Collectors or Creeps? Ledger Joker Dolls Sell Out in Minutes

Yeah, this year’s must have.

The New York Post reported that figurines of Heath Ledger as the Joker sold out immediately at the Toys R Us in Times Square. Scores of people lined up hours ahead of the store opening in order to snag one of the $9.99 Dark Knight dolls.

A store employee said there were no Joker toys left in the store or warehouse, and the wait for another shipment would be “a while.” FAO Schwartz reportedly had none; a Toys R Us in Jersey City was supposed to get some in later this week.

Midtown Comics was expecting to get a shipment in later this month, but be quick–an employee there said they were expecting them to go over big, having heard that someone at Toys R Us picked up 30 of the Jokers.

So what does all this mean? Well, a movie like The Dark Knight was going to be merchandise heavy anyway. Kids and collectors would have been big buyers of the toys. But selling out in minutes, with lines around the block? That means there were two additional types of buyers out–people who were a little bit on the creepy side who wouldn’t have been buying the Joker figurine if Ledger hadn’t died, and scam artists who were hoping to make a quick buck off all those who just “had” to have one of the Jokers. Reportedly the toys were posted on eBay within hours of the store sellout. So if you’re one of the people who really wants one but they’re all sold out, don’t worry, you can get one. For about ten times the retail price. And then you can brag or whatever about being the first to have one of the toys. For whatever that’s worth.