I get the explanation for the Joker set, but it still strikes me as odd. It basically boils down to "price it so that kids going down the toy aisle can't afford it and be subject to this violent, R-rated thing". Obviously there's more to it than that, but still. Ironically, in the process they also priced it so a lot of adult collectors can't afford it either. Don't even know if this will be sold in big box stores- probably not- so it seems like a bit of a silly move, but I guess the same logic applies to kids browsing the web.
Don't get me wrong, I admire WB/whoever for wanting to cut down on the narrative of violence and all that, but it's not like kids aren't subjected to way worse on a daily basis. I appreciate McFarlane throwing in the prop replicas, however cheap they may be, to make the set feel more "worth it", but it just strikes me as a silly move all around. Heck, leave out the gun if that's the biggest worry. I don't mind snagging another weapons pack if it means getting the figure at a cheaper price point. As fun as it is to get the talk show set and Murray, making a Collector's Edition (so it could still be priced up a bit) of Phoenix Joker with the swappable face plates, his clown mask, and maybe a notebook would've been perfect and all I need.
Oh, I don't disagree. To me, the better move would've been to just say "forget it" and not make the set at all if those were the restrictions. But I imagine it was in development and certain costs had already been paid a while before people realized the second flick was gonna bomb at the box office and some of the sales potential would evaporate so quickly. I do wonder which came first: the idea of it being a boxed set or the price demands Warners theoretically put to them.
That's not Todd's MO at all, though. Todd wants to get the toys out no matter what the cost. Clearly it's divisive here, but that's nothing new to this line. If I had a figure for every time I've seen someone online say they're dropping this line, I'd have the whole Multiverse series. It's like that meme of the Call of Duty PC release where 90% of people in the "BOYCOTT COD" group are actively playing COD.
I do wonder which came first: the idea of it being a boxed set or the price demands Warners theoretically put to them.
I have to imagine the set came first. There's not a lot of toyetic juice to squeeze from the Joker movie but people were clamoring for that finale set immortalized in plastic. If I had to guess, Todd approached WB, they gave him a price, and he started making fill-ins like the life-size prop replica pieces to help justify the price, much like he includes those lame trading card stands.
To be clear, I didn't mean Todd "should'nt" put it out. Just that if I were in charge and it was my choice, I wouldn't want the hassle. But I'm not the target audience for this sort of thing to begin with, so my perspective is skewed. For example, I actually kind of liked the second movie even though no one else did, but I don't like either of them enough to buy merchandise from them at any price. And I only have like three of McFarlane's DC figures in the first place. Point being that I have no idea what the desire for this particular product was before I started seeing all the complaints about the price.
I wouldn’t mind paying $250 for the Joker set if the talk show diorama was better.
It looks like you get one wall and the furniture, the floor REALLY looks like cardboard in the photos, maybe I’m wrong but it looks corrugated and very thin.
Just something nice like the old Palisades Muppet sets, plastic floor, two walls, maybe bolt down the desk.
I bought a Muppet Kitchen a few years ago for $250 and haven’t regretted it, would have loved to add a fun little talk show set to my displays (seriously, Bebop and Rocksteady would have lived in this thing!) but what’s there is just so slight and unimpressive for the cost, like drop the props and give me a $200 (I assume the figures are $50 of the price) diorama piece like NECA does
https://twitter.com/mcfarlanetoys/status/1857484864682967436
"Due to the mature nature of the Joker movie, we faced unique restrictions on pricing options, which made this approach the only way we could release the product."
This is one of those instances where my lack of marketing degree keeps me from completely understanding things, I suppose. Going to Target stores and seeing highly detailed, R-rated serial killer action figures from NECA for $35-$40 a pop only adds to my confusion.
WB has been really hesitant to merch Joker. When the first film came out they were worried about mass shootings at theaters. Many theaters had cops or extra security opening weekend to prevent issues. Before just recently, the rumored price point for merch was $1,000 so only life size busts and large statues were made. InArt made the first 1/6 figures but had to do multipacks, even at their prices, to hit that $1,000 threshold.
When Joker 2 was about to hit, Hot Toys was able to make a figure for their usual prices. With this McFarlane set being $250 it would seem WB lowered that pricing threshold on keep these out of kids hands.
As you say, it’s a silly thing really when Jigsaw and Leatherface are just a few pegs over with the NECA figures. Different licensing groups but bizarre in comparison for sure. WB is probably just trying to avoid any kind of lawsuit or negative attention. Remember when some Karen was throwing a fit of the Mezco Walter White figures being sold at ToysRUs? I imagine that’s what they are trying to avoid most here with these restrictions.
I’ve read some of the above details before on other forums and Reddit. Can’t say I’m surprised given that this is the same company that put a “no firearms” policy on their figures.
The bigger issue is that the set is nowhere near worth the price. They should have added in way more or just left it alone. Cardboard set pieces or notebooks/paper and ink barely justify a $100 price tag, much less $250. They could have done some real detailed paint apps or actually built a full plastic diorama, maybe multiple set pieces (include the stairs?). Not a fan of the film so it was an easy pass for me anyway, but can’t believe they didn’t see some backlash coming for this. Maybe decisions made by the same guys releasing pixelated Darkseid.
@mysticmanjrf no way McF figures are better than any mass market toy line, even just current ones. Top of my head: GI Joe Classified, Transformers, Jada Street Fighter, and Marvel Legends are way more impressive as figure lines and in many cases individual figures. The one thing DC Multiverse has going for it is mass- there are just so many of these things released, and often very quickly after being announced.
But like you said, roughly half of the figures have some obviously glaring design or execution flaw that make me wonder if the design team is quiet quitting. It takes McF like three tries attempts at the same character to get it right.
Super late reply - but after more thought I rescind my original statement. When I said it I was thinking of figures like Shriek or Red Death that are absolute perfection. But then again, we have whole waves of Jada Toys Street Fighter figures that can hit ridiculous poses (my Fei Long can stand on one leg and do a high roundhouse), renew your vows Spidey from ML that might be my favorite figure in the collection, etc.
Finally, the Court of Owls set has shipped from Amazon. I have really been wanting this set. It shipped along with the 2 Collectors Editions Green Lanterns I ordered hoping, HOPING, one of them is the Platinum Green Lantern figure.
The price of that Joker talk show set might have gone down easier if the sequel hadn't totally sucked balls and bombed hard, which retroactively hurt the reputation of the first movie too.
The problem for Todd is that the action figure set was already well into production long before the sequel was ever released to theaters. I'll bet if it hadn't been too late McFarlane would have squashed it, but now they are stuck trying to recoup their money any way they can.
In 5 years time it'll be the most sought after McFarlane DC release and people will be bitching that they have to pay 1k to get it.
The price of that Joker talk show set might have gone down easier if the sequel hadn't totally sucked balls and bombed hard, which retroactively hurt the reputation of the first movie too.
The problem for Todd is that the action figure set was already well into production long before the sequel was ever released to theaters. I'll bet if it hadn't been too late McFarlane would have squashed it, but now they are stuck trying to recoup their money any way they can.
The Atari ET landfill cries out to be fed.
Seeing the Joker set on so many sites other than McFarlane Store leads me to believe that it'll get discounted well enough eventually. Maybe not the same across the board, but enough to make it worth it if you hold out long enough.
I mostly wanted the Joker set for the dio. Last year I picked up the Patriot Studio 1/12 Joker from that scene, and as a standalone piece he's awesome (doesn't fit in with McF, but does with other lines) :
I just wanted the dio to use as a background for this, but $250 is nuts even if I wanted all of the other stuff. Maybe someone will part it out eventually.
Man, between some of the deals already applied to the figures, plus some of the coupons you can add to them, I just got Fire, Parallax Sinestro, and Metallo for like $37 shipped and all from Target's website.
Then I got Ambush Bug for $16 on Amazon. Some good deals right now for the Holiday Season.
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