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Despite the growing popularity of the Funko POP! Vinyl line in the Philippines, I’ve held off[i] buying any of their products largely due to their simplicity and lack of articulation.  I think I may have also reached a point wherein I swore I would never buy anything Funko.

Well, that all change in 2017 when I was introduced[ii] to Adult Swim’s animated science fiction adventure comedy series called Rick and Morty.  If that introduction wasn’t enough, I was completely hooked after watching this video below (Note: This is the uncensored version.):

I know right!  This show has everything!  An 80’s nod here and there.

I could totally relate.

My Rick and Morty Funko Pop! Collection Checklist (Part 1 of 3): Finding the GameStop and Hot Topic exclusives will be a tall order.

Interest leads to Want

But like with many other things in life, interest oftentimes leads to Want. With Want sometimes gets confused with Need.

That’s where Funko comes in—supplying that void called Want/Need.  The toy manufacturer gained the licensing rights to produce Rick and Morty merchandise and boy, did they produce.  As of this post, there have been 45 regular and exclusive Vinyl figures, 2 regular and exclusive POP! Rides, and a 2-pack exclusive that have been released into primary and secondary markets.

Low production costs have also allowed Funko to produce second or third tier characters that would have otherwise never seen plastic glory.  More characters mean more product waves.  A Completists Paradise that may very well turn into a nightmare if they are unable to procure those last few hard-to-find POP!’s.

My Rick and Morty Funko Pop! Collection Checklist (Part 2 of 3): The Neon Scary Terry Gamestop exclusive never made it to Manila.

My Rick and Morty Collection

Blatant repackaging of released figures aside, I’ve been very happy with the Rick and Morty line so far.  I just wish they would release more characters from the Total Rickall episode like Reverse Giraffe, Amish Cyborg, Hamurai, Mr. Beauregard, Mrs. Refrigerator, Cousin Nicky, Uncle Steve, Frankenstein’s Monster, Photography Raptor (yes Funko, you guys can reuse the Jurassic Park Velociraptor figure), and Pencilvester just to name a few.

Specialize! Specialize! Specialize!

If you are interested in starting up a similar collection for yourself, I always make it a point to tell people:

• That they should specialize in a specific Funko POP! line and not deviate if possible[iii].
• That this collection has the potential of getting out of hand pretty quick.
• That Funko POP! Stacks (The hard plastic protector cases for regular sized Funko POP! boxed figures) is a wise investment. Costs aside, the look good esthetically and it protects your investment.  As my uncle once said, “You mean to tell me that you are will to spend XXX on that and not XXX to protect it?”  The man makes a good argument.

My Rick and Morty Funko Pop! Collection Checklist (Part 3 of 3): I regret putting back that Buff Rick and Summer exclusive that I saw in Century Mall.  Never saw it again.

So, what POP! Series do you collect?

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[i] Minus that one Funko POP! Ant-Man (#85) that was released in 2015.  I think its in storage somewhere…
[ii] A conversation for another time and place.
[iii] If you take away: Harry Hart (#462), Gary “Eggsy” Unwin with JB (#463), Richmond Valentine (#464), and Gazelle (#465) from Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014); Codsworth (#163) from Fallout 4; and Captain Underpants (#426) from the book series and movie of the same name—I’ve kept to my rule.
[iv] Purchased the Rick and Morty: Mr. Meeseeks with Box (BBTS Festival | August 7, 2018)