If you’ve been in the collecting game for more than a minute, you know the specific, sharp sting of the "Sold Out" button. You know that feeling when you realize you missed a pre-order window by exactly twelve minutes, and then you head over to eBay only to see that same $25 figure listed for $120. It’s frustrating. It’s expensive. And honestly? It’s enough to make some people quit the hobby altogether.
But here at Grown Up Kids, we live for the second chance. We’re collectors too, the kind of people who actually open the boxes (well, sometimes) and appreciate the sculpt of a cape or the articulation of a joint: and we know that the "grail" hunt shouldn't always have to break the bank.
That’s why the new McFarlane Vault Collection is such a massive deal. Todd McFarlane and his team are doing something that feels like a genuine "thank you" to the fans: they’re opening the archives and re-releasing some of the most sought-after dc multiverse action figures at a price that actually makes sense.
No more scalper tax. No more "what-if" regrets. The vault is officially open, and the contents are legendary.
The Joker: Returning to the Scene of the Crime
Let’s talk about the big one first. The Bank Robber Joker from The Dark Knight.
If you remember the opening scene of Christopher Nolan’s masterpiece: that heist that changed how we viewed superhero movies forever: you know why this figure is a grail. The clown mask is iconic. The patterned suit, the bag of grenades: it captures the sheer, chaotic energy of Heath Ledger’s performance perfectly.
Originally, this figure was a nightmare to track down. It was one of those exclusives that seemed to vanish the moment it hit the digital shelves. But now, it’s back as part of the Vault Wave 1.
The best part? It’s not just a straight repack. We’re looking at that "Ultra Articulation" with 22 moving parts. Whether you want to pose him mid-heist or standing menacingly on your shelf next to a stack of (toy) cash, the range of motion is incredible. It’s these kinds of collectible toys for adults that remind us why we started doing this in the first place: it’s about owning a piece of cinema history that you can actually hold in your hand.
The Dark Knight: A Batman for the Ages
You can’t have the Joker without the Bat. And while there have been dozens of Batman figures in the DC Multiverse line, the The Dark Knight version remains a fan favorite for its tactical, grounded aesthetic.
The Vault re-release of this Batman is particularly exciting for one major reason: the fabric-wired cape.
If you’re a display enthusiast: and let's be real, most of us are: you know the struggle of plastic capes. They look great in one pose, but they’re stiff. They limit what you can do. A wired fabric cape changes the game. It allows for wind-swept dramatic poses that actually stay put. You can make him look like he’s just landed from a rooftop or like he’s about to disappear into the shadows.
Retailing for $26.99, this is a version of the Caped Crusader that finally rivals the high-end imports in terms of shelf presence, without the $100 price tag. It’s a win for the "scrappy" collector who wants quality without the "luxury" markup.
A Blast from the Past: Medieval Spawn and Action Comics #1
While the Nolanverse figures are stealing the headlines, the Vault isn’t just about the movies. It’s also about the roots of the hobby.
For those of us who grew up in the 90s, Medieval Spawn is pure nostalgia. Sir John of York, the knight from the 16th century, was one of the designs that put McFarlane Toys on the map decades ago. Seeing him updated with modern articulation and the level of detail we’ve come to expect from the current DC Multiverse line is a total trip. He comes with a sword, a hammer, and that signature grimace that defined an entire era of comics.
And then there’s the big blue boy scout himself: Superman (Action Comics #1).
This isn’t just another Superman figure. This is the first Superman. It’s the "car-smashing" look from 1938. The colors are punchy, the sculpt is classic, and it serves as a perfect bookend for any DC collection. It’s a reminder of where it all started: and at $26.99, it’s a lot cheaper than finding an original copy of the comic book (trust me, I’ve checked).
Why This Matters: The Grown Up Kids Philosophy
At Grown Up Kids, we talk a lot about "the cool stuff you wish you had as a kid but can actually afford now."
The McFarlane Vault Collection fits that mission perfectly. For a long time, the toy industry felt like it was shifting toward two extremes: cheap, basic toys for kids, or incredibly expensive "statue-quality" figures for wealthy adults. There wasn't much in the middle for the person who loves the hobby but has a mortgage to pay.
By re-releasing these classic "grails" at a retail price, McFarlane is pushing back against the idea that collecting has to be a rich man’s game. It’s a transparent move that we respect: it keeps the inventory moving and the fans happy.
We’ve seen similar trends with our LEGO botanical collections and Marvel Legends bundles: sometimes, the market gets so inflated that the only way to fix it is to go back to the basics and offer quality items at a fair price.
The Grail Gamble: The Circular Nature of Collecting
Here’s the blunt truth—this market is a cycle. A figure can be a "grail" for years, commanding real money in the sealed market, right up until the moment a better version or a reprint shows up and resets the whole conversation. That’s exactly why something like the Vault series matters. It doesn’t just give collectors another shot—it reminds everyone that scarcity in this hobby is often temporary.
I’ve seen shops and collectors sit on high-value pieces thinking the upside will last forever, and then the new hotness drops and the profit evaporates overnight. One announcement—one cleaner sculpt, one better accessory loadout, one updated paint job—and suddenly that prized item isn’t the untouchable centerpiece it was the week before.
A perfect example is Marvel Legends Bullseye. The 2017 version was the gold standard for a long time, and the aftermarket treated it that way. If you wanted a comic-style Bullseye on your shelf, that was the one, and the price stayed high because people believed it would stay the definitive version. Then the Bullseye & Muse 2-pack landed—and with it, the first "bloody" Bullseye deco in the line—and the game changed.
Another case study that hits this exact nerve is the 2017 Marvel Legends Green Goblin from the Sandman BAF wave. Right now, that figure is still pulling around $80 on eBay—and honestly, I get why. It’s got a killer sculpt, a great glider, and it still looks fantastic on a shelf. For a lot of collectors, it absolutely feels like a grail.
But this is where the collector’s dilemma kicks in—and it’s something we deal with at Grown Up Kids every day. Do you sell now while the demand is still strong, or do you hold because it feels like one of those pieces that should keep climbing? The tension gets even worse when part of the value is tied to those included Sandman BAF heads, because now you’re not just pricing the Goblin—you’re pricing the extra build value packed in with it too.
And hanging over all of that is the same risk that follows every older "definitive" figure in this hobby: a newer, better Goblin could drop at any time and tank the value overnight. One updated portrait, one better body, one cleaner glider setup—and suddenly the market resets. That’s the gamble. That’s the circular nature of collecting. And that’s why we try to stay honest about these pieces instead of pretending any grail stays safe forever.
If you want the ultimate cautionary tale, look back at the Beanie Baby phenomenon in the 90s. People were treating plush animals like a 401k—stockpiling them, protecting tag condition like it was gold, and convincing themselves those values would hold forever. Then the market crashed, hard. Those same "grails" that people thought would fund their future ended up practically worthless in a huge number of cases. It’s the same lesson whether you’re talking about a plush bear or a plastic superhero—"perpetual value" is a myth, and this market can be brutal if you hold on too long.
That doesn’t make the older figure bad. It just proves the point. In collectibles, value is only stable until the next announcement says otherwise. That’s the real risk of the sealed market—your premium only lasts as long as the next reissue, remake, or surprise upgrade allows it to.
Get Your Display Ready
Whether you’re a "Mint in Box" collector or a "Pose it and Post it" photographer, these Vault figures are going to be the centerpieces of a lot of shelves this September.
We’re keeping a close eye on the stock levels: and being blunt, these things are going to fly. Between the nostalgia of Medieval Spawn and the cinematic demand for the Joker, they won't sit around long. We’ve always been about fast shipping and careful packaging: because we know there’s nothing worse than a crushed corner on a Grail box: and we’re ready to get these into your hands.
Check out our full range of DC Multiverse action figures to see what else we’ve managed to hunt down for the shop. We’re constantly adding new (and old) finds to the all products collection, so keep an eye out.
So, what’s your take? Are you grabbing that Bank Robber Joker to finally complete your heist scene, or are you more of a Medieval Spawn fan? Or maybe there's another figure you're hoping McFarlane pulls out of the vault next? (Personally, I'm still holding out hope for a specific Arkham-era figure re-release).
Have a conversation with us! Drop a comment or reach out: we love talking toys as much as we love selling them.
Stay cool, stay nostalgic.
: William & The Grown Up Kids Team
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