If you are like me, you spend stupid amounts of money on Funko Pops. You hunt in stores, search the internet, and visit conventions in order to grab that one pop you can’t live without. Funko does do a great job at adding new characters to their ever growing list of available choices. On the flip side, Funko also knows how to milk the heck out of a comic license. Why release just one version of the Pop when you can release fifty…of the same basic mold! That number doesn’t even include the Dorbz and Mystery Minis. If you are sick of seeing the same character over and over again, then this Top 5 is for you. I fully expect rebuttals, but below are five comic book characters the Funko Boardroom needs to have a serious discussion about putting on the back burner for a while. Note: Counts are estimated based on checklists and articles found on your friendly neighborhood Pop Vinyl Site.
Number 5: Harley Quinn
I get it, Harley is the “It” girl. Suicide Squad has put her on the front page. Now not only do my fellow nerds love her, but even people who have no idea what DC Comics is are starting to buy her Funko Merchandise. I understand business and striking the iron while it’s hot; but is there really a demand for a character that wasn’t even a focal point of the show or comics. Harley clocks in at 16 Pops available, most of which came out this year.
Number 4: Captain America
Congrats to Captain America, America’s Greatest Hero, who just turned 75 years old. Funko has been celebrating the riches of Cap for almost as long (possible exaggeration). With 18 Pops available on the market, you will have no trouble finding one to add to your collection, even if most of them look the same.
Number 3: Iron Man
I understand Iron Man has 46 different Mark Suits. But do we really need all of them to be Pops? If you throw Iron Patriot and War Machine, which let’s be real, are the same molds, then you have a whopping 22 Pops. Yes, the Hot Topic Pop with Tony’s helmet up or the Flying Avengers Pop are excellent pieces, but do we really need the 20 others?
Number 2: Deadpool
Ah Deadpool. This guy was so cool when he was cracking jokes about Mexican Food and having long conversations with his zombie head from another universe. Fast forward to now where a successful movie and Ryan Reynolds has made him so relevant, eight year olds are rocking his clothes and toys. Funko has also decided to abuse the heck out of this license in the process. At least he has a couple different molds so they don’t entirely look the same, but at a staggering 38 Pops, when is enough enough?
Number 1: Batman
Every time I log on to PopVinyls.com and see yet another Batman Pop, I can only shake my head. The saturated population of Batman Pops is just ridiculous. Look, I love Batman, but I don’t understand the need for a different paint job release every week. Yes, one time, in 1960, for one comic, Batman had a red suit or looked like a mummy. Let’s make that into a Pop! Do the geniuses (not sarcasm, this time) around Funko really believe the world needs another Batman Pop, this time in rainbow colors? All Funko has to do is dye the mold in Pink, slap a limited edition sticker on it, and BAM POW, people are buying Pink Batmans! Pink! Not one criminal in Gotham would be scared of a Pink Batman. Yet apparently that is worthy of shelf space. I guess joke is on me since they wouldn’t release more if the demand wasn’t there; but I mean they aren’t even trying anymore with the same darn mold. Batman checks in at an estimated, insane 72 Pops. People, stop buying Batman Pops so Funko stops being lazy and actually has to come up with new ideas.
Matt Norris