Collectables

What we’ve been playing with this month

Earning a coveted place in the Millennium Falcon’s draining rack (it probably has one) is this “Laugh it up fuzzball” mug (RRP £6.99). Adorned with a portrait of Chewbacca – looking a little like a disgruntled Bee Gee after an overdose of Regaine – it’s a daily reminder of one of the zingiest retorts in movies. Admire the retro ’70s styling as you munch a cookie with your Wookiee.

There are few acceptable places for glitter. The cheeks of Marc Bolan circa 1972, for example, or unicornthemed collages made by five-year-olds. In general, however, it’s a pernicious menace, thanks to its uncanny ability to distribute itself to every bodily crevice – if you’re one of those fiends who sprinkles it inside Christmas card envelopes we hope you burn very slowly in a special glittery hell. However, we accept its use on these DC coin purses (FPI price £5.99 each; product codes F3934, F3935): we’ve given both a good firm rub and it doesn’t seem likely to flake off in your pocket. Phew. Run out of utility belt compartments in which to store your lippie, nail file and tissues? Then you’ll want this Batman cross-body bag (FPI price £24.99; product code F3943). Made of polyurethane, it has a big gold Bat-logo on the front, and a smaller one on the derriere. How terribly bling. The gold chain strap clips on at both sides, meaning you can always detach it should you suddenly feel the urge to do some Mr T cosplay, or wish to whirl it in the face of an assailant, ninja-style. KA-THWACK!

Shame the stars of the movies aren’t as malleable as these Marvel Mr Potato Head PopTaters (FPI price £17.99

each; product codes F2368, F3183, F3184) – we’d be morbidly fascinated to see Scarlett Johansson detach her hairpiece, or Benedict Cumberbatch pull off his facial features, leaving only a chilling blank with a gaping central hole. Until such surrealist nightmares become a reality we’ll have to make do with these spud simulacras of Black Widow, Black Panther and Dr Strange. Hawkeye and Falcon are also available, should anyone care. No, thought not.

It’d be useless as the headpiece of a crimefighting super-suit, but in the world of biscuit storage this beautifully painted and sculpted

Iron Man cookie jar (FPI price £23.99; product code F2035) is royalty. Our one quibble? Surely someone could have thought up a way to make the faceplate open, rather than having snack access via a removable lid on the back of his head. Get working on it, Stark!

Which is the cooler shaker? You can have your very own civil war over condiments with these Avengers Pop! Home

salt and pepper shakers (FPI price £14.99; product code F3068). Cap’s nominally responsible for the salt, which seems to contradict his healthy, clean-cut image – we reckon Tony Stark’s much more likely to sprinkle it on, even after his history of heart problems. Then again, perhaps someone at Funko just figured he’s always loved Pepper…? Red and blacksuited Spideys (product code F3069) have been given similar cruet-y treatment.

This Superman jigsaw (RRP £12.99) challenges you to the tricky mission of assembling the cover of Action

Comics issue 419. When completed it measures 50cm by 30cm. At 500 pieces it should keep you busy for some time. Our hot tip: do all the edges first. Inside the box you’ll find a glossy A2 poster of the same Neal Adams art. Manufacturer Half Moon Bay has also brought out a 500-piece Batman jigsaw, featuring the cover of Detective

Comics #566.