Who can forget the brutally memorable opening sequence of The Witcher’s first episode? All is quiet — too quiet — as a baby deer nibbles grass on the shoreline of a foreboding swamp. Suddenly, a kikimora bursts out of the water, frantically flailing its giant, spidery limbs in an attempt to subdue Geralt of Rivia, disarming him of his trusted silver sword. It’s a harrowing struggle which nearly sees the drowning of our hero, but through sheer will, he reunites with his blade, sealing the fate of the eight-legged monster with the severing of its head. Here, we honor that inaugural clash with the aptly named First Encounter Geralt, a beautifully sculpted archival resin statue, lovingly hand-painted with an exquisite attention to detail. It’s a delicate and marvelous mantlepiece — inspired by a fan-favorite illustration byTracy Tubera— and the first collaboration betweenNetflixand premium collectible purveyors,iam8bit. The statue is housed in an elegant collector’s case, featuring a slipoff O-Sleeve, protective foam padding and premium embellishments like foil, suede and spot varnish, as well as a hand-numbered 5x7” artist card, featuring the original illustration byTracey Tubera, suitable for framing. Every possible detail was considered in order to create the penultimate unboxing experience.
