COlleCtaBles
Things we’ve been playing with this month
A socio-cultural interrogation of the hermeneutic phenomenology of consumerism.
1 Two essential items of Doctor Who iconography are immortalised in these Dalek and TARDIS dogtags (RRP £8.99). The detail is impressive: the Doctor’s trusty time ship has the words POLICE BOX etched in tiny letters (and the right number of panels and windowframes, we add, twitching in pedantic satisfaction) while the Dalek is a beaut, even offering a saucy peek at its underside. They’re called dogtags but we imagine they’re equally at home at the disco, possibly nestling among some chest hair, as they are on the battlefield.
2 This Justice League glass mug (FPI price £8.99; product code H2938) from our neighbours Half Moon Bay (waves out of the window at the other side of Bath) features imagery of Justice League members Aquaman, the Flash, Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, Cyborg and Wonder Woman – all of whom are wearing expressions of steely determination. Can they sense battle approaching? The art has an appealing pop art vibe, and the glass has a sturdy weight to it. No danger of spillages here!
3 These Rock Candy vinyl figures (FPI price £12.99; product codes H3640, H3641) are just what the ’90s revival demands. Buffy takes a break from studying to patrol the cemeteries of Sunnydale, a stake freshly sharpened and black boots donned. Meanwhile, Willow is ready for class in her fuzzy pink outfit from season three episode “Doppelgangland” – though we’re not 100% sure if it’s really her or her evil vampire counterpart. We have some holy water at the ready, just in case.
4 Curl up at night snuggling a super-team with these Justice League plushies (FPI price £10.99; product codes H4018, H4019, H4020).
Aquaman’s our firm favourite, thanks to his corduroy-effect hair and strokeably furry goatee. Wondering where Superman is? Well, he’s not in the film is he, obviously, because he’s dead. That could never happen. But the main reason he and Batman are absent is because Funko brought out plushies of both yonks ago.
5 We’re not sure why you’d ever put your ID in these Star Wars passport
wallets (FPI price £14.99 each; product codes H2926, H2927), seeing as they make it three times bulkier than it needs to be. The designs are great, though, and the slogans inside (“The Force is strong with this one”/“This is not the droid you’re looking for”) are a nice touch. But what we really need is an Obi-Wan Kenobi version saying, “You don’t need to see his identification”. Yep, we’re sure that’ll work on a surly US border guard…
6 We generally associate the Joker with stealing money, but these DC chibi coin banks (FPI price £10.99; product codes H4018, H4019, H4020) recast the Clown Prince of Crime as a proponent of sensible saving. (“Chibi”, for the uninformed, is a Japanese word for “short” now synonymous with cute, “superdeformed” stylings). Just one problem: with the Joker (though not Harley Quinn and Wonder Woman), the coin slot’s on the back of the tiny body, not the giant head, which means you’ll have to empty him after putting in about 15 coins! What’s the point?!
7 It feels entirely appropriate that the stars of ’80s retrogasm Stranger Things should be recreated as toys consistent with the era. What these Funko action figures (FPI price £17.99 per set of three; product codes H3479, H3480) lack in points of articulation and detail (Dustin looks remarkably like a stern fiftysomething woman) is more than made up for by their old-school charm. We’re also liking Eleven’s perpetual nosebleed and Eggo accessories – though Dustin and Will should be annoyed that they’re only considered worthy of rucksacks.