I remember the exact moment The Monsters really clicked for me. For years, my shelves were a shrine to Kenny Wong's work. My MOLLY collection was, and still is, the heart of my collecting world. But then, a customer at PopNya came in looking for one specific figure: a tiny, mischievous creature with bunny-like ears and a full set of chompers. It was Labubu.
This was before the Macaron craze, before the MEGA figures were selling for the price of a used car. It was a quieter time. But the energy around this little monster was different. It wasn't just cute. It had an edge. A personality. And as a seller, I started noticing a pattern: people weren't just buying one pop mart monster box; they were buying cases. They were hunting.
That's the magic of Kasing Lung's creations. The Monsters, Labubu, Zimomo, Tycoco, Pato, and Spooky, aren't just vinyl figures. They feel like characters pulled from a forgotten European fairy tale, one that's a little bit dark and a whole lot of weird. And in the world of designer toys, weird is a currency all its own.
The Labubu Effect: How One Toothy Monster Changed the Game
Let's be honest. When most people talk about the monsters pop mart line, they're really talking about Labubu. Zimomo is a close second with its epic, spiky design, but Labubu is the undeniable frontman of this monster band.
Why? I think it's the expression. Labubu has this toothy, open-mouthed grin that can be interpreted in a dozen ways. Is it happy? Is it about to cause trouble? Is it screaming into the void? Yes. That ambiguity is what makes it brilliant. It's a canvas for whatever emotion you're feeling that day.
The series that weaponized this charm to its fullest was, without a doubt, "The Monsters - Exciting Macaron Vinyl Face Blind Box." That series was an absolute atom bomb in the community. I have never seen a non-secret, standard-issue blind box series cause so much chaos. We sold out of our initial stock at PopNya in under an hour. The demand was so intense that our site traffic looked like we were selling concert tickets, not toys.
And the secondary market? Wild. The "Soymilk" and "Lychee" Macaron Labubus, just regular figures in the set, were selling for $40-$50 each, more than triple their retail price. The secret, "Sesame Bean," was hitting $150+ almost immediately. It was the first time I saw that level of hype, previously reserved for super limited editions, applied to a wide-release series. It proved that Kasing Lung's designs had broken through to the mainstream.
Real Talk: A Deep Dive on Quality, Materials, and What to Watch Out For
As someone who handles these figures every single day, I see things the average collector might miss. The quality of The Monsters line has been a journey.
The early series, like the very first "The Monsters" collection, had a certain rawness. The vinyl felt a bit denser, the paint applications were simpler. They have a vintage charm now. If you can find one of the original Zimomo figures from that set, hold onto it. They just feel different.
Then came the modern era, kicked off by series like "Let's Christmas" and "Toys." The production quality got slicker, the designs more complex. But this is where you have to pay attention.
A Quick Warning on Flocking: The "Fall in Wild" series is gorgeous. The soft, fuzzy texture is a fantastic gimmick. But be warned: flocked figures are dust magnets and a nightmare to clean. I had a customer return one because their cat thought it was a new friend and, well, you can imagine. If you get a flocked Labubu, it belongs under glass. Period.
The very first production run of the "Exciting Macaron" series had some minor quality control issues. I'm talking tiny paint smudges near the mouth, slightly less crisp lines on the face. The later restocks were noticeably cleaner. It's a tiny detail, but for hardcore collectors, it matters. If you're buying a Macaron Labubu on the secondary market, don't be afraid to ask for super high-res photos.
Vinyl vs. Plush Pendants: Pop Mart has been pushing the "Vinyl Plush Pendant" format hard, especially with The Monsters. My honest take? They're... Fine. They're cute for what they are, a way to take your favorite monster on the go. But the translation from a 3D vinyl sculpt to a plush form isn't always perfect. The details get softer, the attitude gets a little lost. I've noticed the "Pin for Love" series, for example, feels a bit flimsy compared to the solid vinyl figures. If you're a purist, stick to the vinyl. The pendants are a fun, lower-cost accessory, but they aren't the main event.
My Unpopular Opinion: The Most Underrated (and Overrated) Monsters Series
This is where I might get some angry emails.
The most overrated series, in my opinion, is "Let's Christmas." Look, it's cute. The Santa Labubu is a classic. But as a whole, the series felt a little too safe, a little too predictable. It was Pop Mart checking the "holiday series" box. It lacks the weird, creative spark that defines Kasing Lung's best work. It sells well during the holidays, but it doesn't have the staying power of other series.
The most underrated series? "How are you feeling today?" Absolutely. This series gets overlooked because it's not as bright or flashy as the food-themed ones. But the concept is pure genius. Each monster is an emotion: a crying Tycoco, an angry Zimomo, a sleepy Labubu. The storytelling in the sculpts is top-tier. The little Labubu yawning with his hands in his pockets is, to me, a perfect piece of art. It's the series I recommend to people who want to understand the soul of The Monsters, not just the hype. It's a series for the true art toy fan.
This is a core part of the collector's journey, figuring out what you genuinely love versus what the market tells you to love. It's something I learned early on and is a lesson I try to pass on to anyone getting into the real deal on Pop Mart blind boxes.
The Collector's Playbook: Navigating the Market Without Losing Your Mind
The demand for the pop mart monster line has created a feeding frenzy. New drops on the Pop Mart Pop Now app sell out in seconds. Physical stores have lines around the block, something I saw firsthand on my trip to Pop Mart NYC. It can be intimidating.
Here's my advice:
1. Patience is Your Superpower: Do not pay $80 for a brand new, non-secret figure the week of release. The hype is always at its peak right at the drop. Prices almost always settle down after a few weeks as more supply hits the market. The exception is for ultra-limited collaboration pieces, but for standard series? Just wait. 2. The "Weight Trick" is a Myth (Mostly): People used to bring tiny scales to stores to "weigh" blind boxes, hoping to identify specific figures. For modern Pop Mart series, and especially The Monsters, this is a waste of time. Pop Mart got wise to it. They now use more uniform weights and internal packaging to make it nearly impossible. Don't be that person holding up the line with a kitchen scale. 3. Secrets are a Lottery, Not an Investment: Buying a full case of 12 increases your odds of getting a secret, but it's never a guarantee. I've seen people open two cases (24 boxes!) and get nothing. I've also seen someone buy one random box and pull the 1/144 super secret. Buy blind boxes for the love of the regular figures. If you get a secret, consider it a happy accident. If you must have a secret, buy it outright on the secondary market. It's cheaper in the long run than chasing it.
The whole game of hunting can be thrilling, but it can also be exhausting. I've seen collectors get completely burned out. Remember, this is supposed to be fun.
Our Take: The PopNya Verdict on The Monsters
So, where do The Monsters stand in the grand pantheon of designer toys?
For me, they represent the perfect balance of artistic integrity and commercial appeal. Kasing Lung is a genuine artist with a unique vision, and Pop Mart gave him a platform to bring that vision to millions. While some might criticize the company's business practices, it's hard to argue with the result: a world filled with these wonderfully weird creatures. The line's success is a testament to the fact that you don't have to be conventionally "cute" to win people's hearts.
As a seller, The Monsters are a cornerstone of my business. They bring people into the hobby. As a collector, they bring a chaotic, joyful energy to my shelves that perfectly complements the quiet grace of my MOLLYs. The line isn't perfect, there are some forgettable series and occasional quality dips, but its highs are some of the highest in the entire designer toy world.
If you're new to the hobby, I'd suggest starting with a recent, widely available series like "The Monsters x Kow Yokoyama" or the latest Macaron iteration. Don't go chasing a vintage, out-of-production series right away. Get a feel for the characters, find the one that speaks to you (it's probably Labubu, let's be real), and let your collection grow from there.
And if you ever find yourself staring at a wall of blind boxes, feeling overwhelmed by the hype, just ask yourself one question: which one of these little monsters makes me smile?
Start there. You can't go wrong.
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