Funko is a staple presence in fandom spaces and is well-known among those who engage with fandom culture on a regular basis. Its vinyl figurines depicting characters from well-known movies, franchises, and series, as well as its other licensed merchandise such as apparel and accessories, have become incredibly popular over the years, to the point that larger fandoms see the figurines of their favourite characters almost flying off the shelves. Since they are collectibles and some people buy them only to sell them for higher prices, a market for rare Funko pops has appeared.
These figurines were released in a limited edition only, and their scarcity has made them more attractive to collectors. In some cases, the potential collector might not even be a huge fan of the piece of media the Funko depicts, but they want it for their collection regardless of how rare it is. If you’re a collector yourself and enjoy searching for few and far between items such as these, here are some of the rarest Funko Pops out there that you should know about.
Brook
One Piece is one of the most well-known manga and anime series ever, so the One Piece figures and collectibles at Funko include a wide range of items, ranging from the Funko Pops to crossbody bags, keychains, and backpacks. When it comes to the most expensive One Piece figure, the first place goes to Brook, particularly the 358 New York Comic Con Brook that was released as part of an exclusive and limited collection.
Freddy Funko as Jaime Lannister (Bloody)
The more popular a series is, the more Funkos it is likely to get, and there are not many shows that became as much of a phenomenon as Game of Thrones. And while there are many figurines depicting the characters from the show in different iterations, there is one Pop that is just as popular, although the character wasn’t even a part of the show. Freddy Funko is the designated Funko mascot, and most of the figurines depicting him are incredibly limited in number. This version depicts him as Game of Thrones’ Kingslayer and is so incredibly valuable because it is an exclusive crossover released for the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con. Freddy is dressed in Jaime’s armour, carries a bloody sword, and has blood splattered all over his face in this rare vinyl bobble-head.
Stan Lee Superhero
Stan Lee is a legend among Marvel fans, being the primary creative leader for several decades and essentially building into the multimedia powerhouse it is today. Naturally, any memorabilia and merchandise pertaining to him would be highly coveted by fans. One of these items is a Funko Pop, particularly the one that was made exclusively available at the 2017 Comikaze Expo. It is a red metallic variant of which only twelve units were ever created. Lee signed each box, adding to their appeal. Only a year later, Stan Lee passed away at the age of 95, so many fans have viewed these figurines as a way to remember him by.
Clown Paint Dumbo
Disney is one of the most popular franchises in the world, and as a result, fans can pick between a large assortment of figurines. One of the rarest versions of a character to have ever been created is Dumbo with clown paint on. The reason why this one is on the list of so many collectors is because it is a 2013 Comic-Con exclusive, of which only forty-eight figurines were ever made. Fans of the classic film have their eyes set on another rare Dumbo, a metallic one that was also released in 2013 and which can be purchased for nearly $2,000 nowadays from resellers.
Shadow Trooper
Star Wars fans are a demographic that has been blessed with a lot of merch over the years, including many Funko Pops. The Shadow Trooper, a 2011 SDCC exclusive, depicts one of the intriguing soldiers donning sleek black armour. These figures were released in larger numbers than the earlier examples, as 480 units were launched, but given the size of the fandom and the hype for vinyl figurines, that is actually quite a small number.
Holographic Darth Maul
Another Star Wars character that fans will instantly recognise is Darth Maul, the first apprentice of Darth Sidious. The holographic, bobble-head version of this figurine is the one fans see as a must-have, but the majority don’t have one in their collection and have a very slim chance of ever acquiring one because of how rare they are. Aside from looking cool in and of itself, the figure comes equipped with a holographic look that gives it an ethereal and somewhat spooky appearance, making it a centrepiece in any collection.
Metallic Blue Batman
Batman is one of the most iconic superheroes in the world, with a lot of his appeal stemming from how cool he is. The fact that he doesn’t have any special abilities and superpowers but still chooses to sacrifice so much in order to save the people of Gotham and the fact that he’s a combination of brains and brawn have made him into one of the most popular fictional characters in the world. There are many Batman Funkos out there, but the one that is most out of reach is the Blue Metallic version. Apart from the unique hue, the intricate details of the sculpture are an additional reason why many collectors hope to own this figurine someday.
The bottom line
The rarest Funko Pops out there can be worth more than $100K (the 2016 Willy Wonka and Oompa Loompa Golden Ticket 2 Pack is an example of this), so acquiring them means making a very serious investment. Although that may be outside of the comfort zone of most collectors, there are still many who are willing to spend a few hundred or even thousands in order to get the figurines depicting their favourite characters. Managing to get one of the rare ones takes some time and effort, as you’ll have to go through several marketplaces and do regular searches.
A rare Funko can appear and get snagged right away, so you must remain alert and patient.