Funko Pop! fanatic reclaims collection record with over 8,000 different figurines
Think of your favourite superhero, videogame character, sporting legend or musician and Paul Scardino has probably got a Funko Pop! in their image.
The therapist, from Virginia, USA, has reclaimed his record for the largest collection of Funko Pop! figurines with a grand total of 8,002, as of the last official count in December 2023.
He takes the record from David Mebane (USA), who had a total of 7,095.
Paul first broke the record in 2018 with 4,475 figurines, and grew his collection to update it to 5,306 items in 2020, before temporarily losing it to David.
Paul, 41, who is also known under his social media alias The Popthusiast, celebrated by taking us on a guided tour of his collection.
All lined up on shelves in his basement, they’re organized into various categories depending on who the Pops are representing.
He has an animation area with characters from The Simpsons and Dragon Ball Z, a movie section that includes everything from King Kong to Barbie and Harry Potter to The Matrix, and of course DC and Marvel areas with every superhero under the sun (and beyond) including a special 18-inch Batman and a full-size Baby Groot.
Paul also has Pops in the image of some of sport’s biggest stars, as well as famous musicians and videogame characters like Sonic the Hedgehog and Crash Bandicoot.
He has a section dedicated solely to the Star Wars franchise, organized methodically into the original movies, Clone Wars, and the newer movies.
And of course he has plenty of Disney characters and TV show Pops too.
“My most valuable Pop is this guy right here, a Jesse Pinkman Comic-Con exclusive from Breaking Bad,” he explained, showing off the battered and bruised character.
Paul also has a very special Pop that no other collector in the world has – one made in his own image.
He said: “I also wanted to show this Pop, this is me. Funko started a Pop Yourself line, so you can go online, pick different accessories and outfits and things, so I picked a Funko Pop and a trophy for [my] Guinness [World Records title], glasses and a beard and this is how it came out.”
Talking about his record, he added: “So, this is the third time that I’m breaking this particular record.
I love Funko Pops! so much because they, to me, are a way to connect with other people.
“We all share a lot of common passions and have a lot of differences, and I think Funko Pops! are one way to connect with other people whether they agree with you or not.
“I actually use Funko Pops! at my mental health therapy practice to help connect with kids and adults and find out more about them and what they like.”
Who knows how much bigger Paul’s collection will grow!