Comicon Holiday Gift Guide 2024: Comics & Graphic Novels

Greetings and happy holidays, no matter what seasonal holiday you celebrate! Welcome to Comicon.com’s annual holiday gift guide. Whether you’re here looking for ideas for a geeky family member, for a few ideas for your personal wish list, or just to do a little shopping for yourself, you’ve come to the right place.

Welcome to our first entry, covering comics and graphic novels! So let’s just jump in!

GI Joe Compendium Vol. 1 (Skybound) by Larry Hama, Herb Trimpe, et al.

We’ve talked a lot about GI Joe this year. One of the biggest comebacks in pop culture was far and away the Energon Universe’s revival of the Real American Heroes. It’s impressive though how timeless and relevant Larry Hama’s original stories are, even forty years later. Even better, Skybound is reprinting them in these massive compendium volumes of about fifty issues each. That includes stories like the series debut, the later introduction of all major Joes you could think of like Duke, Roadblock and Destro, and landmarks like the famous Silent Interlude. They’re absolute classic stories, and presented in a great format, with high quality paper that’s closer to the classic newsprint than modern glossy paper. (Tony Thornley)

DC Vs Marvel Omnibus (DC Comics) by Chris Claremont, Dennis O’Neil, Dan Jurgens, John Byrne, Walt Simonson et al.

Two years ago, this book wouldn’t have been possible. However, with the late George Perez’s cancer diagnosis, the door was opened. This massive omnibus includes every DC & Marvel crossover (regardless of which publisher actually published it), except for Avengers/JLA, DC Versus Marvel and the Amalgam Comics stories (which are coming in their own omni). I did have some frustration with the way they’re doing this, but this is such a unique part of comics history, it would make for a great gift. (Tony Thornley)

Beneath The Trees Where Nobody Sees (IDW Publishing) by Patrick Horvath, Hassan Ostmane-Elhou

What happens when a brutal serial killer strikes Richard Scarry’s Busytown? That’s what the powerful horror thriller Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees asks. It’s probably the first ever cozy slasher, but it’s a genuine mix of horror and warm comfort. It’s the most unexpected horror hit of the year, and comes highly recommended. Our own Tony Thornley called it “one of the strongest horror stories I’ve read in a very long time” and we stand by it. (There’s also an exclusive hardcover edition with a new cover by Horvath available on IDW’s website.) (Tony Thornley)

The Moon and Serpent Bumper Book of Magic (Top Shelf Comix) by Alan Moore and associates

This book, a long time in the making, is finally out. It’s like a British children’s annual or ‘bumper book’ on a subject a child might like, except it’s for adults. Applying childish joy and delight to the subject of magic and creativity, this book is extremely rich (and thick) with lucid, down to earth, approachable descriptions of how one can incorporate magic into their lives. Pretty realistic, the book covers methods of accessing the subconscious and dream realms. Besides practical tips and philosophy around ideas like the Kabbalah and Tarot, included are a fictional serial, comics info-fiction and other elements featuring a variety of talented contributors. Two of those prominent collaborators (Steve Moore and Kevin O’Neill) have passed away so this is the last work by these creative forces, as well as what is probably Moore’s last interaction with the comics form. Mostly, this is worth buying as a unique gift simply because it glows with visual appeal and intellectual delight. It’s lovely and purports to be a grimoire but a very down to earth and fun one. (Koom Kankesan)

BRIAN BOLLAND – BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE AND OTHER STORIES & ART Limited Signed Edition (Graphitti Designs)

Though not cheap, this will make someone’s holiday season. An artist edition presenting stunning, high fidelity reproductions (at original size) of incredible original art pages by Brian Bolland, this book exhibits pages from The Killing Joke, which were executed large on 13” x 20” art board. Original pages from The Killing Joke are amongst the most sought after in the world so this book would make an excellent gift for someone who is a fan of original art or someone who’s simply a fan of Brian Bolland. Seeing the hi-res scans of original art allows a person to see the corrections, craft, and detail that goes into the mechanical process of drafting art for publication, something which is being increasingly lost as more and more artists use digital methods. Besides The Killing Joke pages, there are a number of significant Bolland covers from other comics and projects, rendered in the exquisite fine lines and striking facial expressions and poses and wit that exhibit Bolland’s unique facility and sensibility. There were only 250 of these books produced and they come with a signature page making it a rare and special gift. (Koom Kankesan)

Mighty Marvel Calendar Book by Roy Thomas & Chris Ryall (Henry N. Abrams Publishing)

Every year from 1975 to 1981, Marvel released a calendar built around a specific theme and featuring original art exclusive to that calendar. From the bicentennial to an all Doctor Strange calendar, these calendars are treasure troves of art from some of the all time artistic greats, including Jack Kirby, George Perez, and Mike Ploog. Long out of print and unreprinted — because who keeps old calendars in print or reprints them? — the Mighty Marvel Calendar Book is a gorgeous and well-designed presentation of these long-lost works of art. Featuring new commentary by Chris Ryall and an introduction from former Marvel editor-in-chief and current Marvel historian Roy Thomas, the Mighty Marvel Calendar Book is a must-have for any serious Marvel fan. (Austin Gorton)

Penguin Classic Marvel Collection by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, Don MacGregor et al (Penguin Random House)

While at first glance these collections of classic Marvel Comics from Penguin Random House might seem like yet another dip into a well that’s been thoroughly reprinted dozens of times already, there’s reasons to give these volumes a look even if you already have, say, the first Fantastic Four omnibus or the Black Panther Panther’s Rage Epic Collection. More than just, say, the first dozen or so issues of foundational Marvel stories, each Penguin Classic collection instead offers a curated list of each title character’s early comics. This creates a sort of “greatest hits” feel to the books, where you can get the first issue of Fantastic Four alongside the “Galactus Trilogy”, or the return of Captain America alongside the debut of Vision. Accompanied by original introductions and contextual essays along with a paper stock that offers high quality presentation while evoking the original newsprint feel of the comics, each volume represents a unique and captivating presentation of the collected comics, even when they’re readily available elsewhere. Even better, if you’re a book nerd like me, the paperback editions come in the standard Penguin Classic black dress design, making them fit in nicely on the shelf alongside your other Penguin Classic volumes. (Austin Gorton)

Taschen Marvel Comics Library. X-Men. Vol. 1. 1963–1966 by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, et al (Marvel/Taschen)

I certainly don’t need the first twenty-one issues of X-Men reprinted in yet another format, but it’s hard to resist the pristine, oversized, library-quality reprints of the Taschen Marvel Comics Library volumes. Even if Silver Age X-Men is one of the lesser Stan Lee and Jack Kirby collaborations, the meticulously restored art, presented at near-original size, looks amazing; even lesser Kirby is still Kirby, and few formats support it better than this. And if the X-Men aren’t your (or your giftee’s) speed, there are plenty of other classic Marvel characters to choose from (oversized John Buscema Silver Surfer art? Yes please!).  (Austin Gorton)

DC Finest: Batman Year One & Two by Frank Miller, David Mazzuchelli, Mike W. Barr, Alan Davis, et al (DC Comics)

Marvel fans of a different kind of physical media have been living large for the last ten plus(!) years thanks to the Epic Collection reprints, which package up a wide-ranging assortment of titles from across Marvel’s history into non-sequential, self-contained software collections. Cheaper than an omnibus, more diverse than a Marvel Masterwork, DC fans have long awaited the Distinguished Competition’s answer to Epics. It finally came this year with the launch of DC Finest, which applies the Epic Collection approach — comprehensive but non sequential collections of comics grouped by series or character in affordable paperbacks with superior production values — to DC’s expansive back catalogue. Stand outs of the first wave include a Batman volume which collects the immediate post-Crisis issues of both Detective Comics and Batman, including “Year One” and “Year Two” in one volume, a chunk of Gail Simone-penned Wonder Woman stories, and a Silver Age Justice League collection featuring an early crossover with the Justice Society. DC is known for cutting and running with its reprint programs, but it seems committed to DC Finest, having announced dozens of volumes to come well into 2025, and based on reports of first editions quickly selling down or out, demand is there to sustain the initiative. (Austin Gorton)

The Deviant Vol. 1 by James Tynion IV, Joshua Hixson, Hasson Ostmane-Elhaou (Image Comics) 

You know it’s not going to be a Silent Night when writer James Tynion IV is telling a holiday-themed story. The Deviant, initially set in December 1973, features Randall Olsen being arrested for killing young boys while dressed as Santa Claus. Police find two of them a butchered in Olsen’s barn, strung up by Christmas lights. Flash forward to 2023 where Olsen is in jail being interviewed for a true-crime comic book. Tynion and artist Josh Hixon are at top form presenting this chilling tale. This first volume collects the limited series’ initial four issues. It’s a great way to catch up on a thrilling read before the last issue drops in February. (Tom Smithyman)

The Great When by Alan Moore (Bloomsbury Press)

Alan Moore’s first novel (Editor’s note: so yes, not a comic, but it’s by Alan Moore!) in the Long London series has some wonderful writing in it. It’s the first in a series of five novels that map out British history and magic through the latter half of the twentieth century. For people who like Moore’s colliding of real with dream (think of The League or Promethea), this will check off a number of boxes. It features Dennis Knuckleyard who stumbles onto a book that should only belong in the realm of the fictional, and his subsequent adventures in a London that belongs to the realm of Platonic forms. This would be a good gift for a diehard Moore fan but would also appeal to someone who simply likes history or ecstatic literature and perhaps isn’t aware of comics. There are lots of great (and perhaps little known to the broader world) colourful historical figures in the book such as Prince Monolulu, ‘Iron Foot’ Jack Neave, Jack ‘Spot’ Comer, and Austin Osman Spare. (Koom Kankesan)

A gift certificate to your favorite comic book store

You may have a comic book store in your area. You may prefer doing mail order from another area. You might be a lapsed physical comics reader who wants to get back into the hobby. Any way it goes, it’s always worth supporting small businesses this time of year. Go your local comic store, who’s probably having some sort of sale this time of year, and buy a gift certificate. I know that’s my plan (shout out to my local store, Black Cat Comics, in Sugarhouse, Utah, for the image above). (Tony Thornley)