New Batman Funko Pops highlight the good and bad movies
By Mark Lynch
People thought Funko Pops would be the new Beanie Babies. They were supposed to come, go, and be worthless items that people regretted buying. Unlike Beanie Babies, Funko Pops reached a wider variety of consumers like TV viewers, moviegoers, sports fans, and comic book readers. The latter is easily one of their most profitable.
There are hundreds of comic book characters with hundreds of moments over decades. That leaves the Funko Pop designers with a lot of material to choose from. Then there’s the superhero movies. Scenes like Iron Man using the Infinity Stone in Avengers: Endgame are Pops people couldn’t wait to own.
Funko Pops going to old projects to create new figurines was genius. It hit buys in their nostalgia gland (I think that gland is in your upper back). Some of the latest are Batman Returns, Batman Forever, and Batman and Robin. Each highlights a moment from the movies that people remember.
Writer and Fansided Entertainment and Lifestyle Director Cody Schultz revealed these Pops in a previous article. On originalfunko's official Instagram, the company gave their followers a closer look at them. In this article, I will explain the scenes the designs were taken and what makes these good purchases.
Penguin's death
Movie: Batman Returns
Oswald Cobblepot’s death wasn’t shocking, but it was memorable. He came out of the water, and, with his last actions on Earth, he tried to kill Batman. In a moment of calamity, he opens the umbrella to reveal one for babies. Considering he just tried to steal infants from Gotham it was appropriate.
If you’re a fan of Batman Returns, you’ll want this. It doesn’t have the grime Penguin had on him in this scene, but that’s good for two reasons. First, make it too bleak and people may not display it. Second, it’s an opportunity for Funko to release a second one with more black blood and a dirtier onesie.
Catwoman’s 9 Lives
Movie: Batman Returns
Catwoman could be the best part of Batman Returns. Michelle Pfeiffer was definitely the best performer. Her last scene proves this as she walks towards Max Shreck while he shoots her. Selina was fully prepared to feel indescribable pain as long as she could get to him. When she reached Shreck, Selina kissed him. That must have been...shocking (I don't regret that).
As great as the performance was, Catwoman's look made it better. Selina was beaten and disheveled, but determined. The Funko Pop designer did a great job conveying that with the grey outline around the eyes and the torn costume. And since Funko Pops always pays attention to details, her stun gun is in her hand.
Even if you don’t like Batman Returns, it’s a good figure for movie collectors.
Riddle me this, Riddle me that
Movie: Batman Forever
Jim Carrey’s role in Batman Forever is forgotten and it wasn’t his fault. He was still very much the Riddler, just not the one people expected. Carrey came in after two dark Batman movie villains and still crushed it with a brighter, bubblier attitude.
Everything about this is fantastic. The Riddler glasses are perfectly designed with the green question mark around the eye, the rhinestone jumpsuit was the right choice, and the hair stands up like it did in the movies. This may be the best of the four.
Poison Ivy’s reveal
Movie: Batman and Robin
Admittedly, this is an weird choice. Uma Thurman's Poison Ivy isn’t a Funko Pop you’d think people would rush to buy. Not only was she one of the worst villains, Batman and Robin is probably the worst Batman movie (despite this writer's love for it). Nevertheless, you can’t deny this looks good. Plus, Poison Ivy is popular. If you have some of her Funkos, you'll grab this one to complete your set.
The designer combined a few scenes to create this figure. The cape, plant, and hairstyle in the Funko Pop are from different moments in Batman and Robin. Individually, it may not have worked. Together, it makes for a great present or display piece.
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