10 subtle Marvel gifts for fans who know what's up
Everyone's a Marvel fan these days, but we've all got that friend who loves it 3000. You know the one – the friend who's watched the movies and read the comics, who can identify a logo from a mile away and speaks in quotes you don't even pick up on half the time.
When gifting that friend, you have to go the extra mile; simply a branded tee from an official store won't cut it. Here's a list of subtle yet fantastically nerdy Marvel gifts for the big fans in your life.
This cross-stitched patch
Nick Fury may not have believed Goose was a Flerken, but you can't deny it when the evidence is embroidered! The pattern is meant for you to cross-stitch, but feel free to just print it out and admire it if you don't know how (or pick up a new hobby!). The tentacles (?) look a bit like giant green whiskers, but don't worry, you get better at identifying flerkens over time.
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Price: $4.60
These trendy scrunchies
If you have long hair, you know how impractical it is to leave it down in a fight for the fate of the universe. Superheroes need more scrunchies, and so do their fans! Whether you're going to the gym or a Stark Industries lab internship or just prefer your hair up for that photo-op with the Hulk, best to keep some sneakily nerdy scrunchies on hand at all times.
Price: $4+ (bundle two or three for discounts)
These sentimental candles
Why adorn your home with something as obvious as a poster when you can make it smell lightly of Earth's mightiest heroes? There are scents for all the original Avengers, as well as newer additions like "Master of the Mystic Arts," "Carol," "Coney Island 1940," "M'Baku," and more.
Price: $10.40+
This snarky mug
A fan of Marvel movies will read this mug in the voice of Tony Stark in Infinity War, while anyone not in the know will simply think it's a brilliant and che eky expression of how done with everything you are until you've had your doggone coffee!
Price: $17.97+
This cool tank
Only the truest Thor: Ragnarok fans will appreciate this tank (though it's likely to attract some Game of Thrones fans who aren't over how Jon treated his pet in Season 8). Wear it to the gym in hopes of running into Chris Hemsworth while you both get swole and then bond as you laugh about the Devil's Anus.
Price: $25
This demented charm
Venom may not have been the movie you wanted or imagined, but we can't say we didn't have fun watching it. In much the same vein, this lanyard bead is bizarre, perhaps even misleading (what exactly is the point?), but it's hard not to look at that toothy grin and menacing tongue and crack a smile. Whatever it is, it sparks joy.
Price: $30+
E.D.I.T.H.
Try not to cry when you don Iron Man's signature accessory (or when you think about Peter Parker inheriting it in Spider-Man: Far From Home) — focus instead on the feeling of utter, badass power, and try not to be too much of a dick about it.
Price: $24.99+
These dignified bowties
We've tried to stay away from obvious logos on this list, but who can resist this spot of debonair nerd-dom to spice up a formal look?
Price: $14.50
This t-shirt print
Why rep a "real" alma mater when you can proudly rep Thor's? Sure, the God of Thunder was probably a shoe-in legacy, but that makes your being alumni of the same university even more impressive. (If anyone asks, you met during a Groot language elective).
Price: $1.99 instant download
This phone case
There's something so genius about Peter Quill's only Earthly '80s relic repackaged as a smart phone case (it's extra satisfying to listen to music on if you plug in some chunky headphones). The Samsung Galaxy case looks better than the iPhone (is this space bias?), but both get the job done.
Price: $25.33+
Proma Khosla is a Senior Entertainment Reporter writing about all things TV, from ranking Bridgerton crushes to composer interviews and leading Mashable's stateside coverage of Bollywood and South Asian representation. You might also catch her hosting video explainers or on Mashable's TikTok and Reels, or tweeting silly thoughts from @promawhatup.
