DC Comics Statues and Busts: Funko Rock Candy Vinyl Figures: An Appreciation (2016

I have several Funko products, though I'm nowhere near the collectors who have entire basements or garages devoted to displaying them. Rather, I limit myself to Batgirl Pops, Mystery Minis, and a few other pieces of characters I really like, such as Nightwing, Batwoman, Huntress, CW TV Arrow's Speedy (played by Willa Holland), and Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman. However, when Funko announced the Rock Candy line in February 2016, I decided to buy even the non-Gotham characters, too. (The Barbies looked great as well, though I didn't want to start buying random figures solely because they looked appealing.)

Amy Pond could be Barbara Gordon. ^_^

To me, Rock Candies are the best-designed Funko line. Although the heads are over-sized in relation to the bodies (like other Funko lines), they're almost proportional. The faces are expressive, and the amount of detail is great for the price. They mix-&-match well with other Funko lines, such as the Mystery Minis DC Heroes and Pets animals. Retail-wide Rock Candies were originally available for $10 - $12, with exclusives selling for $15 - $20.

Hot Topic exclusive Jim Balent Catwoman

with cats from Mystery Minis Heroes and Pets

Classic Harley Quinn with hyenas from Mystery Minis Heroes and Pets

Hot Topic exclusive New 52 Suicide Squad Harley Quinn

(with Target and Walmart variants)

DC TV Supergirl (Melissa Benoist) (subscription box)

Gal Gadot Wonder Woman

The first Rock Candies to arrive in stores were based on DC Comics characters. Next came a wave of eight Barbies based on Barbie dolls throughout history. Eventually, the line encompassed Marvel Comics, Disney animation, Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, and several other properties. Some figures were store exclusives, and others were available via subscription boxes.

Jessica Rabbit and DC Bombshells Black Canary

Unfortunately, Rock Candies did not appear to sell well. I saw them at places like Barnes & Noble, GameStop/ThinkGeek, Hot Topic, Target, and Walmart. Physical stores ended up clearancing them for $5 or less. There were times when I was able to use coupons or vouchers and get them for free at GameStop or Hot Topic. A lot of excess inventory wound up at Half Price Books, too. Gemini Collectibles seems to be the final repository for whatever stock Funko could not unload.

While everyone likes scoring deals, we also have to acknowledge reality. It's not usually sensible for a business to keep making/selling products at a financial loss. Funko tried to keep the line alive in part by changing the packaging from 7x4x4 boxes to smaller ones with hanging tabs. (The smaller boxes took up less shelf space but were also easily damaged due to careless employees or kids yanking them off of metal hooks.) Some characters were made in limited numbers to avoid saturating the market. Unfortunately, it appears that the line ended with the June 2019 release of DC Bombshells Starfire, which was available at the Emerald City (Seattle) Comic Convention and Funko.com.

Collecting tchotchkes can be a brutal hobby. Rock Candy She-Ra, a San Diego Comic Con 2016 and Funko.com exclusive, was limited to 1250 pieces and sold out immediately. It now regularly sells for more than $120 on eBay. Many fans were disappointed, so Funko upped the production run for DC Bombshells Starfire to 3000 for ECCC 2019. A year later, Funko transferred remaining inventory to Gemini Collectibles, which now sells it for $8.99 (albeit with a limit of 1 per order). I originally paid $15 each for four of them (plus shipping) back in March 2019.

There's a wide price variance for Rock Candies on the secondary market. Excluding protos, She-Ra seems to be the grail. Jessica Rabbit and Disney's Pocahontas are rare/pricey, too.

At the other end of the spectrum, you'll find:

DC's Enchantress (based on Cara Delevingne in the live-action Suicide Squad movie) (GameStop box exclusive)
DC Bombshells Black Canary (Target box exclusive)
Marvel's Mystique (subscription box exclusive)
Marvel's Dark Phoenix 1 (subscription box exclusive)
Marvel's Dark Phoenix 2 (retail-wide)

Sometimes, these sell for so low that after fees and shipping, sellers are basically paying to get rid of them.

I don't know why Funko made two Dark Phoenixes in the same outfit. Furthermore, based on what I've read, the first version has a leaning issue due to the way the legs are positioned. I think the fire base should've been used for the first version to help with stability. Also, the flames are pointing straight up, whereas the second version's hair is being blown sideways. That second head sculpt could've been used for another character. Maybe Batwoman? ^_^

I don't want readers to think that I'm dancing on the Rock Candies' grave. Rather, I have started to buy non-DC characters since there's no danger of falling into a bottomless pit. Basically, I'm buying ones that can pass for DC characters without me making modifications. Just a for example -- Anna from Frozen is a good substitute for Misfit (aka Charlotte Gage-Radcliffe). Misfit is one of Barbara Gordon's (aka Batgirl/Oracle) proteges.

The Thirteenth Doctor looks like Maggie Sawyer (a police detective who's dated Batwoman). Tomb Raider Lara Croft looks like Renee Montoya.

I know that Monster High Clawdeen is supposed to be a werewolf...but couldn't she pass for Cheetah opposite the DC Super Hero Girls version of Wonder Woman? :D