[Dr Kain]

I picked up Icons Joker today. In the long run, he is one of the best Joker figures ever released, if not the best. Unfortunately, as expected, he isn't perfect.

First the positives. The sculpt is incredible. The fact that the lines have been sculpted into his pants is down right spectacular. They could have easily just painted stripes and it would have been cool, but this is going above and beyond expectations, so I applaud them for that. They used a waist joint similar to what Figuarts used, so you can pull his legs down just slightly, which allows him to stretch his legs out more and get a better kick pose. It also allows articulation without leaving a gap. A shame Superman didn't have this. The head is simply amazing.

So what's disappointing? Well the lack of a torso swivel for start. It doesn't break the sculpt, but it would have been more useful than the ab crunch. It also would have been nice if he came with a head without the hat or that the hat was removable. However, my biggest issue comes with the lack of an alternate left hand. He was advertised in all solicitations to include an open left hand that could hold the front end of the tommy gun, but all we get is a fist, making it pointless for his fist to even be removable. I hope they fix this with the upcoming accessories pack otherwise it would be pointless to have the pack come with two laughing fish when we can only have him hold one at a time. This irks me to no end and I could have done without the wide right hand (that seems like it is made to hold the long barrel gun he was originally shown off with).

Nevertheless, I am in love with this figure and it already puts Mattel's offerings to shame. I can finally have a Joker that isn't stuck looking down at all times. Not only that, but this was actualy how I have always wanted a Joker figure to look since Mask of the Phantasm. I just think he looks far more gangster with the coat and hat. It is also nice that a feel of the Mattel accessories work well with him. I really wanted to have him hold a deck of cards in each hand at the same time, but oh well.