Proto vs Artist Proof, which do you prefer?

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Re: Proto vs Artist Proof, which do you prefer?

Postby willy wonka » Mon Jan 30, 2023 7:58 pm

Proto is better but I do love AP's
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Re: Proto vs Artist Proof, which do you prefer?

Postby Ronnie18 » Wed Feb 01, 2023 1:13 pm

Definitely protos. My one and only proto is proudly displayed on the shelf

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Re: Proto vs Artist Proof, which do you prefer?

Postby Serch_na » Wed Feb 01, 2023 1:44 pm

Protos are best IMO because i have an AP and i try to see difrences in the production piece and i cant find anything, its really just the pog, anyways i love my AP lol
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Re: Proto vs Artist Proof, which do you prefer?

Postby Missnoobcake3 » Thu Feb 02, 2023 1:26 pm

Proto, i got my very first at nycc. I don't have an AP yet. Maybe one day
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Re: Proto vs Artist Proof, which do you prefer?

Postby DrunkoPop » Sun Feb 05, 2023 5:54 pm

Missnoobcake3 wrote:Proto, i got my very first at nycc. I don't have an AP yet. Maybe one day


Which Proto? Pic :hello2:
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Re: Proto vs Artist Proof, which do you prefer?

Postby Missnoobcake3 » Tue Feb 21, 2023 10:49 am

DrunkoPop wrote:
Missnoobcake3 wrote:Proto, i got my very first at nycc. I don't have an AP yet. Maybe one day


Which Proto? Pic :hello2:


Sorry for the late reply, i just saw this. Image

Dunno if that worked, it was bilbo baggins
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Re: Proto vs Artist Proof, which do you prefer?

Postby kdmlvr » Tue Feb 21, 2023 12:59 pm

willy wonka wrote:Proto is better but I do love AP's


I agree, but I do love the better quality on the AP versus the regular production pieces.
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Re: Proto vs Artist Proof, which do you prefer?

Postby Charger14 » Tue Feb 21, 2023 2:51 pm

I'd rather have the proto. Seen to many AP's on the bay and wonder how they got so many. I'm pretty sure pogs would not be that hard to make.
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Re: Proto vs Artist Proof, which do you prefer?

Postby Elviax » Tue Feb 21, 2023 4:10 pm

Charger14 wrote:I'd rather have the proto. Seen to many AP's on the bay and wonder how they got so many. I'm pretty sure pogs would not be that hard to make.

My thoughts exactly
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Re: Proto vs Artist Proof, which do you prefer?

Postby willy wonka » Tue Feb 21, 2023 6:21 pm

PopElvi wrote:
Charger14 wrote:I'd rather have the proto. Seen to many AP's on the bay and wonder how they got so many. I'm pretty sure pogs would not be that hard to make.

My thoughts exactly



You can see the differences in the paint jobs on the figure. But I too would rather have the proto
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Re: Proto vs Artist Proof, which do you prefer?

Postby DrunkoPop » Tue Feb 21, 2023 7:18 pm

Missnoobcake3 wrote:
DrunkoPop wrote:
Missnoobcake3 wrote:Proto, i got my very first at nycc. I don't have an AP yet. Maybe one day


Which Proto? Pic :hello2:


Sorry for the late reply, i just saw this. Image

Dunno if that worked, it was bilbo baggins


Now this looks Dope!!! Straight :blob6: :blob6: :blob6:
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Re: Proto vs Artist Proof, which do you prefer?

Postby Missnoobcake3 » Wed Feb 22, 2023 3:12 pm

thank you! I was excited since LOTR is one of my favorites
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Re: Proto vs Artist Proof, which do you prefer?

Postby Mawhonic7 » Thu Feb 23, 2023 12:16 pm

I naively thought the AP’s were hand painted and I’m guessing that’s not the case and that they are more of a first version to approve the paint apps???
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Re: Proto vs Artist Proof, which do you prefer?

Postby rontonsoup » Thu Feb 23, 2023 3:19 pm

I’d prefer the proto 1 billion percent more than a AP
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Re: Proto vs Artist Proof, which do you prefer?

Postby rontonsoup » Thu Feb 23, 2023 3:20 pm

Mawhonic7 wrote:I naively thought the AP’s were hand painted and I’m guessing that’s not the case and that they are more of a first version to approve the paint apps???


You’re not the only one. I thought so too
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Re: Proto vs Artist Proof, which do you prefer?

Postby L3g3nD33 » Thu Feb 23, 2023 3:34 pm

Proto always trumps anything else... I had the Jack Skellington proto and would've kept it even though I don't collect sodas.
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Re: Proto vs Artist Proof, which do you prefer?

Postby Mawhonic7 » Sun Feb 26, 2023 2:07 pm

The only AP’s I have ever seen from Funko have been Sodas. Do collectors have Pop AP’s?
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Re: Proto vs Artist Proof, which do you prefer?

Postby DrunkoPop » Mon Feb 27, 2023 10:05 am

Mawhonic7 wrote:The only AP’s I have ever seen from Funko have been Sodas. Do collectors have Pop AP’s?


Good question. I’ve never seen those.
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Re: Proto vs Artist Proof, which do you prefer?

Postby Greymom » Mon Mar 06, 2023 8:01 pm

I have a couple of protos. No APs yet.
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Re: Proto vs Artist Proof, which do you prefer?

Postby Bam808 » Thu Mar 09, 2023 1:05 am

islander671 wrote:Hi all,

I recently picked up my very first AP or artist proof Rocksteady and was thrilled to have my very first AP. Then it really started to dawn on me that they hold similar rarity as protos, but are just more closer to production then Protos. Please note that in no way am I trying to insinuate that one is better than the other, obviously it depends on who prefers what and what you collect, so to each there own. So please no bashing here as Id like to make this as a topic to discuss and share, which do you prefer to have in your collection a Proto or an Artist Proof?


Personally only having an Artist Proof piece and no proto, this is special to me and the one I prefer. Maybe that will change, but I hope one day to get this piece signed by the CoF Mike Becker himself, as I intend to keep this piece.



I have three Protos and as of yet have not gotten a chance to get a Artist Proof, i look at is im grateful to receive either one.

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Re: Proto vs Artist Proof, which do you prefer?

Postby FunkoBurro3 » Thu Mar 09, 2023 1:59 am

defiantly a proto.
Still doesn’t mean I wouldn’t like an AP.
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Re: Proto vs Artist Proof, which do you prefer?

Postby islander671 » Thu Mar 09, 2023 1:40 pm

Bam808 wrote:
islander671 wrote:Hi all,

I recently picked up my very first AP or artist proof Rocksteady and was thrilled to have my very first AP. Then it really started to dawn on me that they hold similar rarity as protos, but are just more closer to production then Protos. Please note that in no way am I trying to insinuate that one is better than the other, obviously it depends on who prefers what and what you collect, so to each there own. So please no bashing here as Id like to make this as a topic to discuss and share, which do you prefer to have in your collection a Proto or an Artist Proof?


Personally only having an Artist Proof piece and no proto, this is special to me and the one I prefer. Maybe that will change, but I hope one day to get this piece signed by the CoF Mike Becker himself, as I intend to keep this piece.



I have three Protos and as of yet have not gotten a chance to get a Artist Proof, i look at is im grateful to receive either one.


I agree we all should be grateful to have either piece. One day I hope you get your hands on an AP, just to have one in your collection!
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Re: Proto vs Artist Proof, which do you prefer?

Postby WayneNC704 » Tue Mar 14, 2023 5:37 pm

I personally like the AP although i would love to know the exact number count on AP

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Re: Proto vs Artist Proof, which do you prefer?

Postby Meckdee » Thu Mar 16, 2023 8:17 pm

I definitely prefer protos over ap's specifically for the rarity and uniqueness. Like many others have said, the idea of an AP is cool but its practically impossible to differentiate. At least with protos you know there are very, very few of them and it looks very much different because of the pre production point of it
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Re: Proto vs Artist Proof, which do you prefer?

Postby WayneNC704 » Thu Mar 16, 2023 8:31 pm

Just picked up 2 AP sodas and I like the fact that they have custom paint direct from Funko Artist

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Re: Proto vs Artist Proof, which do you prefer?

Postby DrunkoPop » Fri Mar 17, 2023 8:34 pm

WayneNC704 wrote:Just picked up 2 AP sodas and I like the fact that they have custom paint direct from Funko Artist


Nice!!! Which 2 did you pick up? =D>
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Re: Proto vs Artist Proof, which do you prefer?

Postby Universal_ghost » Fri Mar 17, 2023 9:10 pm

I think I'd want a proto. The AP is cool and I like how the coin says AP but proto is where I'd go.
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Re: Proto vs Artist Proof, which do you prefer?

Postby RedRoo » Sat Mar 18, 2023 3:51 am

Proto by far, Having a pog that says AP is no where near as cool as a Unpainted Figure thats more unique
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Re: Proto vs Artist Proof, which do you prefer?

Postby DrunkoPop » Wed Mar 22, 2023 7:12 pm

RedRoo wrote:Proto by far, Having a pog that says AP is no where near as cool as a Unpainted Figure thats more unique


#facts :freddy2:
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Re: Proto vs Artist Proof, which do you prefer?

Postby Ronnie18 » Thu Mar 23, 2023 7:00 am

RedRoo wrote:Proto by far, Having a pog that says AP is no where near as cool as a Unpainted Figure thats more unique


Agree, plus it looks better on display. lol

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Re: Proto vs Artist Proof, which do you prefer?

Postby PhoenixForce » Thu Mar 23, 2023 8:28 am

I was just talking about this the other day. I'm not trained well enough to tell the difference of AP sodas (other than the pog). So I like protos better.
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Re: Proto vs Artist Proof, which do you prefer?

Postby Davunko » Sun Mar 26, 2023 1:03 pm

either are pretty cool, would lean more towards protos

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Re: Proto vs Artist Proof, which do you prefer?

Postby Ironfish242 » Tue Mar 28, 2023 6:08 pm

I have a question, are artist proofs given out like protos or do they randomly get given out with purchases?

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Re: Proto vs Artist Proof, which do you prefer?

Postby ComicsZombie » Tue Mar 28, 2023 6:13 pm

CaseyJones14 wrote:Have we got a clear cut idea on how many AP's there are per Soda?

For Hikari there seem to be a significant number of AP's (10+) so they really don't change the value of the item. To the blind eye you can't tell if a Soda or Hikari is an AP so I definitely prefer prototypes since it is more obvious. The idea of AP's is cool, but for me personally it's hard to get behind because you can't really tell the difference.


There is a very distinct quality with AP sodas. Yes, hard to tell just looking at the AP itself, but when compared to a production piece, the paint and lines are cleaner, and they are placed better on the piece.
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Re: Proto vs Artist Proof, which do you prefer?

Postby ComicsZombie » Tue Mar 28, 2023 6:16 pm

I prefer protos over AP's due to some of the things people mentioned before, rarity is a huge difference between the two. We have no real idea what an AP's run is but we know that there are only a couple protos for each figure, and maybe even less than there were in previous years.

Now, sodas AP's do come with the pog, as a way of "certifying" it lol. It's basically the companion piece, but also, necessary to identify an AP.
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Re: Proto vs Artist Proof, which do you prefer?

Postby funkopants777 » Tue Mar 28, 2023 10:02 pm

a proto gal :)
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Re: Proto vs Artist Proof, which do you prefer?

Postby TheStephil » Tue Mar 28, 2023 10:07 pm

To me, my favorite would be protos. I like how different than they are from the final soda piece. APs are another cool part of the design process and also super cool.
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Re: Proto vs Artist Proof, which do you prefer?

Postby VoltaMikeV7 » Tue Mar 28, 2023 10:11 pm

I like protos more. I like that you can get a good look at the sculpt.
APs are something special though.
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Re: Proto vs Artist Proof, which do you prefer?

Postby Prime_Pops » Wed Mar 29, 2023 3:21 am

I have neither so I'm not sure which I would like more. From what I've seen I think I would like a proto more because of the rawness of it knowing that's what it looks like before the painting. I like the idea of that.
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Re: Proto vs Artist Proof, which do you prefer?

Postby Prime_Pops » Wed Mar 29, 2023 3:22 am

I have neither so I'm not sure which I would like more. From what I've seen I think I would like a proto more because of the rawness of it knowing that's what it looks like before the painting. I like the idea of that.
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