We’ve been through these comic book collection lists twice already this month, but there’s more. Oh, how there’s so much more!
You can read through Part 1, which mentioned a host of great, affordable comic books for the loved ones in your life. Part 2 continued to showcase great works of sequential art – but these were ones that were slightly more expensive.
This 3rd and final installment mentions the monetary apex of some of the greatest comic book works that were released throughout the year. Yes, they’re expensive. But yes, a loved one should have them in their collection. (Also, self-love is not at all shunned here!)
I know! Times a-tickin’ and the shopping window is a-closin’’! Let’s get to it right after the jump!
The Private Eye: Cloudburst Edition
We wrote about The Private Eye: Cloudburst Edition not too long ago within our weekly Wednesday Run column. You can find that particular entry right here.
The Private Eye: Cloudburst Edition is a deluxe, hardcover treatment for the web series created by the critically acclaimed and fan favourites, writer Brian K. Vaughan (Saga, Y The Last Man) and artist Marcos Martin (Daredevil). The first thing you’ll notice about this particular publication is its size: to stay true to the original format it was written for and published in, namely, the web, the The Private Eye: Cloudburst Edition is rather longitudinal in scope. It’s nice to know that the creators haven’t reformatted the storytelling to shoehorn it into a different (physical) medium.
In essence, The Private Eye: Cloudburst Edition is a not-too-distant detective story that takes place in a world where the “cloud” has burst – and everyone’s secrets have been revealed. And now, to preserve some semblance of anonymity, everyone wears masks in public.
For $38, The Private Eye: Cloudburst Edition is a fantastic, future-noir take on identity and privacy. You can find it at your local comic book shop or bookstore, or expedite its shipping from Amazon.com here.
Star Slammers: The Complete Collection
Here’s a throwback:
Walter Simonson, legendary comic book author and illustrator, conceived the series, Star Slammers, during his college years, before working professionally with DC Comics and Marvel Comics.
Of course, Simonson would go on to sequential art distinction of the highest order, but Marvel Comics first published the science fiction tale in the early 1980’s, at a time when I first started to become aware of comic books in all shapes and sizes. Star Slammers was first distributed as a graphic novel – when the term “graphic novel” was just emerging as part of pop culture lexicon. Its publishing history continued as a regular miniseries as well – but most importantly, now, we get to see the work of a master as a complete whole, just as his full artistic powers were burgeoning!
Star Slammers: The Complete Collection is for both lovers of science fiction comic books and historians of the genre, not to mention fans of Walter Simonson. It’s a classic work, and the first printing here contains a bound-in signature plate, signed by the writer-artist.
For $37 at your local comic book store or via Amazon.com, you can’t go wrong.
iZombie Omnibus
Look, we all know that zombies are pretty popular right now. In fact they have been for the better part of a decade, ever since The Walking Dead hit the television screen via AMC. But there’s a CW zombie series that has proved quite popular as well.
If you haven’t caught iZombie on television (or, especially if you have), you or a loved one should also check out the iZombie Omnibus this holiday season.
At 646-pages, bound in a sweet hardcover format, the iZombie Omnibus collects the entire run of the Vertigo series written by Chris Roberson and illustrated by the absolutely divine Michael Allred, which was originally published via 28 monthly issues earlier this decade.
The iZombie Omnibus tells the fantastical, detective, romantic dramedy of Gwen Dylan, a grave-digger in an eco-friendly cemetery. Once a month she must eat a human brain in order to keep her humanity, lest she slip into a mindless zombie existence. Unfortunately, she also consumes the thoughts and personality of the person whose brain she eats, setting out to fulfill the dead individual’s last request which often includes solving a crime, or righting a wrong!
The iZombie Omnibus is riveting and absolutely fun storytelling and for approximately $50 you can find it on Amazon.com or at your local comic book shop or book store.
Wonder Woman by George Perez Omnibus
We highlighted the Wonder Woman by George Perez Omnibus within the confines of the weekly Wednesday Run column here. I won’t get too involved with the collection in this particular entry, as you can simply read that piece.
Suffice it to say, the Wonder Woman by George Perez Omnibus collects one of the greatest Wonder Woman runs since the inception of the character in 1941. With an appearance in the upcoming Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice film next year and the characters own film to follow shortly thereafter, Wonder Woman should prove to be a very popular character.
At 640-pages and beautifully bound in hardcover, the Wonder Woman by George Perez Omnibus should run close to $49 via Amazon.com or at your local comic book shop or book store. It’s a great addition to any superhero fan’s collection!
Hawkeye Omnibus
I already picked this up for a friend’s birthday earlier this year – and you should gift it to a pal yourself!
The monthly Hawkeye series, under writer Matt Fraction and illustrator David Aja, is one of the more critically acclaimed comic book runs of the past ten years. Fans love it too – and so will any lover of superhero comics and the movies of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, specifically “Avengers”.
Collected under Marvel Comics’ “Omnibus” banner, the hardcover collection of the Hawkeye Omnibus runs 552-pages long and retails for approximately $87 via Amazon.com or at your local comic book shop or book store. The “omnibus” titles tend to jump up in price after they become scarce – and look for this particular publication to do the same. That’s code for: “get it now”.
You won’t be disappointed by Clint Barton (the real-life persona of Hawkeye) and his daily foray into justice as he battles Eastern European mobsters, and rooftop BBQ’s with his newly adopted family!
Star Wars: The Original Marvel Years Omnibus Vol. 1, 2, 3
From one popular movie franchise to the most popular movie franchise!
What’s there to say about Star Wars that hasn’t been said of late? Everybody is clamoring for it – and Marvel Comics has delivered all year.
Back in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, Marvel Comics was regularly publishing Star Wars comics, based on the characters everyone knew and loved from the original trilogy: Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, R2-D2, C-3PO and Darth Vader. Throughout 2015, the entire run of that series has been collected inside three weighty, handsome, and quite expensive hardcovers: Star Wars: The Original Marvel Years Omnibus Vol. 1, 2, 3.
As already mentioned, the Marvel Omnibus series tend to go up in price as stock diminishes or goes out of print. With the popularity of a resurgent Star Wars franchise just beginning, I’d expect these three volumes to start jumping up in price. Get ‘em while you can.
They are proud artifacts of comic book history, setting the stage for what would become common practice: the licensing of ideas and characters from other companies and media inside the comic book publishing world. Inspired by George Lucas’ films, some of the greatest writers and artists in the industry worked on Star Wars: The Original Marvel Years Omnibus Vol. 1, 2, 3 including: Roy Thomas, Howard Chaykin, Archie Goodwin, Jo Duffy, Chris Claremont, Carmine Infantino, Michael Golden, Walter Simonson, Herb Trimpe, Al Williamson and many others!
Biff Bam Pop’s Editor-in-Chief, Andy Burns, highlighted some of the more recent Star Wars comic book collections earlier this month in our Gift Guide. You can find that list here.
But you can find Star Wars: The Original Marvel Years Omnibus Vol. 1, 2, 3 at your local comic book shop or book store as well as through Amazon.com for prices that range between $91and $103. It’s a hit to the pocket book to be sure, but it’ll put a grin on a loved one’s face the size of a galaxy far, far away!
Star Wars Artifact Edition
In keeping with the Star Wars theme (you could argue the only theme these days), here’s our last entry in this year’s 2015 Comic Book Collections Gift Guide: Star Wars Artifact Edition from IDW Publishing.
The oversized (12” x 17”) Artifact Edition hardcover presents pages scanned from the original works of art, including extras such as advertisements, portfolio pieces, colour guides and more. For the Star Wars Artifact Edition, that means the work of legendary artists Michael Golden, Howard Chaykin and Walter Simonson in their original sizes! Here, you’ll see their black and white art along with paste-overs, blue pencils, editorial notes and art corrections. It’s a real behind-the-scenes look at an artist’s process.
The black and white, 160-pages of the Star Wars Artifact Edition collects the first 10 issues of the Marvel Comics series – and makes for a fascinating companion to the Star Wars: The Original Marvel Years Omnibus Vol. 1, 2, 3, listed directly above in this gift guide. It’s for the hardcore Star Wars and comic book fan in your life and will run you approximately $100, ordered directly from the IDW Publishing website or from better comic book shops.
So, that’s it for comic book compilations this year…best wishes to a wonderful holiday season, full of sci-fi, horror, fantasy and superhero comic book readings!
