Posts Tagged ‘Holiday Gift Guide for Geeks’


Day 11 of the gift guide is for the fan of female super and action heroes! It’s the Superwoman edition!

I’ve already gushed about my favorite superwoman, Modesty Blaise, on Day 1 of this gift guide.

So be sure to look there if your Superwoman Geek is a fan of British Spy-fi!

Jaime Sommers

Fans of Bionic Woman, Jaime Sommers, are in luck – The Bionic Woman has finally been released on DVD in the U.S.!

Na-na-na-na-na-na . . .

And for those wanting to know more about the show there’s Bionic Book Reconstructed – a history of both Bionic Woman and The Six Million Dollar Man. (With interviews!)

Wonder Woman

Anyone who knows me, or is familiar with my work, knows how influential Lynda Carter’s Wonder Woman was on me as a child and on the woman I’ve become.

For those that want to revisit their childhoods, pop culture research junkies like myself, and parents wanting to introduce their children to the Amazon Princess, Wonder Woman The Complete Collection is the perfect gift.

Wonder Woman: The Animated Feature is more for adults than children. (Get the 2-disc special edition for great features! )

The Essential Wonder Woman Encyclopedia by Phil Jimenez and John Wells (and which I reviewed for Bitch) is truly THE guide to the character.

Wonder Woman: The Complete History by Les Daniels is a well-researched and thorough history of the character. And while I don’t care for Daniels’ weird dislike of Gloria Steinem I would still recommend this book for Wonder Woman fans.

Buffy Summers

Buffy Summers is another of my personal favorites when it comes to Superwomen. Get me started talking about the emotional resonance and feminist message of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and I’ll never stop. I’ll also probably say things like, “I’m a Slayer. Ask me how.”

As mentioned in Day 5’s post, if your Geek doesn’t own Buffy the Vampire Slayer The Complete Series they’ll need it so they can participate in the upcoming Great Buffy Rewatch. Organized by Nikki Stafford and taking place on Tuesday nights throughout 2011, the rewatch will feature a variety of amazing contributors.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8 will get your Geek caught up in the world of Buffy and the Scoobies as they lead an army of Slayers against the latest Big Bad.

And Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Panel to Panel from Dark Horse will provide reference to all the non-canonical Buffy comics in a coffee table book format.

Sydney Bristow

I miss Sydney Bristow. From the very first episode of Alias I was hooked on this Superwoman and spy-fi shero. Your Geek can get hooked too, or just revisit the adventures of Sydney and her family of spies with Alias: The Complete Collection.

For context, reference, and those that can’t get enough of the show, its characters, and its mythology, Uncovering Alias: An Unofficial Guide to the Show and Alias Assumed: Sex, Lies And SD-6 make for great reading.

Honey West

Private eyeful Honey West debuted in 1957’s This Girl for Hire – a novel co-written by husband and wife team Gloria and Forrest Fickling under the pseudonym “G.G. Fickling.” In addition to the 10 novels Honey appeared in, she was the star of an eponymous television series in the mid-1960s. (I wrote about her for the Noir Issue of Bitch.)

Fans of Superwomen would enjoy Honey West: This Girl for Hire – the novel that introduces us to the busty blonde detective.

Honey West: The Complete Series – as one of the first American television series to star an action heroine is an absolute joy.

Honey West by John C. Fredriksen provides a guide to the series with episode synopses and interviews.

The Honey West Comic Book from Moonstone – the first two issues of which are written by the great Trina Robbins! (I interviewed Trina about the project here.)

Dr. Catherine Gale and Mrs. Emma Peel

Cathy and Mrs. Peel are two of the first action heroines of television period. Played by Honor Blackman and Diana Rigg respectfully, they were not only beautiful, stylish, and sexy, but smart, talented, fearless and perhaps more capable than their male colleague, John Steed.

Fans of Superwomen will love the The Avengers – The Complete Emma Peel Megaset as well as early episodes featuring Cathy.

Get Christie Love

Get Christie Love started out as a made-for-television movie loosely based on a novel called The Ledger, written by Dorothy Uhnak, who herself had worked with the NYPD. Teresa Graves (Laugh-In) starred as Christie Love – a sassy, skilled, take-no-shit, undercover cop.

Get Christie Love aired as a series during the 1974–5 season making Graves one of the first Black women to headline her own television show. Only the pilot is available on DVD.

The character was modeled after New York Police Detective, Olga Ford, one of the first African American women on the force. Ford served as a consultant on an early episode.

Varla

Tura Satana once said that “You can still be feminine and have balls” and those words describe her just as well as the famous line in Russ Meyer’s Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! where her character, Varla, is told “You’re like a velvet glove cast in iron.”

With it’s brash delivery of one-liners, cinematography as stunning as the cleavage on display, and sexually confident, if amoral, women, Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! is a classic film for the Superwoman Geek.

Belted, Buckled, and Booted

For more on Ms. Satana your Geek might enjoy Big Bosoms and Square Jaws: The Biography of Russ Meyer, King of the Sex Film by Jimmy McDonough.

Gina Torres (Or, the Gina Torres Collection.)

Okay, so Gina Torres is not a super or action hero per se – but she’s an Amazon Warrior nevertheless!

Cleopatra 2525

Guilty Pleasure? Feminist message? Exploitation? Let your Geek decide! I, for one love Cleopatra 2525 in all it’s awesome awfulness as well as the teamwork of Hel, Cleo and Sarge. And Torres sings the theme song.

Okay, every Geek already owns Firefly: The Complete Series and Serenity– but since they star Torres as the badass, Zoe Washburne, they need to be listed.

Superwomen Geeks can also catch Torres in Season Four of Angel – or you can go ahead and get the entire series.

Hit-Girl

One of the most fascinating Superwomen to come out of the past year is Chloë Grace Moretz’s Hit-Girl from Kick-Ass.

She was more than just a pint-sized, foul-mouthed assassin (and more than a gimmick). She was the most capable, talented, forceful, and driven person in both the movie version of Kick Ass and the comic book version of Kick Ass.

For more on both, Geeks will appreciate a copy of Kick-Ass: Creating the Comic, Making the Movie.

Recommended Reading for Superwomen Geeks: Criticism and History

Ink-Stained Amazons and Cinematic Warriors: Superwomen in Modern Mythology

Action Chicks: New Images of Tough Women in Popular Culture

The Modern Amazons : Warrior Women on Screen

Athena’s Daughters: Television’s New Women Warriors

Girls Who Bite Back: Witches, Mutants, Slayers and Freaks

A Very Short List of Recommended Reading for the fan of Superwomen in Comics

Birds of Prey Vols 1-7 by Gail Simone.

Wonder Woman: The Circle by Gail Simone.

Elektra & Wolverine: The Redeemer by Greg Rucka.

Queen & Country by Greg Rucka.

Batwoman: Elegy by Greg Rucka. (See Erica McGillivray’s lovely review from Day 9 of this list.)

Promethea by Alan Moore. (Find out more about Promethea here.)

GoGirl! by Trina Robbins and Anne Timmons.

Huntress: Year One by Ivory Madison.

I know there are several of you that have been just as excited for this as I am – Day 5 of the Ink-Stained Amazon’s Holiday Gift Guide for Geeks is For The Joss Whedon Fan! Whether your Whedon Geek loved Buffy, hated Dollhouse, knows all the words to Dr. Horrible’s Sing-a-Long Blog, or is a Browncoat, there is something here for every kind of Whedonian!

Who can resist the cuteness of this Fruity Oaty Girls Bobblehead Maquette from the Mr. Sparkle-inspired Fruity Oaty Bars commercial?

Not Mandatory!

The Slayer Scythe is a totally cool, but rather pricey gift for the Buffy fan with a lot of room in their home – or their own Slayer army.

Are you ready to be strong?

The Ink-Stained Hubby picked me up a Buffy iPhone GelaSkin last year in the UK and I’m always getting compliments on it. Would make a great stocking stuffer for your Buffy Geek!

Stay clean with a bar of Browncoat Field Ration Soap from Geeky Clean – another great stocking stuffer!

Misbehave all you want, and wash up after!

For the fan of Hoban “Wash” Washburne, there’s the Inevitable Betrayal T-Shirt and the Little Damn Heroes Animated Maquette (with removable dinosaurs you can play with!) both from Quantum Mechanix.

Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!

Is your geek planning to join the Evil League of Evil? Well then they’ll need a Dr. Horrible Lab Coat T-Shirt!

With my freeze-ray . . .

I’ve already gone through one set of Yummy Sushi Pajamas – and another is on my personal holiday wish list. If Buffy didn’t look commanding in them your Geek probably won’t either. But they will be just as cute!

That probably would have sounded more commanding if I wasn't wearing my Yummy Sushi pajamas.

If your Geek doesn’t own Buffy the Vampire Slayer The Complete Series they’ll need it so they can participate in the upcoming Great Buffy Rewatch. Organized by Nikki Stafford and taking place on Tuesday nights throughout 2011, the rewatch will feature a variety of amazing contributors.

In every generation there is a Chosen One . . .

How about a copy of the adapted “Smile Time” episode of Angel for your Angel fan? “Smile Time” was, of course, inspired by The Muppets. The comic book version of the darkly hilarious episode is collected here with 2 other puppet-related stories.

You're a bloody puppet!

Your Angel Geek might also enjoy an Angel Investigations T-shirt.

We help the helpless.

Dollhouse the complete first and second seasons would go great with a copy of Inside Joss’ Dollhouse: From Alpha to Rossum from Smart Pop Books.

(It really did get better.)

As a member of the Whedon Studies Association, a Whedon geek, and a pop culture scholar and historian I’m tempted to list a whole bunch of book recommendations for your Geek, but think you should just peruse The Slayage Whedonverses Bookstore. Really, it’s full of Awesome Sauce.

The Whedonverse. Polysemic, much?

Finally, there are always great Whedonverse themed items on Etsy!

For example, what geek wouldn’t love a shiny Holiday Sock inspired by Jayne Cobb’s knitted hat?

Shiny!

Personally, I’m debating getting 2 of these mini-Jayne Cobb hats for our Maltese (and resident Whedonians/research assistants), Giles and Wesley.

I mean, C'mon!!! How cute is this?!??

Is your Geek Grrrl always letting you know that Whedon is her master now? Does she need to let the world know with earrings that say so?

For the Uber-Geek

Take notes at the next Biennial Slayage Conference on the Whedonverses with this handmade Buffy journal. The front & back covers feature actual comic pages from the Season 8 comics. You can even ask the artist to design one for you that focuses on a particular character or specific issue from the series.

Handmade Journal

These Slayer Scythe earrings are the absolute coolest. (And, yeah, they’re so cool I actually already went ahead and ordered a pair for myself.)

For the Stylish Geekess

Day three of the Holiday Gift Guide is For the Geeky Feminist!

If you’re anything like this geeky feminist, your bookshelves are overflowing with your collections of Bitch, Ms., and BUST magazines, as well as copies of books with titles like Why Buffy Matters: The Art of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Action Chicks: New Images of Tough Women in Popular Culture. Tame those shelves with this nod to women’s history – Rosie the Riveter Bookends!

Rosie is riveting.

Speaking of your Bitch magazine collection . . . Did you know that Bitch only gets 7 cents for every magazine sold at a store? If you love Bitch‘s response to mainstream media and popular culture and want to support independent feminist media why not buy your favorite geekess a Subscription to Bitch?

Feminist Response to Pop Culture

Next up on the list is a copy of Ink-Stained Amazons and Cinematic Warriors and yes, I am biased because it’s my baby and I want everyone to think she’s very smart and pretty – but DC Women Kicking Ass recommended it too!

The Ink-Stained Baby

Another geeky book to add to those shelves is The Supergirls: Fashion, Feminism, Fantasy, and the History of Comic Book Heroines by Mike Madrid.

The Supergirls

One of my favorite feminist books is The Great Woman Superheroes by Trina Robbins. It’s out of print – though you may be able to order it directly from her (and likely get it signed too).

A MUST read for fans of female superheroes.

Other books I’m currently recommending for those interested in feminism, women’s history, and media include: Enlightened Sexism: The Seductive Message that Feminism’s Work Is Done by Susan J. Douglas, Maiden USA: Girl Icons Come of Age by Kathleen Sweeney, When Everything Changed: The Amazing Journey of American Women from 1960 to the Present by Gail Collins, and Feminism and Pop Culture by Andi Zeisler.

Every Grrrl needs a “Stay Golden” t-shirt featuring four of our favorite, and most feminist, television friends.

Thank you, Ladies, for being our friend.

How about getting Golden Girls The Complete Series to go with that shirt?

Finally, if only the Bronte Sisters Power Dolls were real! (With their barrier breaking feminist vision they’d be on my list!) What a great stocking stuffer they’d be!

The Ink-Stained Amazon’s second day of Geekmas is For the Star Wars Fan!

Wait, what!?!? You don’t have a Tauntaun Sleeping Bag from Think Geek yet?!?!?

Tauntaun Sleeping Bag

Originally an April Fool’s Day joke, this awesome bag will delight jedis young and old. (The Ink-Stained Hubby kept his on our bed for months!) Plus, the opportunities for action shots with pets are endless. Just look at Wesley!

He thought they smelled bad on the outside . . .

What’s that? You already have the sleeping bag! Of course you do. Well then how about a Wampa Throw Rug?

Snow Beast!

Are you, or your significant other, a little like Homer Simpson? Always misplacing your pants? Nevermore, as you’ll never want to take off these Star Wars-themed jammie pants!

May the cozy be with you!

Wouldn’t these Bounty Hunter Masks look cool on your fridge?

Bounty Hunters

And I’m thinking this Star Wars Mural is perfect for either the man-cave OR the she-cave.

Star Wars Wall Mural

Thank Geekness for Ashley Eckstein and Her Universe featuring Star Wars themed items that actually fit women!

Star Wars Logo Shirt

Empire Thermal Hoodie

For the Star Wars fan who likes to cook Williams Sonoma has a plethora of goodies for you from pancake molds and cookie cutters to aprons for kids and adults.

Impressive. Most impressive.

Bake tasty cookies, you will.

Star Wars apron.

Though it won’t be released until March 2011, I absolutely recommend the awesome Bonnie Burton’s forthcoming Star Wars Craft Book. Take a first look here.

Geeky Crafting!

Speaking of crafts – Etsy is a great place for unique, geeky, and crafty Star Wars-themed items such as this totally cute AT-AT Attack Pillow Cover.

Super-Geeky!

Bonus Recommended Geek Gift Guide!
A Holiday Gift Guide for the Harry Potter Fan from Smart Pop Books!

Hey nerds! Who has two thumbs, speaks limited french and is excited for the holiday season? This moi!

That’s why over the next 12 days (naturally) I’ll be posting gift ideas for all your geeky loved ones, from your Jedis and Padawans, to your Doctors and companions, to those who believe that Whedon is their master now, to your favorite feminist geeks and geek girls – there will be no shortage of gift ideas for the geeks in your life!

Since everyone knows I’m a huge Modesty Blaise fan (and I’ve already alerted the Ink-Stained Hubby to these items) I’m starting the list with . . .

Gifts for the Modesty Blaise Fan

This tres cool Modesty Blaise luggage set features images by Enrique Badía Romero who took over illustration duties after the untimely death of original artist, Jim Holdaway.

Modesty Blaise Luggage Set

Also available is a laptop case.

Modesty Blaise Laptop Case

I’m totally digging this Modesty Blaise t-shirt featuring the tagline from the horrid 1966 film version of the character and an image from the cover of Modesty Blaise.

Nothing can faze, Modesty Blaise

Modesty Blaise

I also recommend any of the collected strips – published by Titan Books – such as The Gabriel Set-Up – any of the 11 novels (though Modesty Blaise, A Taste for Death, I, Lucifer, and The Silver Mistress are my favorite), or either of the two collections of short stories, Pieces of Modesty and Cobra Trap.

Pieces of Modesty - A Collection of Short Stories

The Gabriel Set-Up Collected Strips

Bonus Recommended Geek Gift Guide of the Day!
DC Women Kicking Ass’ Kick Ass Holiday Gift Guide, part one (under $25).“Gift ideas if you like DC women who kick ass or are buying for someone who does.”