I tried so hard.  I rejected their cuteness and collectibility for as long as I could.  But one fateful day, I received one as a gift, and it was over.  The Berlin Wall I had put up in my mind had crumbled to dust.  And with that event (just like the subjugation of Eastern Germans to the music of David Hasselhoff with the actual wall) I was now infected with a case of the Pops. Funko Pops that is.

What was the catalyst?  What was the first ripple that would lead to the engulfment of my life with the crashing of a thousand waves? 

I believe it was Johnny Castle. That little bastard foxtrotted his way into my world and brought me out of my proverbial corner.  I received said Pop as a gift because I guess I had talked about “Dirty Dancing” enough to garner the gesture from a kind and generous soul who had no idea they were about to become the wellspring of my addiction.   I’m glad they didn’t hand me a watermelon.  (“Dirty Dancing” people get it.) 

More importantly, though, I'm glad that they got it for me because it spurned an obsession that has brought collecting to a whole other level for me.  I looked into Johnny’s pupil-less little eyes and knew that a serendipitous event had occurred.  And that was that.  They say marijuana is the gateway drug.  Turns out it’s Patrick Swayze.  

The thing that makes the Funko Pop line most attractive (other than the licenses they get) are the details. 

Walt Disney once said, “There is no magic in magic, it’s all in the details.” That is why their creations are so impressive.  Funko’s focus on the minutiae of a character in their molds shows that they not only understand the character but in turn, the consumer as well.  The designs have a complicated sophistication, yet the basic template is so simple.  It is in these details though that they connect with their consumers and make them want to invest.  It could be an anomaly the character has or perhaps an inside joke that is displayed, but whatever the case may be, they do their research and are rewarded for it in massive sales.  The following are just a few examples of the attention to detail for which Funko has become famous…

Jim Halpert (Name Tag Variant)

At a cursory glance, this rendition of television history’s greatest prankster looks pretty pedestrian. Just a regular depiction of the lanky, tousle-haired paper salesman that shrugged his way into our hearts for nine seasons.  But upon further inspection, this Pop turns out to contain a detail that devotees of “The Office” will nod their heads in approval over. 

Halloween was a big deal on the show, and Jim’s avoidance of participating on a grand scale is prevalent through the years and well documented in the FunkoVerse with other Halpert variants.  With this version, though, he wears a name tag (that you may have to squint to read) that says “Dave.”  That’s his costume.  He is Dave.  It’s the least amount of work he can do to join in and as a bonus, it annoys Dwight. 

Funko chose to make a Pop of this very under-the-radar moment, and I love it (not just because my name is Dave.)  It’s so Jim, and it’s so Funko to hone in on this detail. (~$15 - $20)

Leeloo (Multipass Variant) 

“The Fifth Element” is one of the most underrated movies of the ’90s, but thankfully has gained cult status.  Funko released an entire line of characters that fetch a pretty penny online.  There are two versions of Leeloo, but the one that captures what is possibly the film’s most iconic line has the edge. 

Milla Jovovich’s delivery of “Leeloo Dallas multipass.” is a kiss, kiss moment in a bang, bang flick that needed to be immortalized in plastic, and if the price is right for you, Leeloo can present her multipass to you from now until 2263. (~$129 - $199)

Max Scherzer

Arguably the best pitcher in baseball, Scherzer has heterochromia, meaning he has two different colored eyes.  Funko’s got that covered on every version of the hurler spanning two teams.  As a Phillies fan, I considered buying one of him in a Mets uniform and drawing a tear falling from each colored eye when they were bounced from the playoffs in the first round, but I’d rather just buy another Bryce Harper to make his sales go up. (~$12 - $20)

John McClane (Dark Tank Top/Walmart Exclusive)

Funko went back to the Bruce Willis well with many versions of everyone’s favorite reluctant hero, John McClane.  “Die Hard” has become a modern classic that resonates with multiple generations, and while people like to argue as to whether or not it is a Christmas movie (it is,) there is no point of contention about how perfect these pops are. 

Funko produced several John McClanes in various states of dress depending on the film’s timeline.  I prefer the middle one.  Sandwiched in between his white undershirt and a bare-chested look (because he has used his tank top to bandage his feet), the dark tank top variant pulls out all the stops.  First off, the mold.  McClane is in full sprint across a broken glass standing base (“Shoot the glass!”) with feet soaked in blood.  It’s a titular moment in action film history and it’s yours forever to hoard like $640 million in negotiable bearer bonds. 

But let’s get back to that shirt.  It’s dark, and while most depictions of McClane in the toy universe have him sporting his white shirt, Willis spends much of the film’s climax in a dark shirt.  Why?  Because “Roy” has been sliding around in the vents like a TV dinner getting filthy.  Funko knows this and depicts it with pinpoint accuracy. To this, I say Yippee Ki-Yay, MotherFunko. (~$20- $25)

“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” - The Nightman Cometh 

Sunny’s first foray into musical theater is easily one of the highwater marks of the show’s fifteen-season run.  The detail in the Pops shows respect to the show and its fans with tidbits like Mac going for gasps as The Nightman in karate stance with cat eyes already popped in, Dennis as The Dayman holding a ripped-out heart, and Frank as The Troll eagerly awaiting his toll. 

There are six in all, and with there not being a ton of “It’s Always Sunny..” toys on the market, these really hit the spot and even created a sense of acceptance among fans that have always felt that this little show about these degenerates rarely gets the much-deserved recognition that often eludes it. (~$12 - $55 individually)

Mike Tyson

Not much to this one.  Just a boxer with black shorts and black shoes (with no socks) like Tyson wore in the ring.  But there’s one thing that shows why he was the most feared boxer in the world in the late 80s.  His arms are down. 

Look at any other boxer or MMA mold in the line and I’m sure they’re in some kind of fighting stance with their hands up.  Mike Tyson was so damn scary and so sure he was going to win, he’d walk into the ring with his arms down.  His chutzpah and menace are on display here.  The same guy that knocked out his first 19 opponents (12 in the first round) didn’t care enough about the other man in the squared circle enough to even raise his arms to defend himself.  He didn’t need to. That’s intimidation, and that’s what Funko has done here. ($12)

Marty Crane’s Cane

Sometimes, the detail is in the accessories, which is completely true about Martin Crane, father to Frasier and Niles, who was beautifully portrayed by the late great John Mahoney.  Mahoney played Marty (a retired and wounded police officer) with such grace and aplomb it is a master class that required a Pop to do him justice.  They did so with his cane. 

Mahoney would often use the cane as not just a prop but as an extension of the character.  It only seems fitting that the cane be included.  Marty just wouldn’t look right without it, and for any fan of “Frasier” this is a must-have. (It doesn’t hurt that Eddie, with tongue out, is included as well.) (~$12 - $19)

Patrick Bateman (Bloody Face)

If you’re going to kick back, listen to some Huey Lewis and the News, and have a colleague over, you might need a raincoat to keep your two-thousand-dollar suit from any stray stains you may accrue during his visit.  Not many films combined the sense of horror and comic timing like “American Psycho” did. 

Slipping into that rain slicker is such an earmark of that character who was so consumed with status and appearance, even while burying an ax in Jared Leto’s face, that it had to be included here.  And you might as well splurge and go for the bloody face version as well, just make sure you clean up before you make your reservation at Dorsia.  (~$45 - $90)

Dr. Ian Malcolm (Target Exclusive)

Who doesn’t remember Jeff Goldblum’s heaving chest in that mid-sprawl recline from “Jurassic Park?”  Not the folks at Funko, apparently.  This pop culture moment in time has been immortalized a lot, but Funko somehow commemorates it best.  Shirt akimbo, belt being used as a leg brace, and that steely glance from the man that taught the world about chaos theory are all here to behold. 

This mold encapsulates what Funko and their Pops are all about.  This sense of whimsy and regard for the subject matter are what we have come to expect from these prolific craftspeople.  Funny and creative people make funny and creative toys.  It’s just that simple.  They’re fans like us.  This mold leads to the perfect illustration of that attention to detail. 

Conan O’Brien has a series of Pops in different genres.  He’s a White Walker from “Game of Thrones.”  He’s Woody from “Toy Story.”  The list goes on and on, but there is a Conan as Dr. Ian Malcolm.  Why? Because it’s frickin funny and because they offer these as exclusives that become super collectible and valuable.  (~$39 - $109)

So, thank you, dear friend, for indoctrinating this neophyte into a larger world of collecting. 

My bank account may be empty, but my heart runneth over with the goodness of the Funko Pop, and as long as they continue to put forth the attention to detail that they have so far, my addiction will only become more fathomless.

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*Any perceived investment advice is that of the freelance blogger and does not represent advice on behalf of GoCollect.