I get this email at PopNya at least once a week, especially from August through October: "Do you have any horror Labubu?"
It's a simple question, but the answer is complicated. Because what most people mean is, "Do you have the Halloween series?" And yeah, sometimes we do. But my real answer, the one I want to type back, is that the best, most genuinely unsettling Labubu figures aren't the ones with a pumpkin on their head.
The search for a spooky Labubu has become a huge trend. I've watched the search volume triple in the last two years. But the real magic of Kasing Lung's art isn't in the obvious costumes. It's in the subtle creepiness, the melancholic expressions, and the designs that are beautiful and just a little bit wrong.
So, let's talk about what a "horror Labubu" really is. There are the official, on-the-nose Halloween releases. And then there are the ones that haunt you.
The "Official" Spooky Labubu: The Halloween Hype Train
When you type "horror Labubu" into Google, these are the guys that show up. They're the designated spooky season releases, and don't get me wrong, some of them are fantastic. But they come with a lot of hype and an inflated price tag.
The Monsters Mischief Series (2019)
This was one of the earlier attempts at a Halloween theme. It's a solid series. You've got Vampire, a classic Ghost, and of course, the Pumpkin. These are the OGs of spooky.
What you won't see in a product photo is the feel of them. As a seller, I handle a lot of Labubu, from the very first releases to the latest drops. The vinyl on the Mischief series feels different, it's a bit lighter, the finish is more matte, and the paint, while good for its time, isn't as crisp as what we see today. The Ghost figure, in particular, is a favorite, but finding one without any yellowing after all these years is a challenge. They're nostalgic, but they feel like a prototype for the more ambitious spooky designs that came later. If you find one for a decent price (under $40), grab it for the history. But don't break the bank.
The Monsters Happy Halloween Series (2020)
This is the one everyone wants. Specifically, the Sitting Pumpkin vinyl plush pendant. This little guy is Labubu collecting chaos personified. It retailed for something like $18. I just checked the secondary market while writing this, and the last sale on StockX was for $88. That's a 388% markup.
And honestly? It's cute. It's a great little keychain. But the hype has completely eclipsed the item itself. We get more requests for this one plush than for entire blind box series. The biggest issue with the Happy Halloween series, especially the pendants, is the fakes. The market is flooded. A quick tell I've noticed on the fakes is the stitching on the leaf of the pumpkin hat, it's often looser and uses a brighter green thread than the genuine article. The real one has a very tight, dark olive green stitch. It's a tiny detail, but it's something I've seen consistently when handling both.
The Monsters Fright Fall Series (2023)
This is the most recent "horror" themed blind box set. The designs are more creative, pulling from classic monster tropes. You've got a scarecrow, a little devil, and a "Screamer" figure inspired by the Ghostface mask.
The "Screamer" figure has a design flaw. The black paint used for the elongated mouth is applied in a way that makes it incredibly prone to chipping, right at the corners. I'm not kidding, we had to process two returns at PopNya in the first month of its release for that exact issue. Customers would receive it, and a tiny flake of paint would already be off, right out of the box. It's a fantastic design, but it's fragile. It's the kind of detail you only discover after seeing dozens of them, not just the one you unbox for your own collection.
These official series are fun. They scratch the Halloween itch. But if you're looking for something with more artistic depth, something genuinely spooky, you have to look elsewhere.
The "Unofficial" Horror Labubu: My Personal Hall of Fame
This is where my passion as a collector really comes in. These are the figures that aren't marketed as "horror" but carry a much deeper, more unsettling energy. They are, in my opinion, Kasing Lung's best work in the genre of the strange and unusual.
1. Ghost - from The Monsters Forest Concert Series (2021)
This is it. For me, this is the single best spooky Labubu ever made. It's not trying to be scary. It's just... Haunting. The figure is made from a semi-translucent, milky white vinyl that gives it an ethereal glow. It's holding a single, sad-looking flower. But the real genius is the face.
Unlike the goofy grins of the Halloween ghosts, this one's expression is completely neutral, almost mournful. It's not a costume; it feels like an actual spirit. It captures a sense of loneliness and quiet sorrow that is far more chilling than a vampire cape. I remember unboxing this one for the first time, and it just stopped me in my tracks. It has a presence. The aftermarket price on this one has been surprisingly stable, usually floating around $30-40, which is a steal for a figure with this much artistry. It's a testament to the fact that the most hyped figures aren't always the best ones.
2. Sorrow - from The Monsters Toys Series (2019)
The name says it all. This figure is a personification of sadness. Labubu is curled up, clutching its knees, with two huge, glistening tears permanently attached to its face. The color palette is a muted blue and grey. It's heartbreaking.
This figure explores a different kind of horror: the internal, emotional kind. It's the feeling of a bad day, of overwhelming grief, captured in a 3-inch vinyl figure. It's profoundly uncomfortable to look at for too long, and that's what makes it brilliant. It's a reminder that Kasing Lung's "Monsters" aren't just cute characters; they embody a whole spectrum of complex emotions. While everyone was chasing the hyper-colorful Exciting Macaron Labubu from the same era, Sorrow was the quiet, introspective masterpiece that many overlooked.
3. Tycoco "The Crow" - from The Monsters x Kow Yokoyama Ma.K. Series (2021)
Okay, technically this is Tycoco, one of Labubu's friends, but it's part of the family. This collaboration series is mostly sci-fi, with mecha suits and pilot gear. But the regular Tycoco figure in this set is pure nightmare fuel.
It's a Labubu-like creature dressed in a full-body black crow costume. But it's not a cute, fuzzy costume. It's sleek, black, and beak-like, with these dead, staring red eyes. The proportions are all slightly off. It looks less like a costume and more like a creature from a folk horror film. It's deeply unsettling in a way that feels ancient and primal. Because it's from a more niche crossover series, it's often ignored by mainstream Labubu fans, but for horror lovers, it's an absolute must-have.
4. The Secret "Phantom" - from Have a Seat Labubu V1 (2022)
The "Have a Seat" series is mostly known for its cute and relaxed poses. But the secret figure from the first version is a completely different beast. It's a translucent, glitter-infused Labubu that looks like a ghost fading into existence. It has this eerie, otherworldly quality. Unlike the solid Forest Concert Ghost, this one feels more active and spectral. Finding it is, of course, a matter of pure luck, but it proves that even in the most mundane-seeming series, a truly haunting figure can be hiding. It's a perfect example of why blindly buying into hype for something like the Have a Seat Labubu V2 might mean you miss the hidden gems from earlier versions.
Real Talk: My Seller's Verdict
Look, I run a store. I could easily just stock up on the Halloween series in September and triple my money. But as a collector, that feels dishonest.
So here's my honest take: The official "horror Labubu" series are often the least interesting and most overpriced options. They are fun, seasonal novelties. But they lack the soul and the subtle creepiness that makes Kasing Lung's universe so compelling. The demand is driven by a label, not by the art itself.
My advice? Stop searching for "horror" and start looking for "mood." Look for figures that make you feel something. The quiet melancholy of the Forest Concert Ghost will stay with you long after the novelty of a pumpkin hat wears off. The emotional weight of Sorrow is more powerful than any vampire fangs.
Don't let the seasonal hype dictate your collection. The best time to buy a spooky figure is in March, not October. The prices for the Halloween series dip significantly in the off-season. You can often snag a figure for close to retail if you're patient.
Instead of paying $80 for a plush keychain, you could buy two or three genuinely artistic, "unintentionally" spooky figures that will bring a much more interesting vibe to your shelf. You can explore our full LABUBU collection and see for yourself, the most interesting pieces are rarely the most obvious ones. The beauty of this hobby is finding the piece that speaks to you, not the one TikTok tells you to want.
The world of Labubu is vast, and if you're just starting, it can be overwhelming. Understanding the basics of what makes these toys special is key. If you're new to the hunt, learning about the fundamentals of Labubu dolls can save you a lot of time and money.
Ultimately, the scariest thing about the horror Labubu market isn't the figures themselves. It's the prices people are willing to pay for them in the heat of the Halloween season. Collect smarter, not harder. Your wallet, and your shelf, will thank you.
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