What Was the First Funko Pop? The History of Funko, Explained

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Learn about some of the oldest Funko Pops

Co-authored by Marcus Pruitt, BS

Last Updated: November 10, 2025 Fact Checked

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First Funko Pop Ever Made

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History

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Funko Pops vs. Wacky Wobblers

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Other Old Funko Pops

Funko Pops are some of the most popular collectible figures out there, adorning offices, bedrooms, and figure rooms all across the world. The brand has a long history behind it, with the first Funko Pops being released all the way back in 2010, and the brand itself going back even further. In this article, we explain what the very first Funko Pop was, dive into the history of the brand, explore other old Funko Pops, and more!

What was the very first Funko Pop?

The very first Funko Pop was actually a group of Funko Pops: Batman, Batman Metallic, Batgirl, and Green Lantern. These figures were revealed in 2010 at San Diego Comic-Con. Batman and Batman Metallic both rocked the 1960s costume, Batgirl wore her grey and black costume, and Green Lantern was all green.

Section 1 of 4:

What was the first Funko Pop ever made?

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The first Funko Pops were Batgirl, Green Lantern, and two versions of Batman. These four Funko Pops were released as a group together at San Diego Comic-Con in 2010. Batman and Batman Metallic both wore the classic 1960s Batman costume (with the metallic variant being dressed in a shiny metal finish). The Batgirl figure was dressed in grey and black, with Barbara Gordon’s orange hair sticking out through the mask. The Green Lantern figure was one of the most unique, as it was entirely green.^{[1]
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- Although these were the first Funko Pops ever revealed, they weren’t the first figures in the Funko brand. That title goes to the Big Boy bobblehead from the Wacky Wobblers line.
- These original 4 figurines weren’t actually called Funko Pops when they were first released, either. They were known as Funko Force 2.0.

Section 2 of 4:

History of Funko Pops

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The first figure under the Wacky Wobblers line was the Big Boy bobblehead. While the product was nostalgic, it didn’t sell well enough, and Becker would go on to file for bankruptcy protection. This didn’t stop the Funko train, though, as the company would eventually change CEOs in 2005, paving the way for their future success.^{[2]
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After changing CEOs, plenty of new bobbleheads of popular characters were released. Fantastik Plastik was the first line released under the new CEO, Brian Mariotti, who joined the company in 2005.^{[3]
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Research source} The line included characters like Duck Dodgers, Frankenstein, Dracula, and others. These characters would spark Funko’s association with pop culture figures and lit a fire under the brand, which went on to release its own characters under the limited Spastik Plastik line.
- Once Mariotti joined the company, they went on to sell $800,000 worth of bobbleheads in a year.
The first line was a partnership with the DC Comics Universe, which included Green Lantern, Batgirl, and two different versions of Batman. These models didn’t have as many details as modern-day Funko Pops, and they were technically known as Funko Force 2.0 figures, but they’re widely considered the first Funko Pop figurines.^{[4]
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As the 2010s went on, Funko Pops became more and more popular. The figures released at SDCC were the first of many pop culture collaborations, with Marvel, Star Wars, and Harry Potter characters (among others) being “Funko-fied” and released in later collections. Sales steadily grew as the figures gained popularity, and they eventually made their way into big box stores like Walmart towards the end of the decade.
- By 2012, Funko had sold more than $20 million of merchandise.^{[5]
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Funko’s popularity has resulted in a bunch of new figures, like Glinda from Wicked, the Super Xenomorph from Alien: Earth, and Golden Age Superman from DC Comics. These figures represent the progress Funko Pop has made since 1998. What started as a bobblehead company has become one of the most recognizable forces in pop culture, with thousands upon thousands of collectors across the world.

Section 3 of 4:

Funko Pops vs. Wacky Wobblers

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Wacky Wobblers were similar to Funko Pops, albeit with leaner bodies and bobbly heads. The Wacky Wobbler figures were also original creations, with the first figure, “Big Boy,” being created to elicit nostalgia in buyers. Funko Pops are like the grandchildren of Wacky Wobblers, but they feature real people and fictional characters from pop culture, rather than original characters created by Funko. They're also far more popular than Wacky Wobblers.^{[6]
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Section 4 of 4:

Other Old Funko Pops

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Ned Stark Ned Stark is one of the central characters from George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones, which was extremely popular in the 2010s. The Ned Stark Funko Pop was released in 2012 as the #2 figure in the Pop! Game of Thrones line, when the show’s popularity was just starting to bubble, but before it hit the mainstream. The figure looks just like Stark, dressed in all black, sporting a beard and long hair, and holding a sword at its side.^{[7]
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SpongeBob Squarepants SpongeBob Squarepants is one of the most recognizable pop culture characters, with the yellow sea sponge winning over the hearts of many with his jokes and ever-positive personality. This recognition landed SpongeBob the #25 spot in the Pop! Television series, where he sports the same red tie, white top, and brown pants as his television counterpart. He’s even got the buck teeth to match!^{[8]
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Princess Bubblegum Princess Bubblegum is one of the most popular (and divisive) characters from the Adventure Time cartoon, which was all over Cartoon Network in the 2010s. The Princess Bubblegum Funko Pop was released in 2013 as #51 in the Pop! Television line, rocking her signature pink hair, dress, and skin, as well as her gold crown.^{[9]
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Ice King The Ice King is another popular character from Adventure Time. Despite his villainous ways, this cold cartoon character is also one of the most beloved by fans, which was clearly noticed by Funko, who released his figure as #31 in the Pop! Television line in 2013. The Ice King figurine rocks his signature white mustache, blue skin and shirt, and golden crown, with an angry look to match the icy demeanor.^{[10]
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Hello Kitty Hello Kitty is a classic pop culture figure, beloved by young people everywhere. So when the Pop! Sanrio collection was released in July 2013, it made sense that she was designated as the #1 figure. Hello Kitty sports her classic look with this Funko design: all white with a pink bow, shirt, and overalls.^{[11]
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Fred Flintstone Fred Flintstone is a classic character from the 1960s cartoon series, The Flintstones. The Funko figure isn’t nearly that old, being released in 2014 as #1 in the Pop! Animation line. The Fred Flintstone figure bears an uncanny resemblance to the cartoon character, sporting the classic orange cheetah print shirt, blue tie, and five o’clock shadow that Flintstone is known for.^{[12]
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Saul Goodman Saul Goodman is the charismatic, cutthroat lawyer from Breaking Bad and the spinoff series Better Call Saul, both of which were massively popular in the 2010s. This popularity spurred the creation of the Saul Goodman Funko Pop, which was released in 2014 as #163 of the Pop! Television line. The figure, which has since been vaulted, sports Goodman’s iconic pink dress shirt, blue tie, and charcoal suit.^{[13]
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BABYMETAL BABYMETAL is one of the most popular kawaii metal groups, and Funko Pop made sure to capitalize on this popularity with the release of the BABYMETAL Funko Pops in 2015. These Funko Pops were released as part of the Pop! Rocks collection, with each member sporting a red skirt and a black graphic tee.^{[14]
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- The Pop! Rocks collection has also featured artists like Michael Jackson, Snoop Dogg, and Notorious B.I.G.