Now that we've looked at books, we're turning our attention further afield and looking at other merchandise that's available to the discerning action fan and cult enthusiast this Christmas. One way or another we think the following are great ideas for gifts to your loved ones and fellow world-conquerers... or maybe a treat for yourself.
What’s not to love about a dalek? Put aside that whole misunderstanding about wanting to conquer the universe and, quite frankly, there’s nothing better than standing around the water-cooler with the pepperpot aliens and talking about the weather on Skaro at this time of year. There’s nothing better… UNLESS it’s a Dalek in Union Jack colours!!!! Yes, indeed, in this landmark Fiftieth Anniversary year, a special 12” high poseable collector’s edition has arrived on the shelves and we’re happier than the Doctor in a bow-tie shop.
The model comes with various light and sound-effects with eight alternating phrases (including the reliable “Exterminaaaaate!”) and you can move the ‘arms’, head and eye to suit. Somewhere in Impact Towers lurks the old, golden variety which was a remote-control model, but though this doesn’t have that capacity, we think it gives it a run for its money.
The warning suggests this is Christmas present not suited to anyone below five years of age. Which is ironic as, right now, we’re all ten years old again. Available HERE
We should also mention a Forbidden Planet exclusive addition of the Risk game also themed to Doctor Who. There’s something quite suitable about taking the existing dalek paradigm and applying it into a strategic game of world-conquering. Risk is already an addictive board game built around alliances and pragmatic land-grabbing, so simply applying the sci-fi element fits in perfectly. We’re not of the mind to get into metal shells and play with deadly sink-plungers, but we could certainly see ourselves ruling the world from our armchairs with a roll of a dice… Available HERE...
Assassin’s Creed continues to be one of the most addictive games to hit the market in recent years, clearly demonstrating how far computer games have come. One unanticipated sideline to that success is the number of people cos-playing such characters at conventions and it’s only right that some official merchandise should help people look the part.
Though largely plastic in construction, the Ezio Auditore Role-Playing Gauntlet is highly convincing from a distance and allows the wearer to have the bladed weapon strapped to their wrist, ready to unsheathe on the enemy (though we wouldn’t recommend you actually engaging in too heavy a combat – you’ll have someone’s eye out if not careful.
A spring loaded mechanism will bring out the blade to full length and the only drawback we can find is that it’s in a slightly awkward position. It’s weightier than you might expect and though we wouldn’t want to advise too many knocks and actual sparring, it feels like a quality addition to the tie-in merchandise and perhaps one of the most interesting presents you could get this Christmas. Available HERE...
One of the talking-points among Impact staff has been the Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD series and though everyone has their differing opinions about it, it’s hard to find many people who wouldn’t like to brave the arctic elements in one of these SHIELD hoodies. They come in ninja-black with the secret organisation’s not-so-secret emblem on the front and its name stretched across the back. It’s possibly worth noting that this is the classic comics design and not the slightly modified television variety. However we wouldn’t be surprised if Agent Coulson had one for when the sun went down in Tahiti…(It’s a magical place!)
Rather than being the pull-over-your-head style of most hoodies, this has an easily-accessible zip frontage with draw-strings allowing you to pull the hood part tight around you, should the wind pick up. It’s an officially sanctioned Marvel/Titan product. The sample we tried was an XL size which didn’t seem too big, but gave us room to move without feeling as tight on the arms as some clothing we’ve tried. Available HERE...
Though there’s a case to be made that the Guillermo del Toro Cabinet of Curiosities (Signed Limited Edition) cold have also featured in our book section, it seemed to warrant something more expansive. This is a top-end item and one that assuredly fits into the ‘collectors’ bracket. The cabinet features a signed and numbered book covering all his movie projects includes pages from his famed illustrated notebooks, four art prints of previously unseen del Toro sketches, four cards reproducing pages from Pan’s Labyrinth Book of Crossroads, a replica Chronos scarab and page from the device instruction manual and a replica Hellboy rosary and amulet.
The price, a smidgen under a not-so- tiny £500.00, reflects the rarity of the collected package, but it’s quite beautiful to look at, many of the items crafted in delicate style and with a sense of magic about them. For something so ‘new’, it all certainly feels ‘old’ in as good a way as Cthulhu and other Old Ones, anyway! It’s a literal little treasure trove for cult completists and a signature from the famed director just seals the deal. Available HERE...
IMPACT woud like to thank ForbiddenPlanet.com for their help with this feature...
