I remember when the first images of the Space Molly Series 1 blind boxes started circulating. It was... Confusing. We already had the giant 400% and 1000% MEGA SPACE MOLLY figures, which were huge, expensive, and basically furniture. So when POP MART announced the "MEGA COLLECTION 100% SPACE MOLLY," everyone in my collector circles was asking the same thing: "Wait, so is it MEGA or is it 100%?"
It was both. And it changed everything.
That naming, mega space molly series 1, was a bit of a marketing mouthful, but it perfectly described the concept: the premium, astronaut-suit design of the giant MEGA figures, shrunk down to the classic 100% (around 3-inch) blind box size. It was the first time this specific, beloved silhouette was made accessible to the masses. Before this, owning a Space Molly meant a serious investment. Suddenly, for the price of a couple of coffees, you could get a piece of that magic.
The hype was instant. I remember our initial stock at PopNya sold out in hours. Not days. Hours. We couldn't restock fast enough. It wasn't just another MOLLY series; it felt like an event.
More Than Just a Costume
What made this series hit so differently? Look, MOLLY has worn a hundred different outfits. But the Space Molly design is special. The oversized, fishbowl-like helmet, the slightly clunky astronaut suit, and MOLLY's signature pout peeking through the visor, it's a perfect blend of high-tech fantasy and childhood innocence. Kenny Wong, MOLLY's creator, really struck gold with this form factor.
Series 1 gave us nine "basic" designs plus two secrets. And they weren't just simple color swaps. Each one had a distinct personality and texture that you can't really appreciate from a stock photo.
* Watermelon & Peach: These were the instant crowd-pleasers. Bright, fun, and fruity. The semi-translucent green on the Watermelon's helmet is still a fantastic touch. * Toffee & Jelly: These are my personal favorites from the regular set. The Toffee has this gorgeous, glossy brown finish that looks like poured caramel. The Jelly is a beautiful translucent figure that catches the light perfectly. These were the ones for collectors who appreciated material and finish over loud patterns. * Guava & Blueberry: Solid entries, but they often felt like the "unlucky" pulls back in the day. Now, I appreciate their simple, clean colorways. They're understated. * Banana & Grape: The Banana is just pure fun. The little painted-on bruises are a great detail. The Grape, with its deep purple and green accents, was another solid, if not spectacular, design. * Earth: This was the first "chase" figure for many. The matte blue and green continents painted on the glossy white suit, it was a step up in complexity. Pulling this one felt like a real win.
Then you had the secrets. The "Heart" (Little Star) secret and the super-secret "Pain Au Chocolat." The Heart figure, with its simple red heart on the chest and chrome-like visor, became an icon. The Pain Au Chocolat was almost a myth; I've personally only ever held one in my hands. It was a 1/108 chance, and it felt like it.
Market Watch: The Wild West of Resale
This is where things get interesting for a seller like me. The initial retail for a box was around $15. A case of 9 was about $135. In the first few weeks, the secondary market went absolutely insane.
I saw the Heart secret, a figure from a $15 box, listed and sold for over $180 on platforms like StockX and Xianyu. It was madness. Even the regular figures had their moment. For a while, the Watermelon and Toffee designs were consistently selling for $30-$40, more than double the retail price of the entire box.
This was the series that taught a lot of new collectors a hard lesson about hype cycles. Today, the market has cooled significantly. You can find most of the regular figures from space molly series 1 for close to or even below their original retail price. The demand is still there, but the frenzy is gone. The Heart secret has settled to a more reasonable (but still pricey) $80-$100, depending on condition. The Pain Au Chocolat? If you can even find one, expect to pay a premium. It's become a true grail for hardcore MOLLY fans.
Our Take: Real Talk on Collecting Series 1 Today
So, here's the honest truth from someone who sells these for a living. Should you, as a new collector in 2024, try to complete the entire mega space molly series 1?
Probably not. And here's why.
While it's a legendary and foundational series, it's also a product of its time. When I handle a Series 1 figure now and compare it to one from the newer MEGA Space Molly 100% Series 3, the evolution is obvious. The paint lines on the newer series are crisper. The materials feel slightly more premium. The joints and articulation (where present) are smoother. POP MART's production quality has improved year over year, and it shows.
Chasing down a full, sealed case of Series 1 today is a fool's errand. They're practically non-existent at a fair price. You'll be paying a massive "vintage" tax to a reseller. Buying them individually is the way to go, but trying to get all 9 (plus secrets) will be an expensive and frustrating scavenger hunt.
My advice? Don't be a completionist with this one. Instead, treat it like a gallery. Go through the lineup, find the one or two designs that truly speak to you, and buy them individually. Get the Toffee because you love the finish. Get the Watermelon because it makes you smile. Appreciate them as individual pieces of art.
If you want the thrill of the blind box and the joy of building a full set, I'd honestly point you towards a more recent series. The designs are just as creative (if not more so), the quality is higher, and they're far more accessible. You can still find a wide variety by browsing for MOLLY figures from current and recent collections.
The Little Detail No One Talks About
Here's a tip that only comes from handling hundreds of these things. If you're buying a loose Series 1 figure from a reseller, ask them about the helmet.
On many of the first-run production figures from this series, the fit of the helmet on the body can be a little... Wobbly. It's not that it falls off, but it doesn't have that satisfying, snug "click" that later series have. It can rattle a bit if you shake it. This is a tiny, almost insignificant detail, but it's one of those "collector-level" observations. POP MART clearly identified this and tightened up the tolerances in subsequent productions and for Series 2 and 3. It doesn't affect the display value, but it's a tell-tale sign of an early-batch figure.
This series walked so that future MOLLY collections could run. It established a new pillar for POP MART, proving that a premium concept could be successfully translated into the blind box format. It created a legion of new fans (and resellers) and set the stage for the dozens of Space Molly releases that would follow.
It's not the most polished. It's not the most valuable anymore. But Space Molly Series 1 is arguably one of the most important designer toy releases of the last five years. It's the origin story. And for any serious fan, having at least one figure from this iconic set in your MOLLY collection is like owning a piece of history. It's a reminder of that exciting, confusing, and game-changing moment when MEGA went mini.
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