Les Walker's HEATH LEDGER JOKER Tribute Custom

"NOW I AM BECOME SHIVA, DESTROYER OF WORLDS!"
Bhagavad Gita












I am become Death, Destroyer of Gotham...



Pleased to meet you, glad you know my name...






HEATH LEDGER AS THE JOKER from The Dark Knight
Original custom figure, by Les Walker and BillyB
Using some DC Direct Joker figure parts

















This has been a very hard figure to make. it is also the first ever collaborative effort I have been involved with of it's kind.

From the moment Heath died, to the moment I saw DA Josh's great custom, I knew I had to make my own custom to go with my Joker set, but I couldn't figure out how to get the one I wanted. It was just too complex.

I knew the DC Direct one was coming out, (this was WAY before the HT announcement) and I liked some of the parts from the early shots I saw, namely the headsculpt, which I used and seriously remodeled, adding more hair, and an attached neck compatible with a Dragon body, which is what I used, or any other type. And yes, it fits a HT post perfectly.

I also liked the DCD necktie and shoes which I repainted. That was about it for borrowed parts. The chain I got from a bracelet at Walmart, and added to the SS Doc Holiday watchchain, so there is a watch at the end of that chain.

The costume...it is all originally crafted.

This was a co-produced labor of love between myself as the what I want guy, and the maker, the hard pressed guy who did the amazing work, our own BillyB. I cannot thank Billy enough for his tireless work here. Note the shirt, it took several passes, and damned if the man wouldn't give up, and got not only the sublime blue-grey color right, but the pattern down, and in proper scale! I cannot thank him enough for that. Amazing work that alone!

His coat and inner coat (of which he went through two to get it right also) are awesome. The inner lining of each has the burnt orange satin look (Looks red but isn't) and the vest and pants are terrific to me. I liked the more bluish look of the pants in some of the photos, as opposed to the more purple ones, so we went with that.
I painted the dirt and grime onto Billy's outer coat, so it has that weird color shift around the corners and all, and dirtied him up slightly here and there. Scary stuff! But needed to complete the look.


Here are most of the parts with the newly minted head I just finished. No cool checkered socks yet, but those will come...




I really wanted to use Josh's original head, as it is terrific, and I have painted it a couple of times now, and it is a great Joker, but I wanted something more my own take, and since I love the new DCD sculpt best of any I have seen out there, I felt I had best wait on it (it came in last week), to get what I wanted from it first, then decide. So, there you go.

I dedicate this figure to all of you, to DA Josh for inspiring me to try yet again with another original Joker of my own for my own collection, to Buttmunch (the only member who knew...)for his reference images and info as I worked on it, and mostly to BillyB, for being one hell of a guy, and for having INFINITE PATIENCE with me and my demands, among his other works in progress, and of course, to the eternal spirit of Heath Ledger, whom I believe, we all will owe so much in the coming weeks.

To you all! Thanks and enjoy!

I will not be making this figure available as a complete figure. This one is my own, original and uncopied, like my custom 1939 and 1989 Jokers. That is a particular series of efforts I don't want to go through again. (they seem to all happen in bad times anyway....)

BillyB may can make some of the clothing parts available, but that is his pervue and you will have to deal with him on that, but, the head you see here, the altered DC Direct one, will indeed available, in painted form only, from me very soon. If there is enough interest in it, I will begin taking orders for them soon. Again, it can fit to Dragon, BBI, Hot Toys, and other neck posts.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy my latest custom Joker.
See even more pics in my customs thread.
Thanks all!

Beautiful work, as always, Les. That last close-up shot of his face is amazing.

brilliant work absolutley amazing. thed detail is jaw dropping, it looks like heath 100 percent.

its beautiful!!

I'm so proud of you, Les! Your Jokers have always been my favorites of your personal collection, ever since I happened upon your Mr. Freeze custom.
I'm glad you're not going to reproduce these in their entirety for sale. But at least the masses will get "a piece" of the greatness of this new work.
I'm jazzed about your Joker collection more than I can say, and having your Nicholson Joker in my own collection feels like a highly appropriate tribute and reminder of what an amazing artist and compatriot I have found in you.

A beautiful original.

And the figure is amazing, too.

Les, you are a master indeed.

Brilliant work as always. the last shot of the head is simply jaw dropping.

Indeed it is an amazing figure, amazing likeness. Makes me wish I had the talent to make my own custom figures. My hat is off to you Les. And R.I.P Heath, thanks for giving us one last performance that I know will be remembered for a long time to come.

nice! Looks like a lot of work went into him. Well done

One word: WHOA!!! :eek

Insanely awesome work here Les.

A big congrats to you and BillyB on this - it is stunning.

Please put me down for one of these heads.

OMG LES. THAT IS INCREDIBLE! A TRUE ONE OF A KIND MASTERPIECE!

Look at that Shirt! It's perfect, the shoes, the outfit, the tie, the Heath Sculpt -- dead on! As expected! Congratulations Bro!

I can see a new "FML Hall of Joker Heads" Pic coming soon and thanks for making them available to us Les. I am stunned, not in shock, but stunned at the amazing workmanship of this masterpiece. WOW. Just WOW.

love the detail in the face... great paint Ap!!!

Great work Les.

Wow thats amazing. Thats a great talent you have there. Thanks for sharing.

That's awesome Les!!


Some of your best work ever.

This is an amazing piece of work. My hats off to you sir.

Les, you and Billy have assembled one fantastic figure there, it's unbelievable how true to the film it is, you do Heath very proud with this effort, and in my opinion, it's one of your best works yet. Like Josh's, the love for Heath and the character really shines through here.

That is absolutely awesome Les! A true work of art and loving tribute. You can be sure to add me to that list of people that will want a head

outstanding work as usual. and like someone said you can really tell the passion that went into making this figure. you always do above and beyond but seems one can tell when it's an extra special project that gives off a certain artistic radiance. congrats on this work of art.