This is Mego's 8" Joker. He was first released in 1974. It was great to finally be getting some villains to battle our 8" heroes. Batman was getting a bit tired of hauling in Action Jackson only to find that it wasn't a crime to wear a blue jumpsuit and sideburns.
In recent times, the character of the Joker has been subjected to a bit of interpretation. However, from the character's inception in 1940 all the way up to roughly 1989 when the first Batman motion picture was released, the Clown Prince of Crime had been largely unchanged. Just about every incarnation or depiction of him was fairly consistent. Since then, his look and back story have been evolving somewhat. Jack Nicholson's Joker in the first Batman film looked a bit different than what people typically expected. And of course, 2008's The Dark Knight changed the look and the demeanor of the Joker fairly radically.
Mego's Joker was produced when the Joker's look was still consistent with his original depiction. His head sculpt and costume reflect the look of the Joker from comics and cartoons of the time quite well. He looks like a very happy fellow...a happy fellow that has just tainted Gotham City's entire water supply with gallons and gallons Smilex toxin. He's funny that way.Mego, instead of producing many layers of clothing, dressed Joker in an overcoat and screen printed body suit that resembled layers of clothing and a tie underneath. I've always thought this was a bit cheap and brilliant at the same time.
A complete Joker includes his overcoat, bodysuit, and pair of brown shoes. Also, take note that Joker's hands should be molded in white plastic to resemble gloves.
Maybe it's Maybelline.
He looks like he should glow in the dark. Does he?
ReplyDeleteNope, just really pale. The photos might be just a tad blown out, as well.
ReplyDeleteAwesome!
ReplyDeleteMego Joker has one of the coolest heads in the Megoverse! As always yours looks minty fresh, love the pics, great post.
ReplyDeleteThe one thing that I've always liked about the Mego Joker was the artwork that came with him on the box. That image of the Joker posing with the cane and laughing hysterically is truly an iconic image of modern art. I think George Woodbridge was the artist, but I could be wrong.
ReplyDeletewas this the first Joker toy to ever be launched? am trying to think of a previous one but i can't figure it out. And it looks so cool, there's nothing like toys of old (figure of speech of course)
ReplyDeleteI have one of these. He isnt as sparkleing white as this one as I got him second hand and had to clean him up a bit but he is still one of my favorates because of the head skulpture is so right on for the comics of the time. A Mego Joker is well worth it if you can get one.
ReplyDelete