It happens more often than you’d think. You’re scrolling through a hobby group or walking down the aisle at a local shop, and you see it. A figure that looks incredible from the side, but once you look at it head-on, there’s a massive piece of molded vinyl blocking the character's nose. Specifically, I'm talking about the Funko Pop with staff in front of face issue that has become a bit of a running joke—and a source of genuine frustration—within the toy community.
Designers have a tough job. They’re trying to take a dynamic character from a movie or a game and squeeze them into a 4-inch, big-headed template. Sometimes, the physics of a staff, a wand, or a spear just don't play nice with that giant noggin.
The Geometry of the Funko "Head Problem"
Most Funko Pops share a similar silhouette. Huge head. Tiny body. When a character like Gandalf or Jafar holds a staff, that staff has to go somewhere. If it’s held vertically, and the character is in a "neutral" pose, that staff is going to intersect with the plane of the face.
Honestly, it’s a spatial nightmare. Because the heads are so much wider than the torsos, a staff held at a natural shoulder width will inevitably cross right in front of the eyes or the mouth. Take the classic Lord of the Rings Gandalf the Grey (specifically the earlier iterations). If you look at him from a 45-degree angle, he’s majestic. He looks like he’s ready to take on a Balrog. But look at him straight on? He's basically a stick with a hat. The staff perfectly bisects his face.
This isn't just a Gandalf problem, though. You see it in the Marvel lines, the Disney villains, and especially in the anime figures where weapons are oversized. Collectors call it "the occlusion issue," but most of us just call it "the stick in the face." It’s one of those things you can’t unsee once you notice it.
Why does this keep happening?
You might wonder why Funko doesn't just move the arm. "Just tilt the staff back," you say. "Put it to the side!"
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It’s not that simple. Vinyl is heavy, and those tiny little feet can only support so much off-balance weight. If a designer moves a heavy staff too far to the left or right, the figure becomes a "leaner." Nobody wants a figure that face-plants every time a door slams in the house. By keeping the staff close to the center of gravity—which usually means right in front of the face—the figure stays upright.
Also, packaging matters. These things have to fit inside a very specific box size. If a staff is angled out too far, it requires a larger plastic "blister" inside the box, which increases shipping costs and changes the shelf footprint. Basically, a Funko Pop with staff in front of face is often the result of a compromise between aesthetics, physics, and the cold, hard reality of retail logistics.
Which Figures are the "Worst" Offenders?
If you’re hunting for these, or trying to avoid them, there are a few legendary examples that people always bring up in forums like r/funkopop.
- Gandalf (The Original Series): As mentioned, the Grey Wizard is the poster child for this. His staff is tall, thick, and sits right between his eyes. It almost looks like he’s trying to hide from the camera.
- Jafar (Aladdin): His cobra staff is iconic, but in Pop form, that snake head often ends up hovering right over his chin or nose. It’s a bit of a bummer because the facial sculpt on Jafar is actually pretty great.
- Rey (Star Wars: The Force Awakens): Her scavenger staff is massive. In some of the early versions, it cuts right across her face if you don't angle her perfectly on the shelf.
- Maleficent: Depending on which version you have (especially the older ones), that bird-topped staff is a major face-blocker.
The "OOB" Solution
Out of Box (OOB) collectors have it a bit easier. If you take the figure out of the cardboard, you can rotate the base or the head slightly to clear the line of sight. But for the "In-Box" crowd? You’re stuck. You have a box that shows the character on the side art, but the actual toy inside looks like it’s behind a pillar.
I’ve seen some people get really creative. Some customizers will actually use a heat gun to slightly warp the vinyl arm, pulling the staff away from the face. It’s risky. One second too long and you’ve got a melted mess. But for some, it’s the only way to make the figure look "right."
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The Shift in Design Philosophy
Lately, things have been getting better. Funko has clearly heard the feedback because newer releases are much more dynamic. Instead of holding the staff straight up and down like a soldier, characters are now posed in "action stances."
Take a look at the more recent Doctor Strange or Harry Potter figures. Instead of holding a wand or staff vertically, they might be thrusting it forward or holding it at a diagonal. This clears the face entirely. It also makes the figure look way more "premium" and less like a generic template.
The introduction of "Pop Deluxe" and "Pop Rides" has also helped. When the character has a larger base or a scene around them, the designer has more "anchor points" to secure a staff or weapon. They don't have to rely on the character's hand being the only thing holding the accessory up.
Is it a Dealbreaker?
Honestly, it depends on why you collect. If you’re a completionist, you’re going to buy it anyway. But if you’re someone who only buys one or two "grails," the Funko Pop with staff in front of face might be a reason to skip a specific version and wait for a "v2" or a "glow-in-the-dark" variant that has a different pose.
Collectors are becoming more discerning. With prices rising and the market being flooded with thousands of options, people are looking for the "perfect" sculpt. A staff blocking the face is increasingly seen as a design flaw rather than just a quirk of the medium.
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How to Check Before You Buy
If you’re buying online, stock photos are your enemy. They are often digital renders that don't show the true depth of the figure. A render might look like the staff is inches away from the face, but the actual physical product might have it tucked right up against the nose.
- Search for "In-Hand" Photos: Go to eBay or Mercari and look at photos taken by real people, not the official marketing images.
- YouTube Unboxings: These are a lifesaver. Seeing someone rotate the figure 360 degrees will tell you exactly how much of the face is obscured.
- Check the "Year": Generally, figures made after 2020 have better posing than those made in 2014. The "Staff Problem" was much more prevalent in the early days of the company.
My Personal Take
Look, I get it. Funko is a mass-produced product. You can't expect high-end statue quality for fifteen bucks. But as a fan, you want to see the character's expression. That’s the whole point of the Pop aesthetic—the eyes and the brow. When you cover that up with a plastic stick, you lose the soul of the figure.
I’ve started leaning more toward the "Action Pose" figures. They might take up more room on the shelf, but they actually look like the character they’re supposed to represent. If I’m buying a wizard, I want to see his beard, not just the wood grain of his walking stick.
Actionable Steps for Your Collection
If you're currently staring at a figure with this issue, here’s how to handle it:
- Angle the Box: If you are an in-box collector, don't display the box flat against the wall. Turn it about 15 to 20 degrees. This perspective usually clears the staff from the face and gives the display more "depth."
- The Boiling Water Trick: For OOB collectors, if the staff is really annoying you, you can dip the arm of the figure in near-boiling water for 30 seconds. The vinyl will become soft and pliable. Gently move the arm outward, then immediately dunk it in a bowl of ice water to "set" the new position. This can permanently fix a face-blocking staff.
- Strategic Lighting: Avoid top-down lighting. It casts a shadow from the staff directly onto the face, making the "blocking" look even worse. Use front-facing or side-angled LEDs to illuminate the facial features behind the accessory.
- Resell and Upgrade: Don't feel bad about trading in an old version. Many "staff-in-face" Pops have been replaced by newer, better versions. Check the secondary market; you might find that the "v2" of your favorite character solves the problem entirely.
Building a collection is about what makes you happy to look at every day. If that staff is bugging you now, it’ll probably bug you forever. Choose the sculpts that let the character shine through.