Dark Horse and Naughty Dog are collaborating on a limited-edition bust depicting Joel from The Last of Us angrily wielding a brick. It stands 8.5 inches tall, costs $149.99, and is very bad.
“Clutching the ever-reliable brick, Joel stands battle-worn yet determined, clad in his signature green flannel and weathered backpack,” the press copy reads, perhaps too serious by half for such a silly collectors item. “Whether used as a weapon or a well-timed distraction, the brick is an essential tool in Joel’s fight for survival.”
Who is this for? I can’t imagine even the most die-hard The Last of Us fan — a person I never want to meet, to be really real with everyone — wanting this harsh, bearded man on display in their home. What are you going to do, put it up next to your niece’s baby photos and that nice little painting you bought from a local artist at last week’s farmers market? The Last of Us is violent, sometimes to a hyperbolic degree, but I think ol’ Bricky Joel here would still shy away threatening to demolish grandma’s urn and spread her ashes on the fireplace mantle.
All that said, it’s nowhere near as bad as the “Ellie with switchblade” bust the two companies released last year, and that unfortunate-looking statue sold out. I don’t think of myself as a snob, but if you welcome me into your home and I see either of these grumpy dorks on display anywhere outside of your teenager’s room, I’m making up an excuse and leaving early.
