This is a Member Guest Blog Post from PopaTop22. He would probably admit himself that he spends too much time with Funko Pops but that allowed him to formulate opinions on how to get around the ever increasing flood of fakes.

As Funko Pop collecting continues to grow, so does the market for counterfeit figures. While some replicas are easy to spot, others can closely mimic the originals, making it essential for collectors to know what to look for. Here are the top tells of a replica Funko Pop and why using a reputable grading company like PSA is crucial for ensuring authenticity and preserving value.

Top Signs of a Replica Funko Pop

1. Box Quality and Print

Authentic Funko Pop boxes have clean, vibrant printing with no blurring or color inconsistencies. Check for:

• Misspelled words on the packaging.
• Incorrect fonts or logo designs.
• Lower-quality cardboard or uneven folds.

Here are some examples  –

Check out the Pop’s PPG Database Item page to see if one of the volunteers has already added Fake photos and other fake related info!

2. Sticker Authentication

Special edition or exclusive Pops often have stickers on the box (e.g., Comic-Con exclusives). Fake stickers may look off due to poor alignment, color mismatches, or incorrect wording.

3. Paint and Mold Details

Examine the Pop itself:

• Authentic figures have precise paint jobs and clean edges. Replicas often have sloppy or inconsistent paint applications.
• Check for rough or uneven molds, as counterfeits often lack the fine detail of genuine items.

4. Bottom of the Box and Figure

Look for the Funko copyright information and serial numbers:

• Legitimate Pops have crisp, consistent stamps or prints.
• Counterfeits may have missing, misspelled, or low-quality markings.

5. Price Too Good to Be True

If a rare Funko Pop is priced significantly below market value, it’s a red flag. Always cross-check prices with PPG before making a purchase (if Price Points are not recent check also with other sources).

The Role of PSA in Funko Pop Collecting

Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) is a trusted name in the collectibles industry, providing authentication and grading services for Funko Pops. Here’s why using PSA can elevate your collecting experience:

1. Ensured Authenticity

PSA’s experts meticulously inspect each Funko Pop to confirm its legitimacy, protecting collectors from unwittingly buying replicas.

2. Condition Verification

PSA grades Pops based on box condition, figure integrity, and overall presentation, giving collectors confidence in their purchase.

3. Value Protection

A PSA-graded Funko Pop adds credibility and transparency to its market value. Graded figures are easier to resell and often fetch higher prices due to their certified condition and authenticity.

4. Long-Term Preservation

PSA encapsulates graded Funko Pops in tamper-proof cases, ensuring long-term protection from damage or wear.

Why Authenticity Matters

Counterfeit Funko Pops devalue the collectible market and can leave collectors feeling cheated. By educating yourself on spotting fakes and using a reputable grading company like PSA, you can build a collection that holds its value and reflects your passion for authentic collectibles.

Invest in your collection’s future by ensuring every piece is genuine and graded — it’s a decision you won’t regret.

And if you can help by adding Fake photos to PPG reach out the team here!

The post Spotting a Replica Funko Pop: Tips for Collectors and the Role of PSA in Authenticating Your Collection appeared first on Pop Price Guide.

Pop Price Guide’s own International Man of Mystery Javier Serrano, aka Fjaviserr, explains how Austin Powers helped propel Funko to new heights. Read more of his wonderful guest posts here!

A few days ago, an event took place at Bob’s Big Burger in Burbank (Los Angeles -California) hosted by the Chairman of Fun, Mike Becker and the comedian Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias, called “Back to the Beginning.”

Beyond the surprises and the presentation of the new Funko line, Project Fred, these kinds of events remind me of the close connection between Funko and pop culture.

Sometimes, it is good to look to the past to understand the origins of this giant toy company, and particularly this news brings me some nostalgia from the early days of the Making Fun factory, and particularly how Funko reached its first success with one license: Austin Powers.

It is hard to believe how the time flies and it seems it was yesterday when Austin Powers came to the big screen in 1997 with Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.

The character created by Mike Myers was an instant success, and two new films were produced in the short-term, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999) and Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002). In parallel, Funko, was founded in 1998 and operated as a small business in Snohomish, Washington, until getting the license of the charismatic secret agent.

It was the first hit in sales, and everything changed overnight. After selling 100,000 units of Austin Powers’ wacky-wobblers, I wonder if the small Funko team lead by Mike Becker screamed “Yeah, Baby, Yeah!”

So, as a funatic and Mr. Powers fan, it is time to pay tribute through this trip to the past to the shagadelic figures from the universe of the geeky-looking secret agent into Funko´s catalog. In the end, the mojo of Austin Powers helped to transform everything, and the humble business became one of the greatest toy companies in the world.

The first figure was released in 1999, finding Austin Powers wearing his unmistakable blue velvet suit, highlighting the details of the accurate packaging too. It was followed by a new wave of bobble-heads in 2002, including new versions of Austin Powers and introducing other lovely characters such as Dr. Evil, Mini Me and Fat Bastard.

Later, one of my favorites, for being a “bobble-body,” and probably the only wacky-wobbler which does not shake the head, shakes the body, it is simply a must-have.

We had to wait until 2018, when Funko presented the very first sketches of Austin Powers’ Pop! figures at New York Toy Fair. The trade fair catalog showed four figures: Austin Powers (blue velvet suit), Dr. Evil, Fembot and Vanessa Kensington. However, a few months later, at San Diego Comic Con, Funko made the final changes, introducing three figures of the groovy agent, Dr. Evil and Vanessa Kensington with a new pose.

Sadly, Fembot, Vanessa Kensington with Gun and the exclusive Austin Powers in Dr. Evil’s prisoner suit figures were never launched, and it was a pity, because they are gorgeous, but we know that those things happen from time to time. At least, we can be satisfied with the magnificent concept art of them.

It would be amazing to keep seeing more figures from these spy comedy films in other lines such as Soda, Pop! Digital or REWIND. But, in my humble opinion, I have never understood why we have not seen a Freddy Funko as Austin Powers yet considering the importance of the character in Funko’s history. Only time will tell.

It is very difficult to know what would have been happened if Funko did not get this license, but one thing is true, it is good to go back to the beginning to remind us of where we came from and what things made the difference, because times can change, but the essence must be the same, and the successful secret formula is always hidden in those tiny details.

So, it would be appropriate to close this article writing, I hope to meet you again, Mr. Powers.

I hope you find this information helpful. Have an excellent week. Let me know if you’d like to know more in the comments below and keep on Popping!

The post Yeah Baby, Yeah! How Austin Powers Helped Turn Funko Into an International Success appeared first on Pop Price Guide.

Ben Spencer has been dreaming of the stars since 2010 when he founded Galaxxor, a brand of exquisite designer art toys. Spencer has incorporated his affinity for vintage action figures from the 70s through the 90s along with the aesthetic of Mid-Century Space Age Design to produce – alongside artists from around the globe – a series of handmade and hand-painted collectibles, as well as full production designer vinyl figures.

Now you’ll be able to find the entire Galaxxor collection on hobbyDB as an Official Archive. With an Official hobbyDB Archive, Galaxxor fans can document and track the value of their collections, get updates on exclusives, plus lots more.

We recently had the opportunity to pick Ben’s brain regarding some of his inspirations, processes and more.

Over to you, Ben, err…we mean Galaxxor!

When did you create Galaxxor and what was the inspiration behind its founding?

The initial sculpt was done around 2009 and was a reaction to my introduction to the concept of Designer Toys in the years prior. I had already been collecting vintage action figures and looked at them more as pop cultural art pieces.

So, what I really set out to do was create something that had one foot in each world – something that felt very toyetic and nostalgically welcoming, but was a bit more design-forward and could stand on its own as an art sculpture.

What was the very first Galaxxor figure? How many of them are there now?

The very first Galaxxor sculpt was not too terribly dissimilar to what collectors can still pick up today in vinyl. I was very much cognizant of the idea of platform figures and wanted to set out to create something that had a lot of mileage, in terms of re-use.

Obviously, the design has evolved somewhat, through resin production and then vinyl production. But, aside from the introduction of
some new parts and the obvious colorway variations, I’m still working with the same core design.

Were you a collector when you were younger?

Yeah, I’m a kid of the 80’s, so I got all of the good stuff. But I would for sure say it was the shape and shape of the Masters of the Universe-type 5 1/2” that really spoke to me in the most profound manner. This still reverberates through pretty much everything that I do to this day.

How would you describe the style/aesthetics of a Galaxxor figure?

Again, I’m sort of straddling two worlds. There’s obviously the classic 70’s-90’s toyeticism, with a sprinkle of cosmic Jack Kirby and Metal Hurlant added to the proverbial gumbo. But equally important is my love of minimalist and space-age object design and abstract sculpture.

At the end of the day, it’s still a toy. And if you don’t feel compelled to pick it up and play with it a bit, I haven’t done my job. However, I also want my figures to function as a cool design object that an adult could pop up on a shelf, next to a plant, or something along those lines.

How long does it take to complete a figure from concept to shelf? Can you share some of that process?

It can vary quite a bit. But my current standard procedure is to sculpt a figure in the traditional method with clay. Then, I have that sculpt scanned and digitally cleaned up a bit. From there, the file gets sent off to the factory, where steel molds are produced.

And finally, I’m then able to submit designs to the factory, dictating color, paint applications, and that sort of thing. So, maybe upwards of a year and a half, from start to finish?

Are all Galaxxor figures limited edition? What’s the best way to add Galaxxor figures to our collections?

Yeah, absolutely. The production numbers can vary a bit, and we have increased them in the last year or so to keep up with current demand. There’s nothing worse than someone discovering my work and not having anything for them to grab from the website!

All of that being said, when a figure is produced in a certain colorway, or as a certain character, that’s it. There’s nothing to say that we won’t occasionally revisit popular characters or colorways, but each release will be significantly different from anything that’s gone before.

The best way for hobbyDB members to grab new Galaxxor figures is here on hobbyDB.  And if you want some of the many sold-out items I did over the years you can add them to your Wish List here and get a notification when they come up.

Where can new fans find you on Social Media?

@galaxxor on Facebook, hobbyDB, Instagram and TikTok

The post Bringing Galaxxor’s Mid-Century Space Age Designer Arts Toys to PPG Partner hobbyDB appeared first on Pop Price Guide.

If there is a cartoon character which has been an influence to the things that I love as a collector, that is Scooby-Doo. As a child, its adventures awakened my interest in mystery novels, and of course, a few years later, this passion led me to discover classic horror and science fiction movies.

Since its debut in 1969, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! has become a timeless TV show captivating several generations. The legendary franchise, originally created by Hanna- Barbera, includes subsequent cartoon and life-action movies, new TV shows adaptations, comics and video games, being a staple for pop culture enthusiasts. So, it is not strange that Funko took its eyes over these eternal characters.

From the Wacky-Wobblers days, the company from Everett, Washington, has been releasing a long list of figures of the beloved Great Dane, its inseparable friend Shaggy, the members of Mystery, Inc, and some of the main antagonists, finding them too in other lines such as Funkovision, HeroWorld, Pop!, Dorbz, FunkO’s, Soda and Rewind, offering a great variety of shocking pieces for the most demanding collectors.

It is a difficult task to highlight all of them in one article, but here comes a selection of my favorites. Starting with the limited in pieces items from Funko Pop! Up Shop event which took place at the 2017 San Diego Comic Con edition.

Funko presented us with Scooby-Doo Pop! in three technicolor variants, with the flocked treatment that they deserve. The Green and Pink versions, both limited to 1,000 pieces and the blue one limited to 2,500 pieces, being very desired pieces for funatics.

In parallel, and without leaving that convention, we also had the opportunity to enjoy the exhibition “Space Clones! Invasion: Phase 1.” where Funko and Warner Bros. teamed up, finding among the customized 12-inch Dorbz Marvin clone creations, an amazing Marvin the Martian X Scooby-Doo masterpiece. I must say I love this one-of-a-kind artistic piece.

Now it is time to remember one of the most wonderful series ever made from the Making Fun factory, FunkoVision. This exclusive and limited Sooby-Doo set brings a screen capture to life from the classic chapter “A Night of Fright is No Delight” (1970), spotlighting how the Phantom Shadow scares away the terrified figures of Scooby and Shaggy. It is just simply a must-have vinyl treasure.

About the antagonists in Funko’s catalog, my preferred, by far, is the Creeper, and although we found it in different lines, I humbly think that the Pop! is the best. It was released at 2017 Emerald City Comic Con, being the first figure of the villains manufactured by Funko.

In the last few years Funko has surprised us with some exciting pieces such as Scooby-Doo Classic Art Lunch Box from Soda series, or the very first Freddy Funko figures of the line, so I am sure that the magic will continue with new incredible figures from the Scooby-Doo Universe.

The show has always shown us small tributes and amazing collaborations through those years, so, it would be nice to imagine new Funko figures such as Vincent Van Ghoul, based on the iconic Seventh Art legend, Vincent Price, who also voiced the character.

Beyond that, for many of us those characters represent an important part of our childhood, and they will always be in our hearts. Until then, we’ll see what will happen in the short term. I will keep singing “Scooby Dooby Doo, where are you? We got some work to do now…”

I hope you find this information helpful. Have an excellent week. Let me know if you’d like to know more in the comments below and keep on Popping!

The post History of Scooby-Doo! Collectibles From Funko appeared first on Pop Price Guide.

Our partners at hobbyDB have crunched some numbers and tabulated the most Pop!ular Funko figures from last month. See their entire list here!

There was a lot to be thankful for in the month of November! We’re especially grateful for fans of the hobbyDB / Pop Price Guide App!

It was another big month for the App, so we decided to take a look at the Most Scanned Funko Pop! figures from November. The ones that were the most Pop!ular by our users.

The App and its barcode scanning tech is the perfect tool for easily adding items to your collection or if you ever find youself shopping and need to do some quick research. Plus lots more.

Click here to see what’s in store for the new 4.0 edition of App and more going forward. Download yours today! Android and iOS versions available here!

What did you scan during November?! Tell us below!

Most Scanned in November

14. Gizmo (Flocked) (Walmart)

13. Edward Elric with Energy (Glow in the Dark)

12. R2-D2 & C-3PO (Target)

See the Entire List Here on hobbyDB!

The post Pop Price Guide App: Most Scanned Funko Pop! Figures in November appeared first on Pop Price Guide.

hobbyDB super user Javier Serrano, aka Fjaviserr gives us quite the scare with Funko’s new Legendary Myth’s Creatures. Read more of his wonderful guest posts here!

We are at the doors of Halloween and Funatics around the world are planning to get some of the last and most terrifying Funko releases before October 31st to their collections, enjoying a fright night with their scary figures. And it will be a difficult task, considering that there were a bunch of announcements in the last month and probably we must wait to see some of those new Pop!s in our shelves a little bit.

However, and in my humble opinion, the most amazing news came from Asia. We had to wait more than four years to see new figures from the Legendary Creatures & Myths series, and MINDstyle did not let us down, showing us Asian folklore in all its glory.

The new supernatural creatures that join in the series are Yecha, Jiang Shi, Treasure Guardian and Sleepy Ghost, bringing to life some of the most relevant and creepy creatures of the Asian horror mythology in a Funko Pop! size.

It will not be a surprise to see other figures of this series in the short time, and it would be possible that MINDstyle could launch variants of these new figures, such as it did in the past, bearing in mind some of the one most wanted of the series, Aswang (orange), which was one of the surprises of the Funko Funtastic Party 2015, organized by Funko Funatic Philippines.

The fact is that those legendary creatures of the night captivate us since from immemorial times as an important part of myths and traditional legends. But we must be respectful with them, because on Halloween night anything could happen. So, be careful chosing these spiritual figures before adding them to your collection.

I hope you find this information helpful. Let me know if you’d like to know more in the comments below and enjoy trick-or-treating this Halloween.

The post Happy Halloween! Funko’s New Pop! Asia Legendary Myths & Creatures Creates a Fright appeared first on Pop Price Guide.

Pop Price Guide super user Javier Serrano, aka Fjaviserr reminisces about 25 years of Funko memories. Read more of his wonderful guest posts here!

Funko celebrates its 25th anniversary on July 23, 2023.

During these 25 years we have seen how the company has conquered the heart of the most enthusiastic pop culture fans around the world, from its humble origins in Snohomish, Washington, when Mike Becker founded the little business with a nostalgia-themed bobblehead line called Wacky Wobblers, to the current Funko HQ in Everett, Washington.

I could write rivers of ink about it, however, the easier way to summarize the highlights of the brand behind the “Making Fun” style must be visual, and this is how I feel its magic.

In the end, a picture speaks a thousand words. So, it is time to enjoy some of its most iconic moments through this amazing infographic –

The success of Funko is clear to see wherever you walk. Its vinyl figures are everywhere, and it will not be a surprise to celebrate another 25 years of its passion towards pop culture and making that dream come true with the wise and simple words from its slogan: “Everyone is a fan of something.”

I hope you find this information helpful. Have an excellent week. Let me know if you’d like to know more in the comments below and let’s celebrate this wonderful anniversary.

Special thanks to @hilarioalcalde for the amazing graphic

The post Funko 25th Anniversary: A Visual History of Pop!s and More Throughout the Years appeared first on Pop Price Guide.

As every year one of the most-awaited events for Funatics around the world is ToyCon Philippines and this year is back full of surprises. On its 20th anniversary and with the slogan “Celebrating 20 years of play,” the present year edition of this pop culture event brings us some interesting exclusive figures and limited editions.

MINDstyle introduces new Pop! Asia figures, releasing them with the Funko treatment that they deserve, showcasing unique pieces for the most demanding collectors. The art is made present itself on its booth, with the pre-release of Love #180, a genuine design from the Filipino contemporary artist Reen Barrera.

Following with another shocking launch, the Punk Drunkers figures, MINDstyle joins over 20 years of fashion, art, illustration, design collaborations and sofubi toys from this Japanese brand to the Funko Universe. The motto “Uncool is Cool” comes alive with the variants of Pop! Asia Pop Drunkers #234.

And of course, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of ToyCon, the charismatic mascot of this amazing event, is presented as Pop! Asia TC-02 #223, completing the MINDstyle exclusive figures for this edition.

As we expect, Funko Funatic Philippines is part of the celebration with the exclusive Freddy Funko as Champ. The new member of the Jollibee family has two versions, common and glow in the dark, limited to 3,000 and 1,000 pieces respectively. For this edition a marvelous tee is launched as well, with Freddy Funko and his mascot Proto ready for a boxing fight.

ToyCon has been offering interesting pieces for our collections since 2013, and it will always be a staple for Funatics, so it will not be shocking waiting for more limited editions in the years to come as a part of our beloved hobby.

I hope you find this information helpful. Have an excellent week. Let me know if you’d like to know more in the comments below and keep on Popping!

**TOYCON is held at the SMX Convention Center and lasts from July 7 to 9, 2023**

The post Pop Price Guide Checks in on Funko Pop! and MINDstyle Fun from ToyCon Philippines appeared first on Pop Price Guide.

Pop Price Guide super user Javier Serrano, aka Fjaviserr, takes a look at Funko’s latest “gold” standard! Read more of his wonderful guest posts here!

When Funko announced its Gold series, and I watched the first concepts, I was surprised by the new premium vinyl figures. However, I was also very intrigued about how the packaging would be or how would these new stylized figures that introduces a new form factor be, thinking that this line would be produced in two scales, 5 and 12 inches.

Gold has been focused on legendary musicians and super-star athletes from the NBA and NFL, providing a prestigious level of quality to the Funko universe with the new designs. Before the official release, some Funko enthusiasts, including myself, believed that other franchises would be part of the newborn line, but it seems that it would be hard to see Darth Vader or Captain America like Gold figures.

The first figures that I saw at retail, were the ones of the smaller scale, and I was not very excited by them. But, when I found their big brothers of 12 inches, I must say, it was love at first sight, not just for the figures themselves, just for the amazing high-quality packaging as well. And it is weird because the shape for both scales is the same and the elegant black and gold box is very similar too, but I have got the feeling that I am buying different figures.

Nowadays, we have some 200 different Gold figures on Funko’s catalog, including both scales, and with some exceptions, most of them have their Chase version. Furthermore, Gold leaves us some curiosities, considering that it has been on the market less than two years, making it a very collectible line. So, let’s review some of them.

Back to 2021, we found some concepts that were changed at the last minute. The detail is on the sneakers, as was the case with Lebron James and James Harden. In my opinion, those concepts were much more remarkable than the final figures, sadly, now they belong to the long list of canceled Funko concept prototypes.

One of the first 12 inch vinyl figures on the market was Notorious B.I.G., which shows a small difference with the rest of the other super-size figure boxes. The box is the only one which has not got the golden lines in the front and the sides of the box, making it a unique piece of this series and a must-have for Gold collectors.

Following the marketing actions of that year, at ComplexCon 2021, part of the audience could get the Funko Gold – ComplexCon Promotional Packaging, the most wanted and the only set of this series which is simply extraordinary. The stylish and highly detailed case includes four random figures, two of each scale, bringing an elegant and extraordinary set to our collections.

As we expected, we also found some limited treasures among Gold, in particular the 12-inch Chase version of the Seattle Seahawks’ Russell Wilson, the most limited of them until now, with 375 pieces produced. This hard-to-find jewel was exclusively sold at Funko Shop.New surprises and interesting facts will come from everything related to Gold, which is playing an important role in the world of Funko right now. And one thing is sure, it has the original and unmistakable touch of the King Midas of the toy industry these days. So, it will not be shocking to see more releases, as recently at Funko Toy Fair with the first neon colors figure of the line, Jimi Hendrix (Blacklight). In the meantime, I am already curious to see the upcoming MLB Gold figures.

It is not a secret that there are mixed feelings among Funatics about this series. Some love it, some do not. In the end, as collectors, we never know what kind of figure has the power to catch our attention. However, when it comes to Gold, and just my opinion, I feel like those miners from the Wild West looking for the biggest gold nugget.

I hope you find this information helpful. Have an excellent week. Let me know if you’d like to know more in the comment below.

The post Funko Gold Quickly Becoming Coveted Series Among Funatics appeared first on Pop Price Guide.

Pop Price Guide super user Javier Serrano, aka Fjaviserr, takes on the tall task of highlighting Funko’s Life-Sizes figures! Read more of his wonderful guest posts here!

It is not a secret that Funko has become one of the greatest giant toy companies of the moment, and the passion for its vinyl figures has millions of Funatics worldwide. In the early days, the marketing actions were simpler than today, and Funko released some promotional figures to promote its products at retail or just to reward loyal collectors at Fundays.

As we expected, the main marketing super-star of those days was Freddy Funko. We can track the origins of these amazing vinyl super-sized figures in 2002, finding the Freddy Funko Wacky Wobbler 20 Store Display holding a green Wacky Wobbler card holder. This item was re-released in 2010 to promote the Pop! series as well.

In 2005, the big brother of that Freddy was launched, Freddy Funko Life-Size 40 inches, having two versions of it. The Freddy Funko Supermat and its Glow in the Dark version, limited to 100 and 8 pieces, respectively.

The GITD version is one of the most limited editions ever made and one of the most wanted in Funko’s history. All of them are hand numbered and signed by the Chairman of Fun Mike Becker.

New Freddie’s came to the world of Funko in 2014, to push new series and events among the fans, however, this time the turn was for Retro Freddy Funko figures, and they were produced in scale of 36 inches, including the legendary Toys R Us exclusive Freddy Funko display. The latter is the only one which includes a base.

In the following years, the very first giant Pop!s jump to the promotional arena, started to appear in different events and shows, and from time to time we could see other real size figures from other series such as Rock Candy or Mystery Minis, or much recently from Gold series.

With the Grand Opening of Funko’s New HQ in 2018, everything changed, not only new mega promotional figures started to be part of our visual hobby, but also real scenarios were also brought to life showing all the magic of the universe of Funko in a life-size scale.

Now, we can enjoy those giants in every Funko event around the world, however, there was a time, and it is good to think about it, when the things were very different than today. In the end, Funko is going to celebrate its 25th anniversary this year, but it seems that Big Boy Wacky Wobbler was launched yesterday.

I hope you find this information helpful. Have an excellent week. Let me know if you’d like to know more in the comments below and keep on Popping!

The post History of Life-Sized Funko Pop! and Wacky Wobblers appeared first on Pop Price Guide.