Category: Gaming & Collectibles

Stuff to fill your shelves and entertainment unit with.

Nine Excellent Gifts for the Discerning Werewolf Fan In Your Life

Shopping for one of those impossible “werewolf people”? Want to get them something that won’t just end up in the back of the closet next to that signed “An American Werewolf in Paris” poster? Relax– I’m here to help. Any one of these items will delight the werewolf-crazed lunatic (no pun intended) in your life, and the recipient will know you care enough about them to not just grab them a Blu-ray of “The Wolfman” and call it quits. I’ve linked to Amazon.com product pages wherever possible, since at this point in the month, most other online retailers have cut off their “will arrive before Christmas” ground shipping. These are in no particular order.

Zagone Studios Super Action Wolf Gloves – $24.99

The best werewolf gloves you’ll find anywhere for less than $100 are an absolute steal at $25. Light, comfortable, durable, dextrous and they look great. I own two pairs of these and will probably buy another pair next year. Available from Zagone Studios.

 

“The Wolf Age” by James Enge – $11.56

I have a half-finished review for this in the hopper, but I can’t leave it off the list simply because I’m bad at managing my time. This is a 500-page brick of solid gold– the best fantasy novel I’ve ever read, period. Enge takes the werewolves of horror lore and builds a unique and utterly convincing society for them to inhabit. A must-read. Available from Amazon.

 

“Werewolves: An Illustrated Journal of Transformation” by Paul Jessup and Allyson Haller – $7.79

One word: gorgeous. This book is an illustrated journal that documents the lycanthropic infection and transformation of a teenage girl. Another amazing book which needs reviewing on this site, and which deserves a place on the most prestigious level of your bookshelf. Contains a clever and believable story, with none of the cringe-worthy teenage drama of “Ginger Snaps”, and some of the best werewolf drawings & sketches I’ve ever seen. Highly recommended! Available from Amazon.

 

“Werewolves on the Moon: Versus Vampires” by David Land, Matt Fillbach and Shawn Fillbach – $10.78

Every page of this graphic novel is brimming with the ludicrous energy promised by the title and cover art (three werewolves staking a vampire to the Lunar surface with an American flag). Action, wry humour and clever dialog make this a gem. Great werewolf character design, too. Available from Amazon. By the way, I’m totally Stan.

 

“The Wrong Night in Texas” by Josh Boulet – $10.00

Allow me to quote from my own review of this excellent graphic novel: “Joshua Boulet has captured and unapologetically celebrated everything that makes the werewolf wild, dangerous and fun.” It “genuinely horrified me. It also thrilled me with its energy, charmed me with its lovingly-crafted aesthetic and, above all, satisfied that primal part of my brain that just wants to see a vicious, monstrous werewolf tearing shit up.” If you’re mature enough to enjoy R-rated films, you’re mature enough to have your stomach punched by Josh’s savage little book. Available from Josh’s web site.

 

Mezco “Wolfman” Stylized Roto Figure – $25.47

What can  I say about this guy? Of all the werewolf stuff on my various home and office desks, he’s my favourite. It captures the Rick Baker wolfman design but the exaggerated proportions add a sense of playfulness that was sadly lacking from the film. Available from Amazon.

 

“The Werewolf’s Guide to Life: A Manual for the Newly Bitten” by Ritch Duncan and Bob Powers – $11.19

Once again, lifted from my review: “The Werewolf’s Guide to Life belongs right next to the Bible in every werewolf’s (or werewolf’s spouse’s) nightstand. Its subtitle ‘A Manual for the Newly Bitten’ accurately represents what lies between its covers: not a tepid modernization of werewolf myths peppered with pseudo-scientific explanations, but rather a no-nonsense (yet oddly humorous) instructional guide for newly-initiated werewolves.” Available from Amazon.

 

“It’s On Now” Werewolf vs. Unicorn T-Shirt – $18.50

Forget vampires. The real enemy? Unicorns. This shirt lets everyone know that you know the truth. It’s also designed and sold by one of the awesomest dudes around. This shirt. Available from TopatoCo.

 

Werewolf High Heels, Platform Heels, Flats and Clutch Wallet by Iron Fist – $24.99 to $49.99

Perfect for the fashion-conscious werewolf-lovin’ lady (or open-minded fellow) in your life. Get a bloody-fanged werewolf design on open-toed pumps, platforms, flats or a clutch wallet. All available from Amazon.

Dec. 12th 2010

I am similarly afflicted

Today’s Penny Arcade is about a problem that Tycho and I share. I haven’t succumbed to Cataclysm (yet) but I have long been a fan of refined werewolves. Sometimes my usernames reflect this predilection.

Dec. 10th 2010

Yeah, Gabriel Belmont is kind of a dick

The fine fellows at Penny Arcade have opinions about most games, and the recently released Castlevania: Lords of Shadow is no exception. Tycho seems to like it, in any case. However, their Wednesday comic indicates a certain reluctance to condone Gabriel Belmont’s habit of just, like, randomly staking werewolves.

I love it that these guys include werewolves in their comics so often (relatively speaking), and that Gabe draws them differently every time.

Oct. 23rd 2010

Classic “The Howling”, t-shirt style

How can you prove your love for “The Howling“? Get this t-shirt from Fright-Rags onto your body. There’s just no other way!

Hat tip: ArcLight

Oct. 23rd 2010

Are you a werewolf? Let the Supernatural Registration Authority know

The government needs to know about you. Vampires and zombies, too.

In all seriousness, this is a side-project I’ve been working on for a while now, and it’s finally ready. You can register yourself as one of three supernatural creatures. You get a printable electronic registration certificate for free, or for $5 (including postage) you get the electronic certificate and a much nicer and more detailed print version in the mail. I’d be obliged if you’d check it out, and even if you don’t want the print version, take a second to register yourself as a monster. Thanks, and we now return you to a more consistent update schedule (it’s flippin’ Halloween!)

Oct. 20th 2010

I cannot endorse this well-drawn, reasonably-priced “Swedish Bikini Werewolf Destruction Unit” T-shirt on Threadless

This shocking (but well-rendered) display of species-ist violence (and gratuitous lesbian smoochin’) is available for purchase as a t-shirt or hoodie from Threadless. I am appalled that Threadless would permit such an image on their site, and will be registering my outrage by waiting at least a day before purchasing it. A day at least. The responsible parties are Dick Firestorm and Peter Kramar, both terrible men with no decorum and excellent senses of humour. In closing, all I’m gonna say is that I’ve been to Sweden, and I don’t think they’d treat werewolves like that.

Hat tip: ArcLight

Sep. 21st 2010

Mattel’s “Clawdeen Wolf”: a Bratz-style werewolf toy who shaves her legs

Mattel’s new “Monster High” dolls are your typical Bratz-style teen divas, but as the name indicates, they’re also monsters. All the usual suspects are represented, including a werewolf girl named Clawdeen Wolf. So we’ve got another toy franchise that seems geared towards training 10-year-old girls to be rail-thin airhead fashionistas… but by making these dolls monsters, is Mattel is also saying “it’s okay to be different”? Perhaps! In a recent LA Times article, Mattel Brands general manager Tim Kilpin said “They’re fun characters to build a world around. Who doesn’t feel like a freak in high school? It started with that universal truth.” Okay, so there’s some positive empathy, which seems promising… but now read Clawdeen’s bio. Am I crazy, or does it only mention her monstrous aspect in neutral or negative terms? This line is particularly worrisome: “Plucking and shaving is definitely a full time job but that’s a small price to pay for being scarily fabulous.” In other words, “I am different and unique, but through constant painful effort I can change myself to fit in.” Great. Picture Clawdeen locked in the bathroom, shaving her legs and crying, “Ginger Snaps” style. Hurry, Clawdeen! If you do a good job and get all that icky hair off, your friends will still like you, and then you can get back to your favourite activities– “shopping and flirting with the boys!” Nice work, Mattel.

There’s a great post about Clawdeen and Monster High at the She-Wolf blog that’s well worth reading, especially if you love to get annoyed about children’s toys like I do!

Aug. 28th 2010

“World of Warcraft: Curse of the Worgen” comic miniseries coming in November

As if you werewolf-loving World of Warcraft players weren’t already in a complete lather over the Worgen, here comes “Curse of the Worgen“, a 5-issue comic miniseries being released by DC’s WildStorm imprint. From WildStorm’s site:

Written by MICKY NEILSON & JAMES WAUGH;
Art by LUDO LULLABI & TONY WASHINGTON;
Cover by JOHN POLIDORA

The best-selling WORLD OF WARCRAFT comic series returns in time for a worldwide CATACLYSM! A series of grisly, animalistic murders have rocked the walled town of Gilneas. A famous detective sets out to discover the perpetrators and finds far more than he bargained for. To find the truth, he must delve through years of twisted history – both the history of his family and Gilneas itself. This pivotal 5-issue miniseries explores the in-depth lore of the Worgen!

Shuffle impatiently in front of your favourite comic shop on the morning of November 17th and when they let you in, you can buy the first issue. That’s what I’ll be doing.

I showed my wife Tandye the cover image for issue #1 last night, and within 10 minutes (and with no further prompting from me) she had repealed her 6-year abstention from all things Warcraft. It has been decided: we will both be playing Cataclysm. Now I need to think of a name for my worgen!

Aug. 19th 2010

The Sixth Slave – A Worgen and the Worst Bedtime Ritual Ever

Today’s Penny Arcade is about World of Warcraft, Gabe’s Worgen character and the artificial nature of game quests. It’s also about the opposite of a glass of warm milk.

Aug. 11th 2010

Initial Impressions of Warcraft’s New Cataclysm Races? The Worgen are Awesome

Over the past few weeks, beta testers have been getting a chance to check out the new races and terrain Blizzard’s latest Word of Warcraft expansion, Cataclysm. So far the reactions seem to be extremely positive, particularly where the Alliance’s new werewolf-like race, the Worgen, are concerned. Donnie Ingalls of Ripten says “Everyone and and their mother is going to be playing a Worgen when Cataclysm hits the shelves,” right before unapologetically using the term “cool-o-meter”. Steve Butts at The Escapist goes into detail describing the start of the Worgen game. Apparently you start off as a human fighting against the Worgen in a foggy Victorian setting, until you’re inadvertently bitten and wake up in stocks with fur and claws.

I got giddy just typing that. When Cataclysm finally comes out I’m screwed.

Jul. 26th 2010