The Further
Funko Guts Mondo and Ends Poster Division Less Than a Year After Purchasing the Company
Known to horror fans for their limited edition posters, high-end collectibles and vinyl records, many of which we’ve covered over the years here on Bloody Disgusting, Mondo was purchased by vinyl toy-maker Funko less than one year ago, and The Wrap now reports the depressing news that Funko has “unceremoniously laid off most of the staff of Mondo.”
The Wrap’s report continues, “They killed the poster division, which is a shock considering that’s how Mondo started, along with a division meant for cutting-edge experiences and products called The Lab, which was run by Mondo co-founder Rob Jones, who was also laid off during the process. Mitch Putnam, another co-founder, also got the axe. As of now, the only two divisions of the company that remain are the toys and records divisions. But insiders tell TheWrap it’s unclear how long those divisions will remain as part of the Funko portfolio.”
“Earlier this month, Funko revealed that it suffered a loss in the fourth quarter of 2022 and that it would destroy between $30 million and $36 million worth of inventory and lay off 10% of its staff. TheWrap has learned that much of those cuts landed on Mondo,” the report adds.
It was back in June 2022 that Funko purchased Mondo from Alamo Drafthouse, and the hopes were high that Funko would allow Mondo to take things to a whole new level.
Mondo said in a statement at the time, “For 20 years, we have poured our heart and souls into this weird little thing that Rob Jones and Tim League started in a closet in the corner of an Alamo Drafthouse lobby… then out of a closet underneath the seats of a Drafthouse auditorium (seriously). Eventually, we opened our own gallery space, and even started our own convention. But we needed a bigger boat… and that’s where Funko comes in. They understand what Mondo is today and are eager to help us become the company we want to be. We are still the same company that started in the theater lobby… only now with even more resources to support our vision. We can’t wait to show you what’s next.”
Our thoughts are with everyone on the Mondo team, who have worked tirelessly since 2004 to elevate the game of pop culture collectibles, and of movie poster art in particular.
Collecting just won’t be the same without Mondo on our side, that’s for damn sure.
UPDATE: We’re hearing that Funko is still planning on continuing Mondo’s movie poster division, despite the earlier reports to the contrary. Stay tuned for more as we learn it.
Mondo’s ‘Halloween III’ Tiki Mugs
The Further
5 of This Week’s Coolest Horror Collectibles Including a ‘Scooby-Doo: Zombie Island’ Blu-ray Double Feature
Killer Collectibles highlights five of the most exciting new horror products announced each and every week, from toys and apparel to artwork, records, and much more.
Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!
Matinee 4K UHD from Shout Select
Shout Select proudly presents Matinee on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray on June 25. The 1993 comedy has been newly restored in 4K from the original negative, supervised by director Joe Dante, with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos sound.
John Goodman stars as a filmmaker loosely based on B-movie legend William Castle. Cathy Moriarty, Simon Fenton, Omri Katz, Kellie Martin, and Lisa Jakub round out the cast. Charles S. Haas (Gremlins 2: The New Batch) penned the script.
Special features include: a new commentary by film critics Drew McWeeny and Eric Vespe; new interviews with Martin and David Clennon; interviews with Dante, Moriarty, Jakub, production designer Steven Legler, editor Marshall Harvey, and director of photography John Hora; MANTastic! The Making of a Mant; vintage making-of featurette; and more.
Suspiria Button-Up from Middle of Beyond
I’d drape myself in Suspiria‘s lavish aesthetic every day if I could. Middle of Beyond’s new button-up shirt — with an all-over print featuring many of the film’s iconic visuals — is the next best thing.
It costs $60, and you can complete the outfit with matching shorts for the same price.
Stopmotion will bring your nightmares to life on Blu-ray on June 11 via IFC Films. The British psychological horror film marks the feature directorial debut of Robert Morgan (ABCs of Death 2).
In her review, Meagan Navarro said, “Morgan’s knockout debut opens up the veins of a turbulent artist, delivering one creepy melding of mediums to an unsettling, powerful degree.”
Aisling Franciosi stars with Tom York, Caoilinn Springall, Therica Wilson-Read, and Stella Gonet. Morgan co-wrote the script with Robin King.
Special features include: Behind the Scenes of Stopmotion and interviews with Morgan and Franciosi.
John Carpenter Shirt + Flexi Disc from Fright Rags
Fright-Rags has released John Carpenter’s latest single, “He Walks By Night,” on flexi disc with a matching shirt featuring artwork by Aaron Lea. Limited to 500, the set costs $45 and is scheduled to ship the week of May 24.
The track appears on Carpenter’s new album, Lost Themes IV: Noir, due out May 3 from Sacred Bones Records.
Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island / Return to Zombie Island Blu-ray from Warner Archive
1998’s Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island and 2019’s Scooby-Doo Return to Zombie Island will be released on Blu-ray together as a Hanna-Barbera double feature on May 7 via Warner Archive.
Zombie Island is directed by Jim Stenstrum (Scooby-Doo and the Witch’s Ghost) and written by Glenn Leopold (The Prowler). Frank Welker, Billy West, Mary Kay Bergman, B.J. Ward, Scott Innes, Adrienne Barbeau, Jim Cummings, and Mark Hamill star.
Return to Zombie Island is directed by Cecilia Aranovich (Harley Quinn) and Ethan Spaulding (Avatar: The Last Airbender) and written by Jeremy Adams (Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion’s Revenge). Frank Welker, Grey Griffin, Matthew Lillard, and Kate Micucci star, with an appearance by Cassandra Peterson as Elvira.
No special features are included, but pre-orders are only $14.99.
For more merch madness, peruse the Killer Collectibles archives. You can also visit Broke Horror Fan.
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