Postby DocRamon » Sat Jun 02, 2012 5:24 pm
Welcome aboard!
Only 7 of the DC characters are bobbleheads -- Batman, Robin, Batgirl, Penguin, Joker, Superman, Green Lantern. They were exclusive to Target stores, but Target doesn't carry the DC ones anymore, so these ones have become more scarce. Target frequently donates items to thrift stores when they don't sell at clearance, so it doesn't surprise me that some have shown up there now.
These 7 characters are also available as figures, too. They're sold as figures at every other store, with the rest of the DC lineup. In addition, the Toy Story characters -- Woody, Buzz, Lotso, Jessie -- are also available as both figures and bobbleheads. (Zurg and the Alien are currently only available as figures, but they'll be released as bobbleheads later this summer, presumably.)
And just because the DC bobbleheads are scarce, I wouldn't put too much stock in that $50 Joker price. That auction has been listed a few times now, and it never sells. I've seen DC bobbleheads go for $4 before. The fact is, for the characters that come as both bobblehead and figure, most collectors only want one version, and they want to stay consistent. Since all the other Disney/DC characters are figures, the bobblehead versions tend to be less desired... even if they're more rare, as is the case with the DC ones. (For Toy Story characters, the figures are actually more rare.)
I think I've become this board's resident expert on the bobblehead/figure topic, as I'm one of a small few looking for both versions of characters. Again, most collectors just don't care. That said, if you see a Batman, Batgirl or Penguin that bobbles... please send me a PM!