I was sorting through a new shipment of CRYBABY figures for the shop the other day, admiring the crisp boxes and intricate paint jobs, and it got me thinking. Thinking about the old days. The days before designer toys were quite this polished, before every release had a multi-pronged marketing campaign. I'm talking about the early days of Funko.
Someone on a forum asked a simple question: "What is Funko Pop 29?"
The simple answer is Bellatrix Lestrange from the first wave of Harry Potter Pops. But that's not the real answer, is it? The real answer is a time capsule. These low numbers, #29, #18, #13, they're like digital archeology for collectors. They represent a totally different era of the hobby.
Back then, the numbering was linear. Simple. A new Pop came out, it got the next number in the sequence. There wasn't a separate "Pop! Animation," "Pop! Movies," and "Pop! Ad Icons" line, each with its own #1. It was just... Pop! And the numbers climbed. Seeing a number under 50 is like finding a car from the 60s. The design might be simpler, even a little clunky by today's standards, but it has a history you can feel.
The Malice in Pop #29: Bellatrix's Debut
So, Bellatrix Lestrange. Funko Pop 29. She was part of that first magical batch of Harry Potter figures that Funko released way back in 2015. It's hard to overstate how big of a deal this was. For years, the most you could hope for was maybe a high-end statue or a kid's action figure. Funko made it accessible.
The original Bellatrix is great. Classic black dress, wild hair, her wand at the ready. She has that early Funko charm, a bit basic in the pose, but it captures the character's essence. At the time, she was just another Pop on the shelf at Barnes & Noble. I remember seeing her and thinking, "Cool, but I'll get her later."
Famous last words in this hobby.
Her value has been a slow, steady burn. She's not one of those Pops that shot to $1,000 overnight. She's just consistently desirable. A complete Harry Potter collection needs her. As of writing this, a good condition in-box #29 will run you anywhere from $40 to $60. Not life-changing money, but a solid return on a $10 toy from almost a decade ago.
What's more interesting to me as a seller is comparing her to the later version, the Azkaban Prisoner Bellatrix (#35), which was a Hot Topic exclusive. That one is technically a more "dynamic" Pop. She's holding her Azkaban sign, looking unhinged. But it's the original #29 that holds the historical weight. It's the OG. For serious collectors, the lower number often trumps the more detailed sculpt. It's a fundamental rule you learn in the real collector's playbook for buying Pop Figures; history and scarcity often beat aesthetics.
The Nightmare Before Christmas Power Couple: #16 and #18
If you want to talk about a line that has been a cornerstone of Funko since the beginning, it's The Nightmare Before Christmas. And two of its most important early figures are Funko Pop number 16 and Funko Pop number 18.
Let's start with Sally, Funko Pop number 16. This isn't just any Sally. This is the Glow in the Dark version. GITD was a huge gimmick back then (still is, let's be honest), and this Sally was one of the early standouts. Her value is all over the place because of one huge problem: fakes.
The market is absolutely flooded with fake GITD Sallys. It's one of the most counterfeited Pops of all time. This is where being a hands-on collector and seller really matters. I've seen dozens of fakes, and the tells are subtle but consistent.
Real Talk: How to Spot a Fake Sally #16
Forget the box for a second. Look at the figure itself. 1. The Stitches: On a real Sally, the black stitches painted on her face and body are thin and precise. On fakes, they're almost always thicker, sloppier, and look like they were drawn on with a Sharpie. 2. The Hair: The texture on her deep red hair should be defined. Fakes often have a smoother, cheaper-looking plastic with less detail in the sculpt. 3. The Glow: This is the big one. A real Sally #16 has a strong, greenish glow after being charged under a UV light. The fakes? They either don't glow at all, or they have a very weak, patchy glow that fades in seconds. The paint used for the glow effect is expensive, and it's the first corner counterfeiters cut.
Then you have her partner in crime, Jack Skellington, as Funko Pop number 18. This was a Hot Topic "Pre-Release" exclusive. The pre-release sticker is a whole other rabbit hole, but basically, it meant Hot Topic got it before anyone else. This Jack is sought after, but he's been released in so many other forms since then that his value isn't as insane as some other early exclusives. He's a key piece, but not the centerpiece. The duo together, though? That's a powerful display of Funko history. It's a perfect example of how some Pop Toys are more than just big-headed figures; they're milestones in a brand's history.
The Crown Jewel: Why So Serious About Number 13?
And now we get to the big one. The legend. Number 13 Funko Pop.
The Joker.
Not just any Joker. Heath Ledger's Joker from The Dark Knight. Released in 2011, this Pop is, for many, a true grail. It's from the DC Universe line, which was one of the very first licenses Funko ever acquired. This figure is a piece of pop culture history layered on top of another piece of pop culture history.
I have never personally owned this Pop. And I'll tell you why. The price.
Back in 2014-2015, you might have been able to snag one for around $100 if you were lucky. I watched it happen. Then, slowly, it started to climb. $150. $200. Then it just exploded. As I'm writing this, you'd be lucky to find a legitimate, good-condition Joker #13 for under $250, and pristine examples can easily fetch $300-$400 on eBay. There was a 2-pack version with him in his bank robber mask that goes for even more astronomical prices.
Why? Scarcity, for one. They just didn't make that many back then. Funko was still a niche company. But it's also about the character. Ledger's performance was iconic, and this was the only Pop representation of it for a very long time. It's a perfect storm of low production run, an iconic character, and a tragically beloved actor.
This is the kind of Pop that makes you question your life choices. Do you drop the equivalent of a car payment on a 4-inch piece of vinyl? For some, the answer is a resounding yes. It's the centerpiece of their collection, the one they show off first. It's a status symbol in the Funko community.
Our Take: Is Chasing These Old Numbers Actually Worth It?
Okay, let's be real for a minute. As someone who sells toys for a living, you'd think I'd be all for these high-value grails. But honestly? I'm conflicted.
I get it. It connects you to the roots of the hobby.The constant fear of fakes, the insane prices, and the pressure to acquire something just because it's "rare."
Sometimes, I think new collectors get too caught up in the numbers game. They see these low numbers as the only thing that matters, and they overlook the incredible artistry happening in the designer toy world right now.
For the $300 you might spend on a single, 13-year-old Joker Pop with a very simple sculpt, you could get an entire case of a brand new CRYBABY series. You could get a stunning, hand-painted art piece from an independent artist. You get the thrill of the hunt, the joy of the unboxing, and a figure that, frankly, has a lot more detail and emotional resonance than some of those early Pops.
My personal philosophy, and the one we try to embody at PopNya, is to collect what you love. If you're a die-hard Ledger Joker fan and #13 is your ultimate goal, I respect that immensely. Go for it. But don't do it just because the number is low. Don't let the hype dictate your collection.
The beauty of collecting urban vinyl art toys is in the diversity. There are so many stories being told through these figures. The early Funko Pops tell a story of a company finding its footing. A figure from the latest CRYBABY collection tells a story of vulnerability and emotion. Both are valid. Both are beautiful.
So, what is Funko Pop 29? It's a gateway. It's a starting point for a conversation about what we value as collectors: Is it the number on the box, the character in the box, or the feeling we get when we put it on our shelf?
For me, it's always the feeling.
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