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

[Hando]

IMO I don’t see Hot Toys being able to top this not because they couldn’t, but because they will choose not to. They have never successfully pulled off rooted hair and honestly don’t think they’ve even tried to at this level. For them to suddenly implement something like that doesn’t seem like a good business decision.

They’d probably have to do a limited high cost run to make it worth it, which would piss off anyone who didn’t get one. If they sell 500-1000 copies at $1k each is $1m in revenue really worth the cost to produce these for a company the size of Hot Toys?

They have a way larger audience than Queen and I just don’t see the risk/reward paying off for something like this.

Victory has defeated them, peace has cost them their strength.

They have a huge customer base across a lot of different properties and it doesn’t seem like they have the time or need to innovate anymore. They’ve hit a balance of quality AND manufacturability (ignoring their production delays) that seems to be the money maker for them. Why invest a ton of energy in a range topping line thats revenues would be a drop in the bucket compared to random stormtroopers and Ironman repaints?

Shiny Pleather and cardboard backdrops. Powerful agents to the uninitiated.

.....but we are initiated arent we hot toys?

 

[TheBatman]

Im still a little on the fence about Queen Studios' InArt line but time will tell. If they really pull this off. Welcome to 1/6!

 

[Wor-Gar]

I've invested in Queen's success. I hope they do.

Like John said, it's good for everybody.


Meanwhile, Gilgamesh remains HT's offering for a week now. Gilgamesh. From The Eternals.

 

[R_R_X]

I've invested in Queen's success. I hope they do.

Like John said, it's good for everybody.


Meanwhile, Gilgamesh remains HT's offering for a week now. Gilgamesh. From The Eternals.

They better be making sure the tongue on their Ledger Joker looks as realistic as possible!

 

[Wor-Gar]

Who was it that DID do a Ledger tongue? Was that a custom sculpt long ago?

 

[Hologram AI]

I think you're being way too harsh on Hot Toys man lol, wether you love or hate them the fact is they pionnered this industry for two decades, regardless of how they conduct their business now they still remain the benchmark of 1/6 collectibles, hyping Queen this much might be building expectations that will be impossible to meet if the final product ends up even slightly different from the proto, let's not all crap on everyone else because Queen showed an amzing first prototype, it's not fair to anybody.

I don't think it's TOO harsh, maybe a little but I agree with every word Hando said.

Hot Toys has essentially went from being in the "honeymoon" phase of a relationship to getting into a super comfortable one. They don't really try to push what they put out anymore. And I don't think Hando was trying to put down what they've done to date. They are still the top dog of the 1/6 figure business for a reason, because they climbed their way up there on their own and they deserve all the praise for it but the rest of the points still stand.

What does one do once they get their crown? They don't try as hard. They start to relax and get a little lazy. It's nothing new and nothing people haven't said for a while now. Every now and then Hot Toys does something to wow people but in general, they are very much by the book a Disney/Marvel/Star-Wars machine. You KNOW what to expect with them. Spider-Man figure? It's probably not gonna be the proper fabric or material. Star-Wars figure? It's probably something Mandalorian related. Iron Man is...well Iron Man. And you can forget about getting another figure from Terminator/Predator/Alien/Robocop. They don't try to do thinner outfits or materials. They don't try doing new methods for rooted hair. They don't really try new things anymore.

Again, not knocking down their quality or what they've done. Their output quality is very consistent, which is why they've remain the top dog. It's just become a bit stale to those of us who've been collecting for over 10 years now.

There was a point where all you saw from Hot Toys was innovation and effort. They would constantly try to push themselves and it 100% showed. Now their output has sort of flat lined instead of it being an uphill curve.

It's just exciting to see a new company come in and at least say "Hey, we're new and we're here to try to push this 1/6 figure stuff into new territory."

Will Queen or JND succeed? No one knows but it's at least exciting to see it happen none the less. They have my full support if they can do what they set out to do because it is definitely not easy.

 

[Wor-Gar]

I am eager to see any 1/6th from JND.

I'm also now eager to see Queen's Gandalf... to see consistency and if they offer a single rooted figure this time. No way I'd spend a grand on two Gandalfs (even if Gray and White)... but I'd consider $300+ on an amazing Ledger-level Gray or White... maybe even $500 for the rooted beard and hair. I'm really curious what their sculpted beard will look like.

 

[R_R_X]

I don't think it's TOO harsh, maybe a little but I agree with every word Hando said.

Hot Toys has essentially went from being in the "honeymoon" phase of a relationship to getting into a super comfortable one. They don't really try to push what they put out anymore. And I don't think Hando was trying to put down what they've done to date. They are still the top dog of the 1/6 figure business for a reason, because they climbed their way up there on their own and they deserve all the praise for it but the rest of the points still stand.

What does one do once they get their crown? They don't try as hard. They start to relax and get a little lazy. It's nothing new and nothing people haven't said for a while now. Every now and then Hot Toys does something to wow people but in general, they are very much by the book a Disney/Marvel/Star-Wars machine. You KNOW what to expect with them. Spider-Man figure? It's probably not gonna be the proper fabric or material. Star-Wars figure? It's probably something Mandalorian related. Iron Man is...well Iron Man. And you can forget about getting another figure from Terminator/Predator/Alien/Robocop.

Again, not knocking down their quality or what they've done, they're output quality is consistent, which is why they've remain the top dog. It's just become a bit stale to those of us who've been collecting for over 10 years now.

There was a point where all you saw from Hot Toys was innovation and effort. They would constantly try to push themselves and it 100% showed. Now their output has sort of flat lined instead of it being an uphill curve.

It's just exciting to see a new company come in and at least say "Hey, we're new and we're here to try to push this 1/6 figure stuff into new territory."

Will Queen or JND succeed? No one knows but it's at least exciting to see it happen none the less. They have my full support if they can do what they set out to do because it is definitely not easy.

Again I agree with everything you and Hando said, I just think that people don't give them enough credit for what they did for the industry, without them I doubt we would be at the point we are now, I think it's time for them to take a step back and let others take on licenses they don't care about too, Queen is filled with new blood and artists eager to prove themselves, we'll just have to see if Howard's ego won't get in the way.

I guess what I've been trying to say in my last posts is I respect annd appreciate what HT did for this hobby and I won't crap on their achievements in spite of what they've become, but I'm more than ready to seen new players enter the game and breathe new life into the market and industry, I'm excited for the future.

 

[Hologram AI]

Again I agree with everything you and Hando said, I just think that people don't give them enough credit for what they did for the industry, without them I doubt we would be at the point we are now, I think it's time for them to take a step back and let others take on licenses they don't care about too, Queen is filled with new blood and artists eager to prove themselves, we'll just have to see if Howard's ego won't get in the way.

I guess what I've been trying to say in my last posts is I respect annd appreciate what HT did for this hobby and I won't crap on their achievements in spite of what they've become, but I'm more than ready to seen new players enter the game and breathe new life into the market and industry, I'm excited for the future.

I agree and I don't think anyone is knocking down their achievements. Just pointing out what they've become and that seeing new players is exciting because of it.

All the best to these new companies coming in. In the end, the ones who benefit the most from these companies actually trying their best is us.

 

[sj2106]

Hot Toys have delivered some disappointing and outright awful DC figures recently but they are hardly a spent force.

They've been killing it with the Mandalorian line. I just unboxed the Clone Wars Ahsoka earlier and she's gorgeous. Look at their recent sculpts for Yelena, Boba Fett, Fennec Shand, Koska Reeves. Their best work is still as good as anything in the 1/6 game.

It's always felt with DC their heart isn't in it as much and with no competition they could half ass a lot of figures. Clearly that isn't the case anymore. A slightly upgraded DX11 would make them a laughing stock now. They know they have to deliver something special to compete with this QS Joker.

Competition can only be good for collectors. Hopefully going forward it means HT deliver more figures on the level of their latest Batman and less Peacemaker debacles.

 

[R_R_X]

Hot Toys have delivered some disappointing and outright awful DC figures recently but they are hardly a spent force.

They've been killing it with the Mandalorian line. I just unboxed the Clone Wars Ahsoka earlier and she's gorgeous. Look at their recent sculpts for Yelena, Boba Fett, Fennec Shand, Koska Reeves. Their best work is still as good as anything in the 1/6 game.

It's always felt with DC their heart isn't in it as much and with no competition they could half ass a lot of figures. Clearly that isn't the case anymore. A slightly upgraded DX11 would make them a laughing stock now. They know they have to deliver something special to compete with this QS Joker.

Competition can only be good for collectors. Hopefully going forward it means HT deliver more figures on the level of their latest Batman and less Peacemaker debacles.

Only a Joker with articulated tongue can save them now...

 

[TheBatman]

My joker of an ex has an articulated tongue

 

[vaanrose]

I am eager to see any 1/6th from JND.

I'm also now eager to see Queen's Gandalf... to see consistency and if they offer a single rooted figure this time. No way I'd spend a grand on two Gandalfs (even if Gray and White)... but I'd consider $300+ on an amazing Ledger-level Gray or White... maybe even $500 for the rooted beard and hair. I'm really curious what their sculpted beard will look like.

The idea that a twopack would be the grey and the white is completely out of the question, imo. They don't share a single thing in common, much different from two near identical Jokers except one isn't wearing a jacket. If the two-pack method is the only way they can justify the cost of hair at this quality, then I'll bet everything on Gandalf having a clean Shire version and a dirty Moria version.

 

[Captain Clown]

I’m curious if anyone is holding out on this with an expectation that JND will eventually come out an even superior 1/6 version?

Teh epic squisheh 1/6 Joker

 

[TheFiend]

If nothing else, the engagement and fun this thread has produced has been great. I don't think I've been this glued to a thread in years.

 

[xXJ0kerXx1]

went through some trouble while trying to redeem a code, so happy. original order was voided because my coupon wasn't working properly through specfic. can't wait. hopefully shipping isn't a lot. its a mixed bag on what can be determined as free shipping and not through the website

 

[Mogli]

Too bad companies never release number sold or edition sizes for 1/6 figures, I'd love to know how many of this were sold yesterday lol

 

[TheFiend]

Too bad companies never release number sold or edition sizes for 1/6 figures, I'd love to know how many of this were sold yesterday lol

You and me both. Judging by what I saw on here and FB I am a little surprised at just how many people I saw going for the deluxe.

 

[R_R_X]

You and me both. Judging by what I saw on here and FB I am a little surprised at just how many people I saw going for the deluxe.

I heard they sold at least a few hundred of the Deluxe during the first hours.... on just one store. Viper better get ready if this applies to every other store.

 

[Nine Inch Nails]

I heard they sold at least a few hundred of the Deluxe during the first hours.... on just one store. Viper better get ready if this applies to every other store.

Yup, q2 or 3 2023