A good gift guide operates like a comic. It's a mirror and a doorway. We hope you see yourself and the world in ours.
We survived another year around the sun, and that's no small victory. It's everything. So, let's celebrate with a little shopping, a little giving, and a little understanding. Our Comic Book Holiday Gift Guide 2024 Edition could be viewed as a crass grab for clicks. Sure, we'll concede a smidge to that, but mostly, we're profound lovers of gift guides and the opportunities they create for readers. As two individuals who put everything of themselves into the shopping season, desperately stressing over procuring the perfect gift for a loved one, we've read many, many holiday gift guides. Creating our own satisfies our creativity as curators and serves as a wishlist function for us, too.
Jack Kirby said, "Our dreams make us large." When you crack open a comic, you enter the world's imagination. The story within is the creation of thousands, millions, billions of other stories that came before. You're connecting to humanity. You're connecting to yourself. You were small before. You're a little bit larger now.
A comic is a mirror and a door. You see yourself, and you find others through it. Last year's CBCC Comic Book Holiday Gift Guide was mainly concerned with our philosophy around gift-giving. Everything we said then, we still hold onto today (and you can read that here). With the Comic Book Holiday Gift Guide 2024, we deeply considered the transportive power of comics and what they can offer us in the months and years ahead. What you'll find below are stories that had a tremendous impact on us as readers. You'll see a few of the year's best books and a few others that seemingly slipped past the majority's radar. And trinkets. You'll find a lot of trinkets as well.
(Psst, the Comic Book Holiday Gift Guide 2024 art above is illustrated by Elliot Dickson. You should also shop his merch shop HERE)
Comic Book Holiday Gift Guide 2024 - Cheap (Under $20)
Fantagraphics Van Vinyl Sticker ($3.33)
When we first visited Seattle, one of our main goals was to witness the famous Fantagraphics van in person. Through the publisher's kindness, they obliged and gave us a tour of their offices as a bonus. The van no longer runs, but it sits proudly in the Fantagraphics driveway, wrapped in doodles from legendary cartoonists like Jim Woodring, Daniel Clowes, Jaime Hernandez, and others. Now, you don't need to trek across the country to appreciate its wonder. You can slap it on your Trapper Keeper thanks to recreation artist Jeremy Eaton and designer Kayla E.
Absolute Batman #1 Noir Edition ($4.99)
We lust after artist editions but have only acquired a few thanks to sales, friends looking to unload, and some serious penny-pinching. So, when DC Comics dropped Absolute Batman #1 Noir Edition, and we discovered that it's not merely a black and white book but one built from the original scans of Nick Dragotta's art, we had to take a moment to collect our collective jaws off the floor. This is an essential, nearly five-dollar purchase for the art freak in your life.
DC Compact Editions ($9.99 Each)
While we already have most of these titles, it's hard not to re-buy them given the price and comfortable-in-your-hand size. The entire run of Wonder Woman: Earth One for ten bucks? Get out of here! The DC Compact Compacts were the talk of the town this year and with good reason. Comics were once the common person's medium because they were reasonably cheap. It seems unlikely we'll ever get back to that place, but formats like these DC Compact Comics sure help during the shopping season. Do you have a curious cousin or niece in your life? Drop one of these in their stocking. Blow their young mind with Trial of the Catwoman or American Vampire. And PS, The New Frontier is coming next year. We'll buy a few just to plop in the Free Reading Libraries in our neighborhood.
Selling Superman ($11.96)
We watched Selling Superman a few weeks ago when it was only available on the website, but the four-part docuseries is now rentable on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and Google Play. As we discussed on our Patreon, it's not a perfect experience - some of the perspectives on comic collectors and general pop culture enthusiasts are cringe - but the overall narrative surrounding Darren Watts unloading his father's 300,000 comics, including Superman #1, is irresistible. What is the value of a comic? Is a comic still a comic once it's slabbed? These questions had us debating in our apartment for weeks.
Support You Local Comic Shop Attire ($12)
If you're a Wednesday Warrior like us, you spend a lot of time and money in your local comic book shop. Our store is Big Planet Comics in Vienna, Virginia, and we tend to think of it as our little sanctuary, and sometimes we don't consider them when it comes to gift-giving. We're trying to change that mindset. Your LCS needs you more during the holiday season than ever. For those family members who are impossible to shop for, take a chance on them this year, get them those DC Compact Comics, and buy them from your shop. And while you're there, see if your shop has some cool swag. Let the world know where you shop by wearing one of their shirts or sporting one of their totes. Be a champion for comics in your neighborhood. Finally, you can support stores outside your neighborhood by visiting and purchasing from their website. Spread the love.
Unico: Awakening Vol. 1 ($12.99)
Scholastic Graphix is a miraculous publisher, creating new comic book maniacs yearly with their slate. Unico: Awakening Vol. 1 might be their most tantalizing release this year, as it's a clever and extremely cute reboot of Osamu Tezuka's classic story. Writer Samuel Sattin and It's Jeff artist Gurihiru offer a modern aesthetic while maintaining the Godfather of Manga's emotional core. The dream, of course, is that it will send young readers backward, a gateway where Dororo, Astro Boy, and Buddha reside.
Search and Destroy Volume 1 ($14.00)
Like Unico: Awakening, Search and Destroy is reworking a classic Tezuka saga. Atsushi Kaneko transports Dororo from feudal Japan to a nightmarish future. In the process, updating the themes and the aesthetic. Kaneko's storytelling rivals Tezuka's, and his design work is wholly original. Search and Destroy is a gnarly book where the central character's rage pours through the story via shockingly brutal but utterly compelling action sequences. Special bonus: the Fantagraphics edition was accomplished in partnership with podcasting greats Mangasplaining.
Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees ($17.99)
In our circles, it seems like everyone has already read and had their mind melted by Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees. The series was a runaway success in the direct market, instantly transforming cartoonist Patrick Horvath into a must-read creator. However, the world is a lot larger than the one occupied by the Wednesday Warrior. This comic, which smashes the vibes of Richard Scarry with Dexter, an elevator pitch that's proven impossibly seductive, is now available in trade paperback form. The new format will undoubtedly allow the story to travel much further into the bookstore world and beyond.
The Call of Cthulhu ($19.99)
Adapting Lovecraft rarely works. We can think of a few wonderful movies, but those usually go way off script or push the material into a totally new tonal realm. Gou Tanabe never misses with his Lovecraft adaptations. While he certainly reveals much more than Lovecraft ever did, those revelations live up to and sometimes exceed the author's imagination. Tanabe's silver ink creates an alien landscape, distancing itself from the usual fare, and his melodramatic character expressions reach the insane heights required by the stories. Dark Horse Comics collects the original Japanese release in one sturdy digest volume that fits snugly in your hands and is perfect for nightlight bedtime reading.
Queer Mythology: Epic Legends from Around the World ($19.99)
Full disclosure: author Guido A. Sanchez is a good friend and co-host of the excellent comic book podcast Dear Watchers. Nevertheless, Queer Mythology: Epic Legends from Around the World is an essential item this Holiday season. The book operates as a tour through global myths, revealing how they connect us and who we were when these stories originated. It's a bridge between the past and present, and one that bad actors would not like us to cross or even see. Some of these stories you might recognize, and others will be new to you. The LGBTQIA+ community has been present since storytelling's creation, and books like this one are powerful ammunition against willful ignorance.
Comic Book Holiday Gift Guide 2024 - Affordable (Under $60)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Black, White, and Green ($21.99)
If you've purchased a Turtle comic at any point in the last two months, you've probably seen an ad for this trade paperback accompanied by our pull quote, "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Black, White, and Green is the most exciting TMNT comic in years." With the series wrapped, our belief in that statement has only strengthened. This anthology series allowed creators like Declan Shalvey, Jesse Lonergan, Jock, Paulina Ganucheau, Patrick Gleason, Riley Rossmo, and others to go off! It recalls the glory days of Mirage Studios when you would have artists Richard Corben and Rick Veitch apply their wizardry to Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird's concept, often straying wildly from the original character designs. Turtles comics have always been an artist's playground, and we need space for visionaries to stretch convention. Apparently, this series was only planned as a four-issue mini, but if enough of you pick up this trade paperback, we're sure we'll get more radical books like this one.
Breaking the Chain: The Guard Dog Story ($22.99)
Mutts has thrived in newspapers for the last thirty years, supplying heartfelt, empathetic, and humorous stories daily. Patrick McDonnell puts everything of himself into his comics and nowhere is that dedication more evident than in Breaking the Chain: The Guard Dog Story. The titular pooch was initially designed to be an antagonist. However, McDonnell couldn't see the villain in those earliest sketches, so the big bruiser became the representative for all those ignored and abused dogs across the land. He kept Guard Dog chained for decades, wanting to keep the conversation around animal cruelty alive, but last year, he finally freed the hound. Breaking the Chain tells that story, including letters and messages from dozens of Mutts readers, discussing Guard Dog's impact on their lives. This book will have you feeling ALL the emotions.
Comic Book Couples Counseling Merch ($23.00)
Shameless self-promotion time! A few weeks ago, we finally opened our TeePublic Merch store, which features our new logo, designed and illustrated by Jesse Lonergan, with letters by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou. We adore our Lovebirds mascots, and we're excited to see so many people appreciating them, too. You can get Comic Book Couples Counseling T-shirts starting at $23 (although you know how TeePublic works, they're constantly dropping prices, and you can currently snatch a tee for $15), as well as coffee mugs, totes, buttons, and stickers. From now until the end of the year, all proceeds we make will be donated to The Trevor Project. So, get some cool convention gear and help a worthy cause as a bonus.
Hobtown Mystery Stories Vol. 1: The Case of the Missing Men ($24.99)
Think the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew, but directed by David Lynch. We shouldn't have to write anymore. You're sold already. Originally published in black-and-white years ago, Oni Press has re-released the first two volumes (The Case of the Missing Men, The Cursed Hermit) but added the rich colors of Jason Fischer-Kouhi. We were initially skeptical, as we can be black-and-white snobs, but now that we've experienced these odd tales in color, we can't imagine them any other way. Even more exciting, a new third volume called The Secret of the Saucer will arrive next year. If you've read Ed Brubaker and Marcos Martín's Friday series and want more and weirder, creators Kris Bertin and Alexander Forbes deliver.
X-Men: The Manga Remastered ($25.00)
The manga we've waited years to read is finally available again in the States, this time in a big chonky edition. Created shortly after the success of the X-Men nineties cartoon, these stories push Jubilee to the forefront and carry a bombastic boob-tube energy. The comic may be thick, but it reads quickly, and the only downside is that we have to wait until March for the next volume. X-Men: The Manga does not contain the emotional wallop of the recent X-Men '97 Disney Plus series, but it has enough joy to carry you through the dry spell to the next season.
Batman: City of Madness ($29.99)
Throw a rock, and you'll hit a Batman book. It's easy to resent the character's popularity, but one should also resist the easy, negative impulse. Especially considering how many crazy good Batman comics there are out there right now. Batman: City of Madness is a stunning, singular creation inspired by the iconic Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on a Serious Earth. Writer/artist Christian Ward avoids endless winks and nods, preferring to explore the genuine pain at the center of Bruce Wayne and Gotham's story while launching it into a nourishing cosmic horror subgenre. The series concluded early in the year and is now available in a magnificent, treasury-sized hardcover. Grab it off the shelf from your local comic book shop and give it a gander. We'd be surprised if you returned it to its original place. This one is going home with you.
Pocket Full of Rain Expanded Edition ($30.00)
You should have one rule in life. Never miss a Jason comic. The Norwegian cartoonist has been a staple since we first married - his anthropomorphic characters riffing on classic literature, cinema, and music, both highbrow and low. Pocket Full of Rain is an expanded edition featuring a classic Jason comic stuffed with new bits and pieces, including some of his earliest non-anthropomorphic work. Weird. We're tracking our package and waiting for its arrival in the coming days.
Red Sonja: Consumed ($30.00)
Gail Simone is a treasure. We follow her wherever she goes, whether or not we have any previous connection to the material. We've had some experience with Red Sonja, mostly a comic book mini-series here and there, and our Brad still has a compulsion to regularly re-watch the Brigitte Nielsen movie. Still, the reason to nab this book is that it's Gail Simone's debut novel, which is fabulous. We managed to score an advanced reader copy at New York Comic Con this year, this time thanks to another Dear Watchers co-host, Rob Ribar, and we ripped through the book in a few days. Simone is doing her own thing, but Robert E. Howard and that Hyperborean vibe is absolutely present. Red Sonja: Consumed is fun, but there's a lot of hurt present in these characters, too. It's complex and magnetic, pulling the reader in until the story is done.
Somna ($30.00)
We love a jam comic. Somna is two artists laying it down on the same page, encouraging each other to bring out their best. Becky Cloonan and Tula Lotay, writing and drawing for the first time together, explore the witch hunts of 1600s England and serve up a sexy, spooky, irresistible comic. DSTLRY binds everything in an equally sumptuous hardcover book, challenging other publishers to rise to their artistry.
Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters Paperback ($34.99)
Oh, hey! This is a carry-over from last year's Comic Book Holiday Gift Guide, but it's moved into the affordable section thanks to a brand-spanking new paperback edition. Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters by Laura Samnee and Chris Samnee remains one of our favorite series of the last ten years. It's a bright, emotionally evocative sibling adventure stuffed with strange landscapes and even weirder creatures. It's also a true all-ages comic. You can give it to your grandfather or grandchild, and they will enjoy it thoroughly.
I'm So Glad We Had This Time Together ($35.00)
If we were to record our end-of-the-year podcast episodes today, we'd probably name I'm So Glad We Had This Time Together the Best Book of 2024. Maurice Vellekoop's graphic memoir took eleven years to accomplish, and that time and consideration radiate from every gorgeous panel. It's the saga of his life, starting with his strict Calvinist upbringing, its impact on his identity, and the long climb he took to solidify his self. Through the process, he falls in love with art and its many forms but gets trapped in it, too. I'm So Glad We Had This Time Together contains a lot of pain, and it's difficult to read at many points, but it's a powerful human endeavor, and we're so grateful that Vellekoop shared it with us in this form.
Ooozebrew 12-Pack Pistachio Vanilla Cold Brew ($39.99)
What was the Secret of the Ooze? Pistachio vanilla! Pop Culture Coffee has the delicious energy boost for the Turtle maniac in your life, and it is a 12-pack of Oozebrew cold brew. Now, we have yet to sample from this fountain of youth, but we're preparing to do so. And if a TCRI can of Pistachio Vanilla is not your thing, you can also sample some of their drinks from their Ghostbusters, Star Trek, and Return of the Living Dead licenses.
Extremity Deluxe Edition Hardcover ($49.99)
With the recent success of Transformers and The Moon is Following Us, Daniel Warren Johnson is on his way to becoming a household name amongst comic book fanatics. Suppose you're new to his unique blend of heartfelt badassery. In that case, it's high time you venture into his back catalog, devouring books like Do a Powerbomb, Wonder Woman: Dead Earth, Murder Falcon, and Extremity. The last book just had a hugely victorious Kickstarter campaign for a Signature Edition, but if you did not get in on that, don't worry. Skybound Entertainment and Image Comics also just released a new Deluxe Edition with a much more affordable price tag, and it is as pretty as a comic can get. Extremity is where Johnson first teamed with superstar colorist Mike Spicer, creating a legendary collaboration. As the synopsis highlights, you'll recognize a little Mad Max and Studio Ghibli within its pages, but the stew is one hundred percent original. It is a family saga crammed with action, anger, and artistic passion. You know, a must-read.
The Moon and Serpent Bumper Book of Magic ($49.99)
New Alan Moore. 'Nuff said, right? Done in collaboration with Steve Moore (no relation) and six other artists, including John Coulthart, Steve Parkhouse, Rick Veitch, Melinda Gebbie, Ben Wickey, and the late great Kevin O'Neill, The Moon and Serpent Bumper Book of Magic is a gargantuan tome expressing the many forms magic can take. It's playful, rock-solid beautiful, and mesmeric. It's a comic you don't devour in a sitting. You take your time with this one, cracking its spine, reading a bit, and pondering that bit for much longer after you walk away from it. Too often, when Alan Moore is involved, we want to dwell on his relationship with the medium and past publishers. We haven't spent nearly enough time discussing the killer storytelling he still accomplishes with astonishing collaborators. Do not let this book slip past you before the year is out.
Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow Deluxe Edition ($49.99)
Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is one of the most brilliantly beautiful comics of the last ten years, and it deserves a well-built book to hold it. This Summer, we got it, and it's been sitting within reach of our living room couch ever since. It's a comic that calls to you for repeat browsing and study. Bilquis Evely creates a mythological cosmos, and Tom King propels characters through it with a propulsive purpose. On one level, it's a revenge quest. On the other, it's a reckoning with unimaginable horror and catastrophe. You'll never read a Kara Zor-El story the same way after. Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is character-defining.
Book Nook Reading Valet ($50.00)
Reader, treat yourself. Make a meal out of your comic. Set aside time and space for the experience. When you do so, you engage with the material actively, igniting deeper thought and pleasure. This Uncommon Goods Book Nook Reading Valet has a spot for your coffee or tea, reading glasses, and a wooden tent to rest your comic without losing your page. It's a little extra, but you deserve a little extra.
Comic Book Storage and Display Box ($59.99)
And speaking of a little extra, how about the short box to end all short boxes? Look, we love the classic cardboard versions from BCW. Our apartment is practically built on them. However, we know you have certain comics worthy of extra attention. Maybe it's your complete run of The 'Nam or the Todd McFarlane Spider-Mans. These books deserve a more rarefied space, a box that spotlights them and draws conversation from visiting friends and family. "Hey, what ya got in here?" We found this Comic Book Storage and Display Box on Etsy, and it's tempting us something awful. One may not do.
Comic Book Holiday Gift Guide 2024 - Expensive (Over $60)
GI Joe: A Real American Hero Compendium One ($64.99)
Got to get tough, Yo Joe! The Marvel GI Joe: A Real American Hero comics were the first comics our Brad ever read, and he's returned to them repeatedly throughout the years. They're of a moment, but writer Larry Hama never dismissed his gig as minor work. He put his military experience into these stories and a whole heap of heart. Also, GI Joe, as Joshua Williamson and Tom Reilly have been showing off in the recent Energon Universe reboot, is a really weird series. These comics are as much science fiction and fantasy as action adventure. The new Skybound Entertainment Compendium gathers the first fifty issues in this historic run, which is still going on three hundred-plus issues later.
Fantastic Four: Full Circle Expanded Edition ($65.00)
Fantastic Four: Full Circle is more than a love letter to the Silver Age family and its co-creator, Jack Kirby. It's a mission statement from Alex Ross to MCU mastermind Kevin Feige. This is how you do these characters correctly. Ross was exhausted from watching one mediocre to bad adaptation after another. He understands the might these characters are capable of and the wonder they should be exploring, and he created Full Circle as a guiding light for other creators to follow. Abrams ComicArts released the book last year in a prestige graphic album format, and this year, they've expanded upon it, loading up the book with backmatter exposing Alex Ross' Fantastic Four philosophy. The new edition demands time and attention.
Marvel: Unforgettable Stories ($100)
Curation is an art. Obviously, anyone putting together a Comic Book Holiday Gift Guide like this one would think so. We've all read collections that feel like jumbles. Greatest Hits albums could contain the most popular songs, but the best ones are those that categorize "Great" beyond monetary success. We know the stories that birthed the Marvel Universe, but those are not necessarily the comics that reveal the company's brilliance and staying power. Jordan Blum and Patton Oswalt, the comic geeks behind our beloved Minor Threats stories, were tasked by The Folio Society to assemble Marvel's most Unforgettable Stories. Some choices are obvious - ya gotta have The Amazing Spider-Man #33. Others, less so. Matt Fraction and David Aja's Hawkeye #1? Hell yeah. In addition, The Folio Society collects these tales with a paper quality that matches the brilliance of the art. No ugly gloss glare here.
Usagi Yojimbo Jade City Foods Master Set ($135)
2024 marks Usaig Yojimbo's fortieth anniversary, so you might as well throw a party. Jade City Foods, in collaboration with cartoonist Stan Sakai, has concocted multiple Usagi Yojimbo confections, including a 3-pack tea set, a 3-pack cocoa set, a canister of matcha tea, and a five-pack hot sauce set. You can buy them individually or go all in with this Master Set. We've already partaken in the hot sauces, and the heat range travels from mild to oh-my-gawd hot. They give you whatever you need to add to your chosen hot sauce conveyance.
Batman: Year One Artist's Edition ($150)
There are Artist Editions and then there are ARTIST EDITIONS. David Mazzucchelli's Batman: Year One Artist Edition hit the streets earlier this year, and you probably saw all your favorite artists drooling over their copies via social media. Despite Mazzucchelli vehemently opposing the entire concept of Artist Editions in his introduction. Is Batman: Year One even Batman: Year One without Richmond Lewis's colors? We see your point, Mr. Mazzucchelli, but we're still ridiculously thankful to have some much-needed close-up and intimate time with your lines, sir. We held onto our copy, which was unopened for weeks, because the book demanded serious study, and we required proper time to partake in the education.
Batman Shadow Black 2-Piece Set ($170)
The Condiment King no longer has ownership of Gotham's kitchens. Dalstrong has produced an 8-inch Batman Chef Knife and a 3.75-inch paring knife. They're ready to devastate whatever meat or veggies you put before them and will have everyone in your household screaming, "Yes, chef!" They're stealthy sharp, durable, and have an ergonomic handle. Plus, they're immediately giftable, coming packaged in a gorgeously sleek container.