It’s that time of year again – snow is occasionally following, temperatures are lower, people are wearing scarves and warm hats and the various holidays are upon us. To that end, we’ve once again banded our heads together to offer you an eclectic list of picks that would make great gifts for anyone on your list this holiday season come Christmas/Kwanza/Festivus/ANTI-LIFE Day. And while Hanukkah has already begun, it’s not too late to buy your favorite Jewish friend (or your favorite Editor in Chief of your favorite Multiversity Comics) any one of these fun gifts. The choice is yours!
Read on below for personal picks from some of your favorite Multiversity staff members.
Matthew Meylikhov
Morning Glories Deluxe Collection Volume 2 ($39.99 retail)
Last year I recommended the first hardcover of the series, collecting the first 12 issues, so I’ll assume you bought it like I told you to and recommend the second. “Morning Glories” is my favorite book on the market today for reasons I’ve stated over and over and over again, and while I can admit this is a somewhat vain pick seeing as I now have a column in the book, I’ll note that none of that stuff is in the hardcover so I’m not just telling you to buy it because I helped. (Well, I did write the intro, but still.)
It’s an entertaining and dense mystery novel that is ripe for dissection and research, a comic that very much forces the reader to interact with it. I know that’s not for everyone, but for me it’s the most rewarding experience any comic affords me.
Uber Volume 1 Enhanced Hardcover ($34.99 retail)
Curiously missing from Amazon, “Uber” is one of those books that I really enjoy and find that nobody talks about, or nobody likes. It’s a difficult book to like, I suppose, considering it has to do with super-powered Nazis and it comes from a publisher known for reveling in gore in their comics; that it’s written by Kieron Gillen, most known for comics that often come with a quirky sensibility and light-hearted veneer over even the most serious of topics (see: “Journey into Mystery”) does make it more polarizing for people. It’s obviously a book that’s not going to speak to a lot of readers. But I find that with every month, the series grows sharper in tone and focus, and while it’s a very dark read and often a very dense one, it’s well worth checking out, especially in this jam-packed hardcover full of extras.
And I’ll also admit that I have an essay in the back of the book that I am rather proud of, so it may be worth picking the book up for that as well. Maybe.
S. ($35.00 retail)
The book I’m currently reading, “S.” is one of the most interesting novels I’ve ever delved into. Reminding me at times of “House of Leaves” (which is also great, though incredibly difficult to read), contained within the slipcase is two novels that compete for your attention in what I can only describe as an Attention Deficit Disorder nightmare. You get “The Ship of Theseus” by VM Straka, which is an interesting adventure story in its own right, but you also get the ‘real-life’ story of two students passing the book back and forth with notes in the margins and slips of newspaper and the like inserted between pages as they try and discover who VM Straka really was. “S.” is a book that is best seen rather than described, but for fans of stuff like “Morning Glories” or Lost, it’s a pretty incredible read.
NOS4A2 ($28.99 for hardcover, $17.99 for softcover)
I don’t get the chance to read a lot of novels during the year just because time is often non-existant, but I did get the chance to read all of Joe Hill’s latest “NOS4A2” and I adored it. Joe Hill has always been a writer whose work I’ve admired, from “Locke & Key” to “Horns,” but “NOS4A2” was/is one of his best. It’s a big book but it’s an incredibly light read, with engaging characters full of personality, all of whom see the world in such distinct shades that it’s very easy to get lost in the narrative. The whole book is structured like that of a fast-paced mini-series, and if you’re looking for a book that pretty much anyone can read and find something to love, I’d wager that this is probably one of the best books for that this year.
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Brian Salvatore
The Fifth Beatle ($19.99 retail)
“The Fifth Beatle” is a graphic novel from Vivek Tiwary and Andrew Robinson that chronicles the career of Brian Epstein, the former manager of the Beatles. It is an absolutely beautiful visual spectacle that tells a heartbreaking and often under shared story of one of the most important businessmen in the history of popular music. The perfect gift for the music fan, the comics fan, or the person you want to get further into either category.
“Venus and Mars” by Wings ($9.49 on MP3)
In many ways, 2013 has been the year of McCartney for me, and especially in terms of my appreciation for mid-period Wings, like this record. The real reason that this is on Multiversity, however, is the track “Magneto and Titanium Man,” a track that tells the story of not just its two titular characters, but also of the Crimson Dynamo – an obscure set of characters for 1976, but apparently McCartney was a Jack Kirby fan. The two even met in Los Angeles when Kirby presented McCartney with a piece of art featuring him and his wife, Linda, along with the characters from his song.
Fantastic Four by Jonathan Hickman Omnibus Volume 1 ($100 retail)
Simply put, the best “Fantastic Four” run of the modern era. Own the first half of it in a beautiful collection.
X-Men: The Last Stand Rifftrax ($3.99)
The only reason to revisit this clunker, except for allowing it to inhabit its proper place as the lull in your X-movies marathon, is to hear the Rifftrax guys goof on it. Best $4 you’ll spend all month.
Original art by Mike Norton (varying prices)
There is nothing like original art for a comic fan, but so much of it is prohibitively expensive. Not so the art of Mike Norton, artist of “Battle Pug,” “Revival” and “It Girl and the Atomics,” to name but a few, has an incredible selection of reasonably priced original art at his Cadence Comic Art page. If anyone is wondering, a Shazam! piece from Norton would like great on my wall…
Mark Tweedale
The Legend of Korra: Original Music from Book One ($9.19 retail)
Let’s face it, if someone wanted the first season of “The Legend of Korra”, they would have bought it back in July when it first came out. This is not the sort of thing you hold off on until Christmas (that would be a world gone mad). However, there are still many fans out there that don’t know that the soundtrack is also available, and I would be remiss in my duty as a soundtrack aficionado if I didn’t let the world know about it. Highlights include “Chi Blockers,”Amon,” “Before,” and my personal favorite “Being Patient / Beifong’s Sacrifice.”
Furthermore, if enough of these sell, we’ll get Avatar: The Last Airbender soundtracks too.
Hellboy Library Edition, Volume 6: The Storm and The Fury and The Bride of Hell ($49.99 retail)
A Hellboy library edition is a good gift for practically any comic fan. Volume 6 came out the middle of this year too, so there’s a good chance if you know a Hellboy fan, they’re probably still saving for this one. This volume includes “The Storm and the Fury” (the arc that brought Duncan Fegredo’s run on the comic to an end), several short stories from various artists (even one from Mike Mignola himself), and the sketchbook section is over seventy pages of incredible work, especially from Duncan Fegredo as he teases his experimentation with a style that would later evolve into this year’s “Hellboy: The Midnight Circus.” The sketchbook is so good that it alone would be enough of a selling point.
Hark! A Vagrant ($19.95 retail)
Kate Beaton’s web comic is so much fun, but curling up with an entire book of it is even better. I flicked through it quickly to figure out what I was going to say about it and three pages in I’m already laughing (This comic is to blame). And even as I’m typing this, I feel the urge to slide back to the book and continue reading. Must… resist…
Continued belowThe way Beaton turns literary characters and historical figures into raving lunatics is endlessly amusing to me, and I’m eager to introduce everyone I know to it (which would explain why so many of my friends got “Hark! A Vagrant” calendars last year).
The Complete Calvin & Hobbes ($175 for hardcover), $100 for softcover)
It’s hard to imagine someone that loves comics that wouldn’t appreciate this gift. Honestly, I don’t think such a person exists. These three volumes are incredibly beautiful, and I eagerly await a holiday during which I can read them all from start to finish. Featuring a detailed introduction from Bill Watterson himself, this truly is the complete collection, with all the comic strips, various paintings and covers, even the comics made specially for the treasury collections. Seriously, do I actually have to explain why this is awesome? It’s “Calvin & Hobbes” in the best possible presentation. That’s all you need to know.
Vince Ostrowski
Chew Smorgasbord Edition ($100 retail)
For the comic fan in your life that you’re okay spending a little more on. “Chew” is nothing short of one of the best comics on the stands whenever it gets released and if you haven’t been reading it, the Smorgasbord Edition is the perfect place to start. What makes “Chew” so great is that the premise is as simple and clever a pitch as you will ever hear (a detective who solves crimes by eating things to see the “history” of whatever it is he’s eaten), and yet John Layman and Rob Guillory have taken that and spun it into this huge, twisty, darkly comedic crime epic. It looks and reads like nothing else on the stands. It’s really something else.
Change ($14.99 retail)
For the comic fan in your life that doesn’t mind getting weird and personal. Ales Kot and Morgan Jeske’s “Change” was my favorite miniseries of the year, because it tells its story in such an inventive and personal way. Regarding the storytelling in “Change”, what some might mistake for obtuseness and pretension, I identify as personality, honesty, and heart.
SLIMED!: An Oral History of Nickelodeon’s Golden Age ($20 retail)
The earlier years of the Nickelodeon channel is a very important developmental chunk of pop culture history for me. I spent a lot of my childhood imagining what it would be like to run the Double Dare obstacle course. (I say goodnight to my signed headshot of Marc Summers every night). I marveled at the sometimes gross and unsettling animated antics of Ren & Stimpy. And The Adventures of Pete & Pete happens to be, for my money, one of the best things that’s ever been put on television. I’m a nostalgia junkie (and a lot of comic fans tend to be, so there’s my tie-in), and I think this is the perfect way to mainline those weird faded memories of my childhood in front of the TV back into my consciousness. The unbridled creativity of early Nick is was sort of drove me into the pop culture and media that I like to digest, think about, and write about today.
The Golden Age of DC Comics ($59.99 retail)
For the classic comics fan in your life. Caution: if you already have the “75 Years of DC Comics” book by Paul Levitz, this is mostly a double dip as it pulls much of the Golden Age era content from that book and reconfigures it. If you haven’t, then this is practically required reading for DC fans. Filled with gorgeous art, interviews, and great tributes to some of comic histories’ greatest talents, this tome is a reminder of better days for the publisher.
David Harper
An Array of Image Trade Paperbacks ($9.99 retail)
Did you know that many of Image’s first volume trades – like Lazarus, Saga, East of West and more – are only $9.99? You can’t get much better value than trades introducing a book for less than $10. Why fight it? Get some awesome comics for an inexpensive price for those that you love, and there are plenty of awesome books here for even non comic readers. I mean, who doesn’t love Saga?
Continued belowBoxers & Saints ($34.99 retail)
If you want the comic fan you know to get something they likely haven’t read that is about as good as you can get in comics, may I suggest Gene Luen Yang’s brilliant graphic novel set Boxers & Saints? This is one of the best comics of 2013, and two stories for the price of one Marvel hardcover!
ComiXology eGift Card ($10-100)
Did you know you can now give gift cards to ComiXology? For serious. This is a thing that you can do, and that is totally awesome. Digital comics are pretty rad, and there are many books – like Monkeybrain Comics titles like D4VE, Amazing Forest and The Stars Below – that you can only get digitally. Treat the comic fan you know right with a sweet ass ComiXology gift card.
Sherlock Series 1 and 2 on Blu Ray ($39.98 retail for Series 1, Series 2 each)
Who cares if it has nothing to do with comics. It’s Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman solving crimes. It’s the best thing ever. Get this for a comic fan even if they’re not interested because there aren’t people who can’t like this show. If they don’t, defriend them immediately, and I don’t mean on Facebook.
David Henderson
The Sandman Omnibus Volumes 1 & 2 ($150 retail for Volume 1, Volume 2 each)
Let me tell you a little bit about “The Sandman”: this was the first comic book I ever read that wasn’t directly tied to the DC or Marvel universe (save for, maybe, the first arc) and it changed my life. This book is one of the reasons I now write a webcomic and have piles and piles of story ideas I have to shop around. It’s why I look at the nature of storytelling in a way I never did before and, in a way, it’s why I’m writing this now. Because I wouldn’t be in the position I am without this comic. So to have the whole series collected in two beautifully bound hardcover collections is a Christmas miracle. Go on, change someone’s life with these books.
Lois Lane: A Celebration Of 75 Years ($39.99 retail)
I mean, sure, there is a book celebrating Superman’s 75 years, but let’s give Lois the spotlight for once, why don’t we? Lois has been around just as long as Superman has and has become a character just as important as Superman so why should her celebration book be overshadowed by his? Plus, the only issue worth reading in the Superman book is “Action Comics” #775 and you’d be better buying the Superman Vs. The Elite straight-to-DVD animated movie for that story.
DC Comics One Million Omnibus ($99.99 retail)
This is, I’d say, one of the more overlooked events in comics history and I don’t know why. Spinning out of and tying into Grant Morrison’s legendary “JLA” run (as well as “All-Star Superman” and “The Return Of Bruce Wayne” and almost everything Morrison did for DC after “JLA”), this is just a great event and it’s finally back in print. Seriously, I had to track down the separate issues to read this story, it felt like what living in the 80s must have felt like like. While the omnibus does collect every #1,000,000 issue that DC published to tie-in with the event and I don’t know if all of the are any good, the fact that this storyline is back in print should be great news for any Morrison fan.
Captain Marvel – Volume One: In Pursuit Of Flight ($14.99 retail)
Okay, time for something that isn’t a super expensive hardcover book. This is the perfect gift. The Perfect Gift. It’s cheap, it’s a great read, and I guarantee you everyone will love it. Plus, if anyone you give it to doesn’t love it, you then know to completely cut them from your life because they failed the test. I’m kidding, of course, but I stand by the fact that this is the perfect gift for someone you know who is trying to get into comics. It’s fun, it’s about a great character, it’s not laden with continuity and did I mention it’s fun? Hell, take the money you would spend on the “Sandman” omnibus..es? Omnibi? Whatever, take that money and spend it on copies of this book and hand it out to people on the street. Bring some holiday cheer to people.
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James Johnston
Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened ($17.99 retail)
“Hyperbole and a Half” is, without a doubt, one of the cutest webcomics on the internet. It’s also probably the cutest memoir ever. Now, collected into print form, you can physically spread Allie Brosh’s joy to others. Not only is she hilarious, but she’s touching, relatable, and kind of inspiring stories and draws the funniest/cutest faces. Even for someone who’s not into comics, this is an amazing gift; especially someone you know who might be in a down place. “Hyperbole and a Half” isn’t just an adorable webcomic, but it’s also weirdly inspiring. Emphasis on weirdly.
“No Blues” by Los Campesinos ($9.99 retail)
What’s that? This is Multiversity Comics, not Pitchfork dot com! Ha ha friend, that’s an easy mistake to make; and one I made for the first four months I worked for this site. Still, “No Blues,” the latest album from Welsh indie pop band Los Campesinos! is quite possibly the album of the year, compromising between the band’s early days as an indie-dance group with the winter ballads from the last album “Hello Sadness” to create something that redefines the band all over again. And if you didn’t like Los Campesinos! already, listen to “Avocado, Baby” which is the song of the year, no objections. Also, they’re a fairly significant part of “Phonogram: The Singles Club” which is a comic we all love written by Kieron Gillen who supplied LC! with the name for their second album, “We Are Beautiful, We are Doomed.” Comics!
Thor: God of Thunder Vol. 1 and 2 ($24.99 for Volume 1, Volume 2 each)
If you’re alive, you probably saw Thor: The Dark World. You might have even seen it with other people. “Friends” as you may call them. These friends may not like Thor that much, or comic books in general really, so what better way to turn them around than with what is probably the most definitive Thor story of the past ten years. With three Thor Odinsons from three different eras facing off against the best Thor villain of the modern age in an adventure that involves every god, past, present, or future, this is a truly epic tale. Of course, it is currently available only through two separate volumes, but it’s well worth it.
But wait? What about my friends who already like the Thor movies but really dislike Thor himself? Well, I’ve got the solution for you.
(Editor’s note: Oh, James, what have you turned this site into…)
Superhero Body Pillows (NSFW) ($60 retail)
That’s right. You can own the Prince of Lies, Loki Laufeyson. Of course before you can do that, you’ll need to purchase a body pillow from Solatin, who actually produces a number of high quality body pillows for other characters. I’m not even being sarcastic; I really like her art on a purely objective “I swear I didn’t buy the Hulkling one and kiss it tenderly” basis. Maybe these are meant to be purchased on your own, but they’d honestly probably be a much-appreciated gift for any Hiddle-Loki fans. Plus, if you’ve got a niece who frequents Tumblr, this bodypillow is a surefire way to never be invited to any annoying family gatherings ever again! Plus, one of these bodypillows is The Onceler from The Lorax. For sixty dollars you can hire someone to craft a pillow with his face on it you can make out with. I love the Internet.
Bonus: Olaf the Snowman Cardboard cutout ($34.97 retail)
While researching bodypillows (you know, casually) I came across a $35 cardboard cutout of Olaf the Snowman from the upcoming Disney film, Frozen. Not only can you buy this, give it to someone, or place it in their room while they’re asleep, but you can have it made “as a rush production.” They included an option for the people who need cardboard cutouts of characters from Disney movies that haven’t even been released yet as soon as possible. I don’t know what’s funnier, that or the fact that said people definitely exist.
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Matt Dodge
Daredevil Volume 5 ($19.99 retail)
Mark Waid and Chris Samnee’s run on “Daredevil” has been nothing short a revelation. A character known for being dark, gritty, and guilt ridden has become the star of one of the most enjoyable books on store shelves. What is perhaps most impressive is that the book has lost none of it’s dramatic heft or traditional characterization. Waid has scripted stories that show the real of heart of the character, while Samnee’s art is unique and gorgeous. Volume 5 collects the first story arc under the ‘Marvel Now’ banner, and is the perfect entry point for the series. Heck, it’s the perfect entry for comic books in general.
Batman Volume 3: Death of the Family ($24.99 retail)
I have made no secret of my love for Scott Snyder’s run on “Batman”. I sincerely think it will go done as one of the definitive takes on the character, and deserves to placed among the work of Grant Morrison and Dennis O’Neil. Not only are the stories themselves well-crafted and thrilling, but the art of Greg Capullo elevates the book to a whole different level. The “Death of the Family” had Batman face off against his arch-nemesis, the Joker, in the most twisted love story ever set in Gotham City. This is a great gift for anyone who only knows Batman from films, and looking to dive into the comic books.
George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire 5-Book Boxed Set ($49.95 retail)
Games of Thrones is the best show on television, and is the most epic story ever to hit the small screen. It’s actually feels more like a 30 hour movie, filled with kings, dragons, battles, monsters and a beheading or seven. If you’re not watching this, you’re missing out on something amazing. The third season will hit DVD and blu-ray in time for everyone to catch up in preparation for new episodes in the spring, complete with hours of extra’s and behind the scenes information. Dig in and enjoy, and keep your tissues ready. And for die-hard show fans, the fifth book, “A Dance of Dragons” has finally come out in paperback, and has been collected with the rest of the series. Perfect for people who want to spend even more time in Westeros.
The Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway ($22 retail)
On a non-nerd note, we have on of the most famous authors of all time. Most of us had slog through “The Old Man and the Sea” in high school english, but Hemingway’s true genius arguably lies in his short story. His first collection, “In Our Time”, changed my life, and all those stories are featured here as well. This might seem like an unusual gift, but for the right person it will be unforgettable.
Greg Matiasevich
The Best American Comics 2013 ($25 retail)
That title? Truth in advertising. This year’s volume of this series, edited by Jeff Smith in collaboration with Jessica Abel and Matt Madden, has either a full story or selection from a wide swath of comics’ best talent: Paul Pope, Brandon Graham, Alison Bechdel, Craig Thompson, Eleanor Davis, Derf Backderf, Tony Puryear… these are the names you’ve either already been hearing about or are going to in 2014. And you can give this 400-page compendium of comics awesomeness to a friend, family member, or your very own self for 25 bucks retail.
March: Book One ($14.95 retail)
We’ve talked about this book on Robots From Tomorrow. Rachel Maddow had all three creators on her show for an interview. This book is selling gangbusters. It’s career-defining work from Nate Powell. And a powerful telling of the life of one of the true remaining American heroes: Rep. John Lewis and his work for and during the Civil Rights Movement. Yes, it’s historically important but it’s also just damn good comics. And isn’t that what we want to give to people, especially those who haven’t seen damn good comics in a while (if ever)? Plus, at these prices, you can afford to give it to more than one person. And should.
Continued belowHip-Hop Family Tree Book 1 ($24.99 retail)
Also damn good comics is this bad boy from Ed Piskor. I have little to no background in hip-hop, but this first-in-a-series-of-volumes is going to change that. Ed Piskor is not only an excellent cartoonist and someone skiled at dropping the knowledge, he’s also STEEPED in this genre’s history. That in and of itself is a no-brainer, but his marrying that info with the stylings of a 1970’s Marvel Treasury Edition, down to the paper feel, color saturation, and design? How often do we get to find something new that touches so many old memories in the best way possible? Not very. Piskor kills it on this book, and if you want to impress fans of comics or hip-hop, you will give this as a gift (and let them see how Piskor shows us that the two are much closer groups than one might think…)
P. Craig Russell’s Guide to Graphic Storytelling Vol 1-3 ($29.95 retail for Volume 1, Volume 2, Volume 3 each)
Speaking of educational, these three videos by PCR (with a fourth volume coming in 2014) are a master class in telling story in pictures. Not only is Russell a sequential artist of the highest calibre, he KNOWS what he’s doing AND can break it down to laypeople in an easy-to-understand manner. Because he uses examples from his own body of work, when he’s telling you what the artist was thinking, that’s not second-hand info. And some of his examples are from his adaptations of opera and prose, so his storytelling choices aren’t just executing from a script, but rather getting from story to script and then to image. Essential for working artists, aspiring artists, aspiring writers, comics enthusiasts, anybody with a pulse…
DREDD 3D Blu-ray ($24.99 retail)
Make sure your friends have at least one decent comic book movie on-hand for when you visit them by giving them DREDD 3D on Blu-ray or DVD. Yeah, only me and six other people saw this in the theater, but it captured the spirit and tone of the character in a way few adaptations of any comics character to film ever have. Sentence their dismissal of Judge Dredd to 40 years in the Iso-Cubes by dropping the gavel of Karl Urban’s awesomeness on them with this bad boy. Also included is a nice 20-minute doc on the history of Dredd as a character in the comics. So etertaining AND educational! A comics fan with a copy of THE AVENGERS on Blu-Ray? Acceptable but tagged for further surveillance. A comics fan with a copy of DREDD 3D on Blu-Ray? Upstanding citizen. Don’t let your friends run afoul with the Law!
Mike Romeo
A Weekly Shonen Jump Subscription ($25.99)
If you’re looking for a holiday gift that’ll give you some huge bang for your buck, I’d suggest a subscription to Weekly Shonen Jump magazine. If you don’t know, WSJ is a long running manga anthology that’s available digitally here in the states (as well as lots of other places that aren’t Japan), and it constantly publishes some of the funnest comics running today. Each and every week WSJ subscribers receive a brand new issue to the digital device of their choosing (iOS, Android, PC, etc.). Page counts seem to fluctuate between 180 and 250 pages, so it should be enough to please even the most voracious of readers. By the end of a subscription cycle one will have received over 9,000 pages of comics, all for only $25 dollars. Well worth the investment, I’d say!
Chris Ware’s Building Stories ($50 retail)
Every few years a book is released that really pushes the boundaries of what comics can be. A fairly recent example of this is Chris Ware’s Building Stories. In this epic work Ware tells the tale of an apartment building, covering everything from it’s blueprints, to it’s tenants, to the bee living outside of it. But the real magic is in its presentation. Packaged in what can be described as a board game box, Ware visits as many ways to physically present comics as possible. In the box you’ll find some tiny little accordion books, some floppy comics, a hardcover, a Golden-style children’s book, newsprint, gigantic broadsheets and so much more. They can be read in any order, making whole thing an almost impulsive reading affair as you pick and choose where to go next. This is one of my favorite comics experiences ever, and would be perfect for anyone who enjoys what the medium of comics is capable of.
Continued belowThe Adventure Time Encyclopaedia: Inhabitants, Lore, Spells, and Ancient Crypt Warnings of the Land of Ooo Circa 19.56 B.G.E. – 501 A.G.E. ($19.95 retail)
I say, without hyperbole, that Adventure Time is one of the greatest shows on television. The show’s creators have created an amazing and expansive cast of characters and given them a world to inhabit that is like no other. To help keep track of it all, the good folks over at Abrams have published an Adventure Time encyclopedia that is every bit as imaginative as the show it chronicles. Told from the perspective of show character Hunson Abadeer (Marceline’s dad), with margin notes from Finn and Jake (heroes), this book collects maps of Ooo, Bmo’s instruction manual, a travel guide to the various kingdoms, and so much more.
Something From Zac Gorman (varying prices)
I think that a part of being a comics reader is the quest to find that initial spark of joy and excitement we felt when we first discovered these brightly colored pamphlets. To me, no artist encapsulates those early, formative experiences quite like Zac Gorman. His art fills me with an almost overwhelming nostalgia that speaks directly to the child in me. Whether it’s a strip about Link’s adventures or a print celebrating the many hours spent playing Goldeneye, Gorman’s work reminds its viewer of the simple joys of adolescence. He’s got a collection of strips called Magical Game Time as well as plenty of prints and tees to choose from.
You Are a Cat! ($17 retail)
This lavishly illustrated choose-your-own-adventure book by Montreal comic artist Sherwin Tjia is THE gift for the cat person in your life. With a harrowing narrative that guides you from page to page, and illustrations that immerse you in the ground-level perspective of a cat, the story is by turns heartwarming and terrifying. Our main character, Holden Catfield, experiences everything from happy cuddle sessions to terrifying run-ins with shady characters, not to mention the darker side of the family he lives with. It’s not for the faint of heart, but those with a grimmer sense of humor – and, of course, an appreciation for what cats bring to everyday life – will have a great time flipping back and forth through this unique book.
The Green River Killer ($24.99 retail)
Speaking of books that aren’t for the faint of heart, this is an appropriately horrifying choice for the true crime fan in your family. This is a riveting account of the interrogation of serial killer Gary Leon Ridgway, with a narrative that occasionally flashes back to the original investigation of Ridgway’s crimes. Written by Jeff Jensen, the son of main investigator Tom Jensen, and illustrated in stark black and white by Jonathan Case, this book adds up to something much greater than the sum of its parts. In the end, it’s both a tribute to a hardworking family man, and an exploration of a fascinating criminal mind. And with all its details and complexities, it would make a nice bridge-to-comics read for anyone interested in police procedural.
Hilda and the Midnight Giant($24 retail)
Now for a more child-friendly pick. This gorgeous comic centres on Hilda, who lives with her mother in a house in a valley. But the valley is far from empty: tiny invisible elves live there, and sometimes a sad giant visits at night. What could they all want? Hilda is intent on finding out, and with cleverness and good humour, she certainly does. Along the way, Pearson’s colourful and precise art gets across a great sense of fun, putting forth all kinds of fantastical creatures as well as playing around with scale. It all adds up to a charming read for kids and grown-ups alike – the kind of book you want to return to again and again.
Brandon Burpee
Uncanny X-Force by Rick Remender Omnibus ($75.99 retail)
This is easily one of my favorite runs on a comic. It had everything you could ever want from a team book. Now you can have it all. While it won’t be out by X-Mas I know I personally would be more than happy to know it had been preordered for me!
Continued belowBatman Arkham Origins ($59.99 retail)
The third outing for the franchise. I’ve heard mixed things but having played the other two I can’t help but want to get back in the batsuit and punch some Arkham inmates at least one more time! Also, there is a 66′ Batsuit skin! Yes!
The Authentic 1966 Batmobile from Hammacher Schlemmer ($200,000 retail)
I would gladly accept this as my only X-Mas present from here until the end of time to offset the cost. I mean do I really need to explain why I or any other comic fan would and/or should want this? I mean just look at that thing! Holy fucking awesome wheels Santa Claus!
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