San Diego Comic-Con 2017 is just around the corner and for many fans, that means announcements from your favorite comic books or television series, the release of trailers from new, highly-anticipated movies and pictures of the most insane and devoted cosplays out there. But for the collectors, it means something else entirely. It means either waiting in long lines, or saving up money to order exclusive toys and collectibles online. Today, one the most popular and highly sought-after collectibles at SDCC are the Funko Pop vinyl figures.
RELATED: The Most Ridiculous Batman Toy Armor Ever
While many can't be there in San Diego, most of us will be up all hours of the night scouring the internets to try and find the Pop figures of Rogue One's Bodhi, Scott Pilgrim with his Sword of Destiny (argh!), Bucky Cap and Wonder Woman's Ares. But even if we do manage to somehow be lucky enough to find everything on our hunt list, there are still many more Pop figures out there that collectors are hunting for. Not necessarily metallic or flocked or black-and-white variant figures, but figures that were missed out on or that were impossible to get. Today, CBR lists 15 of the rarest Funko Pop figures any collector would want in their collection.
15 TWO-FACE
Seeing as how Batman is one of the most popular superheroes out there and that his rogues gallery is one of the most recognizable, it makes sense that there are a great number of Funko Pop figures of Batman and his supporting cast. Many of his villains have received the Funko treatment, some of them very recently and others with much more than a single version, like the Joker.
But Two-Face was one of the earliest Batman villains to be featured as a Pop in 2011. As a result, this figure has become quite rare, with only those who got in early on the Funko train able to get one easily. It's still possible for collectors to find one now, but they will have to shop online to find one, and they will have to pay an average price of $170 to get their hands on this Two-Face figure!
14 ZOMBIE MERLE DIXON
The Walking Dead television show has reached epic proportions of popularity in pop culture and, after seven seasons, they still aren't slowing down. New lines of Walking Dead Funko figures are regularly announced, but there are a few variants out there that are very hard to find. Key among them is the Zombie variant of the Merle Dixon Pop.
Released in 2013, when Funko, just like The Walking Dead, was only just starting to get big and popular, this figure was hard to find from the start. Those lucky enough to find it may not wish to part ways with it, considering the popularity of the character and the rarity of the figure itself, but it's still possible to add this variant to your collection if you're willing. It will only set you back somewhere around $180.
13 INDIANA JONES
Indiana Jones is debatably one of the most popular characters in all of pop culture. The demand for a Funko Pop of everyone's favorite teacher-slash-archeologist was always very vocal, and it may have taken a few years, but Funko finally listened. Released as recently as 2016, this Pop figure was an exclusive to the Funko booth at the San Diego Comic-Con.
While some convention exclusive figures can sometimes be “shared exclusives” that certain chain stores like Gamestop and Hot Topic can receive in limited quantities, this Indiana Jones figure received no such treatment. Only those who attended the convention itself were able to get their hands on it. But you can still find this figure for an average of $230. One thing is for certain, if you do have this one, you'll be telling everyone it “belongs in a museum.”
12 SHAZAM
For some reason, some of DC's most beloved and popular characters received the Pop treatment early on, and never saw a return. Such is the case for this Shazam figure, released in 2011. Among others, like Aquaman and Martian Manhunter, this Pop never saw the wide levels of release new figures get today. In some ways, this would mean that 2011 was the year that started it all for the Pop figures.
Portrayed here in his classic comic book look, Shazam still has not seen a new version of a Pop in the following years, not with his New 52 costume, or his Injustice look. So for fans of Shazam, the only way to have one of your favorite characters on display in your Pop collection is to hunt down this rare figure. The only caveat is that you'll have to pay upwards of $260 to get it.
11 TONY STARK (IRON MAN 3)
The Iron Man 3 film came at the height of Marvel Studios' ever-burgeoning popularity. After the overwhelming response to The Avengers, people were looking at Iron Man 3 as a sequel of sorts to the team-up movie. It made sense then for Funko to release new versions of their Iron Man Pops to match the movie's release.
Exclusive to San Diego Comic-Con 2013, this Pop figure was an unmasked variant of the regular release of Tony Stark's Mark 42 armor figure. Shared exclusives didn't really exist yet in 2013, so this Pop saw a very limited release, and only con attendees were able to get this one. While it might cost you around $270 to get it, it seems like no Iron Man Pop collection would be complete without this exclusive variant.
10 WHITE WALKER (GLOW-IN-THE-DARK)
Ever since their first appearance in Game of Thrones, the White Walkers have been extremely popular. They are the true face of evil, the very reason the show's characters have to whisper “Winter is coming.” As the series' main antagonists, a Pop figure was quickly made to be released in the first wave of Game of Thrones Pop figures.
But a year later, in 2013, the retail chain store HMV had an exclusive Glow-In-The-Dark White Walker figure available for purchase. Today valued at $280, the glow-in-the-dark feature was one very well used to bring even more creepiness to these creatures of the cold. Any Game of Thrones fans would have to hunt down this exclusive figure to have a full and complete set so that when they turn off the lights, they could still see this frightening White Walker glowing in their display.
9 RED SKULL
In 2011, aka the Golden Age of Pop figures, Marvel, just like DC, had figures of some of their most popular characters as well as some surprising, more obscure ones. Among them was the Red Skull, who was probably released to somewhat tie-in to the release of Captain America: The First Avenger -- only it was never advertised or marked as such.
Considering that the movie contributed to the Red Skull's subsequent popularity and, considering that no actual Marvel Cinematic Universe Pop of the Red Skull was ever made after that, this is the only one that fans of the character, whether from the comics or the movies, can possess. But at an average value of $310, this one just might be all the more harder to find.
8 GREEN ARROW
This character saw his very own Pop made in 2011, alongside the much sought-after Martian Manhunter, Shazam, Hawkman and Two-Face. But what Funko couldn't anticipate was how much the character would be shot into the stratosphere of pop culture when The CW series Arrow became and instant hit. All of a sudden, Funko collectors all wanted a figure of Green Arrow.
But seeing as this was the only one at the time, no other release had been made. So for a while, this Pop was on every DC fan's hunt list. It would be a few years until Funko would release an Arrow line of Pops, but that never came close to stopping collectors from wanting this now very rare figure. And with a value of $340, this Green Arrow figure just might be the one to aim for.
7 PHOENIX
Just before Funko Pops were about to explode in popularity, it was still relatively easy for collectors to find the figures they most wanted. But that wasn't the case for this figure of the Phoenix, exclusive only to Seattle's very own Emerald City Comicon in 2013. At a time when there weren't that many Marvel Pop figures to collect, mostly classic or connected to the movies, this vinyl figure of the Phoenix was a treat for fans.
As a popular X-Men character, one near and dear to longtime fans of both the comics and the cartoons, this Phoenix figure is both extremely rare and sought after by those who simply couldn't make it to Seattle, Washington that fateful year. But worry not, if you can afford its $350 value, this figure can be the fiery centerpiece of your collection.
6 MR. INCREDIBLE (BLUE SUIT)
Another Pop figure released in 2011. Another Pop figure that was exclusive to San Diego Comic-Con. If Pop figure collectors had a time machine, it really seems like SDCC 2011 would be the absolute, most crucial time to go back to. Disney Pixar's The Incredibles movie has always had a very large fanbase, one that overlapped both Disney and comic book fans.
Not only was this exclusive Pop made quite a few years after the movie's release, it was also released with Mr. Incredible's original blue costume. While there is another, also rare version of Mr. Incredible in his red outfit out there, it's not as rare as this figure, which saw a very limited release of only 480 made. It's no wonder then that this one has a value of $670. And with a sequel coming, that value could still go up.
5 RORSCHACH (BLOODY)
The Watchmen Pops were made and released a few years after the movie's release. In fact, only two characters were ever made: Dr. Manhattan and Rorschach. Seeing as the graphic novel is one of the most revered in the genre, a brilliant classic that stands as a favorite of a lot of comic book readers, these two figures flew off the shelves and both are now very hard to find.
But there was a third Watchmen figure released. A variant of Rorschach, this one covered in blood, released as an exclusive at San Diego Comic-Con in 2013. Somehow, this figure managed to capture even more of the essence of the most popular Watchmen character, and every fan of the graphic novel would be hard-pressed to find another Pop figure they would want more than this one. With only 480 of these made, this one is worth $510.
4 BIGGS DARKLIGHTER
Who? No, this isn't Star-Lord we're talking about. Biggs Darklighter was Luke Skywalker's best friend from his days on Tatooine, as seen in the original Star Wars movie. A pilot for the Rebellion, one who took the fight to the Death Star in his very own X-Wing, Luke and Biggs fought side-by-side against the Imperial Forces... until, sadly, Darklighter met his end at the hands of Darth Vader.
Biggs may not be the most popular or well-known character from the Star Wars universe, but that's exactly why this Pop figure is one of the most sought-after by Star Wars fans -- because he had a very small role, but a distinguished one that made him recognizable. Exclusive to San Diego Comic-Con in 2012, this Pop had a limited release of 480 and is worth a whopping 1050$. Time to break the piggy bank.
3 NED STARK (HEADLESS VERSION)
Whether you had read the books before Game of Thrones ever premiered or whether you had never heard of Winterfell or Westeros before you first sat down to watch this HBO series, there is no denying the fact that everyone following the series was horrified to see Ned Stark -- the most honorable character of the series -- meet his demise at the hands of an executioner.
It was an iconic moment, one that came to define the series; a moment that, as it turns out, would be immortalized in Pop form. Released as an exclusive at San Diego Comic-Con 2013, two years after that moment aired on television, this Pop quickly became one of the most sought-after by fans. With a bit of a larger release of 1008, this one sits at a value of around $690. But with the final seasons of the series approaching, hunting for this one will become increasingly harder.
2 SHADOW TROOPER
Today, there are many Star Wars Pops out there, and so much more are coming. With the expansion of the movie universe under Disney, there is simply no stopping the franchise. More and more Pops will be released, and their quality and detail will improve with each new line. But, if you really want to prove yourself the ultimate Star Wars fan, then you need this Shadow Trooper figure in your display.
A limited release of 480 in the now legendary and mythical San Diego Comic-Con of the fabled year of 2011, the Shadow Trooper Funko Pop figure is one that is absolutely needed to complete a Stormtrooper display. It's currently valued at an average price of $1040 and one thing is for certain: if you somehow manage to find and afford this one, you will be shining a bright light on it.
1 LOKI (THE AVENGERS)
After four years of build-up and five solo movies, The Avengers finally united on-screen in 2012 and the movie was a massive hit. To tie with the movie's release, Funko had made a line of movie-based Avengers Pops, with characters like Thor, Iron Man and Captain America hitting the shelves. But if a fan wanted a complete set, he needed the movie's villain as well.
At the time, Loki was the best Marvel villain to grace the screen thanks to his complexity, his villainy and Tom Hiddleston's brilliant portrayal of the God of Mischief. So for those who were getting in early on the Funko train, this Pop was a real treat to Marvel fans, and it could only be found at San Diego Comic-Con in 2012, a mere few months after The Avengers movie was released. All you need is $1080 to get your hands on one... Happy hunting!
Which Funko Pop do you most want in your collection? Let us know in the comments!