Anybody Think Hikari will Blow up?
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Re: Anybody Think Hikari will Blow up?
If they stay at the current price they are at, I'd highly doubt it.
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Re: Anybody Think Hikari will Blow up?
Lol, I really want to collect some more now. It barely hit me how cool they are!
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Re: Anybody Think Hikari will Blow up?
Submyst wrote:Lol, I really want to collect some more now. It barely hit me how cool they are!
They start to grow on you! I mean, I only collect the Disney characters but they're pretty cool.
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Re: Anybody Think Hikari will Blow up?
Maybe it's different for others but for me...Hikari can't blow up until they retail lower than $50.
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Re: Anybody Think Hikari will Blow up?
I think Hikari blowing any time soon is very unlikely. I don't think mega popularity was every really the intention of that line. Hikari is targeted at the premium collectors market. Occasionally a piece will be highly in demand for the general public. Funko is onto something with the smaller footprint Hikari, I would love to see more of those at a lower price point. Hikari are pretty awesome and I would love to see another Batman some day.
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Re: Anybody Think Hikari will Blow up?
I really like Hikari, and I have several, but the price is too high for me to buy a ton of them. There's still a few mickey Hikari I need to get though But like others said because of the price point they probably won't ever be as popular as pops and dorbz
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Re: Anybody Think Hikari will Blow up?
Agreed with everyone. I love the Hikari line but they are too darn expensive. Depending on LE, my experience is if you wait, they tend to be cheaper on eBay after a few months. Most recent one that I have seen that with is the Bubble Gum Freddy.
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Re: Anybody Think Hikari will Blow up?
Submyst wrote:https://imgur.com/gallery/iUQco
If it was gunna blow up it wouldve already happened. Also the correct hashtag would be #saban not #saben
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Re: Anybody Think Hikari will Blow up?
arisensun wrote:I don't think mega popularity was every really the intention of that line.
That's a little weird to imply. If a company didn't want it to be successful, it wouldn't produce them.
I completely agree that it's rough that most of the price points are $50-80 and then they end up sub-$50 a few months later on ebay... Sofubi in general are very expensive, so it almost seems like they price point at what other companies are doing. I think if things were a smaller edition number, the larger price point would make more sense.
To answer the question at hand, I don't think Hikari as a whole will blow up. Maybe a few characters will retain value, but mostly they will not be as popular as Pop or Dorbz.
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Re: Anybody Think Hikari will Blow up?
Yes, I also think the price point is too high for the masses.
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Re: Anybody Think Hikari will Blow up?
I don't think they'll blow up. The price is just a bit to high.
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Re: Anybody Think Hikari will Blow up?
Sarcasticguy wrote:arisensun wrote:I don't think mega popularity was every really the intention of that line.
That's a little weird to imply. If a company didn't want it to be successful, it wouldn't produce them.
I completely agree that it's rough that most of the price points are $50-80 and then they end up sub-$50 a few months later on ebay... Sofubi in general are very expensive, so it almost seems like they price point at what other companies are doing. I think if things were a smaller edition number, the larger price point would make more sense.
To answer the question at hand, I don't think Hikari as a whole will blow up. Maybe a few characters will retain value, but mostly they will not be as popular as Pop or Dorbz.
I think what Arisensun was trying to insinuate was that Funko wanted to create a high-end collectible for high-end collectors, and that Pops and Dorbz are specifically designed as a sort of "gateway drug" for people who aren't yet into collecting? That would explain their emphasis on rarity, numbers, and the high price point at least.
At the same time, I do agree that Hikari aren't going to explode anytime soon. They don't really LOOK expensive, and as cool as they are, the only three Hikari I own are from clearance sales online haha. I think that's what's frustrating about them: I don't have the cash to own them, but a lot of them do look really gorgeous.
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Re: Anybody Think Hikari will Blow up?
They're pretty cool.
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Re: Anybody Think Hikari will Blow up?
I am a fan of Hikari but as most people have mentioned the price point keeps me out of the game even at the wholesale level. There are also sculpts I love and some I shake my head at. The best sculpts are the Asian mythological characters and they're obviously not familiar to people here.
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Re: Anybody Think Hikari will Blow up?
I think the price point is too high and the footprint too big. Pop! and Dorbz are able to get into a lot of stores due to their size (same with the mystery minis and pint size heroes) and price point (I don't foresee an $80 Hikari getting into Walgreens or Walmart in mass quantities). Spending $5-10 on a mini, Dorbz, or Pop! doesn't make too many consumers second guess their purchase, but you get north of $20 and the psyche changes.
From Funko's standpoint it probably still makes sense to produce them in limited quantities. I don't know their profit margin, but typical retail is double wholesale and wholesale double cost, so if it's retail for $80, then wholesale is around $40 and Funko's cost probably around $20. So they can make $10,000 per 500 limited run (using rough numbers). Assuming Pop!s have the same price points, they probably make around $2.50 per Pop! so they'd have to sell 4,000 Pop!s to get the same return.
From Funko's standpoint it probably still makes sense to produce them in limited quantities. I don't know their profit margin, but typical retail is double wholesale and wholesale double cost, so if it's retail for $80, then wholesale is around $40 and Funko's cost probably around $20. So they can make $10,000 per 500 limited run (using rough numbers). Assuming Pop!s have the same price points, they probably make around $2.50 per Pop! so they'd have to sell 4,000 Pop!s to get the same return.
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Re: Anybody Think Hikari will Blow up?
KMFH11 wrote:I really like Hikari, and I have several, but the price is too high for me to buy a ton of them. There's still a few mickey Hikari I need to get though But like others said because of the price point they probably won't ever be as popular as pops and dorbz
Which r u missing? I have dupes of a few
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Re: Anybody Think Hikari will Blow up?
Hikari is starting to grow on me but i don't think it will blow up anytime soon. But i kind of like it cause so far its easier on me playing catchup with some Iron Man pieces i need!
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Re: Anybody Think Hikari will Blow up?
It is all about perspective. No secret I am a big fan of the Hikari series but I also see them as very different product from Pops, Dorbz and mystery minis. Funko is catering to a different audience with Hikari and understanding the quality of vinyl and paint treatments vs the lower end geared products like pops/etc. is key to the mindset of collecting them.
People really dig the $10 Pop price point at Target/Walmart/B&N/etc. and I do not see Hikari being geared toward that audience. Sofubi figures have been around for a long time with a small but strong fan base. The Hikari price point is no different and often much better than a lot of the comparably sized designer toys.
I dig pops, they were my gateway item into Funko but Hikari is where it is at for me. Ultimately the footprint is smaller and cleaner, I really love the funky color ways and I like the larger size format. Plus I really dig some of the wilder Mindstyle designs.
No shots taken at anyone in this thread but I have to admit I chuckle when I see complaints about the Hikari price point but than see what people are willing to spend on a rare pop on the aftermarket. In the end it's all about collecting what one loves and to each his own...
People really dig the $10 Pop price point at Target/Walmart/B&N/etc. and I do not see Hikari being geared toward that audience. Sofubi figures have been around for a long time with a small but strong fan base. The Hikari price point is no different and often much better than a lot of the comparably sized designer toys.
I dig pops, they were my gateway item into Funko but Hikari is where it is at for me. Ultimately the footprint is smaller and cleaner, I really love the funky color ways and I like the larger size format. Plus I really dig some of the wilder Mindstyle designs.
No shots taken at anyone in this thread but I have to admit I chuckle when I see complaints about the Hikari price point but than see what people are willing to spend on a rare pop on the aftermarket. In the end it's all about collecting what one loves and to each his own...
Last edited by mohawkjones on Thu Jun 15, 2017 10:56 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Anybody Think Hikari will Blow up?
mohawkjones wrote:It is all about perspective. No secret I am a big fan of the Hikari series but I also see them as very different product from Pops, Dorbz and mystery minis. Funko is catering to a different audience with Hikari and understanding the quality of vinyl and paint treatments vs the lower end geared products like pops/etc. is key to the mindset of collecting them.
People really dig the $10 Pop price point at Target/Walmart/B&N/etc. and I do not see Hikari being geared toward that audience. Sofubi figures have been around for a long time with a small but strong fan base. The Hikari price point is no different and often much better than a lot of the comparably sized designer toys.
I dig pops, they were my gateway item into Funko but Hikari is where it is at for me. Ultimately the footprint is smaller and cleaner, I really love the funky color ways and I like the larger size format. Plus I really dig some of the wilder Mindstyle designs.
No shots taken at anyone in this thread but I have to admit I chuckle when I see complaints about the Hikari price point but than see what people are willing to spend on a rare pop on the aftermarket. In the end it's all about collecting what one loves to to each his own...
I definitely hear you on the aftermarket price point. When I first started collecting I thought there was no way I could spend more than $20 on a single item. I still don't spend a lot on "grails" but have more readily spent $50-60 on an item than I would have a year ago. And if I find an SDCC V for Vendetta or Big Boy for less than $300... (I can't believe the last eBay sale for metallic V).
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Re: Anybody Think Hikari will Blow up?
It would certainly be great if they did. Personally, I only have 3 but just don't really see myself buying one again anytime soon.
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Re: Anybody Think Hikari will Blow up?
I think for me it's all about the color way and character combination. I love star wars but have tried to stick to vader and troopers (including Phasma). I think the smaller the edition, the more interesting/unique the color the more likely they will move a bit faster. Look at the phasma and Freddy Hikari...they are expensive but also pretty cool so if they can appeal to the right collector they could gain some traction for sure.
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Re: Anybody Think Hikari will Blow up?
MartinMtz702 wrote:KMFH11 wrote:I really like Hikari, and I have several, but the price is too high for me to buy a ton of them. There's still a few mickey Hikari I need to get though But like others said because of the price point they probably won't ever be as popular as pops and dorbz
Which r u missing? I have dupes of a few
I only have the purple mickey
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Re: Anybody Think Hikari will Blow up?
I think like others have said it seems to be mainly price point that scares people away from them. I know I've always admired the Hikaris from a far when they first came out but held back from buying any mainly because of price.
Then I recently purchased one and mannnn glams and even seeing them in person in box does not do them justice! Like others mentioned the colors and effects that some of them have are just so attractive! Now I'm hooked and have been trying to finish my Stitch and Mickey sets every chance I get!
Even if they don't blow up, I just hope that line is stable enough that they continue to make them, and so far it's looking okay
Then I recently purchased one and mannnn glams and even seeing them in person in box does not do them justice! Like others mentioned the colors and effects that some of them have are just so attractive! Now I'm hooked and have been trying to finish my Stitch and Mickey sets every chance I get!
Even if they don't blow up, I just hope that line is stable enough that they continue to make them, and so far it's looking okay
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Re: Anybody Think Hikari will Blow up?
To blow up properly the price point needs to come down. Mini Hikari might help. Ask again in a year.
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Re: Anybody Think Hikari will Blow up?
If they get them to look as good as the Voltron one, yes. That thing is amazing
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Re: Anybody Think Hikari will Blow up?
i think the price point is too high for most collector's and fans. at least with pops that are only 10-15 bucks, it's hard for an average fan to drop nearly 100 even if it is well crafted and limited.
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Re: Anybody Think Hikari will Blow up?
To be completely, 100% honest, I only own one Hikari, and that's only because I won it through Funko's facebook.
I was extremely surprised how cheap they feel, I thought they were solid pieces, especially when I saw the prices they go for in stores, so they really aren't something I'd want to buy a lot of. If they EVER make characters I'd want in Hikari form(Wolverine, Superman, Freddy Krueger, Doctor Who, Ghost Rider) I'd probably only get those, but otherwise between the price and how they are made, they just don't appeal to me.
I was extremely surprised how cheap they feel, I thought they were solid pieces, especially when I saw the prices they go for in stores, so they really aren't something I'd want to buy a lot of. If they EVER make characters I'd want in Hikari form(Wolverine, Superman, Freddy Krueger, Doctor Who, Ghost Rider) I'd probably only get those, but otherwise between the price and how they are made, they just don't appeal to me.
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Re: Anybody Think Hikari will Blow up?
Hikari is my favorite Funko line being currently produced. (Had to qualify that because Spastik Plastik is hands down my favorite of all time.) I think they are priced about right as an entry-level sofubi and they are made well with lots of interesting colorways that sit nice next to one another on the shelves. I prefer the Monsters and Anime ones but can see the appeal of the Marvel/Star Wars/Disney/DC releases. The new Huckleberry Hound releases are awesome and will probably end up in my collection sooner or later. At $50-80 they are a bit of a hit on the wallet but it could be worse. And, as many have pointed out, some end up on eBay in the $20-40 range (cheaper if they're Transformers...) so there are bargains to be had.
Will the Pop! community latch on to Hikari the same way they embraced Pop! figures? Probably not. Pop! figures seem to have been genetically designed to be an impulse buy. The price is so low there is almost no barrier to the purchase. Add in the BOGO deals from HT and other retailer outlets and it's like you'd be a sucker not to buy. Instant collection just waiting to happen. Once you're hooked, the wallet takes a beating. But that first taste...
Hikari (or sofubi in general) takes more of a financial commitment and, unless you're rolling in dough or will to sink into the morass of a debtors life, not an impulse buy item. I really have to love a sculpt to buy all the colorways of a particular character. Usually, I just buy my favorite and move on to the next character. But even though Hikari are the most expensive Funko product, they're cheap in comparison to the larger sofubi market (Kaiju) , either primary OR secondary. Here's a taste of what they have to deal with: Kaiju Sofubi on eBay
I think Hikari will always have a small but dedicated following (like Spastik) but won't become the juggernaut that Pop! (and maybe Dorbz?) has. To me, that's fine. It means there's more of a chance I'll find the ones I'm looking for in the clearance bin or for a song on eBay.
TL/DR: Buy what you like, worry less about how popular it is or how much it's worth (or will be worth) and surround yourself with what makes you smile. Happy Hunting!
Will the Pop! community latch on to Hikari the same way they embraced Pop! figures? Probably not. Pop! figures seem to have been genetically designed to be an impulse buy. The price is so low there is almost no barrier to the purchase. Add in the BOGO deals from HT and other retailer outlets and it's like you'd be a sucker not to buy. Instant collection just waiting to happen. Once you're hooked, the wallet takes a beating. But that first taste...
Hikari (or sofubi in general) takes more of a financial commitment and, unless you're rolling in dough or will to sink into the morass of a debtors life, not an impulse buy item. I really have to love a sculpt to buy all the colorways of a particular character. Usually, I just buy my favorite and move on to the next character. But even though Hikari are the most expensive Funko product, they're cheap in comparison to the larger sofubi market (Kaiju) , either primary OR secondary. Here's a taste of what they have to deal with: Kaiju Sofubi on eBay
I think Hikari will always have a small but dedicated following (like Spastik) but won't become the juggernaut that Pop! (and maybe Dorbz?) has. To me, that's fine. It means there's more of a chance I'll find the ones I'm looking for in the clearance bin or for a song on eBay.
TL/DR: Buy what you like, worry less about how popular it is or how much it's worth (or will be worth) and surround yourself with what makes you smile. Happy Hunting!
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Re: Anybody Think Hikari will Blow up?
Jezter wrote: I was extremely surprised how cheap they feel, I thought they were solid pieces, especially when I saw the prices they go for in stores, so they really aren't something I'd want to buy a lot of.
Sofubi is a lightweight softer vinyl. Paint details are much more intricate AND it's more expensive material being used.
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Re: Anybody Think Hikari will Blow up?
Hah! Laughs cynically that the age old trick of making something small feel heavy and therefore impart a sense of 'quality' to something is paying dividends here.
It's a weird quirk of human psychology isn't it?
Unfortunately the Sofubi - and therefore the Hikari manufacturing process is a relatively archaic, near artisanal process that is inherently expensive. And I have to admit, I too often fall for the small heavy thing = quality trick. (Just look at the 'diecast tax' that Hot Toys demands on top of their usual, already high, pricings!)
Selfishly, I'm rather glad that for the most part you can pick these guys up at a far lower price than the equivalent Sofubi once retailers give up on selling them at RRP. However it does make me worry about little for the future of the line for all that I've taken advantage of the situation. I do hope that Funko continues to release new designs (and continue to curse them for introducing me to Sofubi - I'm leaning closer and closer to the cliff edge in that respect, though the Hot Toys esque prices commanded by these squishy lightweight marvels of design has just about allowed me to hold off for now)
It's a weird quirk of human psychology isn't it?
Unfortunately the Sofubi - and therefore the Hikari manufacturing process is a relatively archaic, near artisanal process that is inherently expensive. And I have to admit, I too often fall for the small heavy thing = quality trick. (Just look at the 'diecast tax' that Hot Toys demands on top of their usual, already high, pricings!)
Selfishly, I'm rather glad that for the most part you can pick these guys up at a far lower price than the equivalent Sofubi once retailers give up on selling them at RRP. However it does make me worry about little for the future of the line for all that I've taken advantage of the situation. I do hope that Funko continues to release new designs (and continue to curse them for introducing me to Sofubi - I'm leaning closer and closer to the cliff edge in that respect, though the Hot Toys esque prices commanded by these squishy lightweight marvels of design has just about allowed me to hold off for now)
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Re: Anybody Think Hikari will Blow up?
Geescube wrote:Jezter wrote: I was extremely surprised how cheap they feel, I thought they were solid pieces, especially when I saw the prices they go for in stores, so they really aren't something I'd want to buy a lot of.
Sofubi is a lightweight softer vinyl. Paint details are much more intricate AND it's more expensive material being used.
Don't get me wrong, I assumed the vinyl and paint were better quality than say Pops, since the price was a lot more, I am just saying the first time I held one out of the package it felt cheap to me, not saying it IS cheap. I know Funko is a solid company and would never do that to people.
I was just surprised with how light it was, I thought they would be more solid, so it just caught me offguard. They just aren't for me, no biggie, I give Funko a ton of my money already,
I feel I should also note that so far there isn't really any Hikari in characters I'd want to own, so I haven't felt the need to really get any mostly because of that.
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Instagram: courtjezter
This Is Where A Really Neat Signature Is Going To Go....Eventually...Maybe.
- Squird
- Hall of Fame Class of 2012
- Posts: 3752
- Joined: Thu Dec 15, 2005 10:12 pm
- Location: Kansas City, MO - More City, Less Kansas
Re: Anybody Think Hikari will Blow up?
Jezter wrote:
I feel I should also note that so far there isn't really any Hikari in characters I'd want to own, so I haven't felt the need to really get any mostly because of that.
I think that characters they chose to start the line ended up hurting them. They started off well with Batman an Turtles, but the Transformers were awful (just like the movies - yes I mean that), and they've been inconsistent since then. Creature is great, Frankenstein doesn't work for me. Marvel has been hit and miss, Star Wars- hit and miss as well. The only line they've done 'right' has been Disney. I love my classic Mickey.
Mini-Hikari are the future.
Funklub: 11181
- coopscohen
- Posts: 1372
- Joined: Fri May 19, 2017 2:13 am
Re: Anybody Think Hikari will Blow up?
I've seen some really cool pieces that I wanted to pick up while out and about. The price point is a little too high for me and as many have said probably the reason these won't "blow up."
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- Posts: 138
- Joined: Sat Jun 10, 2017 10:28 am
Re: Anybody Think Hikari will Blow up?
mohawkjones wrote:It is all about perspective. No secret I am a big fan of the Hikari series but I also see them as very different product from Pops, Dorbz and mystery minis. Funko is catering to a different audience with Hikari and understanding the quality of vinyl and paint treatments vs the lower end geared products like pops/etc. is key to the mindset of collecting them.
People really dig the $10 Pop price point at Target/Walmart/B&N/etc. and I do not see Hikari being geared toward that audience. Sofubi figures have been around for a long time with a small but strong fan base. The Hikari price point is no different and often much better than a lot of the comparably sized designer toys.
I dig pops, they were my gateway item into Funko but Hikari is where it is at for me. Ultimately the footprint is smaller and cleaner, I really love the funky color ways and I like the larger size format. Plus I really dig some of the wilder Mindstyle designs.
No shots taken at anyone in this thread but I have to admit I chuckle when I see complaints about the Hikari price point but than see what people are willing to spend on a rare pop on the aftermarket. In the end it's all about collecting what one loves and to each his own...
Thanks for your reply It's exactly what I wanted to hear
- CAHRULL
- Collector of the Month
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- Joined: Mon Jun 08, 2015 4:49 pm
- Location: Phoenix, AZ
Re: Anybody Think Hikari will Blow up?
This is purely anecdotal, but I think that as the sculpt quality and licensing has improved over time, in addition to many being sold at $50 instead of $80, interest has increased in the Hikari line. I still don't think it's particularly successful though, given that most can be bought for half or less of original MSRP mere months after release. I really WANT the line to succeed. I have a few dozen myself and absolutely love them. But I totally get why in a wider market they aren't thriving in the same way that Pops and Dorbz are.
Hi, I'm Alex! IG: @CAHRULL_AZ
- Jezter
- Collector of the Month
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- Joined: Sat Jul 12, 2014 10:53 am
- Location: West Chester, PA
Re: Anybody Think Hikari will Blow up?
Squird wrote:Jezter wrote:
I feel I should also note that so far there isn't really any Hikari in characters I'd want to own, so I haven't felt the need to really get any mostly because of that.
I think that characters they chose to start the line ended up hurting them. They started off well with Batman an Turtles, but the Transformers were awful (just like the movies - yes I mean that), and they've been inconsistent since then. Creature is great, Frankenstein doesn't work for me. Marvel has been hit and miss, Star Wars- hit and miss as well. The only line they've done 'right' has been Disney. I love my classic Mickey.
Mini-Hikari are the future.
I think I'd be more onboard if mini Hikari became a bigger thing, but it would still boil down to specific characters. Obviously we all have our own specific characters, but I don't feel like some of mine are unreasonable and are fairly popular characters. I'd happily get Superman, Wolverine, Freddy Krueger, Wolfman, Ghost Rider, Flash and a few others in Mini Hikari form. It's all good though, at the end of the day, Funko gets my money, one way or another,
Hey I'm John!
Pops!- 750ish
Dorbz: 35
Mystery Minis: 33
Sodas: 7
Vinyl Idolz: 2
Hikari: 1
Mini-Hikari: 1
Instagram: courtjezter
This Is Where A Really Neat Signature Is Going To Go....Eventually...Maybe.
Pops!- 750ish
Dorbz: 35
Mystery Minis: 33
Sodas: 7
Vinyl Idolz: 2
Hikari: 1
Mini-Hikari: 1
Instagram: courtjezter
This Is Where A Really Neat Signature Is Going To Go....Eventually...Maybe.
- Shalee04
- Posts: 2942
- Joined: Fri Jun 03, 2016 2:18 pm
- Location: Bakersfield,Calif
- Contact:
Re: Anybody Think Hikari will Blow up?
I personally don't have room for Hikaris. I have to draw the line somewhere and a** I have a huge LE doll and Disney collprincess cation and now a huge Funko pop, mi is, Dorbz and PSH collection. There just isn't any room to squeeze in hikaris anywhere.
They call me Kelly
OOB deals I love to find.
Disney is my first love whether it be pops, Dorbz , minis or dolls.
Pops and Dorbz -2000+~~~ I have lost count actually
Minis-450+
Protos-2 Dug with cone from my first fundays in 2016
And
Baby Groot with bomb from 2018
OOB deals I love to find.
Disney is my first love whether it be pops, Dorbz , minis or dolls.
Pops and Dorbz -2000+~~~ I have lost count actually
Minis-450+
Protos-2 Dug with cone from my first fundays in 2016
And
Baby Groot with bomb from 2018
- DefNotBlitz
- Posts: 634
- Joined: Sun Oct 23, 2016 3:29 am
- Location: Canada
Re: Anybody Think Hikari will Blow up?
The mini Hikari are more my style and none of those are at retail yet. I can wait it out.
| POP!: 185 | Dorbz: 76 |
| Completed Mystery Mini Sets: Batman vs Superman, Arkham Games, Suicide Squad |
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