Comic Book Men s07e13 Episode Script
Pop Goes The Stash
1 [ Upbeat music.]
Flanagan: Hey, let's say aliens invaded Earth right above the Stash.
Which one of us would be the best representative to go out there and meet alien life for the first time? - Not him.
- [Laughter.]
He's less human than the aliens.
[Laughter.]
Come on, I'm pretty personable, I'm diplomatic.
Yes, he will talk to anybody and treat them as if they're his closest friend on Earth.
Overly friendly? Almost to the point where, like, "Is this person mentally stable?" - Right.
- Flanagan: You know Like, the aliens start second guessing.
"Maybe we shouldn't have landed here.
" [Laughter.]
Remember how in "War of the Worlds" it was a little tiny germ that sent the aliens packing? - Mm-hmm.
- Maybe in this new "War of the Worlds" - It's the Chen virus.
- [Laughter.]
[ Dramatic music.]
[Roar.]
- Help! - Help! Help! [Mechanical whirring.]
[Explosion.]
[ Upbeat music.]
Hello and welcome back to another splendiferous episode of "Comic Book Men", the only show that soothes the ego better than Mantis.
I'm Kevin Smith.
- Bryan Johnson.
- Walt Flanagan.
- Mike Zapcic.
- Ming Chen.
Walt, what happened this week? [ Rock music.]
- How ya doin'? - Hey, hey, guys, how you doin'? Pretty good.
What are you Oh my goodness.
I've got the "Clash of the Titans" Kraken from 1980 Mattel.
- Flanagan: Oh my God, that's awesome.
- Wow.
I haven't seen one of those in decades, man.
I see the top is open, uh, can we release the Kraken out of the box - Oh, I think we can.
- so we can get a closer look at it? We definitely can.
Zapcic: Aah.
Flanagan: Look at that.
Seller: And we got the tail.
Zapcic: I love this.
It says, "Contents, one Kraken.
" - Seller: Yes.
- [Laughter.]
Flanagan: Were you guys big fans of "Clash of the Titans"? Johnson: Loved it.
Yeah.
I mean, think, I was like, what, 10, 11 when it came out? Flanagan: This was easily the high point of the movie, right? - Zapcic: It was the great - Flanagan: The showstopper, as they call it, right? Johnson: Like, when it comes up out of the water.
Zapcic: Classic Harryhausen.
Seller: Harryhausen.
Grew up with Harryhausen films.
"Sinbad.
" "Sinbad", "Jason and the Argonauts" "Jason and the Argonauts", yeah.
I loved "Clash of the Titans.
" We'd just gotten cable for the first time around then, and it was in high rotation, so you could watch it over and again, and I'll be honest, I was a kid, there was a little bit of nudity in it, so that also made it something you really wanted to watch.
- I didn't like it.
- You didn't dig it? It felt like a foreign movie shot through gauze.
It felt like it was just, like, from another country and it was dubbed, it just didn't feel like a I have a distaste for foreigners.
[Laughter.]
What a time, though, huh? I mean, time of the gods, you know? Oh, you mean back then? - Yeah, the Greek gods.
- Zapcic: You woulda hated it.
- Why? - No pizza, no chicken fingers, - no indoor plumbing.
- Seller: Yes.
Johnson: Everyone is trying to fight you.
- Everyone.
- Yeah.
It's Krakens, it's Medusas, like, they're all over the place.
There's skeletons.
Flanagan: How'd the toy line fare for, uh, "Clash of the Titans"? Was it a big success? I don't think it was a big success, 'cause I never had it as a kid, I didn't have any of 'em as a kid.
Was this just the only, uh, doll, or Seller: If you look at the back of the box, they've got Pegasus, and they've got four, uh, figures, as well.
I used to see one or two pop up at flea markets every now and then, but they're either broken or missing pieces.
All right, I mean, it's definitely cool.
- We don't ever see any "Clash of the Titans" merchandise.
- No.
Um, I think I'd like to get it for the Stash because everybody that comes in here, - everybody in our world, loves this movie.
- Mm-hmm.
- Yeah.
- Flanagan: You know? And this stuff is hard to come by, man.
What are you lookin' to get for it? Seller: Well, lookin' to hopefully get hmm, let's start out high.
Uh, $800.
What negotiating skills you have.
- Yes.
- [Laughter.]
Uh, how 'bout $300? - How 'bout six? - No.
Seller: All four arms are there.
They might be loose, but they're all there.
Flanagan: They are.
Uh, $400.
How 'bout, uh, $450? Flanagan: Yeah, I'm not gonna quibble over 50 bucks.
$450 it is.
Done.
Seller: Thank you, appreciate that.
[Cash register clicking, humming.]
Flanagan: There you go, $450.
Thank you, sirs.
Uh, let me just get one more look at it.
Okay.
- Take care, thank you.
- All right.
Take it easy.
[ Upbeat music.]
Chen: Yeah, that's huge news.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'll tell them.
Yeah, I'll see you there.
All right, bye.
Mike, come over here.
I've got some great news for you guys.
Zapcic: What's up? I just got off the phone with Kevin, he just told me that Funko - is gonna be making Pops of us.
- What? We're gonna get our own Pop figures.
Johnson: Well, it's about time.
They've literally made every other character.
[Laughter.]
We're the last four guys.
Let me tell you about Funko Pops, man.
You're nobody in this world until you've been Popped.
I've been a Funko Pop for "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.
" At San Diego Comic-Con last year, they did an exclusive of me as Fat-Man.
So it's an ingenious little toy.
I don't know if 'cause of the big eye factor or what, but people fell in love with these, and anywhere you go in this world, you could buy a Pop.
You land in any airport, you're walkin' around, you're gonna see those two giant black eyes starin' at you for some character or another.
And to think, though, that we would be worthy, that Funko would-would-would be like - would waste their money.
- [Laughter.]
Not only that, but Funko wants us to come out and be there for the launch of their first - retail megastore.
- Wow, where is it? It's just outside of Seattle.
Town called Everett.
They want us to come out with Kevin.
They're gonna present the Pops to us.
- It's gonna be, like, a huge event.
- Zapcic: Oh, man.
I'm not gonna be able to go.
I don't fly.
Chen: I know you don't fly, but I mean, come on, like, you're getting your own Pop figure! Someone's got to watch the Stash, I don't fly.
I mean, you guys go, pick up the Pops, get mine for me, and I'll have Rob Bruce cover your guys' hours while you guys are away.
He's come in here for consultations all the time, he's very knowledgeable, and let's face it, it ain't brain surgery.
I think the real news here is Rob Bruce can replace both of you.
[Laughter.]
- Flanagan: Wow.
- Fits like a glove.
- Flanagan: Lookin' sharp! - Bruce: Appreciate this opportunity, bringin' me in, I can't believe it.
All you need is this.
Official trainee.
Man: So guys, here we are.
Early sneak peak at what we built.
[Indistinct chatter.]
- What do you think, huh? - Wow.
- Fits like a glove.
- Look-lookin' sharp, man.
Feel like I'm in the major leagues.
Dude, I can't believe it.
There's somethin' about that tee shirt that anybody who wears it, makes 'em look 10 times more handsomer than they really are.
Appreciate this opportunity, bringin' me in, I can't believe it.
You know, I'm friggin' floored.
Well, all you need is this.
[ Heroic music.]
Wow.
Flanagan: Official trainee.
That's what you need on that side.
Bruce: World's oldest trainee.
[Laughter.]
So my gang is out at the Funko Pop headquarters, so I had to bring in Rob Bruce.
Welcome, for the first time ever, - to the table - Wow.
Popculturalist extraordinaire, - Rob Bruce, ladies and gentlemen.
- [Applause.]
Thank you, thank you very much.
Appreciate it.
Smith: What was it like runnin' the store with the maestro? Gonna be one of my fondest experiences ever.
That's sad, man.
That is sad.
Learned so much.
I remember when you first started, you had the same kinda wide-eyed enthusiasm.
You've lost that over the years.
You don't remember how special it was to work side by side with me.
Work? I'm a Funko Pop now.
[Laughter.]
- Hey, how's it goin, guys? - How you doin'? I've got some items that I think are gonna bring a lot of nostalgic memories back.
I have the Marvel medallions.
- Spider-Man, I've got Hulk.
- Oh, my gosh.
So I've Conan, I've got complete set of bronze, and I've got a complete set of silver in Spider-Man, Hulk and Conan.
These were advertised in the Marvel comics in '73 and '74.
Oh, I'm very well aware of these.
I've actually never seen these in person.
I must have saw that ad, - though, in the comic books a million times.
- Yeah.
- I remember as a kid, I pleaded with my mother - Yeah.
to please let me order a set of the medallions slash coins.
It was just too much money back then.
Could you Can I touch 'em? - Absolutely.
- Wow.
Bruce: Well, you see the bronze a lot.
I've seen those at the comic book shows, and even at the flea market, you find them every once in a while, but the silver ones are really tough.
I think it was a very limited run, - probably, like, less than 1,000.
- Seller: Right.
Yeah, you're not likely gonna see the entire set all together in one place.
I mean, an odd choice, right? Obviously not Spider-Man.
- Your flagship character.
- Right.
- The Hulk.
- Huge.
Definitely a no-brainer.
But Conan.
You would figure they would do a Fantastic Four coin, do a Daredevil coin, Iron Man, but that just shows you how many copies he was selling that they were like they felt that they could move a Conan coin.
Bruce: May have been the most popular one in the run at that particular time.
- You gotta remember that time period.
- It's true.
At this point, you've got Barry Windsor Smith drawing him, and it's, like, state of the art, just 'cause that that barbarian, uh Aspect.
Flanagan: You've got, you know, John Buscema - who comes on for an insane long run on that book.
- Yeah.
You're like one of those irritating couples who've been dating a week, finish each other's sentences - and make plans.
- Right.
- They're already movin' in together.
- Oh, my God! Can you see the writing on the wall? I mean, if we become a coin shop, sure.
- [Laughter.]
- Aw.
I'm definitely interested.
What're you lookin' to get for 'em? I'm askin' the low price of $2,500.
- For all six? - For all six.
Do you have to sell 'em as a set, or would you-or would you be willing to sell one? Seller: Which one are you interested in? What about the Spider-Man? What would you offer him? - $250, $300.
- Seller: Hmm.
- Yeah, well, um - $300.
- Seller: I understand you gotta - $300 for Spider-Man.
$400.
Three-and-a-quarter.
$350.
Yeah? $350's a good deal? - $350.
- Okay.
- Spider-Man.
- All right.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
Flanagan: There you go, $350.
Seller: Pleasure doin' business with you guys.
- All right, man, have a great day.
- Seller: That's awesome.
- All right, thank you.
- Thank you.
Thank you, guys.
- Hear that? Nice work.
- Thrilled to death.
Chen: This is like a fanboy's dream.
Johnson: It's like a theme park.
Man: Is it too late to add rides? Maybe you need a guy like me on your board of directors.
- Man: There you go.
- Wow! Look at these books.
Seller: All from '64 to '69.
Flanagan: Amazing collection, huh? [ Rock music.]
So, Mike, Bryan and I hop on a plane, fly all the way across the country to Everett, Washington, and we arrive at the Funko HQ.
CEO Brian is there, and the guy who actually founded Funko, Mike, is there as well.
I-I really, really want to thank you guys for inviting us down here.
This-this is incredible.
I also want to thank you guys for making Pops of us.
I mean, that's insane.
Wh-when can we see them? Hold on, not so quick.
Mariotti: We gotta make it a big deal, right? We got a proper unveiling of you guys being immortalized in vinyl.
You know, I think the dream for any geek is like, "Oh, man, what if I became a Pop one day?" I love it, man.
Well, we appreciate the enthusiasm.
It was a blast to make 'em.
So you got Funko Mike and Funko Bri.
Funko Mike created Funko, Funko Bri bought the company, and together, these guys have built this plastic empire.
And they go from like not just Hanna-Barbera characters, or Marvel, or DC, they have Pop Television, Pop Music, Pop Movies.
They've got all these different categories, so they keep Popping everybody, man.
You guys have, like, a million figures.
What was the one that started it all? Becker: Big Boy.
The Big Boy bobble head was the first thing, and the only reason was that I wanted a Big Boy bobble head but you could only find these paper mache versions or ceramic versions from the late '50s, early '60s.
They were about five or six hundred bucks.
So I thought, "Man, wouldn't it be cool if people could buy a Big Boy bobble head for $10?" That's how it started.
I did a handshake deal with Big Boy, we did it, we made 'em, filled the garage full of 'em, and I remember my parents were over, my mom started crying, goes, "Honey, these are beautiful, but nobody's gonna want these.
" [Laughter.]
Mariotti: For me, personally, my first foray into collectibles was Pez.
And I think that's what got me into it.
You know, when Mike started Funko back in '98, I was like, "Holy crap, this guy just made an Evel Knievel bobble head," or, "He's got a Count Chocula, or a Jean Lafoote from Captain Crunch.
How do I get my hands on this?" And then really what it was, "What is he gonna come up with next?" 'Cause this stuff was speakin' to me big time.
This is stuff I grew up with.
This is what pulled on my heartstrings.
So, not only did I fall in love with collectibles, I fell in love with Funko.
I mean, that was that was the start.
It's pretty unbelievable.
We've been sellin' Pops at the stores for years.
We see them flying off the shelves, and it was nice seeing that he was a collector, he was a fellow pop culture fan like us.
So guys, we got a couple hours until this thing opens.
The-the crowds are gatherin' outside.
Can we show you around, show you what we've built, uh, show you the store Oh, I don't know, do you guys want to see it? - [Chen stammering.]
- Are you kidding me? I guess we'll take a gander, yeah.
Absolutely.
We'd love to.
[ Upbeat music.]
So guys, here we are.
Early sneak peek at what we built.
Chen: This is like a fanboy's dream.
Mariotti: I think it turned out pretty cool, and we're excited to show you guys.
It's like a theme park.
Is it too late to add rides? Maybe we can squeeze it in.
Maybe you need a guy like me on your board of directors.
There you go.
This is our take at "Star Wars.
" We had one guy over 45 days - sculpt everything you see here by hand.
- Whoa.
Who needs Lucasfilm? You can just come here.
Mariotti: There you go, absolutely.
This is our love letter to "Harry Potter.
" We have a seven foot Hagrid Pop that you can pose with.
This is our New York City.
A chance to show off our love with Marvel.
We got Green Goblin with Spider-Man up on the wall, Deadpool with his chimichanga truck, Stan Lee in the newsstand, a ton of pigeons, because what is New York City without pigeons? You guys are insane.
When you walked in those doors, you felt like this is somebody who really cares about their work.
- This is clearly somebody not worried about the bottom line - [Laughter.]
because there was a lot of money spent on this place, and it looks fantastic.
Everywhere you look, you can just take pictures with these giant totems of our childhood.
Becker: Let's take you into Gotham.
- Zapcic: Ohh.
- Chen: Wow.
Mariotti: So this is our take on the Batman '66 cave.
Zapcic: This is amazing.
Chen: You made a legit Batcave.
- Let's go, old chum.
- [Laughter.]
- It's the work of mad geniuses, right? - Chen: Yeah.
Zapcic: You are.
You're mad geniuses.
Mariotti: Oh, thank you, man.
I'm glad you guys are enjoyin' it.
Man: That was the first appearance of Poison Ivy.
At 14, this is the closest thing you're coming to sex.
[Chuckles.]
Absolute honor to be here for this very special occasion.
The Comic Book Men have not seen their Pops, so let's introduce 'em to 'em.
Ready? [Crowd cheering.]
Wow! This is the Funko lounge.
Pool table, ping pong tables, full blown arcade over here, and four lanes of bowling.
Do you have to force your employees to go home? - [Pins clatter.]
- [Cheering.]
I worked at a company once, we're like, "Well, here's the break room.
" We got a new coffee machine, and, like, we thought that was awesome.
- Go.
- [All chanting.]
Ming! Ming! Ming! Ming! Ming! Whoa! [Applause.]
Zapcic: You gotta give it up for him.
This has answered the question I've had for decades.
Like, why I've hated and subsequently quit every job I've ever had.
- Chen: Yeah.
- Johnson: 'Cause there's not a place like this.
- [Pins clatter.]
- [Cheering.]
Chen: I would literally just sleep here.
I mean, I would just live here.
You sleep in the basement of the Stash, so you would be very comfortable in here.
- There was an idea.
- [Chuckling.]
- Seller: Hey, guys.
- Hey, how you doin'? Good, good, nice to see you.
So, I just found my comic book collection - from when I was a kid.
- Oh, yeah? My mom didn't throw them out, it seems.
10 out of 10 people come in here with the exact opposite story.
- Opposite story? Right.
- Yeah.
- What era of books are we, uh - All-all from '64 to '69.
- Really? A big collection, huh? - Yeah.
Seller: I didn't think I had that many when I was growin' up.
I don't really know what to do with 'em, - I'm thinking about sellin' 'em.
- Okay.
I got 'em out in the car.
Can You guys want to take a look? - Absolutely, man.
- Cool.
Lead the way.
Wow.
Look at these books, man.
Amazing! What a great collection.
I can tell immediately right off the top.
- Daredevil 16, first time Romita drew Spider-Man! - Spider Right, yeah.
Look at that, holy cow.
- Flanagan: First Kingpin.
- Bruce: First Kingpin.
Flanagan: Yeah, put that on the table.
Yeah.
Flanagan: Some early X-Men.
This is a really, really nice collection.
- What about that one? - Look at that.
- I remember that.
- Ooh! - Bruce: Aah! - Flanagan: Nice book! Seller: That was the first appearance of Poison Ivy.
- Bruce: First appearance of Poison Ivy, yeah.
- Seller: Right.
At 14, this is the closest thing you're coming to sex.
[Chuckles.]
I don't wanna get personal.
Let's just talk about comics.
Seller: Yeah.
Ooh, "Creeper" number one.
- Bruce: Wow.
- Flanagan: Steve Ditko cover.
Very, very nice.
I'm speechless.
That's one of the funnest part of the job, gettin' in there and just pickin' through a big gigantic collection and findin' the gems.
Bruce: Lot of times, you see these books, and they've been sittin' in a room getting hot and cold for 20 years, they start to degrade, but this was the exact opposite.
The books were all in, like, middle or better grade.
So we talked it over, and we, uh, came to the conclusion, we felt that, um, "Amazing Spider-Man" 50, the first Kingpin, would be a book that we-we should go after.
Really nice condition.
Uh, and "Avengers" issue 59, and "Creeper" number one.
- Ooh! - You know, a book that not a lot of I thought that was his nickname.
[Laughter.]
Flanagan: How much you thinkin', Rob, for these three? The Kingpin book's really hot.
In that condition, probably retails for about $250.
The "Avengers" book, not as much.
$75 to $100, maybe.
And the "Creeper", that's a $25 book all day long.
So we're, you know, probably talkin' retail about $375 to $400 for the books.
- Right.
- Flanagan: Um So $180.
Um how 'bout $250? - You've still got $100 in there.
- How 'bout $200? But that's really as high as I'm gonna be able to go today.
- I'll do it.
- Done.
Done.
[ Upbeat rock music.]
- [Crowd chattering.]
- Mariotti: How's it goin', Everett? Could the Funko fanatics give Everett a welcome? [Crowd cheering.]
Finally, the big moment arrives.
It's time for the grand opening.
They have a big stage set up, and it's time for the grand reveal.
I'm dying to see these Pops, I'm dying to see how we turned out.
I want to bring up on stage a really cool, uh, friend of Funko.
Kevin, come on up.
[Crowd cheering.]
Of course, absolute honor, uh, to be here today with y'all in Everett for this very special occasion where Heaven on Earth is literally opening - right in front of our eyes.
- [Crowd cheering.]
Um, I've been inside, and it's everything you think, it's beautiful.
I'm a huge Funko fan, and I know the pleasure of being Popped.
Sounds dirtier than I meant it, but you know what I'm talking about.
Thanks, folks.
So Kevin has already been Popped, but the Comic Book Men have not, so let's bring on stage Mike, Bryan, and Ming.
[Crowd cheering.]
Man in crowd: I love you Bryan! [Chuckling.]
Mariotti: All right guys, the Comic Book Men have not seen their Pops so let's introduce 'em to 'em.
Ready? - [Crowd cheering.]
- [ Rock music.]
[Laughter.]
Wow.
- Smith: Whoa, it looks like you! - Zapcic: Holy crap.
Mariotti: All right, let's give it up for the Comic Book Men and Kevin Smith! [Cheering, applause.]
Mariotti: Funko HQ is now officially open.
We love you, Everett! [Crowd cheering.]
[Cheering.]
They look amazing.
Mine has like nice, lush hair.
It was crazy.
Mike, you, Bryan, Kevin, all of 'em revealed.
Well, I mean, tell me, what did it feel like? It was-it was like being a kid again.
It was a toy lover's dream.
- [ Rock music.]
- [Crowd chattering.]
Thank you for waiting in line for this.
Oh, yeah! Here you go, brother.
You want me to sign for Walt, too? - Not a problem.
- [Woman laughing.]
Chen: There you go, my friend.
- Awesome, thank you.
- Chen: Thank you.
There you go, sir.
Appreciate it.
Chen: It looks good, right? Have you seen your Pop yet? - You have it? - I have one right here.
Hold on.
Oh, wow.
- Smith: Come on, right? - Oh, my God.
The Walt Flanagan Pop vinyl figure.
It's unbelievable, it says "Comic Book Men", it says my name on it.
I've been lucky enough to be made in plastic as Silent Bob a few times, and then once as Kevin Smith, but I was never more thrilled than when I saw all four of you guys get Popped.
[Laughter.]
And just like that, man, we've run out of time.
For "Comic Book Men", I'm Kevin Smith.
- Bryan Johnson.
- Walt Flanagan.
- Rob Bruce.
- Mike Zapcic.
- Ming Chen.
- Pop goes the Funko.
And now we're all toy boys.
Good night.
Flanagan: Hey, let's say aliens invaded Earth right above the Stash.
Which one of us would be the best representative to go out there and meet alien life for the first time? - Not him.
- [Laughter.]
He's less human than the aliens.
[Laughter.]
Come on, I'm pretty personable, I'm diplomatic.
Yes, he will talk to anybody and treat them as if they're his closest friend on Earth.
Overly friendly? Almost to the point where, like, "Is this person mentally stable?" - Right.
- Flanagan: You know Like, the aliens start second guessing.
"Maybe we shouldn't have landed here.
" [Laughter.]
Remember how in "War of the Worlds" it was a little tiny germ that sent the aliens packing? - Mm-hmm.
- Maybe in this new "War of the Worlds" - It's the Chen virus.
- [Laughter.]
[ Dramatic music.]
[Roar.]
- Help! - Help! Help! [Mechanical whirring.]
[Explosion.]
[ Upbeat music.]
Hello and welcome back to another splendiferous episode of "Comic Book Men", the only show that soothes the ego better than Mantis.
I'm Kevin Smith.
- Bryan Johnson.
- Walt Flanagan.
- Mike Zapcic.
- Ming Chen.
Walt, what happened this week? [ Rock music.]
- How ya doin'? - Hey, hey, guys, how you doin'? Pretty good.
What are you Oh my goodness.
I've got the "Clash of the Titans" Kraken from 1980 Mattel.
- Flanagan: Oh my God, that's awesome.
- Wow.
I haven't seen one of those in decades, man.
I see the top is open, uh, can we release the Kraken out of the box - Oh, I think we can.
- so we can get a closer look at it? We definitely can.
Zapcic: Aah.
Flanagan: Look at that.
Seller: And we got the tail.
Zapcic: I love this.
It says, "Contents, one Kraken.
" - Seller: Yes.
- [Laughter.]
Flanagan: Were you guys big fans of "Clash of the Titans"? Johnson: Loved it.
Yeah.
I mean, think, I was like, what, 10, 11 when it came out? Flanagan: This was easily the high point of the movie, right? - Zapcic: It was the great - Flanagan: The showstopper, as they call it, right? Johnson: Like, when it comes up out of the water.
Zapcic: Classic Harryhausen.
Seller: Harryhausen.
Grew up with Harryhausen films.
"Sinbad.
" "Sinbad", "Jason and the Argonauts" "Jason and the Argonauts", yeah.
I loved "Clash of the Titans.
" We'd just gotten cable for the first time around then, and it was in high rotation, so you could watch it over and again, and I'll be honest, I was a kid, there was a little bit of nudity in it, so that also made it something you really wanted to watch.
- I didn't like it.
- You didn't dig it? It felt like a foreign movie shot through gauze.
It felt like it was just, like, from another country and it was dubbed, it just didn't feel like a I have a distaste for foreigners.
[Laughter.]
What a time, though, huh? I mean, time of the gods, you know? Oh, you mean back then? - Yeah, the Greek gods.
- Zapcic: You woulda hated it.
- Why? - No pizza, no chicken fingers, - no indoor plumbing.
- Seller: Yes.
Johnson: Everyone is trying to fight you.
- Everyone.
- Yeah.
It's Krakens, it's Medusas, like, they're all over the place.
There's skeletons.
Flanagan: How'd the toy line fare for, uh, "Clash of the Titans"? Was it a big success? I don't think it was a big success, 'cause I never had it as a kid, I didn't have any of 'em as a kid.
Was this just the only, uh, doll, or Seller: If you look at the back of the box, they've got Pegasus, and they've got four, uh, figures, as well.
I used to see one or two pop up at flea markets every now and then, but they're either broken or missing pieces.
All right, I mean, it's definitely cool.
- We don't ever see any "Clash of the Titans" merchandise.
- No.
Um, I think I'd like to get it for the Stash because everybody that comes in here, - everybody in our world, loves this movie.
- Mm-hmm.
- Yeah.
- Flanagan: You know? And this stuff is hard to come by, man.
What are you lookin' to get for it? Seller: Well, lookin' to hopefully get hmm, let's start out high.
Uh, $800.
What negotiating skills you have.
- Yes.
- [Laughter.]
Uh, how 'bout $300? - How 'bout six? - No.
Seller: All four arms are there.
They might be loose, but they're all there.
Flanagan: They are.
Uh, $400.
How 'bout, uh, $450? Flanagan: Yeah, I'm not gonna quibble over 50 bucks.
$450 it is.
Done.
Seller: Thank you, appreciate that.
[Cash register clicking, humming.]
Flanagan: There you go, $450.
Thank you, sirs.
Uh, let me just get one more look at it.
Okay.
- Take care, thank you.
- All right.
Take it easy.
[ Upbeat music.]
Chen: Yeah, that's huge news.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'll tell them.
Yeah, I'll see you there.
All right, bye.
Mike, come over here.
I've got some great news for you guys.
Zapcic: What's up? I just got off the phone with Kevin, he just told me that Funko - is gonna be making Pops of us.
- What? We're gonna get our own Pop figures.
Johnson: Well, it's about time.
They've literally made every other character.
[Laughter.]
We're the last four guys.
Let me tell you about Funko Pops, man.
You're nobody in this world until you've been Popped.
I've been a Funko Pop for "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.
" At San Diego Comic-Con last year, they did an exclusive of me as Fat-Man.
So it's an ingenious little toy.
I don't know if 'cause of the big eye factor or what, but people fell in love with these, and anywhere you go in this world, you could buy a Pop.
You land in any airport, you're walkin' around, you're gonna see those two giant black eyes starin' at you for some character or another.
And to think, though, that we would be worthy, that Funko would-would-would be like - would waste their money.
- [Laughter.]
Not only that, but Funko wants us to come out and be there for the launch of their first - retail megastore.
- Wow, where is it? It's just outside of Seattle.
Town called Everett.
They want us to come out with Kevin.
They're gonna present the Pops to us.
- It's gonna be, like, a huge event.
- Zapcic: Oh, man.
I'm not gonna be able to go.
I don't fly.
Chen: I know you don't fly, but I mean, come on, like, you're getting your own Pop figure! Someone's got to watch the Stash, I don't fly.
I mean, you guys go, pick up the Pops, get mine for me, and I'll have Rob Bruce cover your guys' hours while you guys are away.
He's come in here for consultations all the time, he's very knowledgeable, and let's face it, it ain't brain surgery.
I think the real news here is Rob Bruce can replace both of you.
[Laughter.]
- Flanagan: Wow.
- Fits like a glove.
- Flanagan: Lookin' sharp! - Bruce: Appreciate this opportunity, bringin' me in, I can't believe it.
All you need is this.
Official trainee.
Man: So guys, here we are.
Early sneak peak at what we built.
[Indistinct chatter.]
- What do you think, huh? - Wow.
- Fits like a glove.
- Look-lookin' sharp, man.
Feel like I'm in the major leagues.
Dude, I can't believe it.
There's somethin' about that tee shirt that anybody who wears it, makes 'em look 10 times more handsomer than they really are.
Appreciate this opportunity, bringin' me in, I can't believe it.
You know, I'm friggin' floored.
Well, all you need is this.
[ Heroic music.]
Wow.
Flanagan: Official trainee.
That's what you need on that side.
Bruce: World's oldest trainee.
[Laughter.]
So my gang is out at the Funko Pop headquarters, so I had to bring in Rob Bruce.
Welcome, for the first time ever, - to the table - Wow.
Popculturalist extraordinaire, - Rob Bruce, ladies and gentlemen.
- [Applause.]
Thank you, thank you very much.
Appreciate it.
Smith: What was it like runnin' the store with the maestro? Gonna be one of my fondest experiences ever.
That's sad, man.
That is sad.
Learned so much.
I remember when you first started, you had the same kinda wide-eyed enthusiasm.
You've lost that over the years.
You don't remember how special it was to work side by side with me.
Work? I'm a Funko Pop now.
[Laughter.]
- Hey, how's it goin, guys? - How you doin'? I've got some items that I think are gonna bring a lot of nostalgic memories back.
I have the Marvel medallions.
- Spider-Man, I've got Hulk.
- Oh, my gosh.
So I've Conan, I've got complete set of bronze, and I've got a complete set of silver in Spider-Man, Hulk and Conan.
These were advertised in the Marvel comics in '73 and '74.
Oh, I'm very well aware of these.
I've actually never seen these in person.
I must have saw that ad, - though, in the comic books a million times.
- Yeah.
- I remember as a kid, I pleaded with my mother - Yeah.
to please let me order a set of the medallions slash coins.
It was just too much money back then.
Could you Can I touch 'em? - Absolutely.
- Wow.
Bruce: Well, you see the bronze a lot.
I've seen those at the comic book shows, and even at the flea market, you find them every once in a while, but the silver ones are really tough.
I think it was a very limited run, - probably, like, less than 1,000.
- Seller: Right.
Yeah, you're not likely gonna see the entire set all together in one place.
I mean, an odd choice, right? Obviously not Spider-Man.
- Your flagship character.
- Right.
- The Hulk.
- Huge.
Definitely a no-brainer.
But Conan.
You would figure they would do a Fantastic Four coin, do a Daredevil coin, Iron Man, but that just shows you how many copies he was selling that they were like they felt that they could move a Conan coin.
Bruce: May have been the most popular one in the run at that particular time.
- You gotta remember that time period.
- It's true.
At this point, you've got Barry Windsor Smith drawing him, and it's, like, state of the art, just 'cause that that barbarian, uh Aspect.
Flanagan: You've got, you know, John Buscema - who comes on for an insane long run on that book.
- Yeah.
You're like one of those irritating couples who've been dating a week, finish each other's sentences - and make plans.
- Right.
- They're already movin' in together.
- Oh, my God! Can you see the writing on the wall? I mean, if we become a coin shop, sure.
- [Laughter.]
- Aw.
I'm definitely interested.
What're you lookin' to get for 'em? I'm askin' the low price of $2,500.
- For all six? - For all six.
Do you have to sell 'em as a set, or would you-or would you be willing to sell one? Seller: Which one are you interested in? What about the Spider-Man? What would you offer him? - $250, $300.
- Seller: Hmm.
- Yeah, well, um - $300.
- Seller: I understand you gotta - $300 for Spider-Man.
$400.
Three-and-a-quarter.
$350.
Yeah? $350's a good deal? - $350.
- Okay.
- Spider-Man.
- All right.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
Flanagan: There you go, $350.
Seller: Pleasure doin' business with you guys.
- All right, man, have a great day.
- Seller: That's awesome.
- All right, thank you.
- Thank you.
Thank you, guys.
- Hear that? Nice work.
- Thrilled to death.
Chen: This is like a fanboy's dream.
Johnson: It's like a theme park.
Man: Is it too late to add rides? Maybe you need a guy like me on your board of directors.
- Man: There you go.
- Wow! Look at these books.
Seller: All from '64 to '69.
Flanagan: Amazing collection, huh? [ Rock music.]
So, Mike, Bryan and I hop on a plane, fly all the way across the country to Everett, Washington, and we arrive at the Funko HQ.
CEO Brian is there, and the guy who actually founded Funko, Mike, is there as well.
I-I really, really want to thank you guys for inviting us down here.
This-this is incredible.
I also want to thank you guys for making Pops of us.
I mean, that's insane.
Wh-when can we see them? Hold on, not so quick.
Mariotti: We gotta make it a big deal, right? We got a proper unveiling of you guys being immortalized in vinyl.
You know, I think the dream for any geek is like, "Oh, man, what if I became a Pop one day?" I love it, man.
Well, we appreciate the enthusiasm.
It was a blast to make 'em.
So you got Funko Mike and Funko Bri.
Funko Mike created Funko, Funko Bri bought the company, and together, these guys have built this plastic empire.
And they go from like not just Hanna-Barbera characters, or Marvel, or DC, they have Pop Television, Pop Music, Pop Movies.
They've got all these different categories, so they keep Popping everybody, man.
You guys have, like, a million figures.
What was the one that started it all? Becker: Big Boy.
The Big Boy bobble head was the first thing, and the only reason was that I wanted a Big Boy bobble head but you could only find these paper mache versions or ceramic versions from the late '50s, early '60s.
They were about five or six hundred bucks.
So I thought, "Man, wouldn't it be cool if people could buy a Big Boy bobble head for $10?" That's how it started.
I did a handshake deal with Big Boy, we did it, we made 'em, filled the garage full of 'em, and I remember my parents were over, my mom started crying, goes, "Honey, these are beautiful, but nobody's gonna want these.
" [Laughter.]
Mariotti: For me, personally, my first foray into collectibles was Pez.
And I think that's what got me into it.
You know, when Mike started Funko back in '98, I was like, "Holy crap, this guy just made an Evel Knievel bobble head," or, "He's got a Count Chocula, or a Jean Lafoote from Captain Crunch.
How do I get my hands on this?" And then really what it was, "What is he gonna come up with next?" 'Cause this stuff was speakin' to me big time.
This is stuff I grew up with.
This is what pulled on my heartstrings.
So, not only did I fall in love with collectibles, I fell in love with Funko.
I mean, that was that was the start.
It's pretty unbelievable.
We've been sellin' Pops at the stores for years.
We see them flying off the shelves, and it was nice seeing that he was a collector, he was a fellow pop culture fan like us.
So guys, we got a couple hours until this thing opens.
The-the crowds are gatherin' outside.
Can we show you around, show you what we've built, uh, show you the store Oh, I don't know, do you guys want to see it? - [Chen stammering.]
- Are you kidding me? I guess we'll take a gander, yeah.
Absolutely.
We'd love to.
[ Upbeat music.]
So guys, here we are.
Early sneak peek at what we built.
Chen: This is like a fanboy's dream.
Mariotti: I think it turned out pretty cool, and we're excited to show you guys.
It's like a theme park.
Is it too late to add rides? Maybe we can squeeze it in.
Maybe you need a guy like me on your board of directors.
There you go.
This is our take at "Star Wars.
" We had one guy over 45 days - sculpt everything you see here by hand.
- Whoa.
Who needs Lucasfilm? You can just come here.
Mariotti: There you go, absolutely.
This is our love letter to "Harry Potter.
" We have a seven foot Hagrid Pop that you can pose with.
This is our New York City.
A chance to show off our love with Marvel.
We got Green Goblin with Spider-Man up on the wall, Deadpool with his chimichanga truck, Stan Lee in the newsstand, a ton of pigeons, because what is New York City without pigeons? You guys are insane.
When you walked in those doors, you felt like this is somebody who really cares about their work.
- This is clearly somebody not worried about the bottom line - [Laughter.]
because there was a lot of money spent on this place, and it looks fantastic.
Everywhere you look, you can just take pictures with these giant totems of our childhood.
Becker: Let's take you into Gotham.
- Zapcic: Ohh.
- Chen: Wow.
Mariotti: So this is our take on the Batman '66 cave.
Zapcic: This is amazing.
Chen: You made a legit Batcave.
- Let's go, old chum.
- [Laughter.]
- It's the work of mad geniuses, right? - Chen: Yeah.
Zapcic: You are.
You're mad geniuses.
Mariotti: Oh, thank you, man.
I'm glad you guys are enjoyin' it.
Man: That was the first appearance of Poison Ivy.
At 14, this is the closest thing you're coming to sex.
[Chuckles.]
Absolute honor to be here for this very special occasion.
The Comic Book Men have not seen their Pops, so let's introduce 'em to 'em.
Ready? [Crowd cheering.]
Wow! This is the Funko lounge.
Pool table, ping pong tables, full blown arcade over here, and four lanes of bowling.
Do you have to force your employees to go home? - [Pins clatter.]
- [Cheering.]
I worked at a company once, we're like, "Well, here's the break room.
" We got a new coffee machine, and, like, we thought that was awesome.
- Go.
- [All chanting.]
Ming! Ming! Ming! Ming! Ming! Whoa! [Applause.]
Zapcic: You gotta give it up for him.
This has answered the question I've had for decades.
Like, why I've hated and subsequently quit every job I've ever had.
- Chen: Yeah.
- Johnson: 'Cause there's not a place like this.
- [Pins clatter.]
- [Cheering.]
Chen: I would literally just sleep here.
I mean, I would just live here.
You sleep in the basement of the Stash, so you would be very comfortable in here.
- There was an idea.
- [Chuckling.]
- Seller: Hey, guys.
- Hey, how you doin'? Good, good, nice to see you.
So, I just found my comic book collection - from when I was a kid.
- Oh, yeah? My mom didn't throw them out, it seems.
10 out of 10 people come in here with the exact opposite story.
- Opposite story? Right.
- Yeah.
- What era of books are we, uh - All-all from '64 to '69.
- Really? A big collection, huh? - Yeah.
Seller: I didn't think I had that many when I was growin' up.
I don't really know what to do with 'em, - I'm thinking about sellin' 'em.
- Okay.
I got 'em out in the car.
Can You guys want to take a look? - Absolutely, man.
- Cool.
Lead the way.
Wow.
Look at these books, man.
Amazing! What a great collection.
I can tell immediately right off the top.
- Daredevil 16, first time Romita drew Spider-Man! - Spider Right, yeah.
Look at that, holy cow.
- Flanagan: First Kingpin.
- Bruce: First Kingpin.
Flanagan: Yeah, put that on the table.
Yeah.
Flanagan: Some early X-Men.
This is a really, really nice collection.
- What about that one? - Look at that.
- I remember that.
- Ooh! - Bruce: Aah! - Flanagan: Nice book! Seller: That was the first appearance of Poison Ivy.
- Bruce: First appearance of Poison Ivy, yeah.
- Seller: Right.
At 14, this is the closest thing you're coming to sex.
[Chuckles.]
I don't wanna get personal.
Let's just talk about comics.
Seller: Yeah.
Ooh, "Creeper" number one.
- Bruce: Wow.
- Flanagan: Steve Ditko cover.
Very, very nice.
I'm speechless.
That's one of the funnest part of the job, gettin' in there and just pickin' through a big gigantic collection and findin' the gems.
Bruce: Lot of times, you see these books, and they've been sittin' in a room getting hot and cold for 20 years, they start to degrade, but this was the exact opposite.
The books were all in, like, middle or better grade.
So we talked it over, and we, uh, came to the conclusion, we felt that, um, "Amazing Spider-Man" 50, the first Kingpin, would be a book that we-we should go after.
Really nice condition.
Uh, and "Avengers" issue 59, and "Creeper" number one.
- Ooh! - You know, a book that not a lot of I thought that was his nickname.
[Laughter.]
Flanagan: How much you thinkin', Rob, for these three? The Kingpin book's really hot.
In that condition, probably retails for about $250.
The "Avengers" book, not as much.
$75 to $100, maybe.
And the "Creeper", that's a $25 book all day long.
So we're, you know, probably talkin' retail about $375 to $400 for the books.
- Right.
- Flanagan: Um So $180.
Um how 'bout $250? - You've still got $100 in there.
- How 'bout $200? But that's really as high as I'm gonna be able to go today.
- I'll do it.
- Done.
Done.
[ Upbeat rock music.]
- [Crowd chattering.]
- Mariotti: How's it goin', Everett? Could the Funko fanatics give Everett a welcome? [Crowd cheering.]
Finally, the big moment arrives.
It's time for the grand opening.
They have a big stage set up, and it's time for the grand reveal.
I'm dying to see these Pops, I'm dying to see how we turned out.
I want to bring up on stage a really cool, uh, friend of Funko.
Kevin, come on up.
[Crowd cheering.]
Of course, absolute honor, uh, to be here today with y'all in Everett for this very special occasion where Heaven on Earth is literally opening - right in front of our eyes.
- [Crowd cheering.]
Um, I've been inside, and it's everything you think, it's beautiful.
I'm a huge Funko fan, and I know the pleasure of being Popped.
Sounds dirtier than I meant it, but you know what I'm talking about.
Thanks, folks.
So Kevin has already been Popped, but the Comic Book Men have not, so let's bring on stage Mike, Bryan, and Ming.
[Crowd cheering.]
Man in crowd: I love you Bryan! [Chuckling.]
Mariotti: All right guys, the Comic Book Men have not seen their Pops so let's introduce 'em to 'em.
Ready? - [Crowd cheering.]
- [ Rock music.]
[Laughter.]
Wow.
- Smith: Whoa, it looks like you! - Zapcic: Holy crap.
Mariotti: All right, let's give it up for the Comic Book Men and Kevin Smith! [Cheering, applause.]
Mariotti: Funko HQ is now officially open.
We love you, Everett! [Crowd cheering.]
[Cheering.]
They look amazing.
Mine has like nice, lush hair.
It was crazy.
Mike, you, Bryan, Kevin, all of 'em revealed.
Well, I mean, tell me, what did it feel like? It was-it was like being a kid again.
It was a toy lover's dream.
- [ Rock music.]
- [Crowd chattering.]
Thank you for waiting in line for this.
Oh, yeah! Here you go, brother.
You want me to sign for Walt, too? - Not a problem.
- [Woman laughing.]
Chen: There you go, my friend.
- Awesome, thank you.
- Chen: Thank you.
There you go, sir.
Appreciate it.
Chen: It looks good, right? Have you seen your Pop yet? - You have it? - I have one right here.
Hold on.
Oh, wow.
- Smith: Come on, right? - Oh, my God.
The Walt Flanagan Pop vinyl figure.
It's unbelievable, it says "Comic Book Men", it says my name on it.
I've been lucky enough to be made in plastic as Silent Bob a few times, and then once as Kevin Smith, but I was never more thrilled than when I saw all four of you guys get Popped.
[Laughter.]
And just like that, man, we've run out of time.
For "Comic Book Men", I'm Kevin Smith.
- Bryan Johnson.
- Walt Flanagan.
- Rob Bruce.
- Mike Zapcic.
- Ming Chen.
- Pop goes the Funko.
And now we're all toy boys.
Good night.