It was way back in 2011 when Funko unveiled the very first Freddy Funko Pops as we know it. Since then, Fun Days have been the go-to event for collectors to get their hands on these limited edition figures. Of course, of the hundreds of thousands of Funko collectors, only a handful actually get to attend the event and the rest are left scouring auction sites to secure their very own Freddy. However, many fans could not or will not pay $100 or more for a single Pop, Freddy or otherwise. All-in-all, there was a very real Freddy Funko shortage. The demand was high and the supply was low.
But then…
In late 2015, Funko opened the virtual doors to Funko-Shop, an online store that specialized in selling, believe it or not, Funko products. Not only that, but once a week they release an exclusive Funko Shop item. Some weeks the item is a Hikari, other weeks it’s a Dorbz figure, and once and a while it’s a Pop. But the real wonder is that on occasion the exclusive item is a Freddy Funko Pop. Fans applauded Funko for finally making Freddy Funko Pops affordable and even better, accessible to all who have a computer or at least a decent phone – no Fun Days admission or bidding paddles required.
And now…
Is there too much Freddy Funko? Instead of having a Freddy shortage, is there now a Freddy overload? What used to be a character that only came out as a cameo disguised in pop culture garb is now more of a series regular or at least a guest star. By making Freddy more widely available, has Funko inadvertently made him less special?
What’s your take on the Freddy phenomenon? Do you collect Freddy figures? If so, at what lengths will you go to get one? If not, why not?
Matt Norris