59. Geeky Gift Guide
"Brown paper packages tied up with strings...these are a few of my favorite things!"
Howdy Brave Being,
Welcome back, dear readers. I’ve got a special post for y’all today. It’s a Geeky Gift Guide! I love all these nerdy things made by incredibly creative people and thought I’d share my favorites in case you’re looking for a gift for your loved ones or just for yourself. FYI: This post is not sponsored by anyone, it’s for funsies. So what are you waiting for? Get to reading!
Marvel Fitness Deck
First up is my new favorite way to get up from my desk job and add Avengers-level action to my daily life: The Marvel Fitness Deck by Robyn Warren of GeekGirlStrong and Marvel.
This family-friendly deck of cards showcases how to move like a superhero, featuring fan-favorite Marvel characters and instructions on the back.
All the copy was written by Health Educator Robyn Warren, who has blown me away with her inspirational health-coaching community that lives on Discord and Patreon. She makes exercise approachable in such a fun way by relating it to what’s happening in nerdy pop culture, from Barbie and Deadpool dance lessons to Wicked-themed workout playlists and comic-con meet-ups.
Comic Book Storage Boxes
These laser-cut, birch comic book storage boxes from Romany House Boxes have provided a perfect storage solution for my single issue comics and in such an aesthetically pleasing way.
Made by woodworker and designer, Patrick, they’re super easy to put together and store in a Kallax bookshelf. Plus, they’re having a sale right now! They also have longer comic book boxes as well as boxes that fit records and trading cards too.
Art Commissions
If you’ve ever thought about commissioning an artist to create something amazing for you or a loved one, there’s no time like the present. (See what I did there? 😉) There are, of course, loads of artists/creators/makers out there who offer commissions to create busts or full body portraits of your favorite characters, beloved pets, or even textiles and jewelry. But how to find them? Bluesky is a great place to find such talented artists, and I’ve got a handy-dandy Bluesky thread that lists artists currently open for commissions.
I’ve ordered a couple commissions myself. Here’s one by Artist Kelly Brack, who made me a killer portrait of badass sorceress Yennefer of Vengerberg, portrayed by Anya Chalotra in the Netflix TV series The Witcher (2019).
Another commission that I get to wear is my handwoven Rogue-themed bracelet by Daredevil and Spawn Writer Erica Schultz!
Erica’s shop offers loads of pre-made, 100% cotton bracelets, which can also be used as bookmarks or keychains. These bracelets feature all kinds of colorways based on characters from Marvel, DC, Star Trek, Star Wars, and TMNT to coordinate with your favorite fit. She will take commissions if there’s a colorway that’s not available.
Book Recommendations
This guide would not be complete without some comic book recommendations, so hold onto your butts for a handful of heckin’ good reads, both available now or to pre-order from your local comic shop (LCS) or favorite bookstore:
Cooking with Monsters is perfect for that young adult in your life—I gifted it to a 10-year-old and he loved it! It’s a YA adventure series set in the set in a monstrous fantasy world where warrior chefs fight monsters and make decadent meals from the spoils! By Jordan Alsaqa, Vivian Truong, Damali Beatty and published by IDW. Collected trade available.
Dark Empty Void by Zack Kaplan, Chris Shehan, Francesco Segala, Agnese Pozza, Andworld’s Justin Birch, James B. Emmett, and Diana Bermúdez, published by Mad Cave Studios. I LOVE this horror/sci-fi series so far. It gives off Alien meets Annihilation vibes. Two issues out so far.
Loving, Ohio by Matthew Erman and Sam Beck, published by Dark Horse. This coming of age murder mystery is about a cult, grief and friendship. One word: Emotional. TW: Suicide. Collected trade available.
Morning Star by David “DB” Andry, Tim Daniel, Marco Finnegan, Jason Wordie, Justin Birch, and James B. Emmett, published by Mad Cave Studios. Trade paperback available. Basically, it’s like a lost Amblin film inspired by Steven Spielberg and Stephen King about a family’s grief and something that transcends space and time…and their tagline is THE BEST:
No telephones. No electricity. No transportation. No escape.
Pixar: The Official Cookbook by Tara Theoharis and S T Bende, published by Insight Editions. Tara and I went to college together and I’ve been following her career in Nerdom ever since! She has published several fandom-based cookbooks and here’s her latest one that I cannot wait to get: “Bring the vivid worlds of Pixar Animation Studios into your kitchen with this bespoke cookbook filled with delicious recipes inspired by nearly every beloved Pixar short and film, including Toy Story, The Incredibles, Ratatouille, and more!” Pre-order it here.
The Racc Pack: Prince and the Pawper by Stephanie Cooke and Whitney Gardner, published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers and available for pre-order here. It’s book two of The Racc Pack series, the first one being The Racc Pack, which is an ADORABLE series about, you guessed it, raccoons! “Dusty switches places with a pampered look-alike raccoon in this second entry in the hilarious middle grade graphic novel series about a sneaky raccoon family who live life in the trash lane!”
Spectrum by Rick Quinn, Dave Chisholm, James B. Emmett, and David Reyes, published by Mad Cave Studios. After reading the first issue, I have decided that Spectrum is the greatest comic book release of 2024. Not only do they have an epic tagline of “The MUSIC or the MADNESS…which came first?” but they also have accomplished the Herculean task of creating an immersive experience in comic book form that will melt your face off in a good way. The first issue came out recently, and check out Dave’s awesome videos about Spectrum on his instagram.
The Nasty by John Lees, George Kambadais, Adam Cahoon, Kurt Michael Russell, and Jim Campbell, published by Vault Comics. I love this entertaining horror series about a group of intrepid youths in 1994 Scotland, an imaginary friend come to life, and “video nasties”—films so scary that they’re banned and burned by the British Moral Decency League! Get the complete series from Vault here or as always order from your LCS.
FunkoPOP Ornaments
Okay, so I may be collecting more than just comics now…enter FunkoPOP ornaments. Disclaimer: This news is not an invitation for y’all to get me any as I prefer to pick them out myself, haha! It is an admission that I have fallen head first into Funko. I even made a video about it here.
Hope this geeky guide has helped you find something rad!
Thanks for reading!
Brittany
Thank you for the kind words and the recommendation, Brittany!