Collectables

Feel free to buy us these for Valentine’s Day

1 Hopefully you’ll have better luck, Game Of Thrones fans, but we had a rotten time of it with this Iron Throne Room Construction Set ( FPI price £ 29.99; product code D3891). We got about halfway through assembling its 314 pieces, then realised that a vital piece was missing, while another was duplicated. Gah! The plastic it’s made from is annoying too – either finger- bleedingly brittle, or too rubbery to make a clean connection. We’ll probably stick to Lego in future.

2 Another month, another chance for boogeymen to be turned into cutesyfied vinyl collectables. These Dorbz horror figures ( FPI price £ 8.99 each; product codes D4215, D4216, D4218) see Jason Voorhees, Freddy Krueger and Leatherface turned into spherical- headed poppets sporting benign grins. Well, we say benign… actually, it does look creepily like each one is chuckling at the memory of a particularly amusing decapitation or chainsaw dismemberment. A Pinhead figure is also available. 3 Two more additions to Funko’s plush range of Star Wars Fabrikations here ( FPI price £ 16.99 each; product codes D3880, D3881), in the shape of Leia and Wicket the Ewok. Both are extremely cute. Not sure about Leia’s rosy cheeks either, which make it look like she’s been using blusher. Both come with weapons stitched to their mitts, but if you’re planning to give these to little ’ uns and don’t approve then you should, with a little care, be able to snip them off.

4 These Sonic Screwdriver barbecue tongs ( FPI price £ 28.99; product code D1666) look hilarious at first sight – like a prop for a Who episode

where our hero gets shrunk to doll size. The actual tongs are hidden under a plastic screwdriver- body sheath. The handles are still made of plastic, though: we’d be wary of meltage at any hot meat knees- up! To further add to the health and safety hazards, you might hit the sound effect button while flipping your burger and get distracted.

5 These hardback Game Of

Thrones journals ( FPI price £ 10.99 each; product codes D4442, D4445, D4448, D4449) are surprisingly tasteful. Each features 192 pages of lined, acid- free paper, with integrated bookmark, elastic closure and back pocket. You can choose from four designs: black and silver Iron Throne; Ned’s Hand of the King brooch; one that looks a bit like a door inscribed with “Valar Morghulis”, and – our personal favourite – a smart black and silver Night’s Watch design that depicts the Wall on the front and the Black Brother’s oath on the back.

6 You’ll believe a cat can fly – well, sit there motionless while being squished, perhaps – with this plush Streaky ( FPI price £ 13.99; product code C6996). It may look like an ancient Aboriginal totem object but in fact it’s a faithful replica of Supergirl’s pet kitty as he looks in DC’s all- ages Super- Pets comic, based on Art Baltazar’s illustrations ( a Krypto the Superdog is due in April). Requires Kryptonite- lined litter tray ( not included).

7 How does Kylo Ren eat? We’re assuming his First Order of business is removing his mask, but after that, the Force Awakens baddie probably makes a beeline for these lightsaber chopsticks ( FPI price £ 10.99; product code D3738). The broadsword hilt arguably makes these the most unwieldy of the numerous lightsaber chopsticks out there – there’s a lot of weight at the top end that can unbalance the novice chopstick user – but if shovelling noodles into your mouth proves a struggle, you do at least have an excuse for throwing a Ren- style strop.