https://twitter.com/AndreaPessino/status/436587388828004352@C_0guy main characters run over 100K polys each, >250 joints just in the head, >130 blend shapes in face, etc.... CRAZY stuff!
Pretty incredible.
I don't know about Joel, but a few comparisons:
Kratos: ~20k
Heavy Rain main characters: 15k
Lee in The Walking Dead: 5k
Marius in Ryse: 85k