Threezero, JND, smaller licensed brands and of course third parties, which will probably suffer the most since now they don't only have Hot Toys doing everything in their power to eliminate from the market but now Queen trying to get ahold of every license they can in order to build themselves up, either way it's gonna be interesting to see how this whole thing goes down.

I don’t think anyone is disputing HT dominance in the field. By brand recognition, sales, licenses acquired, stifling of competition...yeah, they’re still the “leader”. But something ABSOLUTELY has HT and Howard shook. We have so many 3rd party figures that can give a standard HT release a run for its money and they never batted an eye...so why all of a sudden we’re sensing a hint of panic from them?

As QS/IA’s representative said in the paradox nerd podcast that China is currently the first market, and the popularity of TDK trilogy is huge there. All they need to do to make big waves are the following:

Competitively priced, aggressively.
Short turn around.
Ridiculously good looking figures.

And you have the perfect storm.

They may be in competition with the smaller brands, but make no mistake, they’re gunning for HT. You don’t acquire a bunch of WB/DC properties to compete with smaller companies.

Also, i don’t think it’s so much as a war is being hyped up as it is collectors wanting change.

 

[Spanbauer]

It's definitely true that Hot Toys has gotten lazy and comfortable in their position but people forget they've pionered the whole industry for the past two decades and they have a monopoly on all the best factories around, including their own, as we've seen with the latest Batman figure, they are ready to compete in order to remain as the top dog and at the end of the day it will all come down to 3 things, price, availability and value, HT has all those in the bag already, while QS is just getting started with 1/6.

I would say Hot Toys also has relatively solid quality control. Out-of-the-box defects are quite rare with Hot Toys, both in my own experience and given how rare I’ve seen an issue in unboxing and review videos. Matching that level of quality control will be important if we’re expecting to buy Queen Studios figures from small shops on the other side of the world.

 

[Spanbauer]

I don’t think anyone is disputing HT dominance in the field. By brand recognition, sales, licenses acquired, stifling of competition...yeah, they’re still the “leader”. But something ABSOLUTELY has HT and Howard shook. We have so many 3rd party figures that can give a standard HT release a run for its money and they never batted an eye...so why all of a sudden we’re sensing a hint of panic from them?

As QS/IA’s representative said in the paradox nerd podcast that China is currently the first market, and the popularity of TDK trilogy is huge there. All they need to do to make big waves are the following:

Competitively priced, aggressively.
Short turn around.
Ridiculously good looking figures.

And you have the perfect storm.

They may be in competition with the smaller brands, but make no mistake, they’re gunning for HT. You don’t acquire a bunch of WB/DC properties to compete with smaller companies.

Also, i don’t think it’s so much as a war is being hyped up as it is collectors wanting change.

Yeah it’s not gonna be much a “war” if it’s just some Warner Bros licenses and…Game of Thrones figures nobody’s clamoring for.

I’m curious too to see what Queen’s turnaround time will be with a new property like The Batman; from the time the film released, whose figure will really arrive on doorsteps first? It’s one thing to be tooling away on six figures in secret and waiting to reveal only when three are already in production.

 

[Gipetto0812]

Like @BrooklynWolf X mentioned, it's more about us wanting a change and I would add, having a secondary option than having to resort to HT for mostly everything. There are some collectors who only collect licensed stuff and if all you got is to be satisfied with HT or buy nothing at all, that can kinda suck.

I'd also like to add that, for me personally, I'm not trying to discredit the work HT has put in to get to the place they are at, which currently is at the top of 1/6. I don't think anyone can deny that. But most of us have said and agree that HT has gotten complacent and lazy and we're definitely tired of it. They're arguably like Apple. They keep a high standard but at this point, they are barely innovating and instead, making subtle tweaks here and there just to have something new. There was a time when HT was making huge leaps and now, especially when HT re-releases something, all we really have to look forward to as an improvement, are paint apps. They're too lazy to create new headsculpts for many characters that they've already done, even if their look changed from movie to movie. Just use the old one and maybe paint the hair a slightly different color and shift the eyes from straight to left or right.

I would say Hot Toys also has relatively solid quality control. Out-of-the-box defects are quite rare with Hot Toys, both in my own experience and given how rare I’ve seen an issue in unboxing and review videos. Matching that level of quality control will be important if we’re expecting to buy Queen Studios figures from small shops on the other side of the world.

True, while we've all grown a little tired/stale with HT offerings, they do put out good quality end products for the most part and there are some who will only buy from sideshow in the event that you do get a dud, it can be relatively easy to replace/exchange. They're seamless bodies do suffer a lot of QC issues though it seems. I've been on the the other end when not buying from sideshow, getting a dud and then being up the creek with a broken part b/c the store I ordered from was 1) in Canada so shipping back to them wouldn't exactly be easy or cheap 2) they didn't want to help out with my broken figure since it didn't arrive broken, but rather broke when I tried to articulate the ankle. So there's definite credit to Hot Toys and their partnership with Sideshow, no doubt. They're pretty much the reason a lot of collectors get into the hobby. Like you said, Queen Studios need to match that level of QC especially since many of us will need to buy from a small shop across the world and just hope we get something without QC issues.

 

[BrooklynWolf X]

Like @BrooklynWolf X mentioned, it's more about us wanting a change and I would add, having a secondary option than having to resort to HT for mostly everything. There are some collectors who only collect licensed stuff and if all you got is to be satisfied with HT or buy nothing at all, that can kinda suck.

I'd also like to add that, for me personally, I'm not trying to discredit the work HT has put in to get to the place they are at, which currently is at the top of 1/6. I don't think anyone can deny that. But most of us have said and agree that HT has gotten complacent and lazy and we're definitely tired of it. They're arguably like Apple. They keep a high standard but at this point, they are barely innovating and instead, making subtle tweaks here and there just to have something new. There was a time when HT was making huge leaps and now, especially when HT re-releases something, all we really have to look forward to as an improvement, are paint apps. They're too lazy to create new headsculpts for many characters that they've already done, even if their look changed from movie to movie. Just use the old one and maybe paint the hair a slightly different color and shift the eyes from straight to left or right.

Yup. How nice would it have been if BVS Batfleck 1.0 got the complete package like Battinson 1.0? Instead of waiting for the FOURTH release, right out the gate, we get a Bruce Wayne HS, an even more accurate body and outfit, and a cowled HS on the same level as the custom one that was circulating on FB a month or 2 ago.

And how nice would it have been if a friggin 1/4 TDK joker featured a portrait that looks like QS 1/4 statue??

 

[Hoody999]

I’m not convinced the competition will be great. I think it will only be good for customers who have nothing but money and nothing but patience. At the moment it’s all talk (and in HT case not even that) and the quality of the materials, the quality of the product, the quality of the licenses chosen it all means time and money. Plus it will be harder to choose do I pay x for this Batmobile or x * 3 for this Batmobile. And do i cancel this and instead wait for something that may never eventuate? The mine field just became the Dardenelles.

So you would prefer only one option. Sounds like living in some countries I know.

But seriously, of course it will have an impact on HT. Sure maybe not a massive impact, but when have we recently seen Hot Toys bring out 3 versions of a figure, then follow up with a bike and most probably a vehicle. All within a few weeks of each other.

QS have said that they won't be 3x Hot Toys prices (and shot down Justins stupid comments) so they will be on par with HT. Sure maybe a bit more for rooted hair or an Artists special signed version but definitely not 3x.

Even if this at minimum improves HT transparency and they hire someone for feedback on social media here and there, or they are forced to improve lead times then it will be a win for consumers.

 

[xXJ0kerXx1]

 

[Hoody999]

Nice. I thought it was for the 1/4 scale at first. But wow, they're a lot further down the development line of the 1/6 figure than I expected !

 

[Hologram AI]

Prices, photos and pre-orders details will up in 2 weeks.

 

[xXJ0kerXx1]

some people just can't wait to see what the price is... the 600-1700 is still getting thrown around.

im surprised out of all of the things, that the detonator isn't included

 

[xb24]

IMO, the gun articulation, removable bullets are unnecessary because how often do you need those small features in posing? It will only increase the price.

 

[xXJ0kerXx1]

IMO, the gun articulation, removable bullets are unnecessary because how often do you need those small features in posing? It will only increase the price.

this. its cool that the weapons are diecast. the feel of the cold steel against your hand is a nice touch and the weight as well. but removable bullets? are excessive and easily lost

 

[Dave_W]

Yeah thanks for this info Johnny ! I'd definitely love a chance at getting a BvS Superman !

Sounds like they are concentrating on all the right areas, communication, timing and additional figures. Would also love a good Bane.

Also very good news they shot down the pricing guess from Justin. At those price points 95% of people would have said OK nice, but too rich for me and stuck with Hot Toys.

I will definitely be making my voice heard !

Yea if they're looking at BvS figures, I'd definitely be inclined to get one that is hopefully better than what HT has released given HT lazy re-use of sculpts and badly proportioned body. That said, I would much prefer a new Man of Steel figure as the HT one definitely shows it's age the most out of all the Cavill Superman figures made. Though, seems like pretty much no one is interested in doing anything from Man of Steel. Would love an official Faora that's better than either the custom and the Xensation one and a Zod with better headsculpt.

I'd be inclined to buy them all! 1/6, 1/4. There just aren't enough quality Superman figures out there. Krypton Zod, Armoured Jor-El, Faora

 

[vaanrose]

At least he has guns. The DC gun ban has left Peacemaker with just an axe.

 

[Asta]

this. its cool that the weapons are diecast. the feel of the cold steel against your hand is a nice touch and the weight as well. but removable bullets? are excessive and easily lost

Dragon in Dreams did it with at least one of their recent figures.

Five tiny brass 9mm rounds to be loaded into the sprung MP40 magazine...

It was the very last thing I did after assembling the figure because it seemed pretty pointless, but it at least insured they wouldn't get lost. They make it look easy in their video, but I found it to be the fiddliest part of the entire assembly.

(Seems the Chinese like referring to magazines as clips! lol )

 

[batfan08]

Honestly, I’m excited to see them go toe to toe with Hot Toys on Pattinson and I’m thrilled to see a new Joker (hopefully something really special this time around), but, to my mind, if they really wanted to give HT the whatfor, they’d go for the greatest hits; the evergreens and the **** that HT no longer wants to touch. I would KILL for a high end update of Reeve Superman or the duo of Keaton and Nicholson from Batman ‘89.

 

[chrisstbh]

You hear that Hot Toys?

The problem is that HT have 50+ figures in the pipeline at any given time. If they cut down to speed up production people will still complain, but the complaints will instead be “where is (character name)??”

 

[shadow_wolf]

The problem is that HT have 50+ figures in the pipeline at any given time. If they cut down to speed up production people will still complain, but the complaints will instead be “where is (character name)??”

Yeah HT where is C3PO??

 

[BigWayne]

The problem is that HT have 50+ figures in the pipeline at any given time. If they cut down to speed up production people will still complain, but the complaints will instead be “where is (character name)??”

It would be just fine with me if they ditched the cosbaby line

 

[DarthAlias]

I could see this being $500. People already paying that for DX11. Why not this?