I have found that one of the coolest aspects about collecting Funko’s Pop! Vinyls is how diverse the line can be. Your favorite characters from television, movies, and comics are interchangeable with a beloved musician, wrestler, or even an advertising icon. Everyone has their own wish list of figures they’d love to see, and with the ever-expanding waves of exclusives, chases, and even the Specialty Series, I don’t think anything is too much to hope for now.
Not every movie needs or deserves an entire release of Pop figures. Sometimes there is just that one iconic character you have to have, like Travis Bickle from Taxi Driver or Ace Ventura from- you guessed it- Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. Here are a few more standout characters I need in my collection.
5. Harry (Harry and the Hendersons)
There are those who love Harry and the Hendersons, and there are those who never watched it as a child. With his inclusion on this list, I’m sure you can guess which I am. I could never understand why my parents wouldn’t get me a pet Bigfoot for Christmas. Brought to life by Rick Baker of An American Werewolf in London fame (and often quoted to being his favorite creation), Harry still looks amazing 30+ years later. Give him a carnation to munch on or an armful of McDonald’s fish sandwiches for some characters specific details. I’m sure Hot Topic would release a flocked variant too.
4. Snake Plissken (Escape from New York) / Captain Ron (Captain Ron)
Kurt Russell has not one but two iconic eye-patch wearing roles, and damned if I find it too hard to choose between them. Let’s just count this as a two-for-one special. Besides, can you really have too much Kurt Russell? Snake Plissken has already been made into a ReAction figure but has yet to grave the Pop line with his awesomeness. Take that same eye-patch wearing sculpt, switch the black tank top and camo pants for a loud shirt and shorts, and we have Captain Ron, ready to challenge Jack Sparrow for control of the high seas.
3. Mick Dundee (Crocodile Dundee)
A fun little piece of trivia for you: decades before shared universes were all the rage, Paramount once considered doing a Crocodile Dundee/Beverly Hills Cop crossover. I’d love to step into another dimension and watch that movie, Crocodile Hills Cop! Mick Dundee was responsible for making Australians look like the coolest people on Earth and is still quoted by anyone holding a large knife. Everything about the character from his crocodile-toothed black hat to his leather vest and this-is-a-knife accessories is visual gold to make one of the coolest Pops ever.
2. Stanley Ipkiss (The Mask)
Ace Venture was one of those Pops that I missed out on, since I’m unwilling to shell out $200 to score one on eBay. While I have a soft spot for The Cable Guy, there is another Jim Carrey role that is far more iconic. With his green face and yellow suit, Stanley Ipkiss’s mask-wearing maniac is instantly recognizable. You can’t deny he would make a wicked looking Pop, his cartoony features perfectly suited for the style.
1. Johnny-5 (Short Circuit)
Until WALL-E graces the screen was there ever a moved beloved robot? Yes, besides Artoo. Every kid growing up in the 80’s wanted a Johnny-5 of their own, myself included, but despite the obvious marketability, I never remember seeing any merchandise hit the store shelves. Fast forward a few decades and I still want a Johnny-5 to grace my collection. His grasshopper cuteness would translate great to Pop plastic, and they could easily make several chases and varients to hunt down, including metallic, gold, thug Johnny with his Mohawk, and a red-eyed battle mode.
So what do you all think? Will these characters fly off store shelves, or would you rather more modern and popular franchises? Well, either way I can guarantee at least one preorder. Until next week collectors.
Matt Norris