Joker and Poison Ivy

Joker and Poison Ivy

DC Multiverse Originals - Mattel

There’s a new Joker movie out, and while we’re waiting for another Halloween where the streets are flooded with insufferable Mister J. costumes, here’s a classic take.  Like the recent Killer Croc wave, Mattel is bringing us more Batman 80th anniversary treats as part of it’s farewell tour.  And look, Poison Ivy was apparently freed from her Mattycollector hostage deal to be able to join the party!

The Matty version was the all-green, shoe-less, modern take...I think popularized by Jim Lee’s run on the books?  Maybe the re-vamped look on Batman: The Animated Series?  Anyway, that figure was great, but part of the lame subscription service.  (Thank goodness for EBay sellers in China!)   This one has a more human look and all the same articulation of Multiverse’s improved female sculpt.  While some prefer a smaller, pixie-like Ivy, this one works and is definitely true to the “classics” moniker.  She features a crossbow (repainted from another Matty hostage, Huntress) and some flexible plastic vine to coils up her arm and leg.

Some weirdos don’t think the head sculpt is “attractive” enough for Ivy.  Ehhh...that’s a debate one shouldn’t be having about little plastic dolls.  One thing I will say about the head is watch out for sloppy paint apps.  I have seen eyes, eyebrows, and lips being hit and miss from picture to picture.  Quality control has always been here and there with Mattel...I didn’t notice that the one I picked up had a lower leg assembled backwards at the knee.  A quick fix with some hot water, an exacto knife, and a dab of glue.  

Joker uses the same body sculpt as the new Alfred figure.  It’s fantastic on both, though the tails on the jacket should be different on this one: longer and more separated.  They modified the front of the jacket to accommodate a removable lapel flower:  one standard, the other with a removable acid effect.  The acid is hollowed on one side, so will need to be rotated to maintain the illusion with different poses.  This effect, well, the whole figure in general, is a throwback to the Toy Biz 1989 figure.

He doesn’t come with a hat, but they must have spent the plastic on the addition to the cane.  The gold jester skull looks great, and is a welcome variant from the other Jokers over the years.  I honestly expected to see a reused accessory here.

"Where does he get those wonderful toys?"

"Wait til they get a load a me!"

New Jokercopter part of the cheaper Batman Missions line.

The head sculpt is definitely “classic”, though might not fit with most Mattel Batman displays.  Again, a nod to Toy Biz, maybe even the Kenner Super Powers takes.  It also kinda resembles a mix of Joker depictions from the 70s and 80s.  A decent middle-ground, Neil Adams/Jim Aparo look to go with the earlier Dick Sprang.  I dig it, though I may still experiment with head swaps...the near perfect body is too tempting not to do so.  I may also repaint his left eyebrow, which somehow missed the sculpted plastic by that much.  Oh, Mattel!

These are, so far, Target exclusives.  Did I mention how much I hate the Target in my town?  Target in general?  I paid $8 over retail to get Joker.  Worth it in wasted gas and frustration.  Of course, a week later, visiting a neighboring town’s far superior Target, I see him and the whole wave...smile, darn ya, smile....