Before we dive deep into Funko lore, I couldn‘t resist opening with this mind-blowing stat — over 20,000! That‘s right fellow pop culture junkie, Funko has created over 20,000 unique vinyl figures since bursting onto the toy scene in 1998.
As a Funko historian and data analyst, I‘ve charted the exponential growth of this nostalgia peddler into a pop phenomenon. But today we rewind to those early years and the very first Funko Pops where it all began! Insert dreamy harp glissando sound effect here
Let me be your vinyl tour guide on this trip back in time to the late 90s as we marvel at the modest roots of Funko’s vinyl empire!
So Who is This Funko Guy Anyway?
Great question imaginary reader! Fun fact: Funko was started by a guy named Mike Becker. Mike was just an average Joe action figure collector in the late 90s when the idea struck — why not start making his own cool collectibles?
You see Mike was struggling to find decent toys and vintage bobbleheads of his favorite pop culture icons from years past. So in 1998 Mike took fate into his own hands, founding a company called Funko LLC in his home state of Washington.
Little did Mike know he was about to spark a vinyl collecting craze still going strong decades later!
Here‘s a quick snapshot of Funko‘s growth since those humble bobblehead days:
| Year | Product Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1998 | Funko founded, sells 480 Big Boy bobbleheads |
| 2002 | Funko almost goes under but is saved by Austin Powers licensing deal! |
| 2005 | Global expansion begins with Funko UK Ltd launch |
| 2010 | First vinyl Pop figure debuts! |
| 2013 | Funko POP! brand mascot Freddy makes his debut |
| 2015 | Funko goes public, share price doubles in first day of trading |
| 2022 | Estimated net sales of $1.029 billion |
| 2023 | Over 20,000 individual Funko Pop designs and counting! |
Now that‘s what I call explosive growth! But let‘s head back to the olden days when plastic was fantastic and everything was groovy baby…
#1: Big Boy Bobblehead (1998)
When deciding on that very first figure, Mike Becker drew from his own nostalgia for classic restaurant mascot Big Boy. With his checkered overalls and signature pompadour, Big Boy was a vintage icon begging for the Funko treatment!
Mike obtained a license to make his very own bobbling Big Boy figurines in 1998. Though only 480 of these first Funkos were produced, the humble Big Boy marked the inaugural steps toward toy supremacy.
I couldn‘t dig up much on those early collector reactions, but one must respect the OG status! Here are some tasty tidbits on this pre-pop icon:
- Big Boy mascot debuted in 1936 at Bob‘s Big Boy restaurant in Glendale, CA
- Designer Warner Williams picked the chubby boy mascot because it resembled his plump 5-month-old nephew!
- By 1967 over 200 Big Boy restaurant franchises were slinging burgers across America
Funko wasn‘t bobbling around long before they ditched single restaurant icons for full-blown pop culture. But I‘ve got mad respect for my vintage vinyl brother Big Boy putting Funko on the path to plastic destiny!
#2: Austin Powers Bobbleheads (2002)
Believe it or not, after that modest Big Boy debut things weren‘t looking groovy for our Funko friends. In fact history buffs, Funko almost called it quits just 4 years into their vinyl venture!
But one shagadelic licensing deal changed everything when Mike Becker secured rights to make bobbling figures of spy comedy sensation Austin Powers. When the first sculpts of characters like Dr. Evil surfaced in 2002, collectors found their mojo and started snatching up this playful retro line.
Here‘s a deep data dive into how Powers-mania resulted in Funko‘s first real collector craze:
| Austin Powers Bobblehead Launch Details | |
|---|---|
| Year Released | 2002 |
| Number of Sculpts | 6 |
| Characters | Austin Powers, Dr. Evil, Frau Farbissina, Scott Evil, Fat Bastard, Mini-Me |
| Total Sales | ~10,000 units |
| Opening Price | $5.99 |
| Current Value | $40 – $300 |
I was digging through some old internet forums from that time and collectors were already buzzing about these comedically cheeky caricatures. One poster gushed "The Dr. Evil bobblehead is too funny! His freaky Mini-Me sidekick is a riot too."
Indeed the public pounced on this playful set immortalizing Mike Myers’ shag-tastic superspy parody franchise. Capitalizing on Austin Powers peak popularity proved the power of pop culture and saved Funko from an unfortunate fate!
#3: Mickey Mouse Metallic (2010)
What started as mere restaurant merch and comedy bobbleheads eventually brought Funko to the Magic Kingdom. The company earned its ears making collectibles for that beloved Disney rodent Mickey Mouse.
But their early Mickey line featured one ultra rare variant coveted as Disney treasure — 2010 San Diego Comic Con exclusive Metallic Mickey! Only 480 of this flashy fashion statement were minted.
| Mickey Mouse Metallic Details | |
|---|---|
| Release Year | 2010 |
| Production Quantity | 480 |
| Debut Event | San Diego Comic Con 2010 |
| Material | Metallic colorized vinyl |
| Estimated Value | $2000+ |
| Highest Sale Price | $2600 (PopPriceGuide) |
This radical retro take on vintage Mickey turned that iconic mouse into a holy grail chase figure overnight. Disney diehards and hardcore hunters went full steam ahead seeking this glittering centerpiece!
Funko Fun Fact: Mickey kicked off the Disney Pop line now spanning over 1,100 individual characters from animated classics like Frozen, Moana, The Little Mermaid and countless more!
#4: Superman Metallic Chase (#7)
Comic legend Superman got his own chrome-plated plastic treatment as a 2010 San Diego Comic Con exclusive. The Man of Steel embodied Funko‘s burgeoning obsession with turning nostalgic characters into glitzy collectible variants.
Only a handful of these Metallic Chase Superman funkos were produced, though no one knows the exact number. Judging from the dizzying sales numbers, it certainly wasn‘t enough to meet collector demand!
| Superman Metallic #7 Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Release Year | 2010 |
| Est. Production | Under 100 units |
| Current Value | $400 – $800 |
| Highest Sale Price | $920 (eBay March 2022) |
That ultra rare chase figure status skyrocketed interest in this glittering Kryptonian. Fantastic plastic rarity aside, that striking metallic sheen electrifying Superman‘s suit remains irresistibly eye-catching!
Even veteran collectors were frothing over this one back in 2010:
"Saw a Metallic Superman Chase at NYCC today. Holy Grail! My hands were literally shaking trying to hold it." – Anonymous plastic crack addict
#5: Green Lantern (#9)
Shifting from DCs mightiest metahuman to flashlight-wielding ring slinger Green Lantern! This glow-in-the-dark crusader marked Funko‘s charge into crafting vinyl figures for an entire pantheon of DC superheroes.
Beyond the sci-fi appeal of his cosmic powered costume, GL holds historical significance as the first comic book conversion from Funko‘s original bobblehead roots to stylized vinyl construction.
Let‘s illuminate some data on this lantern-toting pioneer:
| Green Lantern #9 Vinyl Debut | |
|---|---|
| Release Year | 2010 |
| DC Heroes Series | #9 |
| Glows in the Dark! | Yes |
| Production Quantity | Unknown |
| Current Value | $250 – $300 |
While more Green Lanterns have emerged over the years, that first glowing #9 remains an extraterrestrial gem even 12 years later!
Funko Fun Fact: That inaugural line of DC Comic Pop Heroes now comprises over 800 individual vinyl figures!
#6: Darth Maul Holographic (2012)
What‘s more deadly than a red-faced Sith with horns and a double-bladed lightsaber? A glow-in-the-dark red-faced Sith with horns and a double-bladed lightsaber!
Such was the brilliance behind Funko‘s premier Star Wars vinyl creation — 2012 Comic Con exclusive Holographic Darth Maul!
This variant edition of vicious Sith Lord Darth Maul mimicked the ghostly luminscent holograms seen throughout the sci-fi saga. Beyond the mesmerizing special effect, unpainted prototype images reveal the exceptional sculpt work capturing Darth Maul‘s fierce facial details.
Let‘s analyze some statistical intel behind this first Funko foray into galaxies far far away:
| Darth Maul Holographic Details | |
|---|---|
| Release Year | 2012 |
| Production Quantity | 480 |
| Debut Event | San Diego Comic Con 2012 |
| Material | Glow-in-the-dark vinyl |
| Current Value | $1700+ |
| Highest Sale Price | $2600 (eBay July 2022) |
That tiny production run and its commemorative 2012 Comic Con kicked off Funko‘s Star Wars vinyls in radiant style. But that Darth Maul mark was just the beginning — Funko‘s Pop Star Wars catalog has exploded into over 500 characters from countless canonical corners of the epic space saga!
#7: Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (2016)
Four years later Funko was still oozing creative candy dedicated to bringing pop culture‘s sweetest icons to plastic fruition. Which brings us to master confectioner Willy Wonka from beloved 1971 musical fantasy Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
Alongside Wonka himself, Funko crafted key supporting characters like greedy Augustus Gloop and literal berry-flavored Violet — victims of Mr. Wonka‘s comical factory mishaps!
I‘ve compiled some everlasting gobstopper trivia about this tasty tribute:
| Willy Wonka Fun Facts | |
|---|---|
| Release Year | 2016 |
| Character Selection | Willy Wonka, Veruca Salt, Violet Beauregarde, Augustus Gloop, Mike Teavee, Grandpa Joe |
| Model Material | Vinyl |
| Package Style | Retro 1970s look |
| Created By | Funko designer Reis O‘Brien |
From sculpting to box art, Funko perfectly paid homage to the beloved Gene Wilder fantasty gem through playfully stylized interpretations of key characters.
40+ years later the world remains captivated by Roald Dahl‘s scrumptious fantasy. We all need to be kids again sometimes — what better escape than entering the candy-coated imagination of Funko!
#8: Kool-Aid Man (2019)
No early Funko retrospective would be complete without that mammoth drink mascot known worldwide for bursting through brick walls to save the thirsty — the Kool-Aid Man!
The thundering anthropomorphic pitcher brimming with fruity beverage mix smashed onto shelves in 2019, shaking up Funko‘s long-running Ad Icons line featuring classic brand mascots.
Let‘s dig into some refreshing fun facts behind this jumbo-sized juggernaut:
| Kool-Aid Man Fast Facts | |
|---|---|
| Debut Year | 2019 |
| Created By | Reis O‘Brien (Funko designer) |
| Height | 4 inches |
| Weight | Feels appropriately hefty! |
| Highlight | Giant smiling face on pitcher body |
| Catchphrase | "Oh Yeah!" |
The sheer cartoonish glee with a nostalgic twist encapsulates the vibrant appeal of Funko. While only 4 inches tall, Kool-Aid Man remains larger than life bursting with playful campy retro charm!
Oh and although his destructive tendencies worried some parents back in the day, we still love him for it! Right kids?! wink wink
Inside the Pop Empire
Before we raise our plastic chalices and bid cheers to Funko‘s fantastic voyage into toy fame, I want to shine the spotlight on a few creative minds behind early Funko magic…
Mike Becker – We‘ve already covered Funko‘s intrepid founder, but let‘s applaud Mike‘s vision to transform his collector passion into one of history‘s most prolific pop culture toy purveyors!
Reis O‘Brien – This Funko Art Director sculpted many early figure molds and illustrated iconic retro packaging. Credits include Harley Quinn, Skeletor, Hellboy, and Funko‘s breakthrough hit Wacky Wobblers bobbleheads!
Sean Wilkinson – As Funko‘s first creative hire, Sean shaped those signature moneymaker oversized heads! He also executive produced the Funko catalog for over 15 years.
While many exceptional designers have entered the Funkoverse, these OGs laid the visual groundwork for injecting outsized personality into tiny plastic bodies!
Now as a funkcoholic myself, I gotta showcase this shock-and-awe data display revealing the current 20 Most Valuable Funko Pops of All Time:
| Rank | Funko Pop Name | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Freddy Funko as Dumbo | $32,000 | 2013 |
| 2 | Metallic Whis from Dragon Ball | $21,000 | 2020 |
| 3 | Batman (Rainbow) | $13,000 | 2011 |
| 4 | Freddy Funko as Hulk (Glow in the Dark) | $12,000 | 2020 |
| 5 | Freddy Funko as Stan Lee (SuperCon) | $11,000 | 2017 |
Whoa nelly looking at that price tag by ole Dumbo Freddy! And the iconic Stan Lee clocking in at #5?? faints
As a proud Plastic Junkie, numbers like these either thrill my collector heart with dollar-sign-eyed ecstasy… or trigger cost-related panic attacks! Perhaps we save that existential financial discussion for another day dear reader…
For now I‘ll leave you with a nugget of fundamental Funko wisdom passed down from Pop Padawan to Mentor for generations…
Scour those sales my young padawan! Rare Funko finds bring great fortune and glory to we who sniff them out of dusty secondhand toy shelves!
Okay sorry, got a bit theatrical there as I often do. But do let me know if you stumble upon any rare plastic gems in your toy travels! This old Funko fanatic is always hunting…
Further Funko Factoids
Hope you enjoyed that trip down plastic memory lane spotlighting the fab eight figures that pioneered the Funkoverse!
If you find yourself in urgent need of more Funko history, scope these rad articles for supplementary studying:
🔸 The Best Funko Pops Ever Made – Old school classics compete with new hits!
🔸 Most Expensive Funko Pop Record Holder – Jaw drops! Gasps heard in 4 languages!
🔸 Must-Have Anime Funko Pops – From Pokémon to Sailor Moon!
🔸 Rarest & Most Exclusive Grail List – Hunt them my young Padawan!
Until next time friends, happy hunting out there and remember…
The past stands alongside the present when it comes to pop culture magic!
