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Pop culture has always been at its best when it reflects the wide variety of people who love it. Over the years, comics, movies, television, video games, and science fiction have introduced memorable LGBTQ+ heroes, villains, and antiheroes whose stories have inspired fans around the world. Here's our countdown of ten of the most iconic LGBTQ+ characters in pop culture. 10. Ellie (The Last of Us) Long before HBO's acclaimed adaptation, Ellie became one of gaming's most beloved protagonists. Her relationship with Riley in Left Behind and later with Dina helped establish one of gaming's most authentic LGBTQ+ storylines. Ellie is courageous, flawed, and fiercely determined, making her one of modern gaming's defining heroes. 9. Mystique (Marvel) While Mystique's sexuality has evolved through decades of storytelling, she's long been portrayed as bisexual and has one of Marvel's most enduring same-sex relationships with Destiny. Together, they've become one of the publisher's most influential couples and helped pave the way for more LGBTQ+ representation in superhero comics. 8. Harley Quinn (DC) Harley Quinn's relationship with Poison Ivy has become one of DC's most celebrated romances. Whether in comics, animation, or television, Harley's journey from chaotic villain to antihero has resonated with fans, while her romance with Ivy has become a cornerstone of modern DC storytelling. 7. Deadpool (Marvel) The Merc with a Mouth has often been described as pansexual by creator and writers alike. While his relationships are usually played with humor, Deadpool's openness and unpredictability have made him one of Marvel's most recognizable LGBTQ+ characters. 6. Captain Jack Harkness (Doctor Who / Torchwood) One of science fiction's most charismatic adventurers, Captain Jack never let gender or species define who he loved. His confidence, humor, and heroism helped make him a groundbreaking LGBTQ+ character on television. 5. Poison Ivy (DC) Brilliant, dangerous, and fiercely protective of the natural world, Poison Ivy has evolved into far more than a Batman villain. Her relationship with Harley Quinn has become one of comics' most beloved romances and has helped redefine both characters for a new generation. 4. Iceman (Marvel) As one of the original X-Men, Bobby Drake's coming-out story decades into his publication history sparked plenty of conversation. Since then, Iceman has become one of Marvel's flagship LGBTQ+ superheroes while continuing to serve as a core member of the X-Men. 3. Korra (The Legend of Korra) The ending of The Legend of Korra changed animated television forever. Korra and Asami's relationship broke new ground for mainstream animation and helped pave the way for greater LGBTQ+ representation in family-friendly storytelling. 2. Wiccan (Marvel) Billy Kaplan has become one of Marvel's most powerful young heroes. Alongside his husband Hulkling, Wiccan represents one of the strongest and healthiest superhero relationships in comics. Their marriage stands as a milestone for LGBTQ+ representation in Marvel's universe. 1. Northstar (Marvel) When discussing LGBTQ+ superheroes, it's impossible not to recognize Northstar. As one of the first openly gay superheroes from a major comic publisher, and the first to headline a same-sex wedding in mainstream superhero comics, Northstar helped open doors for countless characters who followed. His influence extends far beyond the pages of the X-Men, making him one of the most important LGBTQ+ figures in comic book history.

The Most Expensive Star Wars Action Figures Ever Sold (2026 Edition) May the 4th is all about celebrating the galaxy far, far away—but for some collectors, it’s also about owning a piece of history… at a price that rivals a down payment on a house. From prototype figures never meant to hit shelves to ultra-rare packaging variants, the Star Wars collecting world has seen some absolutely insane sales. Let’s break down the most expensive Star Wars action figures ever sold as of now—and why they command these kinds of prices. 1. 1979 Kenner Rocket-Firing Boba Fett (Prototype) 💵 Sold for: ~$1.3 MILLION This is the holy grail. Originally designed with a firing rocket backpack, this Boba Fett figure was pulled before release due to safety concerns. Only a handful of prototypes survived—and one of them shattered records with a sale around $1.3 million. 👉 Why it’s so valuable: Never officially released Extremely limited prototypes (under 100 known) Iconic character + infamous recall story 2. Boba Fett Prototype (Earlier Record Sales) 💵 Sold for: $525,000+ Before the million-dollar sale, another rocket-firing Boba Fett prototype hit over $500K at auction. 👉 Same story, same hype—just slightly different condition and provenance. 3. Darth Vader “Double Telescoping” (1978) 💵 Value: $130,000+ One of the earliest Darth Vader figures ever made featured a rare double-telescoping lightsaber—a design quickly scrapped to cut costs. 👉 Why collectors chase it: Extremely short production run Early “12-back” packaging One of the first figures ever released 4. Vinyl Cape Jawa (1978) 💵 Value: ~$30,000 This tiny robed scavenger might not look like much—but early versions shipped with a vinyl cape instead of cloth, making them incredibly rare today. 👉 What makes it special: Production change almost immediately Few originals survived in mint condition 5. Carded Luke Skywalker (High-Grade) 💵 Sold for: $80,000+ A pristine, graded Luke Skywalker figure on original packaging can fetch massive prices—especially with high AFA grades. 👉 Lesson here: condition is everything. 6. Yak Face (Power of the Force Line) 💵 Value: $4,000–$7,000 Yak Face was barely released in the U.S., making it one of the hardest figures to find—especially carded with the collector coin. What Actually Drives These Prices? It’s not just “old toy = expensive.” The biggest value drivers are: 1. Rarity Prototype > limited run > retail release 2. Condition Graded, unopened, and mint packaging can multiply value by 10x+ 3. Production Errors / Changes Vinyl cape Jawas, telescoping sabers—mistakes = money 4. Character Popularity Let’s be honest—Boba Fett carries this list 5. Story Cancelled toys, recalls, and prototypes create legend status Why This Matters for Collectors Today Most collectors aren’t dropping $1.3M on a figure—but the same principles still apply: Today’s limited releases = tomorrow’s grails Packaging matters more than people think Variants and short runs are always worth watching That Black Series figure sitting on your shelf?If it’s rare enough… it might be part of a future list like this.

A few weeks ago, New Meta officially moved into our first dedicated warehouse and office space—and it’s already changing everything. Not that long ago, this whole operation was running out of a much smaller space. Shelves stacked wherever they could fit, boxes constantly rotating in and out, and just enough room to keep things moving. It worked… until it didn’t. At a certain point, growth forces your hand. The Reality of the Move (a.k.a. Organized Chaos) The first couple of weeks? Controlled chaos. Pallets coming in, boxes everywhere, trying to figure out where things should live while still shipping orders out on time. It wasn’t pretty—but it was progress. We’ve been dialing in shelving, organizing inventory in a way that actually makes sense, and slowly building systems that will let us scale without everything feeling like a scramble. It’s that in-between stage—where nothing looks perfect yet, but everything is moving in the right direction. What’s Already Getting Better Even in the early days, the impact is noticeable: Orders are getting out faster Inventory is easier to track and access We can actually receive larger shipments without playing warehouse Tetris Restocks and new arrivals are flowing more consistently It’s the kind of behind-the-scenes upgrade that makes a real difference, even if you don’t see it directly. What This Unlocks This is where things start to get exciting. Having a real warehouse means we can start thinking bigger: Bringing in deeper inventory so more items are actually in-stock Expanding into more lines—especially indie brands and hard-to-find collectibles Strengthening relationships with distributors and pushing toward more direct partnerships Handling larger, more frequent shipments without bottlenecks For collectors searching for a toy store in Wichita, this means more inventory, faster shipping, and a much stronger selection of action figures and collectibles. A Growing Toy Store in Wichita, KS New Meta is quickly becoming a go-to toy store in Wichita for collectors looking for action figures, collectibles, and hard-to-find items. While we serve customers nationwide through our online store, this new warehouse allows us to better support the local community here in Wichita and the surrounding areas. If you’ve been searching for: Toy store Wichita KS Action figure store Wichita Kansas Collectibles shop near Wichita That’s exactly where we’re aiming to deliver. The Hybrid Future (Online First, Always) While New Meta will always stay focused as an online-first toy and collectibles store, this new space opens the door for a hybrid approach. We’re exploring: In-store pickup for local customers in Wichita and Andover Limited retail hours or appointment-based visits Future events like game nights and new release days This gives local collectors a reason to connect with a Wichita toy store in person—while still keeping our core online experience fast and efficient. Unlocking Direct Brand Relationships This move also plays a major role behind the scenes. Many major toy brands require a physical retail presence before offering direct partnerships. Having a dedicated warehouse space in Wichita, KS helps position New Meta to work directly with more companies in the future. That means: Better product availability Stronger allocations on new releases More consistent stock for customers Building Something Bigger This isn’t just about more space. It’s about building a true destination for collectors—a toy store in Wichita, KS that understands the hobby and carries both mainstream and indie lines. We’ve already received our first shipments here. Packed our first orders out of the new space. And had those moments where it all starts to feel real. We’re Just Getting Started There’s still a lot to build, a lot to refine, and a lot coming soon. But this move is a major step forward. If you’ve been looking for a reliable toy store in Wichita, KS or a trusted online shop for action figures and collectibles, New Meta is continuing to grow into exactly that. If you’ve supported us in any way—thank you. You’ve helped make this possible. And we’re just getting started.