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Funko Releases an Official Statement About the Future of Mondo; Poster Business Continuing

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Funko is doing a bit of damage control in the wake of last week’s big news about the future of Mondo, which was purchased by the company less than one year ago. Last week it was reported that the Mondo division of Funko was hit with massive layoffs that included the two co-founders of the popular Mondo brand, Rob Jones and Mitch Putnam.

The Wrap reported last week, “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.”

In their own statement this week, Funko insists that Mondo’s mega popular poster division will continue, and they’re generally downplaying those reports from last week.

“Since there is a lot of misinformation about the recent change in leadership and the poster division of Mondo currently out there, I can tell you that our strategy is very clear,” writes Funko’s Brian Mariotti. “While we did reduce the workforce by about 10% across Funko, the majority of the company-wide layoffs weren’t in Mondo.”

Mariotti continues, “The Mondo posters business will continue, period. Our goal is to make larger edition size runs (limited but not ultra-limited) that allow more fans to participate in this world-class expression of pop culture art.” The official memo also suggests that Funko will be “investing heavily in the production of vinyl records” under the Mondo label.

“We are 100% committed to providing all the support we possibly can for the folks at Mondo, so they can continue to make amazing products that reach a larger and more diverse Fanbase through expanded licenses, better distribution, and better overall experience for the fans,” Mariotti’s letter – posted to the official Mondo Twitter account – concludes.

This statement paints a pretty rosy picture about the state of Mondo at this point in time, but it’s hard to shake the feeling that there’s a lot of damage control at play here. If the founders of Mondo are no longer on board the ship, at what point is Funko’s Mondo no longer the Mondo we know and love? And why exactly have the founders been let go, you ask?

These are questions we still don’t have answers to. But at this point in time, we can’t exactly say our concerns from last week have been assuaged. Stay tuned for more as we learn it.

In the meantime, you can read Funko’s full statement on Mondo below.

Writer in the horror community since 2008. Editor in Chief of Bloody Disgusting. Owns Eli Roth's prop corpse from Piranha 3D. Has four awesome cats. Still plays with toys.

The Further

5 of This Week’s Coolest Horror Collectibles Including ‘The Crow: Salvation’ on Blu-ray

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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!


The Guyver 4K UHD from Unearthed Films

The Guyver will merge onto 4K UHD + Blu-ray + CD on May 21 via Unearthed Films. Based on the Japanese manga series of the same name, the 1991 sci-fi superhero film has been newly restored in 4K from the original, R-rated 35mm camera negative.

Special effects legends Steve Wang (Predator) and Screaming Mad George (Society) co-direct from a script by Jon Purdy. Mark Hamill, Vivian Wu, Jack Armstrong, Jimmie Walker, Michael Berryman, David Gale, and Jeffrey Combs star. Brian Yuzna (Re-Animator, Society) produces.

New special features include: a commentary by George and Wang; interviews with George and Yuzna; suit tests, outtakes, and a gag reel with commentary; and a gallery. A soundtrack CD composed by Matthew Morse (Silent Night, Deadly Night 5: The Toy Maker) and a booklet are also included.


Return of the Living Dead Figures from Super 7

If you ever wonder about all the different ways of dying, you’ll be pleased to know that The Return of the Living Dead‘s Tarman and Trash are joining Super 7’s ReAction Figures line.

Priced at $20, each retro-style toy stands 3.75″ and has five points of articulation. They’ll ship in April.


Cry-Baby 4K UHD from Kino Lorber

While we may have to wait a bit longer for John Waters’ next filthy film, you’ll soon be able to shed a tear to his 1990 musical comedy Cry-Baby on 4K UHD. The disc drops on May 28 courtesy of Kino Lorber.

The 85-minute theatrical cut has been newly restored in 4K from the original camera negative with Dolby Vision/HDR, while the 91-minute director’s cut has been newly restored in 4K from a combination of the original camera negative, the director’s cut interpositive, and an up-res of the SD master.

Johnny Depp leads an ensemble cast that includes Amy Locane, Susan Tyrrell, Iggy Pop, Ricki Lake, Traci Lords, Polly Bergen, Troy Donahue, Mink Stole, Joe Dallesandro, Joey Heatherton, David Nelson, Patricia Hearst, and Willem Dafoe.

Special features include: a new commentary by Waters; new interviews with Waters, Locane, Lords, Pop, Lake, Hearst, Stole, actors Darren E. Burrows and Stephen Mailer, casting director Pat Moran, cinematographer David Insley, and hair stylist Howard Preston; It Came from Baltimore featurette; and deleted scenes.


Godzilla Minus One Poster from Toho

In honor of Godzilla Minus One‘s Academy Award win, Toho has teamed up with Bottleneck Gallery to release a lenticular version of the film’s artwork.

The 24×36 poster is printed on 4mm polystyrene and comes with a certificate of authenticity. Priced at $200, the timed edition is up for pre-order through March 24 and is expected to ship in June.


The Crow: Salvation Blu-ray from Scream Factory

Amidst all the talk about The Crow remake, The Crow: Salvation has flown onto Blu-ray via Scream Factory. Limited to 1,620, the 2000 third installment in the franchise is available for $29.98 exclusively in the Shout Factory webstore.

Bharat Nalluri (Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day) directs from a script by Chip Johannessen (Dexter, Homeland), based on the comic book character created by James O’Barr. Kirsten Dunst, Eric Mabius, Jodi Lyn O’Keefe, William Atherton, and Fred Ward star.

Archival special features include: a commentary by Nalluri, Mabius, producer Jeff Most, composer Marco Beltrami, and production designer Maia Javan; Behind the Scenes, Behind the Makeup, Production Design, and Who’s That Bird? featurettes; an image gallery; and the trailer.


For more merch madness, peruse the Killer Collectibles archives. You can also visit Broke Horror Fan.

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