A 2019 gift guide for every kind of fanatic

(Image credit: Illustrated | masterzphotois/iStock, -strizh-/iStock)

published 5 December 2019

Fans are the hardest people to shop for: they're particular, their interests are niche, and let's face it, a person can only own so many Infinity Gauntlet mugs. But no matter if you're shopping for a sports fan, a Marvel fan, or a Pokémon fan this holiday, there's something out there for everyone. Let The Week be your guide to the best gifts for the cultural die-hards in your life.

What to get ... the Pokémon fan who already owns Sword or Shield:

We are mere weeks away from the year 2020, and Pokémon is alive and well. Who'd have thought! But for fans who were eight when Pokémon Yellow came out in the '90s and are turning 30 years old next year, a collared shirt that can be worn in the office might be a more appropriate gift than, you know, Pikachu slippers (not that there's anything wrong with those, either!). The Japanese fashion label Original Stitch makes custom men and women's formal shirts in the pattern of all 151 original Pokémon, all in classy, work-appropriate designs. I'll take a size small in the Ponyta, please. Starts at $100.

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A few months ago, I re-subscribed to Netflix's DVD and blu-ray service, which at the time felt practically medieval. You mean I have to wait to get a physical DVD in the mail before I can watch my movie? I've since fallen completely back in love with the service that put Netflix on the map in the first place. While yes, it requires a bit of patience, it is also a great work-around for avoiding paying for subscriptions to all 392 new streaming services. For someone who watches movies and TV like they breathe air, it's indispensable. Starts at $7.99 per month.

I can't stop staring at this poster that succinctly summarizes the entirety of the Harry Potter series. Illustrated by Lucy Knisley, the author of the bestselling illustrated memoir Kid Gloves, the "SummHarry" is a clever answer for fans that might already own all of their preferred Hogwarts House swag. (If the fan you're shopping for is more of a cat, cheese, or Wonder Woman person, Knisley still has you covered). Starts at $105.

Dolores and Teddy's story took an extreme and tragic turn at the end of season two, but true fans of HBO's mind-bending sci-fi Western Westworld still ship the doomed robot lovers. This candle rekindles memories of the simpler days of their relationship, with a "delightful blend of fresh fruits and sugared oranges, lemons and limes with hints of exotic florals and mountain greens." CourteousNotes, the Maryland-based candle-maker, also has scents themed for Teddy, Dolores, "The Man in Black," and Maeve individually. Starts at $15.

The Week contributor Aaron Bady recently brought to my attention that all 20 of the books in the Dorothy Project can be purchased for $200, which would make an incredible gift for the reader you're afraid to buy books for because they've seemingly read everything. With only two books published annually in the fall, the Dorothy Project is one of the most impressive small presses around, "dedicated to works of fiction or near fiction or about fiction, mostly by women." I'm an especially big fan of Nell Zink's The Wallcreeper, but every one of the 20 books in this collection is a gem waiting to be discovered. While $200 is nowhere near cheap, that breaks down to $10 a book, which is a steep discount down from the usual list price of $16. Other, lower-priced package deals are also available. 20 for $200, 6 for $60, or $16 each.

If there is one thing I believe deep in my heart of hearts to be true, it is that Bran in no way deserves to be king of Westeros. But with the final season of Game of Thrones behind us, we can indulge in imagining alternative endings. This sweater is the perfect gift for the person who was rooting for Arya all along (or maybe the one who deserves to be on her, uh, naughty list). Long live the queen. $54.95.

If the words "phase four" mean nothing to you, never fear: You can sate the comic book fan you're shopping for with this stunning collection of comics from Marvel's golden years between 1939 and 1949 (just look at those red pages!). The collection includes a total of five reproduced, full-color comics, including the rare Marvel Comics #1. If Folio's collector prices are outside of your budget this year, a Captain America Shield Slow Cooker will run you just $12.99. For the DC fan in your life, it also comes in Batman and Superman designs. $225.

It can be hard shopping for sports apparel if you want something that has more personality than what's available in the team store (assuming your school even has a team store). Homefield Apparel not only fills the space for enthusiasts who want something a little more classic, it does so with high quality fabrics and vintage designs. Whether you're shopping for an alum from Perdue or Xavier, Indiana University, Memphis, or Appalachian State, this will be the sort of present met with a surprised gasp of, "Where did you find this?" T-shirts start at $32.

Baby Yoda is absolutely irresistible, but good Mandalorian merch has been slow to arrive. Thankfully, Walmart is already allowing people to preorder this ridiculously adorable Funko POP! model of everyone's favorite character in The Mandalorian. While it'll arrive far too late to be a stocking stuffer — the current shipping date isn't until May 2020 — a preorder receipt will surely be appreciated by Star Wars fans who just can't wait. $8.78.

If a flimsy cardboard screen just isn't cutting it for your dungeon master anymore, consider your group going in on this impressive wooden upgrade. Available in a variety of colors, the screen latches for easy transportation, and the seller is even able to customize it if you want to add a detail such as a name. As an alternative or an add-on, these dice bath bombs from Geeky Clean start at a more modest $8.45. $145.

I never thought I'd find a game I loved as much as Settlers of Catan, but I've been blown away by Wingspan, which I first played over Thanksgiving weekend. While this game, which revolves around birding, is going to be old news to the biggest board game enthusiasts — it's Paste's #2 game of the decade — it would make a great surprise for someone who's fallen into an Axis & Allies rut. This would be a particularly good gift if you're going to be around people eager to crack it open and learn to play after the unwrapping has finished. $59.99.

Admit it: You kind of wonder what a Porg tastes like. Alas, the next best thing is toast made in a Stormtrooper's helmet. Emblazoning your bread with the Imperial Crest, this toaster is a part of Williams Sonoma's vast and endlessly amusing Star Wars kitchen collection and will keep you fed during all those early mornings spent streaming The Mandalorian before work. Now all that's left is to ask how do you like your toast: on the light side or the dark side? $49.95.

If you know a fan that will one day be writing the stories and scripts for the rest of us to geek out over, consider covering her submission expenses for the year 2020. Many magazines and journals have "reading" or "submission fees," or otherwise require a writer to be intimately familiar with the kind of work they publish, resulting in many costly purchases of back issues. While there isn't a gift card specific to submissions (Submittable, get on this), you can purchase a Visa gift card to help a writer cover online submission fees and postage or pay for a literary magazine subscription to a publication like Fantasy and Science Fiction or Uncanny. Another idea: Give a writer a gift card for a local bookseller that carries literary journals they might manage to land a piece in. Varies in price.

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.

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