By: Spencer Jawitz
A lot of fans are jumping on the Funko Pop craze, especially when it comes to autographing. But why is that?
For some it’s the ease that you can find Pops and the wide selection of figures. You can always find vendors at a convention selling Pops. For others Funko reminds them of the figures they collected as a child and regret losing. It is the latter for me.
Getting them signed is a whole deal of its own. I could get 8×10 photos signed but I prefer having a conversation piece, not just something in a book or on the wall.
My first signed Pop was at Star Wars Celebration Orlando is 2017. I was a Celebration newb and only did three photo ops the entire event. Fortunately, I won the lottery for Funko and grabbed a Thrawn Pop. Having been a fan of Timothy Zahn since “Heir to the Empire”, I thought it was the perfect time to start. That is how I got into getting Funko Pops signed.
Many collectors have asked me why I get the signatures on the top of the box vs. the front bubble, which is the norm. The answer is simple, I bought the toy, I want to see the toy. Later it morphed into getting a quote on the side bubble. But I maintained the front bubble to see the toy. And with close to 45 pops signed, I only have two on the front; Ashley Eckstein as I bought a pre-signed Pop and Daniel Radcliffe because he was rushing through autographs outside a theater.
Now I know traveling with full boxes with the figure inside is daunting. Hell, I brought over 20 with me to Chicago for Celebration. Rather than carry so many with me I boxed up the figure and inserts and used the natural folds of the box to flatten it.
What you do is open up all the flaps and then tuck the bottom flap into the box itself. Then you can fold it easily. I transported in an accordion folder by day and times. I’ve seen others put it in a plastic sleeve and carry a binder. But either way, you can bring as many as the case can hold without lugging around the whole package.
A few of my favorite I have include Dave Prowse from his last public signing in England on Dave Prowse Day, Ian McDiarmid on the Holographic Emperor with the quote “The Son of Skywalker must not become a Jedi Knight” from ESB, and my Peter Mayhew from SWCC.
During Peter’s signing I explained my signing preference of having the autograph on the top of the box and he said that would be fine. Unfortunately Peter did not sign where I had asked. I looked at the handler with concern and he took Purell and a tissue and got the sharpie off the bubble before handing it back to Peter. He didn’t seem happy about resigning but did it. You can see the residue on the edges of the cardboard.
Little did I know it was one of Peter’s last signings as he passed a week and half later. My signing time was 3 pm on Monday afternoon and Celebration ended at 4 pm. It’s a moment I will never forget.
Between my wife and I we have over 380 Pops and my hope is to get as many of them signed as I can because really one hobby turned into two. Now I often buy based on what I can get signed. If you have any questions, thoughts, or anything about Funko or signing for them, please reach out to me in the Star Wars Autograph News Facebook Group.
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