Summary
The defining moment for arch DC villainThe Jokerisperfectly recreated with action figures in a new variant cover by McFarlane Toys, depicting the scene in which the original Red Hood transforms into one of Batman’s most terrifying villains, falling into toxic chemicals and thus becoming the Clown Prince of Crime.The day Joker was bornis remade as the premium toy company models important moments in DC history.
DC’s advanced solicitations forBatman#155 – written by Chip Zdarsky, with art by Jorge Fornés – revealed that the issue will ship with a McFarlane Toys’ variant cover depicting this iconic moment. The first Red Hood design that McFarlane Toys is working off of was originally featured in the story titled “The Man Behind the Red Hood!” first published inDetective Comics#168 in 1951.
Though theJoker’s origin is often retold in differing ways, and often disputed, the Red Hood rendition is the first and perhaps most memorable version.
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DC & McFarlane Toys Celebrate Red Hood, ACE Chemicals, And The Birth Of The Joker
Detective Comics #168,story “The Man Behind the Red Hood!” – Written By Bill Finger; Art By Lew Sayre Schwartz, Win Mortimer, & George Roussos
The McFarlane Toys variant cover forBatman#155 shows the figure of Batman reaching out to attempt to catch the criminal Red Hood, before his descent into the toxic sludge below.
As Red Hood accidentally fell into a vat of toxic chemicals in a terrible battle with Batman, the Joker was created from this moment of disaster. The Joker was amember of the Red Hood Gangbefore that mantle got taken for Jason Todd’s superhero identity. After a robbery gone awry, the Joker’s original Red Hood persona fell into the chemicals while trying to evade being caught by Batman.The McFarlane Toys variant cover forBatman#155 shows the figure of Batman reaching out to try to catch the criminal Red Hood,before his descent into the toxic sludge below.
Other versions of this possible origin vary in details, but Red Hood trying to escape Batman and plummeting into the noxious liquid and subsequently descending into Joker madness remains consistent. Though the McFarlane Toys figure used on the cover explicitly referencesDetective Comics#168, it’s visually more in line withBatman#24, from 2013’sZero Yearevent. The McFarlane Toys variant cover is strikingly similar to Guillem March’s cover for that issue, with the angle from above as the Red Hood falls into the bubbly vat of green chemicals.
2013’sBatman#24 was written by Scott Snyder & James Tynion IV, with art by Greg Capullo, Rafael Albuquerque, & more.
McFarlane Toys' Joker Origin Variant Continues The Company’s Recreation Of Historic DC Moments
Batman#155 – Written By Chip Zdarsky; Art By Jorge Fornés; Variant Cover By McFarlane Toys
The action figure recreation of the Joker and Batman’s first interaction is a playful rendition of a legendary piece of DC Comics lore.
McFarlane Toys and DC Comics previously teamed up for a line ofvariants featuring famous DC moments in collectible formlast year. Previous moments includedBane breaking Batman’s back, a recreation of Superman on the cover ofAction Comics#1, and others spotlighting action figure versions of popular DC heroes like Robin and Alan Scott’s Green Lantern.In addition to the Joker’s Red Hood origin, other covers created with McFarlane Toys’ collectible figures include aDark Knight Returns-style variant and a recreation of theBatman ‘66poster with a red version of Adam West’s Batman.
The Red Hood’s descent into the chemicals and his newfound Joker persona is one of the best examples of an iconic moment in DC history that’s being celebrated in McFarlane Toys’ variant series. Depicting the inception of one of Batman’s most popular villains, and perhaps one of the most well-known antagonists in fiction overall,the McFarlane Toys variant forBatman#155 is certainly a thrill for toy and comic collectors alike. The action figure recreation ofthe JokerandBatman’s first interaction is a playful rendition of a legendary piece of DC Comics lore.
Batman#155and its McFarlane Toys Red Hood variant cover will be available July 13, 2025 from DC Comics.
The Joker
The Joker is a psychopathic criminal mastermind with a warped sense of humor. Initially introduced as a remorseless serial killer, the character evolved over time, often oscillating between a prankster and a homicidal maniac. His relationship with Batman is one of the most complex in comic book history, defined by their mutual obsession. Over the decades, the Joker has become an enduring icon of chaos and madness, embodying the antithesis of Batman’s order and justice.
