You’re walking down the toy aisle and see a carton of milk. Only it has bulging eyeballs and a snaggletooth. Next to it, a bag of chips is sprouting literal claws. Welcome to the bizarre world of The Monster's Wacky Mart Series figures. They're weird. Honestly, they’re kinda gross. And that is exactly why people are obsessed with them.
Pop Mart and various designer toy labels have tapped into a specific niche here: "ugly-cute." It’s a design philosophy that rejects the sanitized, perfect look of traditional dolls or action figures. Instead, it embraces the chaotic energy of a haunted 7-Eleven. If you've spent any time on social media lately, you've probably seen collectors "unboxing" these tiny supermarket nightmares. They aren't just toys; they are a weirdly relatable commentary on consumerism, packaged in a blind box that smells slightly like fresh vinyl.
What Are The Monster's Wacky Mart Series Figures Anyway?
Basically, this series reimagines everyday grocery items as mischievous monsters. Created by artist Kasing Lung—the mind behind the legendary Labubu character—the Wacky Mart collection brings the "The Monsters" crew into a retail setting. You have characters like Labubu, Tycoco, and Spooky taking on the roles of store clerks, snacks, and cleaning supplies.
It’s a clever pivot. Most designer toys focus on high-fashion or abstract art. But The Monster's Wacky Mart series figures lean into the mundane. There’s something inherently funny about a powerful forest spirit being trapped inside a plastic bottle of soda or a can of sardines. The textures are what really sell it. Designers use matte finishes for the "packaging" parts of the figures and glossy, wet-look paints for the monster parts, creating a tactile contrast that feels premium.
The lineup usually includes about 12 standard designs and one "secret" figure. The scarcity of that secret figure is what drives the secondary market wild. You might find the "Sardine" Labubu easily, but tracking down the rare "Hidden Edition" can cost you five times the original retail price on sites like eBay or specialized designer toy forums.
The Labubu Factor: Why This Specific Series Exploded
You can't talk about these figures without talking about Labubu. This character has a jagged set of teeth and a mischievous grin that looks like it's about to tell a lie. Kasing Lung first introduced Labubu in 2015, drawing inspiration from Nordic folklore. But the Wacky Mart iteration feels different. It’s more domestic.
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Collectors often point to the "Bread Labubu" or the "Milk Carton" variant as the gateway drug into this hobby. Why? Because it fits perfectly on a kitchen shelf or a desk. It’s "desk candy."
The appeal is also driven by the "blind box" mechanic. You don’t know what you’re getting. The adrenaline rush of tearing open the foil bag to see if you got the "Spicy Noodles" or the "Chocolate Bar" is addictive. It’s gambling for people who like cute monsters. Honestly, the community around these figures is half the fun. You’ll find massive trading groups on Facebook and Discord where people swap "dupes" (duplicates) like they’re trading Pokémon cards in the 90s.
Real Talk: Is the Quality Actually Good?
Look, let’s be real. These are PVC and ABS plastic. They aren’t hand-carved marble. However, compared to a standard $10 toy from a big-box retailer, the craftsmanship in The Monster's Wacky Mart series figures is noticeably higher. The paint apps are crisp. You won't find many "lazy eyes" or bleeding colors.
One thing most people don't realize is the weight. These figures have a satisfying heft. When you hold a "Wacky Mart" figure, it feels solid, not hollow. That perceived value is a big reason why the retail price—usually between $12 and $16—doesn't feel like a rip-off to collectors. Plus, the packaging art is often so good that people keep the boxes as display pieces.
Why "Grocery Core" Is a Real Design Trend
It sounds fake, but "Grocery Core" is a legitimate aesthetic movement. We’re seeing it in high fashion (think Anya Hindmarch’s cereal box bags) and home decor. There’s a comfort in the familiar imagery of a supermarket, twisted into something surreal.
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The Monster's Wacky Mart figures tap into this by making the mundane feel magical. Or at least haunted. By turning a bag of "Monster Chips" into a character with a personality, the series encourages people to look at their environment differently. It’s pop art in its purest form—taking mass-produced objects and elevating them through a creative lens.
How to Start Your Collection Without Going Broke
If you're looking to jump in, don't just buy a whole case. That's a quick way to spend $150 and end up with three figures you don't even like.
- Check the "Confirmed" Markets: On apps like Mercari or specialized toy sites, people sell "opened" boxes where the character is already known. You'll pay a small premium, but you get exactly what you want.
- Join Local Groups: Most major cities have designer toy meetups. Trading in person saves on shipping and you get to meet other "Labubu-heads."
- Verify Authenticity: Because these are popular, bootlegs exist. Look for the holographic "Pop Mart" sticker on the bottom of the box. If the price seems too good to be true—like a full set for $30—it’s definitely a fake.
The secondary market for The Monster's Wacky Mart series figures is surprisingly stable. Unlike some "hypebeast" items that crash in value after a month, Labubu figures tend to hold their retail price or appreciate slightly because Kasing Lung's fan base is incredibly loyal.
The Weird Psychology of Collecting Monsters
There is a psychological comfort in "owning" a monster. By shrinking a scary creature down to three inches and putting it in a juice box, it becomes manageable. It’s a way of playing with the idea of the "uncanny"—things that are almost normal but just a little bit off.
For many adult collectors, these figures are a rebellion against the "beige" adult world. Our offices are gray, our cars are silver, and our furniture is neutral. A neon-pink monster popping out of a can of beans is a tiny act of defiance. It’s a splash of chaos on a tidy desk.
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Common Misconceptions
People often think these are for kids. They aren't. Not really. The small parts make them a choking hazard, and the price point is clearly aimed at adults with disposable income. Another misconception is that they are "limited edition" in a way that means they'll never be restocked. Pop Mart actually does restock popular series like Wacky Mart fairly often, so don't feel pressured to pay $50 for a standard figure just because it's sold out today. Patience usually pays off.
Spotting the Details Most People Miss
The genius of The Monster's Wacky Mart series figures is in the "easter eggs." If you look closely at the labels on the monsterized food, the text isn't just gibberish. Often, there are jokes about the characters' lore or "nutritional facts" that list things like "100% Mischief" or "0% Manners."
The "Sardine" figure, for example, often features tiny Labubu heads as the fish. The "Soda" variant usually has bubbles that are shaped like little skulls if you catch the light just right. This level of detail is what separates a "toy" from a "collectible." It rewards the person who takes the figure out of the box and actually looks at it.
Your Wacky Mart Checklist
If you're serious about hunting these down, keep these specific figures on your radar. They are generally considered the "grails" of this specific series:
- The Hidden Secret Figure: Usually a "Golden" or "Glow in the Dark" variant that appears in only 1 out of every 144 boxes.
- The Canned Food Labubu: Highly sought after because of the metallic paint finish that mimics actual tin.
- The Cleaning Supply Variants: These often have translucent plastic parts that look like liquid, which is a big hit with toy photographers.
The hobby of collecting The Monster's Wacky Mart series figures is about more than just plastic. It's about a community of people who find joy in the strange. It's about the thrill of the hunt and the weird satisfaction of seeing a monster in a grocery store.
Actionable Next Steps for New Collectors
To start your collection effectively, first visit an official Pop Mart flagship store or an authorized retailer like Mindy’s or Strange Cat Toys to ensure you are paying the true MSRP. Before buying, download a "check-list" image of the Wacky Mart series from a fan site so you can identify which "common" figures you actually want versus which ones you'd be happy to trade. Finally, invest in a small, enclosed acrylic display case—PVC figures are notorious dust magnets, and the "Wacky Mart" designs have lots of nooks and crannies that are a nightmare to clean without the right protection.