In general, the reason for a Pop! of Funko being rare is the low print run of the piece. There are hundreds of pieces of some level of rarity, as Funko has produced around 3,000 models of Pop! Below, we’ve rounded up some of the rarest of them all (although they’re not the only ones with these print runs), then we’ve broken down the reasons why one item is manufactured in lower numbers than others. The best way to know if your Pop! what is rare is by consulting the fan site poppriceguide.com. Any figure over $30 already has some level of rarity.
Curiosity: In addition to the categories listed below, there are also some exclusive models for the Asian market (Pop! Asia Series line). Western collectors use eBay to acquire them
STORES EXCLUSIVES
In the past, the company put metallic versions, glowing in the dark, “flocked” (with fur) etc. hidden in normal lots. They were called “chases”. Now, these pieces are known as variants and are usually exclusive to foreign stores such as Walmart, Hot Topic and Game Stop. Some Pop! have several variants
BOX EXCLUSIVES
Funko has three nerd box subscription services: Marvel Collector Corps, Legion of Collectors, and Smuggler’s Bounty. They all bring Pops! exclusive (and no delivery in Brazil). In addition, boxes from other brands, such as Loot Crate, sometimes partner with Funko and bring their own models, which are not available in stores.
FAIR EXCLUSIVES
Some events (generally US comic book fairs) also have models of their own. There are several made especially for conventions – the Pop! Stan Lee, for example. Quantities range from 12 to 500 units of each version per fair. Sometimes some batches of these items are released to stores, but this is rare.
RETIRED
The «retired» are those that Funko placed in the Vault («vault»). Being in the Vault means the model is no longer produced, although it may one day be produced again. These dolls aren’t necessarily rare – sometimes there are still too many in stock. But the end of production is a good sign that the model’s value will increase.
FREDDY FUNKO
This little guy is the company mascot. Its models are manufactured in very limited quantities (from 12 to 500 units) and are highly sought after. You get one by signing up for Funklub, a Funko club (funko.com/pages/fun-klub). But variant dolls are almost always released at San Diego Comic Con or Fun Days, side events held by Funko during SDCC
CONSULTANCY André Santos, moderator of the Collectors Funko Pop! Brazil
SOURCES Funko and Pop Price Guide