The most enduring and influential fandom collaborations of 2024

In the last decade or so geek culture expanded into the mainstream in more inclusive ways to express fandom love. Merchandise, once only marketed as black T-shirts emblazoned with logos or collectible toys, has undergone a major transformation.

In 2024, it’s easier than ever to replicate your fandom thanks to collections inspired by sci-fi and fantasy worlds in almost every fashion and lifestyle arena. Amidst all the bold casual cosplay, subtle streetwear, and even luxe makeup and perfume, there were collaborations in the wings just waiting to go viral. And that’s not to mention the movie popcorn buckets, which are also crazy this year –so much so that they warranted their own post.

This year also saw bolder moments with fandom merchandising. Read on to see how things are getting more hands-on and experimental thanks to flashy products and social media-driven events.

Nickelodeon celebrated a whole month SpongeBob SquarePants by doing “Krabby Patty Collabs” at burger joints nationwide to celebrate the show’s 25th anniversary. But Wendy’s version felt the most authentic to the show’s depiction of the kind of burger you’d get at an undersea fast food place, especially compared to the high-end stunt versions (they were cool, but never Mr. Krabs).

Wendy’s brought back the square meatball for the occasion and it was genius; doubled the nostalgia factor, so I found myself ordering more often. Speaking of food, Deadpool and Wolverine made a pizza line with DiGiorno (whose mouth is a trademark for mercs) with mixed results. It wasn’t the wildest Deadpool placements; There were bottles of Heinz ketchup and mustard, and there were those dodgy Xbox controllers.

On the more whimsical side of things around Halloween, we’ve got the Universal Monsters x Care Bears collection, which combines adorable bears through classic bear plushies, Funkos, and make-up in a spooktacular way. Plus plushies are hard to find at regular price points, with third-party sellers shilling them at questionable prices. I still covet Creature from the Black Lagoon bear

For Gen Z goths, Pottery Barn came out with a creepy favorite Wednesday collection Reflects the atmosphere of the Nevermore hostel. We’re particularly tickled by the thought of a Thing-shaped pillow that sold out at one point.

Although the above collection is very limited at this point, Dr. Martens still has some of its features Wednesday capsule is available online. Documents and The Addams Family? The perfect match for any goth kid (and kids at heart) shoe collection.

In the realm of beauty products, our favorite has arrived in the form of a smart match Rihanna’s Fenty x Hidden A line inspired by characters from the Netflix show. The very deep collection took the presenters’ sense of style and power with a capsule of quality makeup from our sci-fi dreams.

A favorite of anime and Netflix friends One Piece It has been featured in a number of fun collections inspired by the Straw Hat Crew, but the most unique A Casetify collaboration that turns tech accessory covers from the show into Devil Fruits. Especially fun were the Gum Gum fruit headphones.

And for Cowboy Bebop fans, Logic refused to cooperate with Crunchyroll features streetwear inspired by the looks of anime characters and their signature iconography to make you feel like you’re fitting into the world of the classic cartoon.

while Deadpool and Wolverine dominated the shelves in the first half of the year, It’s bad captured the fall. There was an incredible array of pinks and greens at every price point, many of which were seemingly targeted It’s bad Fans who have waited 20 years for merchandise that goes beyond any online theater store.

I was surprised when I was in eighth grade wearing a gray T-shirt that said “Defy Gravity” in the tiniest green letters. It’s bad Here’s what I got for the grown ups this year and he would be so proud too. I really needed it Bad x Con-Air hair rollers? Yes. I actually left an undisclosed amount for change Beis x It’s bad luggage? Yes, I can use it for business travel. Am I staying up at night because I can’t afford the Elphaba Stanley bottle? Target? Yes, and I stupidly check for stock again at random hours for the good knows that the life of the wicked is lonely.

More It’s bad goods are guaranteed to arrive through 2025 Bad: To Good –Although we’re still waiting for some sort of official “Holding Space for ‘Defying Gravity'” meta release.

The end of the year brought a few notable collaborations that have me wondering what 2025 will bring. Nosferatu came up with the most absurd, including a vampire coffin bed it was more expensive than the limited edition Nosferatu coffin-coffin will be buried. Moreover, there is one Nosferatu The fragrance is in collaboration with Hereticfor those who care to spread the scent of a ghost wandering through a flower-filled funeral parlor.

Holidays that speak of bats and the end-of-year winter chill. A including continuing to release open versions of the card game Batman: The Animated Series version with chaotic “Joker” cards to hit more cards on the table.

And Walton Goggins drew the Billy Bible Bonkers baby with his “Walton Goggins Goggle”. It’s perfect for hitting the slopes, despite the head-scratching reasons behind why it’s just bringing it up, because the official ad feels like performance art. (But let’s be real, we can’t wait for an officer Fallout collaboration titled “Walton Goggins Ghoul Goggle Glasses”).

And Squid Game Season 2 features a deeply eyebrow-raising collaboration with McDonald’s in Australia. If fans purchase a Squid Game Happy Meal for adults, they will enter to win by carving their own Dalgona candy and scanning it in the MyMacca app to win an exclusive McDonald’s Squid Game Green Player Tracksuit or $100,000. Stateside viewers were left a little confused by the Domino’s Emergency pizza ad during the show’s climax, as it is a chillingly tone-deaf end-stage of capitalism. There are also official collaborations Puma with new sportswear and shoes and a Release a tech accessory through Casetify. At least with the first one, if you were in the game, you could wear gear that would identify your voice to end or continue the game, but let’s be real – we’re all in the game.

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