What was the first Funko Pop ever made? When is it released?

What was the first Funko Pop? Funko Inc. is an American toy company that has been manufacturing pop culture action figures and figurines since 1998. Founded by toy collector Mike Becker in Washington state, Becker built his own company from the ground up when he couldn’t find a budget-friendly coin bank of the Big Boy Restaurants mascot.

This Funko blog guide is here to provide an explanation as to What is the first Funko Pop, so you understand just how important they are in the world of Funko Pop Vinyls.

Table of Contents

What was the first Funko Pop?

Funko history began in 1998 when Mike Becker founded the little company with a nostalgia-themed bobblehead line called Wacky Wobblers. The first item the company ever created was the Big Boy bobblehead.

Over time, this once small company became a huge obsession with collectors and pop culture enthusiasts worldwide. The company’s most successful line, the Pop! Vinyl figure, officially debuted in 2010 (originally called Funko Force 2.0) and started a new addiction fans never knew they were craving.

It seems there are new waves of Pop! Vinyl figures coming out every day, but while it’s the firm’s biggest, it’s not Funko’s only collectible line.

Funko’s Funkovision allowed fans to relieve the cartoons of their past. The line featured figures from Looney Tunes, The Flintstones, Yogi Bear, Betty Boop, and Peanuts. While they’re no longer being made, they’re still a huge hit for collectors to hunt at conventions and on the Internet.

The History Of Funko

Prior to the debut of the first Funko Pop, the company (which was founded by Claudia and Mike Becker in 1998) manufactured a line of collectables known as Wacky Wobbler. The first item the company ever created was the Big Boy bobblehead Wacky Wobbler.

After gaining the rights to make licensed Austin Powers bobble heads, the business started to grow and sold around 80,000 of their first Austin Power Wacky Wobbler.

In 2005, the company was sold to Brian Mariotti (the president of Funko). Since 2005, the company has expanded its scope of unique toy line and began signing many licenses deals: Marvel, Star Wars, Lucasfilm, Disney, DC Comics, HBO, Hasbro, WWE, NHL, and, FOX.

With the Mini Hikari line of figures, Funko added yet another assembly of adorable collectibles to adorn your desk. These baby-sized vinyl figures added flairs of color to favorite characters such as Darth Vader, Greedo, Freddy Funko, and Mickey Mouse. These figures were very limited in quantity at the time, but the Mickey Mouse figures are now available from Entertainment Earth in a 2-pack of red and black figures.

Recently, Funko came out with their vinyl figures. This line reimagines some of pop culture’s most iconic characters in a soft and cuddly way that most people have never seen before. For example, Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees as childish cartoon characters with blood still dripping from Jason’s machete. The line started with just three box sets, but it’s grown into yet another runaway addiction for collectors.

The success of Funko is easy to see whenever you walk into a comic bookstore or a mall. Pop! Vinyl figures are everywhere, and you can’t escape their draw and the addiction that follows your first purchase. This love has created a community of fans whose adoration of these little toys spawns friendships spanning the globe.

It’s a friendly world of collectors who share their massive collections and fondness for being kids again. A documentary, “Make Fun – The Story of Funko,” currently on Netflix, gives a more in-depth history of Funko and the story of the company and the fans that helped make it a global phenomenon.

8 Oldest Funko Pops Ever Made

The 8 First Funko Pops Ever Made include: Big Boy Bobblehead, Austin Powers Bobbleheads, Mickey Mouse (Metallic), Superman Chase (Metallic #7), Green Lantern Vinyl Figure (#9), Star Wars Darth Maul (Holographic), Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Kool-Aid Man.

1. Wacky Wobblers Bob’s Big Boy Bobblehead

Big Boy Bobblehead is the oldest Funko product to be made. Its production was a moderate success, with only 480 pieces being made. Its production did not catapult Funko to popularity or fame, but it remains a vital Funko piece that forms an integral part of the brand’s history.

Bobbleheads are classic collectibles that are thought to have existed for at least 150 years. We can trace similar toys from the short story, The Overcoat, by Nikolai Gogol in 1842. The toys described a character with a neck similar to the neck of plaster cats that wag their heads.

Big Boy Bobblehead is an iconic mascot for Bob’s Big Boy Restaurant. It features a chubby boy in red-and-white checkered overalls holding a piece of a double cheeseburger. While the 1998 edition only featured limited numbers, you can still find it in various online stores.

As earlier mentioned, Mike Becker, Funko Pop founder, created Big Boy Bobblehead after not finding an affordable Bob’s collectible. Whatever he found in the market was too pricey, so he went on to acquire Bob’s license to produce his own. This is how the Funko brand was born.

Did you know?

Funko’s Big Boy figurine represents the mascot of the Bob’s Big Boy burger franchise. Founder of Funko Pop, Mike Becker, created it after searching for an affordable Bob’s collectible. Finding the offerings too pricey, he went on to obtain a Bob’s license and produce his own. Thus, the Funko brand was born.

2. Austin Powers Bobbleheads

As we begin to close in on the oldest of Funko Pop figures, we venture more deeply into bobblehead territory, which were among the first types of figures that the Funko company made. Bobbleheads were the only available products that Funko offered until they began producing vinyl action figures in 2010.

Austin Powers bobbleheads made an appearance on the market in 2002, and it was the product that put Funko Pop on the map as a true success with their figurines. Today, though they are collectible items, Austin Powers bobbleheads are relatively easy to find and purchase—particularly secondhand through individual sellers on eBay.

Did you know?

The Austin Powers Funko Pop collection was the company’s true success story. After having experienced a modest amount of success with their first figure, the Big Boy Wacky Wobblers bobblehead, it still ultimately wasn’t enough to pay all invoices and sell out inventory.

Funko Pop’s founder, Mike Becker, called New Line Cinema to obtain a license for the sequel to 1997’s Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery. Becker made a $2,500 deal with the film company to produce bobbleheads of the movie characters, and went on to ship 10,000 units.

3. Mickey Mouse (Metallic)

Part of the POP! Disney line, the Mickey Mouse Metallic figure is extremely rare, with just 480 units ever produced worldwide. It is one of Funko Pop’s 1,149 Disney action figures, and is specifically a part of the Mickey Mouse collections, which include varieties such as Peaches & Cream, Conductor Mickey, Apprentice Mickey, and the vintage Steamboat Willie, to name a few. Most of these other versions are available through retailers such as Walmart.

Funko Pop’s Mickey Mouse Metallic vinyl action figure was debuted and distributed at the San Diego Comic-Con. It is considered #1 in the POP! Disney line-up.

Did you know?

The POP! Disney line is one of the biggest Funko Pop lines to date, and features a wide variety of characters from popular Disney movies dating as far back as the 1920s. The line also includes modern Disney characters, such as Elsa from Frozen (2010), Dory from Finding Nemo (2003), and Tiana from The Princess and the Frog (2009).

4. Superman (Metallic Chase #07)

Like its Green Lantern cousin, the Funko Pop Superman Metallic Chase figure is part of the POP! Heroes world. It’s also one of the earliest on the scene, much like Green Lantern, making it rare and valuable.

Unlike some of the other POP! Heroes, the Superman figure comes in several varieties, including Metallic, Kingdom Come, Black and White, and Silver. It is also, specifically, a bobblehead, which is one of the tells for an early Funko Pop figure. It wasn’t until 2011 that Funko began selling vinyl figures.

Today, the 2010 Funko Pop Superman #07 figure can typically only be purchased through individual sellers.

Did you know?

There are about 20 varieties of Funko Pop Superman figures available, not counting different versions of each individual model (for example, the Superman Metallic #07 has four different versions).

5. Green Lantern Vinyl Figure (#9)

The Green Lantern Vinyl Figure (#9) was one of the earliest Funko Pop figures in 2010. It is one of the rarest Funko Pop Universe Heroes, as Funko has only produced 402 Pop Heroes figurines between 2010 and 2021.

Some of the superheroes produced under this line include the Joker, Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman, Catwoman, and Harley Quinn. Additionally, there are other versions of Green Lantern Vinyl Figure #9 that appeared as recently as 2017, including John Stewart, though not as rare as its older counterpart.

You can find John Stewart at Walmart, Amazon, and other retailers at lower prices. However, the overall availability of Green Lantern Vinyl Figure (#9) is quite limited, and you can only find it through mainstream retailers such as Walmart.

6. Star Wars Darth Maul (Holographic)

Star Wars Darth Maul was exclusively made for the San Diego Comic-Con of 2012. The Holographic figure of Star Wars’ Darth Maul’s limited release only had 480 units in circulation, which makes it one of the rarest and most valuable Funko pop figures.

7. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory was a great success in the 2016 Funko pop production. Willy Wonka was first released in 1971, and since then, it has remained a favorite among candy and film lovers. In 2016, it was further immortalized with various pop options to track down.

For so long, one of the kid characters in the Willy Wonka story, Violet Beauregard, was sidelined from the Funko pop lineup. The story made a turnaround at the 2016’s San Diego Comic Convention, where the Violet character was finally created as an exclusive figurine for the season.

Funko produced several other Willy Wonka and Chocolate Factory figurines representing popular characters from the film, including Grandpa Joe, Veruca Salt, Mike Teevee, Charlie Bucket, and Augustus Gloop.

The Willy Wonka figurine is 3 ¾” tall. It is produced with vinyl, and its larger and more elaborate version can be found through the Funko Vinyl Idolz Line.

8. Kool-Aid Man

The latest on our list of the first Funko Pops ever made is Kool-Aid Man. Kool-Aid Man represents simpler times of at least the 1970s. The figurine was born in 2019 and is more like four inches, and not anywhere close to the original six feet tall.

The Kool-Aid Man figurine is made of standard vinyl material. It is considered a Target exclusive production but is also available online on Amazon, Walmart, and GameStop.

Kool-Aid Man is part of Funko’s Ad Icon line that made its debut in 2010. The line features brand mascots from the past 50 years of major products and companies. Some of these mascots include Dr. Pepper, Frosted Flakes, Cheerios, McDonald’s, Rice Krispies, and Tootsie Roll.

FAQs

What Funko Pop line has the most number of releases?

The Funko Pop line with the most releases is in the television shows categories. The second one is in the Disney product line. Most top Funko pop collectors are life fans who love and support their best shows like Batman, Sheldon Cooper from the Big Bang Theory, and princesses from Disney.

How many rare Funko pop figures are there?

You can collect more than 15 rare Funko pop figures. The collectibles, including the bloody Jaime Lannister from Game of Thrones, metallic Mickey Mouse, Gold Hopper from Stranger Things, and Metallic Stan Lee, are worth a fortune.

How many pop figures are available?

As of 2020, Funko Pop had released around 8,366 designs and more than 20,000 vinyl designs. Different TV shows, movies, and personalities inspire the Funko pop vinyl toys.

What is Funko Pop Vinyl?

Their uniquely oversize heads that bobble about whenever shaken identify Funko Pop Vinyl. While most Funko Pop Vinyl have bobbleheads, there are characters that are firmly fixed with glue.

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