I find writing this guide gets more challenging every year as my collecting tastes have remained pretty consistent throughout the years. I still enjoy collecting some higher end items from Sideshow Collectibles and love my Funko collection Loyal Subjects army that bring nostalgia to my workplace and home. This year's guide is a bit different than previous entries, but is one of my favorites.
Fable and Black x Illumicrate Pin Club (Recommended by Adri)
Everyone loves a good subscription service, and since discovering both of them at the Young Adult Literature Convention in London last year, Fable and Black and Illumicrate have become two of my favourite suppliers of regular bookish goodies. While Illumicrate's regular book box is totally worth checking out (they had a Gideon the Ninth box in August which offered an early exclusive edition of the book!), I want to wave the flag for the monthly pin club subscription, which offers a pin every month based on various bookish YA fandoms, all designed in Fable and Black's gorgeous style. While there's plenty of representation for major fandoms - an ongoing "HP Dark Artefacts" series has been creating mini pins representing stuff like Slytherin's locket and other recognisable stuff from the series - what I particularly love is the opportunity to pick up items from books that don't command the same level of "merch love" as those those favourites, like Neal Shusterman's Scythe and Toni Adeyemi's Children of Blood and Bone, upcoming in November and December respectively. For those looking for a one-off stocking filler, most pins are also available for single purchase after the subscription period, and Fable and Black also has a selection of non-subscription options (although sadly the "Raging Bitch Queen" pin I picked up from them in the summer appears to no longer be available)...
Kid Robot: The Simpsons Moe's Tavern blind boxes (Recommended by Mikey)
Kid Robot has been making killer vinyl collectibles as long as I have been in the game. I have a variety of their offerings, but none hit me with a nostalgic blast like their Simpsons line. The Duff beer is flowing in its most recent series that includes the Love Tester machine!!!! Other licenses that might appeal to the Nerds of a Feather crew include Futurama, Bob's Burgers, Adventure Time, Animaniacs, Sanrio, Marvel, and more! You can view everything they have to offer here, but everyone on my Christmas shopping list loves getting some fun blind boxes as stocking stuffers.
Baby Yoda Plush (Recommended by Joe)
Okay. It has barely been announced and it is only available to preorder at the time I'm writing this, but we all need a Baby Yoda plush in our lives. I'm not going to pretend I'm going to buy one for my kids because they are way too young to watch The Mandalorian, Heck, I haven't even watched The Mandalorian yet but LOOK AT BABY YODA!!!!!!! I must have a Baby Yoda plush.
Masters of the Universe Rug - Grayskull Dungeon (Recommended by Mikey)
Based on the decal from the original Castle of Grayskull, this rug is a must for the hardcore Masters of the Universe fan. This will really tie your collectible room together and is a unique item that most of your friends will be envy. It measures 45" x 60" and I might need help convincing my wife that it would look great in our hallway.
POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.
Masters of the Universe Rug - Grayskull Dungeon (Recommended by Mikey)
Based on the decal from the original Castle of Grayskull, this rug is a must for the hardcore Masters of the Universe fan. This will really tie your collectible room together and is a unique item that most of your friends will be envy. It measures 45" x 60" and I might need help convincing my wife that it would look great in our hallway.
POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.
