Geeky gifts for this Christmas
There are no more wooden horses under the Christmas tree, and no charcoal in the stockings of bad children. They’ve been swapped for a replica of Akira’s bike and some blue candy “meth” from the Breaking Bad series. What happened to that classic gifts we were used to for Christmas? It is still there, but it has been updated with the new star products: merchandising and pop products.
Popular culture is like the Force from Star Wars, it is in all of us and it unites people like a river of invisible energy. Although it also has its own dark side (that hate that tends to confront to see which franchise is better or which characters did something before the others), the passion people feel for their hobbies can become a link between people who find in these issues a common point with others, even when they don’t know them. Let us not delude ourselves, everyone is a freak about something and we must be proud of it, because it is part of us.
As a good business that is the cultural industry, mass phenomena create masses of products that go on sale and disappear just as easily. The so-called merchandising, the whole mess of decoration, collectibles, figures, clothing, and so on has gone from that dream gift that only existed in specialty stores or in countries like the United States and Japan to being within reach of any fan. In that sense, the advantage of e-Commerce online shopping sites that eliminate the problem of distance have done a lot; but it has been the popularization of these brands that has made them accessible products. Shops and department stores have understood that there is a huge market looking for these collectibles and that selling them can be a round-the-clock business.
For whatever reason, fans of all kinds of cultural products have found an immense world in which the products and souvenirs of their series, favorite books and movies come to life and bring them back to those sensations they first felt. Upon the arrival of another Christmas, we selected some geeky gifts that we hope you like.
We are not lying when we say that Avengers Endgame has been one of the film events of the year (or, considering that it has been built over the years, over the decade). Many of us are still recovering from the impact of seeing such a great story and so many emotions culminate and what better way to demonstrate our passion and respect for these superheroes than with a key piece in the plot: the gauntlet created by Tony Stark to control the infinity gems.
There’s something about these big-headed dolls to succeed like they’ve been doing for the last few years. Funko Pop’s cute designs and its wide variety of models make them one of the most common collectible products today. Since there are more than 8,000 different figures in the catalog, we let each of you decide which is your favorite.
It is curious to see how, despite not having been released in many countries, The Mandalorian has triumphed amongst Star Wars fans and one character stands out amongst all the others: That cute, naughty little guy the characters call ‘The Child’ and the fans have named Baby Yoda. The merchandising of this funny creature is available to purchase on numerous websites.
The 80th anniversary of Batman could be highlighted as one of 2019’s most memorable moments for comic book fans. Yes, the Dark Knight has been fighting crime for eight decades as a champion and this special occasion seems like a perfect time to honor the defender of Gotham.
Fantasy literature is a narrative genre that never goes out of style and, although it is true that in many cases it repeats or reuses a series of classic elements, it does not lose a glimmer of force when it comes to conquering the public. We wanted to highlight The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkwoski, the first book of the Saga about Geralt de Rivia. Although many may think that this recommendation is due to the popularity of the games or the new series, the truth is that Sapkwoski’s books do not need any outside help to convince that they are worth reading.
The classic game with which we have all spent evenings transferred to one of the most extensive and complete worlds of literature. In his books, J.R.R. Tolkien didn’t just build a story with characters and put it in a moment and place, but he devised a whole universe whose cohesion makes it possible to go back in history to his creation of Eru Ilúvatar. Who will be able to demonstrate their knowledge of the legendary Middle-earth?
Board games are experiencing a new moment of greatness thanks to the fresh creativity and mechanics that designers are applying to their products. One of our favorites is Zombicide, a cooperative role-playing game in a post-apocalyptic world plagued by zombies in which players will have to work as a team to survive and accomplish missions in which either everyone wins or everyone loses. In addition to several expansions there are versions that occur today, in the Middle Ages or in outer space.
The Danish construction brand is one of the best known in the world and its products are stimulating and fun due to the excellent design of the sets and how well they adapt all kinds of cultural products (from cars to movie scenes). Coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the show Friends,LEGO released a block version of the famous Central Perk café, with the protagonists of the series as mini-figurines.
Although it sometimes seems to have its own world, fashion participates in the cultural movements and the actuality of each moment and that is why, right now, it is not difficult to find clothes or accessories based on some of the most popular brands. Any special occasion on the calendar? Star Wars, Disney or Marvel neckties and cufflinks are always the right choice.
Why not leave the screen behind and start living the adventures we’ve seen so many times in person? The world is full of film studios, film sets, theme parks and tours to explore the same places as our favorite characters. In Northern Ireland there is the route of Game of Thrones, in London the world of Harry Potter, in New Zealand the Hobbiton of The Lord of the Rings and in Florida the impressive Star Wars Galaxy Edge.
Cartoons aren’t what they used to be. They have abandoned that social stigma of being a product for children and have become perfect for telling adult stories with a creative edge without limits. The interdimensional journeys of Rick and Morty have triumphed over the past few years and there are many followers of this particular scientist and his grandson. With this lamp we may not leave the dimension C-137 but it will give an interesting touch to the room.
The cries that Link released with every blade cut in The Legend of Zelda have accompanied Nintendo players for decades and the series' favorite weapon is one of the most iconic in the gamer world. Both for its epic design and its popularity, the master sword is an object that all Zelda and Link fans have wanted to wield at some point. Without wanting anyone to lose an ear or finger, this type of replica is always a good decorative element in the houses of fans.
Unboxing has become fashionable and subscriptions to surprise boxes offer a moderate emotion in which every month, or when requested by buyers, they receive a box full of unknown products from franchises. There are many options and websites that are dedicated to selling it and many do so through themes that group products of a similar style, so it is up to each of you to find out which is your favorite.
For the 30 years that the Simpsons have been on the air, there are many iconic objects and scenes that the merchandising industry has been able to take advantage of. We wanted to choose one of the most basic: Homer’s mythical donut turned into a giant pillow to take a nap and dream about the land of chocolate.
Here’s a slightly less commercial option, but one that we’re sure superhero comic book fans are excited about. Black Hammer is a four-issue series that honors the Silver Age tales of Marvel and DC comics and plants the protagonists at a strange crossroads. A story with retro tones and a psychological background much more complex than you might think at first.