Fandom is a funny, sometimes scary thing. The love for certain cult programmes has led to plenty of manufacturers churning out tie-in products for fans over the years. Normally, this involves merchandise like posters, calendars, T-shirts, books and action figures. Yet every now and then, a distinctly eye-catching product hits the market. Read on for some of the coolest and creepiest collectibles that are lurking out there...
Tru Blood Beverage - True Blood
"Slightly tart, lightly sweet and subtly carbonated." No, that's not a description of Sookie from the hit vampire series. It's a description of the upcoming Tru Blood drink that will hit shelves in September. Made with the same packaging as the bottled synthetic blood beverage in the show, it's actually produced from blood oranges and soda. Surely all that Vitamin C is no good for wannabe vampires trying to achieve a suitably undead demeanour?
Replica Stake - Buffy the Vampire Slayer
It's always fun to play around with replica props, but this one really needs to come with a very stern warning: "Only for use on the undead." Mind you, some over enthusiastic
Buffy devotee may then try to recreate the slaying fields of Sunnydale by roaming through their local cemetery armed with the sharp stake. It could get very messy indeed. Someone really needs to call Rupert Giles ASAP...
Special Ops Sunglasses - 24
According to the marketing spiel, these "Serengeti Medium Aviator style sunglasses are the same brand used by Jack Bauer". So, if you're trying to emulate your world-saving hero, the shades are a good place to start. Then all you need to do is find some non-Caucasian gentlemen to brutally interrogate, and alternate your voice between hushed whispers and screams of, "WHERE'S THE BOMB GOD DAMN IT?!"
Spock's Coffin - Star Trek
The dedication of Trekkies is well documented, so why should the mere matter of death sever someone's ties with the show? That's why a special new casket has entered the market, allowing folks to be buried in a replica of the box that Spock was placed in after his shock death in
Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan. Perhaps such a purchase is not a bad idea, given Spock's subsequent resurrection? Live long and prosper indeed.
Mulder and Scully Barbie Set - The X-Files
Trust no-one. Especially if they are trying to pass off Barbie and Ken dolls as Fox Mulder and Dana Scully. The visual resemblance was very tenuous, but at least it gave fans the chance to place the two FBI Agents in a range of compromising positions. The Mulder doll also had about as many facial expressions as David Duchovny displayed during his long stint on the show.
Toaster - Battlestar Galactica
Frackin' brilliant! Throughout the revival of
BSG, the Cylons were branded 'toasters' due to their machine-like nature. This awesome bread-burning machine capitalises on this unflattering nickname and comes complete with a Cylon-style red light. Now all that is needed is a life-size Number Six blow-up doll. So say we all...
Tom Baker Underpants - Doctor Who
Who came up with the idea to emblazon an image of the Fourth Doctor's head - complete with mop of pube-like curly hair - on the front of children's underwear back in the late '70s? Perhaps it was the doing of The Master, trying to foil his arch nemesis by diminishing his respectability. Besides, how would the pair of Daleks on the front contend with a stray skidmark? Nonetheless, in the age of postmodernism and hero worship for The Hoff, some Tom Baker branded skimpies might fly off the shelves! Call it retro chic.
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