Orrin Fordjour is a veteran collector and connoisseur of all things Funko, as well as hobbyDB’s Co-Ambassador to The Netherlands. Orrin, aka Funkovader, shares with us his dream journey to the 2024 New York City Comic Con. Make sure to give the Funkovader YouTube channel a watch!

As a kid, I always dreamed of visiting New York City.

The idea of the city captivated me, probably because of movies, sports, and the city’s energy. Once I started collecting collectibles, I saw three well-known collectors (P. Pops: Jeroen, Pascal, and Maupie010) make a trip to the San Diego Comic Con. It looked amazing! I knew then that I had to go, and as soon as possible.

I heard from other content creators that they would be attending New York Comic Con (NYCC), and the chance to meet them in person for the first time made the adventure even more exciting. I was ready to make this dream come true!

The Big Question

The hardest part was asking my wife if I could take a weeklong trip to New York City for NYCC. She gave me her blessing to pursue my dream, and that felt incredible. It’s no small thing, as we have two young kids, and I knew it would mean leaving her with a full schedule and all the childcare. But her support meant the world to me, and with her encouragement, I was able to start the trip with peace of mind.

The Journey

The week before my departure, I could hardly sleep – maybe three hours a night! I was beyond excited and could barely believe that I was really going to New York. How would the city look in real life? Are the people as friendly as I’ve heard? And how good is the food, really?

At 8 a.m., I woke up, got ready, and headed to Schiphol Airport with my family, where I met my travel buddy, Sanie. At 10 a.m., we checked in for our flight, and after an emotional goodbye with my family, we were finally on our way. The eight-hour flight to JFK flew by with some movies and a bit of sleep.

Finally Arrived

After eight hours of flying, we landed at JFK Airport and picked up our luggage. Right away, I felt the New York vibe: the crowds, yellow taxis, everything! We took the shuttle to the taxi stand (which says something about how massive JFK is) and called an Uber to our Airbnb in Brooklyn. Around 8 p.m., we arrived and decided to grab something to eat. Thankfully, there was a chicken shop around the corner. For $50, we got a huge order of chicken, which ended up lasting us two days. After eating, we went to bed to get ready for the next day.

From Brooklyn to Manhattan

The next morning, we set out to explore Brooklyn. Our first stop was a shop known for its bean pies, but it was unfortunately closed. In the meantime, Sanie showed me around the neighborhood. Brooklyn was impressive; it was clear that the city is actively being redeveloped. I couldn’t resist taking some photos, especially of the iconic view through the long streets that create a tunnel of buildings and cars.

After an hour, we returned to the shop, but it was still closed. So, we decided to walk to the Brooklyn Bridge, where we had an incredible view of Brooklyn, Manhattan, and even the Statue of Liberty in the distance. The bridge itself was striking, with locks everywhere, left by couples as a symbol of their love.

We continued walking into Manhattan. My jaw dropped at the sight of the enormous buildings. My neck still hurts from looking up! In Manhattan, we visited the Westfield Mall, Pop Mart, the NBA Store (where I bought a Lakers jersey with LeBron James’ embroidered signature), and of course, Times Square with its dizzying lights and screens. In the evening, we picked up our NYCC badges at the Javits Center before heading back to the Airbnb.

Funko Hunting in New York City

On day two, we decided to go on a Funko hunt, visiting stores known for selling exclusive Funko Pops. We started at a shopping center nearby, with stores like Hot Topic, 5 Below, and Target. 5 Below and Target didn’t have any Funko exclusives, but we found a nice collection at Hot Topic.

Next, we went to Infinite Collectibles, a store that reminded me of the famous line “Get out of my store!” from the owner, Omar. He was busy packing up for NYCC, so we didn’t chat for long, but the shop was a treasure trove of rare Funko Pops and collectibles. We also visited Marshall’s, where we found some Black Panther die-casts and Funko sodas, and GameStop, which had a few exclusives.

Our last stop was Toy Tokyo, known for its exclusive items and unique layout. I brought some Dutch stickers with me and was allowed to put them inside and outside, leaving a little piece of myself in the U.S., haha!

New York Comic Con

NYCC was an unforgettable experience and my first convention in America. I’m used to cons in the Netherlands and Belgium, but NYCC is on a whole different level. Everything was well-organized and clearly marked. The main hall was massive – I think all the stands from HDCC in Utrecht could fit in there!

The selection was varied: Funko Pops, t-shirts, comics, jewelry, and so much more. Brands like Funko, Nickelodeon, Marvel, One Piece, Dragon Ball, and Warhammer had huge booths.

One thing that really stood out was the cosplay – it was truly next level. Almost everyone was dressed up, and some people looked so much like the actual characters! Cosplay at NYCC is a whole different experience, and it was amazing to see so much creativity.

I went for some autographs from notable people like Gary Vaynerchuk, Brian (former Funko CEO), Colleen (voice of Luffy), and Chris (voice of Zoro, Vegeta, and many others). I also joined two TCG games, Union Arena and Dragon Ball, and received promo cards and a starter deck as a reward.

I attended three panels: Dragon Ball Daima, One Piece with the English voice actors, and Bleach with the Japanese voice actors performing a live scene. It was incredible to witness! Even in four days, I didn’t see everything, but that only made it better.

The best part was meeting people. Many of them I already knew from social media (like TopPop & Mama Toppops, Misa, Batman Sidekick, Ink Lord Pop, Funko James, Chris & Heather from Gastlecast, Jason from Seven Bucks a Pop, SnailFunko, Lydia from FugitiveToys, Jersey Jorge, and Flipnxtvictim). It was amazing to finally talk and spend time together in real life, with no time zone differences.

I even brought a Funko Pop with me and had everyone sign it as a special memory. I also brought gifts from the Netherlands, including a Traveling Freddy, the “roaming Funko,” which I returned to its home in America.

-Funko Booth

From photos and videos, I’d always seen glimpses of the Funko booth, but seeing it in person was something else. The lines were packed—wow, just wow. I walked by several times just for the fun of it. I had the chance to chat with a few Funko staff members, and I can tell you, they were all super friendly and welcoming. I’d sneak a peek around the corner here and there to see what was going on inside the booth—it was hard to resist!

-New Player in the Collectible World: THRILLYJOY

I was pleasantly surprised by the Thrilljoy booth, a brand new entry in the collectible market, designed by Funko’s former CEO, Brian Mariotti. The booth itself looked like a castle, complete with a massive throne that reminded me of something out of Game of Thrones.

Right at the entrance was their adorable mascot, BLOO. Surrounding the booth were giant cutouts resembling the figure boxes, and everywhere you looked, there were vibrant figurines and displays of their high-quality merchandise.

They showcased their core collection, The Pix, packaged in an impressive, magnetized box that felt premium and sturdy. Inside each box, you find a character card with figure details, the figure itself held securely, and a wall mount option—perfect for display! Plus, the figures can be stacked. Thrilljoy really thought of everything!

One of my personal favorites was the Mega Pix, a 12-inch figure featuring their mascot Bloo, dressed in various outfits. The exclusive NYCC Bloo was especially cute, wearing a Thrilljoy onesie and holding a mini Pix figure, limited to only 1,000 pieces with a stamped box to match. Every Thrilljoy item, including their apparel, is limited-edition. Some items have runs as small as 10, which I believe applies to their prototype—spotted by a lucky fan who won it!

Thrilljoy even offers a “chase” variant. The Mega Pix figure includes interchangeable hands, and I believe the hands can be swapped out with others as well—a great detail! They also introduced their new clothing line, Threads, including hats, bucket hats, t-shirts, hoodies, and even a onesie, each piece limited to just 200 items!

The quality across their range is top-notch, and I could definitely see myself adding some Thrilljoy pieces to my collection one day. Sadly, they don’t yet ship outside the USA, but it may only be a few months away. Congratulations to Brian and the entire Thrilljoy team—I can’t wait to see what the future holds for both you and us collectors!

-The Amazing Mighty Jaxx Booth

Naturally, I had to swing by the Mighty Jaxx booth and see my friends there. They had a special guest this year: Jason Freeny, who did a few signing sessions. I couldn’t pass up the chance to have my own figures signed by him! It was also so exciting to see the giant Luffy Gear 5 in front of their booth, along with an incredible Transformer figure. Mighty Jaxx, well done! I’m looking forward to seeing you all again soon!

Visiting an OG Funko Collector

After four days at NYCC, I had the chance to visit an OG Funko collector. Many may know her from Instagram as brooklyn_pop_world. I’d promised to bring her some Dutch cookies to try, along with a few stickers, and I got the incredible opportunity to see her Funko room.

I could hardly believe my eyes – it was absolutely amazing! Proto’s, Soda Freddys, 4-inch Freddy Funkos, and some of the rarest older pieces. There was one Freddy in particular that really caught my eye: a massive display Freddy. I couldn’t resist taking a photo with it (though secretly, I wanted to bring it home, haha).

Besides admiring her impressive collection, we had a great chat, and she even shared some helpful collecting tips. Meeting brooklyn_pop_world was an awesome experience, and it gave me even more appreciation for the Funko community.

Conclusion

This trip to New York City and NYCC was an unforgettable experience. From the excitement of following my dream to the incredible moments at the con – every part of it was worth it. Exploring New York and meeting friends I’ve known online for years brought so many memories that I’ll cherish forever. Not only did I get to see the city of my dreams, but I also felt truly connected to the Funko community.

A huge thank you to my buddy Sanie and my friends from P. Pops for encouraging me to make this trip. And above all, my deepest gratitude goes to my amazing wife, who gave me the full support to chase this dream – even with everything she had to manage at home.

Feeling inspired to plan your own trip to New York City and NYCC? Don’t hesitate! Start saving and make your dream a reality. If you have any questions or just want to chat about your plans, feel free to reach out – I’d be happy to help! One thing’s for sure: if possible, I’ll be back next year to relive this incredible adventure!

The post Funkovader: My Dream Trip to New York City and 2024 NYCC appeared first on Pop Price Guide.

We’re on a mission at Pop Price Guide to become the ultimate resource for Funko collectors worldwide. That includes the realm of YouTube, where we routinely turn to the “experts” for the latest news, unboxings and tips for spotting fakes. And much more.

We’re talking about the likes of PPG Anti-Fake Coalition partners such as Dr. Applesauce and Tio de Barba Branca (Whitebead Uncle) — the latter who recently surpassed 2,100 video uploads!

Other favorites include one of the biggest Funko YouTube channels Top Pops with its 325,000+ subscribers and PPG Squad contributor Gastlecast.

So we thought we’d share some of our favorite YouTube channels that we regularly tune to for educational, revelational and, of course, entertainment purposes.

Check out some samples of their work below.

Then stay tuned! For those who collect more than just Funko, we’ll soon be sharing our favorite YouTube channels for action figures and diecast models.

Ten of our Favorite Funko YouTube Channels

Collecting with Dr. Applesauce

Fakes, unboxings and more

Tio da Barba Branca (Whitebeard Uncle)

Fakes, unboxings

The Gastlecast

All things collectible

Top Pops

All things Funko

The Luau

Giveaways and unboxings

POP Couple

Pop hunting, mystery boxes and unboxings

Tim’s Collectibles

Giveaways and more

Sean Ryan Toys & Games

Mystery box and unboxings

Nerdy Newb

Subscription unboxings, vlogs, challenges and more

ForeverFreakyFunko

Unboxings

Do you have a favorite YouTube channel dedicated to Funko? Share them with us in the comments below!

The post YouTube Channels We Love: Funko Edition appeared first on Pop Price Guide.

Our friends at 7 Bucks A Pop have created their own brand of protective cases called PopShields. 7BAP was kind enough to send me a group of these to check out a while back, and right off the bat I was super impressed with their quality and durability. The thickness of the material was immediately noticeable, and after folding a few into shape and throwing some Pops in them, it was obvious that PopShields were the new standard for me.

Some features of the PopShields include:

– Extra thick .45 mm acid-free PET plastic, an average of 10-25% thicker than most other protectors on the market. Thicker plastic = Better protection for your Pops!
– Easy-peel protective film that keeps the PopShield from getting scratched before it gets to you.
– Push-lock tab that adds structural integrity to the box when formed, and keeps the Pop inside no matter what happens.
– PopShield logo is stamped on the top flap for brand recognition.

Surprisingly enough, with this quality also comes an amazing price. Generally, protectors are going to run you anywhere from $0.79-$1.50 depending on where you get them, brand, and quantity purchased. 7BAP’s PopShields are an astonishingly low $0.49 each and can be purchased in groups of 10, 50, or 100.

Head over to 7 Bucks A Pop and grab some for yourself! And while you’re there, don’t forget to check out the incredible deals they have on Pop Vinyls (their name is quite literal!).

The post Introducing Pop Shield Pop Protectors appeared first on Pop Price Guide.

In terms of the glow-in-the-dark feature, I did find it a bit odd that they all glow in green, while Cyborg glows in blue. With minimal areas glowing, it doesn’t create a blinding display in the dark, though the character symbols are admittedly super cool in glow phase. And Cyborg…that dude SHINES. The blue glow of the left half of his cranium is enough to light up the area around him, as is evident in the images below.

And speaking of images, let’s just get on with that and let you enjoy them! When you’re done and if you like what you see, these are in stock at Entertainment Earth!

Aquaman

Cyborg

Cyborg

The Flash

Green Lantern

Superman

Wonder Woman

The post Photo Mini-Review – Entertainment Earth Exclusive Justice League Silhouette Pops appeared first on Pop Price Guide.

The Neomorph is a new take on the Xenomorph creature found in the previous Alien films, but with a few distinguishing features such as the human-like tongue and gums and the pale skin. We first saw the Neomorph at the end of the first film in this series, Prometheus, though it had the darker skin more familiar to the alien creatures, and was dubbed as Deacon at the time. The pale white Neomorph is one that would have some trouble standing were it not for its tail, which provides extra support as it leans slightly backward. A little adjusting to the tail and/or legs would easily allow the creature to stand a bit more upright. The Neomorph comes with a “toddler”, and now that I’ve seen the movie I realize it is not the offspring of a Neomorph itself, simply a Neomorph in the smaller, earlier stage of life. It’s an adorable little bugger, standing just over an inch tall. It can also have some issues standing as well, as the legs are a bit flimsy when it comes to supporting the creature’s giant noggin. But, as you can see in the pics, I managed to get him to stand OK with a little effort. The Neomorph has a single point of articulation, that at the neck. It’s a bit tough to get his neck rotating at first, as the spikes on his upper back tend to keep it in place. Just a little effort, though, and his head turns just fine.

Moving in a different direction, let’s take a look at Diana Prince from the blockbuster and unsurprising success, Wonder Woman. This Pop is an Entertainment Earth exclusive and features the heroine lead in her alter ego clothing. Just a small town girl trying to fit in with the male-dominated society of the early 20th century. Wonder Woman’s alter ego doesn’t get a great deal of love in the collectible world, but that’s probably because a woman in normal clothes isn’t nearly as exciting to consumers as a hero with the classic garb of Wonder Woman. It’s the same reason we don’t see a lot of Bruce Wayne action figures. It’s nice to see Diana get recognized in Pop form, though, given the multitude of Wonder Woman Pops we already have at our disposal. Even in her “just need to fit in” wardrobe, Diana is equipped with her trusty shield, which clips on to her left arm, bent at the elbow. Diana comes with the clear plastic display stand often found with female Pops, but this one didn’t even need it to stand up – a real surprise given the small feet and particularly heavy head (especially given the added weight of her hat).

While, you can still preorder the Neomorph at Entertainment Earth (for July delivery), the EE exclusive Diana Prince is currently showing as “Pre Sold Out”. But don’t fret – there’s always a chance more will make it to them, or current preorders will be cancelled!

Once again, big thanks to Entertainment Earth for giving us a chance to offer an early look at these Pops!

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I’m not gonna lie, I’ve never played a Fallout game, so my familiarity with these characters is minimal. What I do know, I’ve learned from watching my daughter play Fallout 4. As a Fallout fan, she was in love with this series, particularly a favorite, Nick Valentine, and the big baddie, Liberty Prime. Liberty Prime is done in the super-sized 6″ form, and has some great detail on its torso and limbs. The Power Armor, being slightly bulkier than the average Pop, also sports some fine detail and dynamics. The synth Valentine comes with his standard hat and exposed underwiring, and Piper includes her press hat and a lit smoke in her right hand. These Pops really have a lot of personality.

The complete series is available at Toy Wars, where you can get free shipping on orders of $50 or more.

The post Photo Mini-Review: Fallout 4 Pops appeared first on Pop Price Guide.

The Pop Animation line really took some time to take off, despite the heavy presence of animation in our daily pop culture lives. It wasn’t until mid-2015 – when the number of Pop Animation was still in its 20s! – that the line really started kicking off with the release of Attack on Titan and Black Bulter, and later more mainstream animated shows such as Family Guy and Futurama. Since then, the Pop Animated line has BOOMED, with unique numbering hitting 170+, and total figures (including variants) reaching 250+. And the beauty of this line – it has animated shows for people of all ages, going back to the Hanna-Barbera, Voltron and GI Joe that I grew up with, running through the likes of Ren & Stimpy and Powerpuff Girls for the 90s kids, through all levels of Anime from Fairy Tail to Tokyo Ghoul, and into current adult-oriented shows like Bob’s Burgers and South Park.

Entertainment Earth was kind enough to send along Pop Vinyls from a couple of my favorites – one from my youth (Scooby-Doo) and another from my second youth (Animaniacs). Here are some shots of these great Pops.

Scooby-Doo – The whole gang is here! Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy and Scooby are ready to hop into the Mystery Machine and look for clues! (Side note: Funko, please make the Mystery Machine!) Funko got these perfect, right down to Fred’s ascot, Scooby’s dog tag, and Shaggy’s Scooby Snacks.

Items courtesy of Entertainment Earth

Pinky and the Brain – Animanics was brilliant, with its nutty trio of Yakko, Wakko and Dot, but one of the most memorable segments of the show included the devious plots of Pinky & the Brain.

Items courtesy of Entertainment Earth

What series and/or characters would you like to see added to the Pop Animation line? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Reliving My Childhood (and My Adult Childhood) through Pop Animation appeared first on Pop Price Guide.

Stormtrooper Pin
Darth Vader Patch
Death Star Luggage Tag
Darth Vader/Obi-Wan Kenobi Duel T-Shirt
Darth Vader Pop Vinyl
Grand Moff Tarkin Pop Vinyl

The pin, the patch…all good, nothing crazy here. While I don’t do much travelling, I will say I like the Death Star luggage tag, just because it’s something new for these boxes and might get some use by others. And it makes more sense than, say, a Batman luggage tag, or Stormtrooper luggage tag.

There’s actually quite a bit to say about the t-shirt. I don’t mind the plain gray, since we usually get black or other dark colors. You can see by looking at the images that the final version differs from that one on the promo card included with the box. The small Death Star emblem has been replaced with a white Death Star backdrop (a plus in my opinion), and Sith Vs. Jedi along with the character names have been replaced with “Vader Versus Kenobi”. I think I would have preferred the latter, but that’s just personal preference. Now, maybe someone can help me with this, because a close-up image and a scanner haven’t, but take a look at Obi-Wan’s name on the stock image. Does that not say “Obi-One”? Given Funko’s propensity for ridiculous errors and poor quality control, this wouldn’t surprise me in the least. If anyone can verify with a clearer pic, I’d be grateful!

Finally, we come to the items everyone looks forward to, the Pop Vinyls. Grand Moff Tarkin, the head of the Death Star and a character that was neglected to be made into action figure form until the 1997 Power of the Force line, finally makes his debut in Pop form. This is no big surprise to anyone, as it’s been teased in Funko’s advertisements for this box for some time. Tarkin is a big hit with me, as he has Peter Cushing’s signature jawline sculpted right in as well as the authoritative pose with his hands behind his back. The second figure (which I guessed correctly weeks ago!) is Darth Vader in an action pose. Now, I would have called this a “Force Choke” version, but look at the box….he’s called “Darth Vader (Bespin)”. Wait…Bespin? Isn’t this the Death Star box? And also, aren’t we getting another action/force choke Vader for Rogue One in a mere two weeks? While I love Vader as a character (who doesn’t?), this is a big fail by Funko. I mean, big. Bespin? Seriously?

Despite my complaints about Vader, this is actually a pretty solid box. Personally, I don’t want to see a ton of stray from the norm in these boxes. Give me a couple of vinyl figures (Pops, Wobblers, Rock Candy, etc), a shirt, and a few other generally worthless goodies, and I’m content as a cucumber.

The post Star Wars Smuggler’s Bounty Death Star Box Mini-Review appeared first on Pop Price Guide.

Who grew up in the heyday of the Kenner Star Wars line? Who doesn’t remember the Kenner’s 4-LOM/Zuckuss flub, confusing a generation of fans by getting the names mixed up on Zuckuss and 4-LOM, switching the two through the entire run from 1982-1985. So here were are more than 30 years later, and despite corrections being made in action figures, role-playing games, media, etc., beginning in the late 80s, old fanboys like me still switch the two names. But I digress.

Here we have Zuckuss himself, the bug-eyed Gand that appeared briefly during The Empire Strikes Back during the bounty hunter gathering on the Super Star Destroyer. Zuckuss is a Toy Wars exclusive and up for preorder with a September delivery. I have to admit, when news of this figure first hit, I was excited and disappointed at the same time. This was bounty hunter #4 from that scene, following Boba Fett, Bossk, and IG-88, and now #5 (the real 4-LOM) has been released). But…he looked so drab in the promotional shots. I’m happy to say that the final product turned out looking pretty good, with better detail and depth, plus slightly better color contrast. Now, get moving, Funko…we need Dengar to complete our set!

Again, big thanks to Toy Wars for providing this sample.

The post PPG First Look: Pop Star Wars Zuckuss Toy Wars Exclusive appeared first on Pop Price Guide.

I grew up in the 80s, and trilogies like Star Wars, Indiana Jones and Alien were the staples of my childhood. Even seeing Alien at the tender age of six, it was terrifying and mesmerizing, and left a lasting impression that has kept the trilogy near the top of my favorites list for a lifetime. With seven crew members in Alien, and a good dozen Marines, a new Alien design, and of course the matriarchal Queen Alien in Aliens, Funko has only broken the tip of the iceberg with this franchise.

This version of Ellen Ripley is taken right out of the final sequences in Aliens, as she descends into the alien hive in an attempt to rescue the young Newt from the alien nest. Complete with her pulse rifle, blue jump suit pants and battle wear from the surprise attack on the remaining crew, Ripley is ready for her encounter with the massive Queen Alien (which can’t come soon enough!).

Again, big thanks to Toy Wars for providing this sample. They have Amy up up for preorder with delivery any time.

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