All of us have at least one person in their lives for whom it is difficult — if not nearly impossible — to shop during the holiday season. And more likely than not, if you’re not a geek yourself, that person you have such anxiety over every year probably is.
You see, being a geek is a lifestyle, and as part of that lifestyle, devoted geeks pretty much know what’s out there to buy — whether it’s a new book, a graphic novel, a game, etc. — and often just go and buy it themselves. The dedicated fan knows when that new ultimate Game of Thrones Blu-ray box set is coming out, and will jump on it and pre-order it before you even start compiling your holiday card list.
But never fear: There are gifts out there that even the diehard nerd might not be aware of, and even if they are, it might not be something that they think of purchasing themselves. And that’s where this list comes in: Below is a sampling of less obvious gifts that you can pick up for that special geek in your life — and might actually surprise them with. You’ll have the satisfaction of giving someone a present they enjoy, while they’ll marvel at how well you did your homework and found something they missed. A win-win!
Sold by Goodr Sunglasses
These Star Wars-themed 'interstellar sun repellers' (sunglasses to you and me) are housed in striking black and silvery-white frames and made for the Imperial minion who likes to go running, biking, and 'beasting.' Fully polarized and constructed to prevent slippage while sweating and bouncing while running, they even come with their own origin story that, shall we say, allows the Empire to spin its own alternative facts — in other words, The Empire Did Nothing Wrong.
Sold by Dark Horse Comics
Game of Thrones may have come to its controversial end in 2019, but that doesn’t mean the politics and intrigue of the Seven Kingdoms stopped there. And how better to acknowledge the power of that GoT fan in your life then presenting them with the pin signifying that they are the Hand of the King — only the second most powerful person in Westeros after the King himself. This striking emblem is made of zinc alloy and based on the actual prop used in the show.
Sold by Dark Horse Comics
Is that geek you're shopping for still a fan of Daenerys Targaryen, even if her story didn't quite turn out the way they might have hoped? Then this Hand of the Queen pin can be the way to show allegiance to the Mother of Dragons. It's modeled after the one that Dany gave to Tyrion Lannister after he counseled her and even ruled Meereen in her name for a while. Made of zinc alloy like the Hand of the King pin, it's an eternal symbol of Khaleesi's gratitude.
Sold by Goodr Sunglasses
The same company (Goodr) that brought you The Empire Did Nothing Wrong has also produced these little beauties, which will cast a spell on the geek you're gifting with their magical blue frames and gold lenses. Described as having a 'classic shape with new levels of style and performance,' these shades are built to sit comfortably on even the pointiest wizard nose and won't let their owner down while running, biking, or fighting Balrogs. 
Sold by goodr Sunglasses
We designed these shades to look good and fit comfortably on your face whether you're running laps on a track or perfecting your avatar. No slip. No bounce. All polarized. All fun.
Sold by Dark Horse Comics
An Umbrella Academy umbrella — why didn't we think of that? The dedicated fan of Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá's acclaimed comic book is going to flip over this handsome and useful item, with its black wood handle, classic black and white panels, and the Umbrella icon on the four white exterior panels and the logo printed on the interior. Going out in bad weather will be much more fun for any fan of the Academy once they unwrap this baby.
Sold by goodr Sunglasses
Glare-reducing, polarized lenses and UV400 protection that blocks 100% of those harmful UVA and UVB rays. Plus, no one wearing goodr running sunglasses has ever been attacked by a leopard (as far as we know).
Sold by Dark Horse Comics
Playing cards fit for a king or queen! This deck features a beautiful antiqued gold and silver motif and a variety of characters are portrayed on the face cards as well as the Jokers. Standard-size deck with 52 cards and 2 jokers.
Sold by goodr Sunglasses
We use special grip coating to construct our frame to help eliminate slippage when sweating. Our frame is snug and lightweight with a comfortable fit to prevent bouncing while running.
Sold by Dark Horse Comics
Hellboy creator Mike Mignola has one of the most distinctive styles in comic book history, and his demonic anti-hero was an iconic figure even before he began starring in his own movies. So any longtime fan of Hellboy or his universe will not only love this wrapping paper, featuring Hellboy and other supernatural entities, but will probably preserve it, frame it, and hang it on a wall. So it’s like two presents for the price of one!
Sold by Dark Horse Comics
Dragon Age: Inquisition, the epic roleplaying series from Bioware, includes beautiful vistas and incredible possibilities with an unparalleled story set in a vast, changeable landscape. The creative team has provided us with beautiful artwork to create an impressive deck of cards.
Sold by Dark Horse Comics
The Eisner-winning The Umbrella Academy is not only one of the most acclaimed comic book series of the past 15 years but it's become a successful show on Netflix as well. All the major members of this crazy, dysfunctional family of superheroes are represented on the three sheets and four labels included in the package, featuring the magnificent artwork of Gabriel Bá. Like the Hellboy wrapping paper, it may be a tough call whether to use this or display it!
Sold by Dark Horse Comics
This set of playing cards features designs from the team behind the mega-popular game Plants vs. Zombies. This deck has 52 cards plus two unique jokers: Nutter and Imposter.
Sold by Dark Horse Comics
Deluxe, high-quality journal featuring artwork from the fifth installment of Dice's iconic first-person shooter. 192 pages, includes bookmark and pocket for notes, stickers, or any game-related ephemera you want to collect. With a soft-touch cover for your battle-worn hands.
