Funko killed HOD's NFT with new POPs

[dragontree]

They always do this though, plus it's not just funko. Even other companies do this.

Do you mean lots of companies release similar-looking molds of the same characters? I definitely agree with that. I think the biggest issue with this specific situation though is the financial cost of NFTs, either by buying packs to pull a redeemable or going on the aftermarket, is almost always much higher than the retail price of a common or Target exclusive Pop. Not to mention, the time from when the NFTs drop to when the redeemables get shipped out is also very long, so after all that effort/time/money it can feel like a slap in the face when the much more easily accessible version of a Pop (Criston Cole, Viserys, Aemond) looks so similar to the NFT ones we’ve worked harder to get. I’m not familiar with other companies releasing limited-piece NFT redeemables that look so similar to their mass-market releases.

But my point was, even though I don’t like that Funko went that route, I can still find things to like about the NFTs, mostly that they will always be the first version of those characters, sort of “first edition”/“first draft” versions of those Pops that would later get revised for a wider release (hence the Chases of Viserys and Aemond and the Target Criston Cole).

[eee]

After seeing the comparison reply post, I have to say that I don’t mind all too much. They are similar but not the same with enough differences to the characters that you can visually tell.

Like you showed with the Thrawn comparison, making these accessible at a retail level and not involved with NFTs whatsoever allows the casual collector to grab one without the hassle of opening packs.

[billyconard]

I think this is the way of most things that become hotter collectibles over time - reprints, remakes, and variants creep up. But the originals are still very cool and often retain the most value because of the extra popularity of an item. Look at star wars for example, I can get an original 5 POA figure from the 80s, or one of the new "Retro Collection" figures from Hasbro that look identical in almost every way. But the originals are way more collectible.

[dragontree]

After seeing the comparison reply post, I have to say that I don’t mind all too much. They are similar but not the same with enough differences to the characters that you can visually tell.

Like you showed with the Thrawn comparison, making these accessible at a retail level and not involved with NFTs whatsoever allows the casual collector to grab one without the hassle of opening packs.

Thanks for reading my post! I’m glad you agree I think my knee-jerk reaction was that the molds were identical, but once I looked at them side by side, it made me appreciate the differences. My theory is the HoTD NFTs may have been designed before the show came out and then the wider release versions came out after the show’s release, so they could be more accurate with the details. Or they just rushed the NFTs and could take more time with the wider release haha!

If we do want to get mad at Funko for releasing similar Pops, I personally feel it’s better directed at their decision to re-release all 5 individual Star Wars Celebration 2022 Pops as mainline commons literally that same year, with the only difference being the bases (I’m not counting the boxes or stickers) — silver chrome for SWC and standard black for the commons. While not NFTs, those SWC Pops were for a convention and my expectation was those would be special, but that decision really diluted their desirability, and I really hope they never re-release the exact same Pops with different bases again.

Basically, after seeing what Funko was capable of with those Star Wars Pops, I’m not mad with what they’ve done with the House of the Dragon Pops

[dragontree]

I think this is the way of most things that become hotter collectibles over time - reprints, remakes, and variants creep up. But the originals are still very cool and often retain the most value because of the extra popularity of an item. Look at star wars for example, I can get an original 5 POA figure from the 80s, or one of the new "Retro Collection" figures from Hasbro that look identical in almost every way. But the originals are way more collectible.

I don’t collect those retro Star Wars figures, but that’s a great example! I just made the point above that I didn’t like that Funko took their Star Wars Celebration 2022 Pops, gave them black bases, and sold them as wide-release commons without changing the molds AT ALL, but I think the main difference with that is Funko released both waves in the exact same year, not decades apart like what Hasbro’s done. I’m guessing those original 80s figures, like the HoTD NFTs, are much more limited too, so they also retain specialness that way!

[Funkolotz1622]

I think this is the way of most things that become hotter collectibles over time - reprints, remakes, and variants creep up. But the originals are still very cool and often retain the most value because of the extra popularity of an item. Look at star wars for example, I can get an original 5 POA figure from the 80s, or one of the new "Retro Collection" figures from Hasbro that look identical in almost every way. But the originals are way more collectible.

I don’t collect those retro Star Wars figures, but that’s a great example! I just made the point above that I didn’t like that Funko took their Star Wars Celebration 2022 Pops, gave them black bases, and sold them as wide-release commons without changing the molds AT ALL, but I think the main difference with that is Funko released both waves in the exact same year, not decades apart like what Hasbro’s done. I’m guessing those original 80s figures, like the HoTD NFTs, are much more limited too, so they also retain specialness that way!

I know a lot of people complain about this but almost all companies does this.

[dragontree]

I think this is the way of most things that become hotter collectibles over time - reprints, remakes, and variants creep up. But the originals are still very cool and often retain the most value because of the extra popularity of an item. Look at star wars for example, I can get an original 5 POA figure from the 80s, or one of the new "Retro Collection" figures from Hasbro that look identical in almost every way. But the originals are way more collectible.

I don’t collect those retro Star Wars figures, but that’s a great example! I just made the point above that I didn’t like that Funko took their Star Wars Celebration 2022 Pops, gave them black bases, and sold them as wide-release commons without changing the molds AT ALL, but I think the main difference with that is Funko released both waves in the exact same year, not decades apart like what Hasbro’s done. I’m guessing those original 80s figures, like the HoTD NFTs, are much more limited too, so they also retain specialness that way!

I know a lot of people complain about this but almost all companies does this.

For sure, I agree that lots of companies re-release characters. Every company needs to balance drawing in new customers and making profits with keeping their products desirable so their existing customers stay happy -- it's not easy! It obviously doesn't make sense for Funko to only make one version of a character/a variant of a character (especially popular characters that sell well), but my greater point is not to complain that Funko does this but to say I think there are nuances to how they do it. Here are three ways I've seen Funko's done this, off the top of my head:

1. The HoTD NFT way: The initial run of characters are made as limited-edition Pops. A few months later, Funko releases updated versions of the exact same characters with some tweaks that make them more screen-accurate and puts them in different boxes. These updated versions are way cheaper/easier to get (commons, chases, retail exclusives). In this scenario, there are a little over 2,000 NFT Ser Criston Cole Pops in the world, whereas probably 10,000+ or 100,000+ of the Target exclusive Ser Criston Cole Pops will exist. Both Pops look very similar, but you can still tell them apart.

2. The Star Wars Celebration 2022 way: The initial run of characters are made as convention exclusives, so they're limited but by no means limited-piece count. Then, Funko makes no tweaks to the Pop molds except changing the bases and release them as a wave of common, wide-market Pops in new boxes. In this scenario, there are probably at least tens of thousands of both kinds of Pops, but likely fewer convention Pops existing than the commons. Out of the box, the only way to distinguish the two Pops would be to look at their bases; in every other way they are identical.

3. The restock way: The initial run of a character is made, like the Walgreens exclusive Dark Side Anakin Skywalker in 2018. Years go by, and the Pop is assumed to be vaulted, never to be made again, so it's really popular and sought after, and then ... it's late 2023/early 2024, and Funko decides to make and sell the exact same Pop, in the exact same box, same sticker, same base, same everything, except the date at the bottom of the box or figure tells you that it's a restock. In this scenario, tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of both the original release and the new release may exist, and in every way (except a few numbers on the bottom of a box or figure) they are the exact same figure.

I know this topic isn't about restocks, but I bring them up because I feel like restocks exist on the extreme end of this gradient of recycled molds/reprints/refreshes/remakes I've been talking about. And out of all three scenarios I listed, I think the HoTD NFT way is actually the most preferable, then the Star Wars Celebration way, and my least desired would be the restock. And I am hopeful that Funko recognizes this because the nature of NFTs is such that they cannot ever come out with another House of the Dragon Series 1 Drop again, and they don't really restock convention Pops (even though I don't like what they did with the SWC Pops, at least they changed the bases and the boxes...). In a perfect world, the NFT Pops (and, to a lesser extent, convention Pops) should look singular, but given all these realities and from what I've seen, Funko at least seems to understand that the more limited/exclusive their product, the more careful they need to be when releasing something that looks very similar/identical to it.

[Ginzo1622]

I don’t collect those retro Star Wars figures, but that’s a great example! I just made the point above that I didn’t like that Funko took their Star Wars Celebration 2022 Pops, gave them black bases, and sold them as wide-release commons without changing the molds AT ALL, but I think the main difference with that is Funko released both waves in the exact same year, not decades apart like what Hasbro’s done. I’m guessing those original 80s figures, like the HoTD NFTs, are much more limited too, so they also retain specialness that way!

I know a lot of people complain about this but almost all companies does this.

For sure, I agree that lots of companies re-release characters. Every company needs to balance drawing in new customers and making profits with keeping their products desirable so their existing customers stay happy -- it's not easy! It obviously doesn't make sense for Funko to only make one version of a character/a variant of a character (especially popular characters that sell well), but my greater point is not to complain that Funko does this but to say I think there are nuances to how they do it. Here are three ways I've seen Funko's done this, off the top of my head:

1. The HoTD NFT way: The initial run of characters are made as limited-edition Pops. A few months later, Funko releases updated versions of the exact same characters with some tweaks that make them more screen-accurate and puts them in different boxes. These updated versions are way cheaper/easier to get (commons, chases, retail exclusives). In this scenario, there are a little over 2,000 NFT Ser Criston Cole Pops in the world, whereas probably 10,000+ or 100,000+ of the Target exclusive Ser Criston Cole Pops will exist. Both Pops look very similar, but you can still tell them apart.

2. The Star Wars Celebration 2022 way: The initial run of characters are made as convention exclusives, so they're limited but by no means limited-piece count. Then, Funko makes no tweaks to the Pop molds except changing the bases and release them as a wave of common, wide-market Pops in new boxes. In this scenario, there are probably at least tens of thousands of both kinds of Pops, but likely fewer convention Pops existing than the commons. Out of the box, the only way to distinguish the two Pops would be to look at their bases; in every other way they are identical.

3. The restock way: The initial run of a character is made, like the Walgreens exclusive Dark Side Anakin Skywalker in 2018. Years go by, and the Pop is assumed to be vaulted, never to be made again, so it's really popular and sought after, and then ... it's late 2023/early 2024, and Funko decides to make and sell the exact same Pop, in the exact same box, same sticker, same base, same everything, except the date at the bottom of the box or figure tells you that it's a restock. In this scenario, tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of both the original release and the new release may exist, and in every way (except a few numbers on the bottom of a box or figure) they are the exact same figure.

I know this topic isn't about restocks, but I bring them up because I feel like restocks exist on the extreme end of this gradient of recycled molds/reprints/refreshes/remakes I've been talking about. And out of all three scenarios I listed, I think the HoTD NFT way is actually the most preferable, then the Star Wars Celebration way, and my least desired would be the restock. And I am hopeful that Funko recognizes this because the nature of NFTs is such that they cannot ever come out with another House of the Dragon Series 1 Drop again, and they don't really restock convention Pops (even though I don't like what they did with the SWC Pops, at least they changed the bases and the boxes...). In a perfect world, the NFT Pops (and, to a lesser extent, convention Pops) should look singular, but given all these realities and from what I've seen, Funko at least seems to understand that the more limited/exclusive their product, the more careful they need to be when releasing something that looks very similar/identical to it.

I guess my question is do you collect other collectibles besides funko? Do you think they are doing this remolding/repainting better? Do you not see collectors complaining? I think I've seen a lot of people complain every where though, you can never satisfy everyone that's the truth. Though if you been collecting for a long time that you will understand that this is normal. I know when the HOTD NFT drop a lot of people complained because not everyone is into NFT nor wants to deal with NFT, then Funko drops the common and collectors also complained. So what do you think they could do better to satisfy the collectors? You have to consider that Funko is paying for IP so definitely they will definitely release more pops for this. I'm not depending Funko but if you been in the hobby for a long time you will know that is normal.

[billyconard]

I know a lot of people complain about this but almost all companies does this.

For sure, I agree that lots of companies re-release characters. Every company needs to balance drawing in new customers and making profits with keeping their products desirable so their existing customers stay happy -- it's not easy! It obviously doesn't make sense for Funko to only make one version of a character/a variant of a character (especially popular characters that sell well), but my greater point is not to complain that Funko does this but to say I think there are nuances to how they do it. Here are three ways I've seen Funko's done this, off the top of my head:

1. The HoTD NFT way: The initial run of characters are made as limited-edition Pops. A few months later, Funko releases updated versions of the exact same characters with some tweaks that make them more screen-accurate and puts them in different boxes. These updated versions are way cheaper/easier to get (commons, chases, retail exclusives). In this scenario, there are a little over 2,000 NFT Ser Criston Cole Pops in the world, whereas probably 10,000+ or 100,000+ of the Target exclusive Ser Criston Cole Pops will exist. Both Pops look very similar, but you can still tell them apart.

2. The Star Wars Celebration 2022 way: The initial run of characters are made as convention exclusives, so they're limited but by no means limited-piece count. Then, Funko makes no tweaks to the Pop molds except changing the bases and release them as a wave of common, wide-market Pops in new boxes. In this scenario, there are probably at least tens of thousands of both kinds of Pops, but likely fewer convention Pops existing than the commons. Out of the box, the only way to distinguish the two Pops would be to look at their bases; in every other way they are identical.

3. The restock way: The initial run of a character is made, like the Walgreens exclusive Dark Side Anakin Skywalker in 2018. Years go by, and the Pop is assumed to be vaulted, never to be made again, so it's really popular and sought after, and then ... it's late 2023/early 2024, and Funko decides to make and sell the exact same Pop, in the exact same box, same sticker, same base, same everything, except the date at the bottom of the box or figure tells you that it's a restock. In this scenario, tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of both the original release and the new release may exist, and in every way (except a few numbers on the bottom of a box or figure) they are the exact same figure.

I know this topic isn't about restocks, but I bring them up because I feel like restocks exist on the extreme end of this gradient of recycled molds/reprints/refreshes/remakes I've been talking about. And out of all three scenarios I listed, I think the HoTD NFT way is actually the most preferable, then the Star Wars Celebration way, and my least desired would be the restock. And I am hopeful that Funko recognizes this because the nature of NFTs is such that they cannot ever come out with another House of the Dragon Series 1 Drop again, and they don't really restock convention Pops (even though I don't like what they did with the SWC Pops, at least they changed the bases and the boxes...). In a perfect world, the NFT Pops (and, to a lesser extent, convention Pops) should look singular, but given all these realities and from what I've seen, Funko at least seems to understand that the more limited/exclusive their product, the more careful they need to be when releasing something that looks very similar/identical to it.

I guess my question is do you collect other collectibles besides funko? Do you think they are doing this remolding/repainting better? Do you not see collectors complaining? I think I've seen a lot of people complain every where though, you can never satisfy everyone that's the truth. Though if you been collecting for a long time that you will understand that this is normal. I know when the HOTD NFT drop a lot of people complained because not everyone is into NFT nor wants to deal with NFT, then Funko drops the common and collectors also complained. So what do you think they could do better to satisfy the collectors? You have to consider that Funko is paying for IP so definitely they will definitely release more pops for this. I'm not depending Funko but if you been in the hobby for a long time you will know that is normal.

You make some really great examples of the nuances with this topic. It's a tough one for sure. I do think that in general, Funko does a great job trying to think about collectors. That care is a big part of their brand and a reason why lots of people (including myself) like them. They don't always get it right, but nobody does. Voicing concerns on this forum are a great example of fans being able to point things out and hopefully have them read and listened to.

[billyconard]

I know a lot of people complain about this but almost all companies does this.

For sure, I agree that lots of companies re-release characters. Every company needs to balance drawing in new customers and making profits with keeping their products desirable so their existing customers stay happy -- it's not easy! It obviously doesn't make sense for Funko to only make one version of a character/a variant of a character (especially popular characters that sell well), but my greater point is not to complain that Funko does this but to say I think there are nuances to how they do it. Here are three ways I've seen Funko's done this, off the top of my head:

1. The HoTD NFT way: The initial run of characters are made as limited-edition Pops. A few months later, Funko releases updated versions of the exact same characters with some tweaks that make them more screen-accurate and puts them in different boxes. These updated versions are way cheaper/easier to get (commons, chases, retail exclusives). In this scenario, there are a little over 2,000 NFT Ser Criston Cole Pops in the world, whereas probably 10,000+ or 100,000+ of the Target exclusive Ser Criston Cole Pops will exist. Both Pops look very similar, but you can still tell them apart.

2. The Star Wars Celebration 2022 way: The initial run of characters are made as convention exclusives, so they're limited but by no means limited-piece count. Then, Funko makes no tweaks to the Pop molds except changing the bases and release them as a wave of common, wide-market Pops in new boxes. In this scenario, there are probably at least tens of thousands of both kinds of Pops, but likely fewer convention Pops existing than the commons. Out of the box, the only way to distinguish the two Pops would be to look at their bases; in every other way they are identical.

3. The restock way: The initial run of a character is made, like the Walgreens exclusive Dark Side Anakin Skywalker in 2018. Years go by, and the Pop is assumed to be vaulted, never to be made again, so it's really popular and sought after, and then ... it's late 2023/early 2024, and Funko decides to make and sell the exact same Pop, in the exact same box, same sticker, same base, same everything, except the date at the bottom of the box or figure tells you that it's a restock. In this scenario, tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of both the original release and the new release may exist, and in every way (except a few numbers on the bottom of a box or figure) they are the exact same figure.

I know this topic isn't about restocks, but I bring them up because I feel like restocks exist on the extreme end of this gradient of recycled molds/reprints/refreshes/remakes I've been talking about. And out of all three scenarios I listed, I think the HoTD NFT way is actually the most preferable, then the Star Wars Celebration way, and my least desired would be the restock. And I am hopeful that Funko recognizes this because the nature of NFTs is such that they cannot ever come out with another House of the Dragon Series 1 Drop again, and they don't really restock convention Pops (even though I don't like what they did with the SWC Pops, at least they changed the bases and the boxes...). In a perfect world, the NFT Pops (and, to a lesser extent, convention Pops) should look singular, but given all these realities and from what I've seen, Funko at least seems to understand that the more limited/exclusive their product, the more careful they need to be when releasing something that looks very similar/identical to it.

I guess my question is do you collect other collectibles besides funko? Do you think they are doing this remolding/repainting better? Do you not see collectors complaining? I think I've seen a lot of people complain every where though, you can never satisfy everyone that's the truth. Though if you been collecting for a long time that you will understand that this is normal. I know when the HOTD NFT drop a lot of people complained because not everyone is into NFT nor wants to deal with NFT, then Funko drops the common and collectors also complained. So what do you think they could do better to satisfy the collectors? You have to consider that Funko is paying for IP so definitely they will definitely release more pops for this. I'm not depending Funko but if you been in the hobby for a long time you will know that is normal.

You make some really great examples of the nuances with this topic. It's a tough one for sure. I do think that in general, Funko does a great job trying to think about collectors. That care is a big part of their brand and a reason why lots of people (including myself) like them. They don't always get it right, but nobody does. Voicing concerns on this forum are a great example of fans being able to point things out and hopefully have them read and listened to.

[yamster8888]

Not the first time Funko dropped new pops that are slight variants of the NFTs one...

[dragontree]

I know a lot of people complain about this but almost all companies does this.

For sure, I agree that lots of companies re-release characters. Every company needs to balance drawing in new customers and making profits with keeping their products desirable so their existing customers stay happy -- it's not easy! It obviously doesn't make sense for Funko to only make one version of a character/a variant of a character (especially popular characters that sell well), but my greater point is not to complain that Funko does this but to say I think there are nuances to how they do it. Here are three ways I've seen Funko's done this, off the top of my head:

1. The HoTD NFT way: The initial run of characters are made as limited-edition Pops. A few months later, Funko releases updated versions of the exact same characters with some tweaks that make them more screen-accurate and puts them in different boxes. These updated versions are way cheaper/easier to get (commons, chases, retail exclusives). In this scenario, there are a little over 2,000 NFT Ser Criston Cole Pops in the world, whereas probably 10,000+ or 100,000+ of the Target exclusive Ser Criston Cole Pops will exist. Both Pops look very similar, but you can still tell them apart.

2. The Star Wars Celebration 2022 way: The initial run of characters are made as convention exclusives, so they're limited but by no means limited-piece count. Then, Funko makes no tweaks to the Pop molds except changing the bases and release them as a wave of common, wide-market Pops in new boxes. In this scenario, there are probably at least tens of thousands of both kinds of Pops, but likely fewer convention Pops existing than the commons. Out of the box, the only way to distinguish the two Pops would be to look at their bases; in every other way they are identical.

3. The restock way: The initial run of a character is made, like the Walgreens exclusive Dark Side Anakin Skywalker in 2018. Years go by, and the Pop is assumed to be vaulted, never to be made again, so it's really popular and sought after, and then ... it's late 2023/early 2024, and Funko decides to make and sell the exact same Pop, in the exact same box, same sticker, same base, same everything, except the date at the bottom of the box or figure tells you that it's a restock. In this scenario, tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of both the original release and the new release may exist, and in every way (except a few numbers on the bottom of a box or figure) they are the exact same figure.

I know this topic isn't about restocks, but I bring them up because I feel like restocks exist on the extreme end of this gradient of recycled molds/reprints/refreshes/remakes I've been talking about. And out of all three scenarios I listed, I think the HoTD NFT way is actually the most preferable, then the Star Wars Celebration way, and my least desired would be the restock. And I am hopeful that Funko recognizes this because the nature of NFTs is such that they cannot ever come out with another House of the Dragon Series 1 Drop again, and they don't really restock convention Pops (even though I don't like what they did with the SWC Pops, at least they changed the bases and the boxes...). In a perfect world, the NFT Pops (and, to a lesser extent, convention Pops) should look singular, but given all these realities and from what I've seen, Funko at least seems to understand that the more limited/exclusive their product, the more careful they need to be when releasing something that looks very similar/identical to it.

I guess my question is do you collect other collectibles besides funko? Do you think they are doing this remolding/repainting better? Do you not see collectors complaining? I think I've seen a lot of people complain every where though, you can never satisfy everyone that's the truth. Though if you been collecting for a long time that you will understand that this is normal. I know when the HOTD NFT drop a lot of people complained because not everyone is into NFT nor wants to deal with NFT, then Funko drops the common and collectors also complained. So what do you think they could do better to satisfy the collectors? You have to consider that Funko is paying for IP so definitely they will definitely release more pops for this. I'm not depending Funko but if you been in the hobby for a long time you will know that is normal.

To be clear, I know remolds/repaints are the norm with all toy/collectible companies, not just Funko. You make a great point about IP licenses; I bet they're really expensive, and I can only imagine how expensive House of the Dragon or Star Wars is, so Funko needs to get their money's worth. Not to mention, making toy molds can't be cheap either, so it probably helps Funko out a lot that they were able to make more than just a few thousand Viseryses, Aemonds, and Criston Coles! Again, that financial reality makes me appreciate that the NFT HoTD Pops, although similar, are in fact visibly different from the wide-release counterparts that came out afterward. And I credit Funko for that!

My belief is that even if something is normal, it's still worth critiquing and discussing! I think it's helpful to share with fellow collectors about what we like and also don't like about Funko. If that sort of discourse isn't happening much, it's probably a sign that people don't really care about the brand. In that vein, I still completely empathize with collectors who are disappointed that Funko diminished the singularity of the HoTD NFT Pops by releasing the similar-looking "commons." I think the main reason for the disappointment is the cost/rarity factor. I know remolds/repaints are normal in the industry, but do other companies release 2,200-piece-count items that customers spend at least $100 to get, and then later release similar-looking commons for $12-$15? Not to mention, NFTs/crypto are a tricky thing for a lot of us to navigate! Although I'm aware of a lot of other collectibles, Funko Pops are definitely the main thing I collect, so I can really only speak to what I've experienced with them, but, again, even with my disappointment, as I've shared multiple times in this thread, I still think they did a pretty solid job with keeping the HoTD NFT Pops special while also trying to make money (an incredibly difficult balance to strike)!

Since you asked what I think Funko could have done better, I did mention earlier that they could have changed up Criston Cole's hair cut or stance for the Target exclusive. Going back to the origins of this thread, Funko could have decided to only release the common Viserys with his mask and Aemond with his eyepatch without releasing those Chase variants, so fans would still be able to collect that older version of Viserys and they would still be able to have an Aemond, just not ones that could be mistaken for the NFTs. I understand those decisions would probably have resulted in Funko making less money, but I also think it would have satisfied collectors more and potentially increased their faith in Funko's NFTs (which have consistently struggled to sell out in 2024), so who knows? Maybe they could have made just as much or even more money! But I'd love to hear everyone else's thoughts!

[dragontree]

For sure, I agree that lots of companies re-release characters. Every company needs to balance drawing in new customers and making profits with keeping their products desirable so their existing customers stay happy -- it's not easy! It obviously doesn't make sense for Funko to only make one version of a character/a variant of a character (especially popular characters that sell well), but my greater point is not to complain that Funko does this but to say I think there are nuances to how they do it. Here are three ways I've seen Funko's done this, off the top of my head:

1. The HoTD NFT way: The initial run of characters are made as limited-edition Pops. A few months later, Funko releases updated versions of the exact same characters with some tweaks that make them more screen-accurate and puts them in different boxes. These updated versions are way cheaper/easier to get (commons, chases, retail exclusives). In this scenario, there are a little over 2,000 NFT Ser Criston Cole Pops in the world, whereas probably 10,000+ or 100,000+ of the Target exclusive Ser Criston Cole Pops will exist. Both Pops look very similar, but you can still tell them apart.

2. The Star Wars Celebration 2022 way: The initial run of characters are made as convention exclusives, so they're limited but by no means limited-piece count. Then, Funko makes no tweaks to the Pop molds except changing the bases and release them as a wave of common, wide-market Pops in new boxes. In this scenario, there are probably at least tens of thousands of both kinds of Pops, but likely fewer convention Pops existing than the commons. Out of the box, the only way to distinguish the two Pops would be to look at their bases; in every other way they are identical.

3. The restock way: The initial run of a character is made, like the Walgreens exclusive Dark Side Anakin Skywalker in 2018. Years go by, and the Pop is assumed to be vaulted, never to be made again, so it's really popular and sought after, and then ... it's late 2023/early 2024, and Funko decides to make and sell the exact same Pop, in the exact same box, same sticker, same base, same everything, except the date at the bottom of the box or figure tells you that it's a restock. In this scenario, tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of both the original release and the new release may exist, and in every way (except a few numbers on the bottom of a box or figure) they are the exact same figure.

I know this topic isn't about restocks, but I bring them up because I feel like restocks exist on the extreme end of this gradient of recycled molds/reprints/refreshes/remakes I've been talking about. And out of all three scenarios I listed, I think the HoTD NFT way is actually the most preferable, then the Star Wars Celebration way, and my least desired would be the restock. And I am hopeful that Funko recognizes this because the nature of NFTs is such that they cannot ever come out with another House of the Dragon Series 1 Drop again, and they don't really restock convention Pops (even though I don't like what they did with the SWC Pops, at least they changed the bases and the boxes...). In a perfect world, the NFT Pops (and, to a lesser extent, convention Pops) should look singular, but given all these realities and from what I've seen, Funko at least seems to understand that the more limited/exclusive their product, the more careful they need to be when releasing something that looks very similar/identical to it.

I guess my question is do you collect other collectibles besides funko? Do you think they are doing this remolding/repainting better? Do you not see collectors complaining? I think I've seen a lot of people complain every where though, you can never satisfy everyone that's the truth. Though if you been collecting for a long time that you will understand that this is normal. I know when the HOTD NFT drop a lot of people complained because not everyone is into NFT nor wants to deal with NFT, then Funko drops the common and collectors also complained. So what do you think they could do better to satisfy the collectors? You have to consider that Funko is paying for IP so definitely they will definitely release more pops for this. I'm not depending Funko but if you been in the hobby for a long time you will know that is normal.

You make some really great examples of the nuances with this topic. It's a tough one for sure. I do think that in general, Funko does a great job trying to think about collectors. That care is a big part of their brand and a reason why lots of people (including myself) like them. They don't always get it right, but nobody does. Voicing concerns on this forum are a great example of fans being able to point things out and hopefully have them read and listened to.

Thank you so much! I do think the topic is complex, and I'm trying to do it justice by providing examples and my personal reflections. I've seen Funko do lots of things I didn't like, but I'm still a huge fan of theirs and I consistently find things to appreciate in what they do. I agree with you about voicing concerns on the forum! In other threads it's been really fun for me to praise Funko for their SDCC exclusives this year or the fact that they're trying out the EQL system for the Box of Fun, and also I think it's healthy for threads like this to exist for fans to also share critiques (respectfully, of course!!!) and even disagree with one another, but still be willing to have conversations, because it shows we care and want Funko to be better

I'm no expert on toy/collectible making or the role licensors have in how all these decisions get made, but I'm a passionate fan who thinks it's something fun to think about and discuss, and I hope to get to do that more on this forum with y'all