Photos courtesy of Apocalypse Pals
After a tumultuous year, it only makes sense that a Briarcliff native’s twisted toys made BuzzFeed’s list of the best presents to gift this season.
We could all use “a friend at the end,” right?
That’s what Briarcliff native Ethan Code, thinks. He and his wife, Kristin, recently released a line of adorable, eschatological plush dolls (and enamel pins!) to help everyone get through whatever horrifying end 2020 has in store for us.
“When my wife, Kristin, and I first started dating, we both were avid fans of the show The Walking Dead and enjoyed watching zombie movies together,” says Code. “As a gift, Kristin handmade two dolls of us as zombie hunters with severed zombie heads and bloody tools. Affectionately, I started to refer to them as my Apocalypse Pals.”
The stuffed figures, which measure about 14 inches long, each come with styles and accessories along with suitably punny names befitting their particular end of days: Rylee Wattz for the robot apocalypse, Mason Feral from the zombie apocalypse, Faye Talus from the alien apocalypse, Eva Lucian from the mutant apocalypse, and Shawn Curie from the nuclear apocalypse. Each doll also comes with a short comic detailing its backstory and adventures, and retails for $24.99.
“The comics, printed on hangtags attached to the plush toys, are specific for each character,” says Code. “We hope that their wildly different stories and personalities capture the imagination and hearts of those who purchased or were gifted them.”
Equal parts cute and creepy — and not just a little tongue-in-cheek — the dolls are already a popular gift this season, landing on BuzzFeed’s Best Gifts for 2020 list. Enamel pins fitting each and every preferred apocalypse are also available, along with official Apocalypse Pal iron-on patches, so you can take your love for your pal wherever you go.
Think of it like “My Buddy and Me,” but with more mayhem.
