Hot Toys - MMS DX 01- The Dark Knight - The Joker spec and pics

[The Batman Professor]

From the pic above, you can see he did have normal buttons at one point. But I've also seen pics with the quirky buttons. As others have said, the buttons on his vest must have changed - I didn't realize that.



Just a word of warning - that's not something that's necessarily true, especially in this case. I've really followed the prices of these high end Batman-related figures, both official/mass produced and custom, for a few years now, and it's given me some insights. Let me explain.

Official figures, and especially Hot Toys figures, tend to increase in value over time (usually relatively rapidly). That tends to be the rule, rather than the exception. But custom figures and accessories don't follow that trend nearly as frequently - especially the more expensive ones. The demand for custom pieces is so much smaller - and also the supply is small enough that most who would demand it have since learned to accept the mass-produced items, so they don't contribute to demand. Both of these factors work against the item's price in the future.

So chances are, if you change your mind later, that you won't be able to make your money back (much less turn a profit). You'd probably be able to find a buyer, somewhere, but not at 100% of the price you sold it for - and again, this becomes more and more true as the price of the custom item increases.

There is also lots of anecdotal evidence for this. I think the BobbyC Joker sculpt is the latest example of this. One of the few owners of this very expensive item seems to be having a bit of trouble selling his, even at 15% cheaper than the price he paid for it.

I'm not saying that if you decide to sell it later, you won't be able to get all your money back. You might very well be able to - but please don't count on it happening, since the reliability of that is far less than that of normal figures.

I'm also not saying you should or should not get these items based on these facts. But I know that I often choose to buy a figure even if I'm not sure if I want it - because I know I'll probably be able to sell it at cost (if not for more) later, so it makes sense to err on the side of caution.

If this line of thinking is important to you when considering whether or not to make a purchase, and if the potential to recoup your investment is an important factor in your decision-making process, then it's important to realize that this logic doesn't hold up when discussing custom works like this.

Just make sure you know that you'll be happy in the long run, whatever you choose!

haytil is 100% right on this. The collectibles market is very volatile, and while you may make back your investment or turn a profit a year from now, ten years from now it will probably be a very different game.

Enjoy.

 

[Calcifer]

If this line of thinking is important to you when considering whether or not to make a purchase, and if the potential to recoup your investment is an important factor in your decision-making process, then it's important to realize that this logic doesn't hold up when discussing custom works like this.

Just make sure you know that you'll be happy in the long run, whatever you choose!

I have 0 intention of ever selling and i don't buy figures as investment's, but some good advice you just gave for anyone who does buy figures for that reason.

not $200 ones.

That was just a joke dude

 

[EdwardNashton1]

That was just a joke dude

I know.

 

[Commtech]

.......But that price is just whacked. Still not as nuts as a $1,000 head though.

You know what's even nuttier? a $1,000 head AND Kato Joker clothes!




But to be honest, this is probably the only character I will be spending that kind of money on, at least in a long time. To me, in my opinion and due to my admiration of the character and actor, it is totally worth it in my book and that's all that matters.

 

[Calcifer]

You know what's even nuttier? a $1,000 head AND Kato Joker clothes!

..but kato's set will be worth it in the end, i wonder when the whole suit will be done?, i hope some people who are getting it still have a full dx figure to put next to it just to show the difference.

But to be honest, this is probably the only character I will be spending that kind of money on, at least in a long time. To me, in my opinion and due to my admiration of the character and actor, it is totally worth it in my book and that's all that matters.

..i'm in the same boat, but i did do the same for the xeno/kato dexter... even with this joker in my collection,i'm a bigger dexter fan.

 

[haytil]

You know what's even nuttier? a $1,000 head AND Kato Joker clothes!

Well, once you've invested in one, you might as well go the distance and invest in the other. In for a penny, in for a pound.

 

[EVILFACE]

I'd like a Kato Vest, but I don't have like $200 to put down for a small cloth vest.

I wouldn't even pay $200 for a article of clothing to wear for myself.

The DX clothes are fine for my 1/6 action figure though.

 

[vodoun]

As to what the clothes are worth: I don't know enough about it to be a really good judge, but I have a feeling that tailoring at this scale is much more difficult than 1:1 tailoring. It's very specialized, and Kato is in a position to charge a premium for it. I, for one, am not at all shocked by the price. And can totally understand why someone would pay a premium price for the absolute best.


If I had more money than I knew what to do with, I wouldn't hesitate to buy it. And I would have bought the BobbyC head too.

As it is, I have limited sums and my collection is not just focused on Batman.

...and to sell their entire collection for it, sadly. Thats a real shame to buy so much to then sell it to fund this with very little left to sit on ones shelf after all these collecting years. To then possibly say to their physical friends, here look at my prized possessions.

I just couldn't do it. Regardless how incredibly fantastic it looks and sits on the figure.

Last week there was a huge load of DX01/02 getting sold, possibly in relation to this? To this day I can't get over the amount of people offloading their DX's and the rest of the Batman goodies lately that they once praised like no tomorrow, figure of the year and all that talk.

 

[Calcifer]

Last week there was a huge load of DX01/02 getting sold, possibly in relation to this? To this day I can't get over the amount of people offloading their DX's and the rest of the Batman goodies lately that they once praised like no tomorrow, figure of the year and all that talk.

I hope that's not just aimed at custom figures, the exact same thing can be said about people selling there iromnan m3 so they could get the m3 battle damage and again selling that to get the IV...same thing might happen again whe we see the new dx jack sparrow.

 

[vodoun]

I don't know. I just found it odd yet interesting how a lot of people at the same time weeks ago moaning at the prices of DX01/02's and the others that had them wouldn't let them go.
Yet recently a huge fleet has been going up for sale for the past week or two or three. I haven't been following it greatly but it was so distinctively noticed all the DX01/02 threads for sale.

Either not serious collectors or it's always a in the moment thing. What's great today is crud tomorrow. Or some never really appreciate what they have, no matter what they may get. As I can guarantee it. In a years time or two who knows, when something better comes along this same episode will happen again. It always goes in cycles.

It's a totally different thing selling one figure to fund another. It's another thing to sell nearly your entire collection(s) for an over priced item regardless how good the customizers may be. Thats also another thing why the prices from Hot Toys are going up. They'll see these people paying for these customs and think! Hey we want some of that, if they can pay this for custom work, we can charge this for mass produced items. Cha ching!

I'm not implying someone has to do this, it's just a point of view. Wouldn't you rather have a quality collection, rather than offloading the entire lot like a small number has been slowly doing than just have 2 - 4 figures? Thats up to them. They can do whatever they want.

The thing thats always impressive about this board reading and viewing peoples collections is what they have collected from 2 - 5 - 8 years ago. Those are the real dedicated diehard collectors. Seeing items evolve and the exclusives/rare items they may have. Walls and walls/shelves and shelves of items. To have similar cash burn on a few little things. It just seems mad.

 

[Commtech]

..but kato's set will be worth it in the end, i wonder when the whole suit will be done?, i hope some people who are getting it still have a full dx figure to put next to it just to show the difference.

Oh, I will definitely keep my DX Joker complete. I still love that figure. No way I'm letting go any good versions of the Joker.

 

[monkeyrobotmaster]

I would like to say, being someone who does custom work, that customs will always be more expensive. Some of the reason for this is the fact that supplies to make them aren't cheap, and the numbers that are produced are always pretty low. HT is a large company and has many people working on one figure that they produce in the thousands, because they make so many they can charge less per figure. They also produce a ton of different characters, and some of it seems to be rushed out to recoup the cost to make them (which could account for QC issues). Plus, and I don't know this for fact, but I would imagine they get a bulk discount on their materials (most suppliers will do that if you buy in bulk). I'm not saying that I necessarily agree with all the prices out there for custom work, but since we all tend to work alone most of the time we have to make it worth our while. If not none of us would do it, and personally I'm more about quality over quantity. That's just how I feel about it.

A side note, it seems to me that most of what collectors buy is for personal gratification over anything else. If someone spends a lot to upgrade one figure they're doing it out of personal preference and to have the best version (to them) of that character. If they choose to sell most of their stuff to do that then that's their prerogative, and what do I care what someone does with their things.

 

[vodoun]

Yeah, I'm sure the supplies and fabric values adds up to $200 for a jacket and the other items that values up to $130 and higher.

Isn't that the same reason why fraud is so high? people just hand anything over no questions asked and they are taken for a ride.

 

[monkeyrobotmaster]

What someone wants out weighs any logic, and if they're happy then what does it matter? Like I said I don't really agree with some of the prices I've seen, but I'm not going to give anyone a hard time about what they spend their money on. As long as they feel good about what they're buying then who cares, and most things are over priced. Some would say the same thing about HT figures.

 

[vodoun]

Nobody is giving anyone a hard time for what they spend. You're missing the whole point though.

I just find it ironic after this past 6 months with the height of customs on this board that Hot Toys is hitting the $250 mark and no doubt by the end of the year it may go higher yet again. Coincidence... I think not.

Some would say the same thing about HT figures.

You're probably right. We all could be suckers.

 

[monkeyrobotmaster]

With all the QC problems they've been having that may be very true.

 

[Calcifer]

With all the QC problems they've been having that may be very true.

Half afraid i might find a flaw on my Ironman Iv when i open it on monday ..i should not have to be afraid of finding a flaw on a figure that cost that much

 

[monkeyrobotmaster]

I've read about a number of people that have gotten them missing pieces, but hopefully yours will be fine. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

 

[vodoun]

With all the QC problems they've been having that may be very true.

Too many for my liking sadly. Up until the DX02 I never had problems. Nor did I have to worry, or most likely with the likes of Facebook more has got revealed than ever. I don't think Hot Toys was on Facebook in 2008/New Year 09.

Even to this day we're still hearing either here or Facebook, parts missing from a figure, broken legs, two left arms, two left legs, two right feet, cracking arms or fading paint/rubber. I've honestly lost track of it. There's very little from a figure that something just hasn't went really wrong with it.

Look at Intel, they botched up their quality control as well. New Sandybridge motherboards released to the market far too quickly back in early January with degrading sata 2 ports that can lead to data corruption.

Millions of units sold and a mass recall. No replacements until April/May. With workarounds via sata cards or using the sata 3 ports. Too many risk takers for my liking and it's all down to greed and profits. Yet it's a shame they never ever learn as big mistakes come back to bite them on the ass publicly and financially.

 

[dominishin]

Every company has QC problems. They make thousands of one product, there's bound to be a mistake somewhere.

Just because a few people come up with issues doesn't mean it's happening everywhere... all of the people who are content with their purchase and have no problems usually don't speak up and say "hey guys, my figure came fine, just wanted to let you know." No, it's the very few people who did receive a defective item that wants to vent their frustration.