It’s the week before the Christmas holiday!
Some of you might already be neck-deep in celebrating cultural festivities, but there’s probably ample opportunity for you, regardless of the holiday you observe, to still be out there amongst the masses, shopping for gifts.
You know. Shop to shop. Elbow-to-elbow. Debit card to debit card.
And I’m certain, with you being a regular, casual, or happenchance purveyor of this fine pop culture site, that you’re into comic books. And so are your friends!
A few weeks ago, regular Biff Bam Pop! contributor (and comic book aficionado), E. A. Henson gave his list of comic book compilations to give as gifts, which you can find right here. A fine list it is, too.
Here, then, is another: the first of three parts over the next few days, all showcasing 2017 comic book compilations worthy as giving as gifts to a friend or loved one.
Or to yourself.
Let’s start off with the most expensive, while you still have money in your bank account!
Daredevil by Mark Waid Omnibus Vol. 1
If you’re a long-time fan of Daredevil, or if you’re new to the character, or if you love great story and art, the Daredevil monthly series by writer Mark Waid and artists Paolo Rivera, Chris Samnee and Marcos Martin (along with some other talented individuals) is some of the very best comics you’ll ever read. Ever!
Really, I mean that!
Finally, you’ll get to experience their Eisner Award-winning run on the iconic character in a beautiful hardcover Omnibus format. At 728 pages, this Daredevil by Mark Waid Omnibus Volume 1 (the second and final volume will be published in early 2018), this book guest stars Spider-Man, Hank Pym and the Punisher, as Daredevil goes up against villains Klaw, Mole Man and Doctor Doom – while a threat close to home provides a moving subplot through the entire series.
The book is not cheap, but it’s well worth the read. You can find it at your local comic book shop, bookstore or at Amazon for approximately $75.
Loki: Journey Into Mystery by Kieron Gillen Omnibus
Sometimes, there are comic book stories that you miss, for whatever reason. This is one that I missed, but that I’m intensely interested in picking up for myself.
Why? Because people have likened it to Marvel Comics’ mainstream superhero/super villain turn on the Neil Gaiman Sandman series, which I soooo love! Joining writer Kieron Gillen are illustrators Doug Braithwaite, Rich Elson, Whilce Portacio and Mitch Breitweiser among others.
Here we have Loki, the famous (and beloved) antagonist trickster, straight out of Thor. Only now, he’s starring in his own series, lovingly compiled in a 752-page hardcover omnibus. But this is a different Loki, a reborn young Loki, who must become Asgard’s savior in the wondrous cities time of grave need. This Journey Into Mystery is an adventure like no other in the Marvel Universe – and one reserved for fans of superheroes and fantasy everywhere!
You can find it at your local comic book shop, bookstore or at Amazon for about $85.
Avengers by Jonathan Hickman Omnibus Vol. 1
This story is a modern day marvel! A magnum opus for the ages! This big and heavy book is Jonathan Hickman’s first half of his Marvel Comics career-defining story – an epic that involves the greatest of threats for the greatest of heroes, starring virtually everyone from the Marvel Universe that you could possibly think of!
No story is bigger or more riveting than what you’ll find Avengers by Jonathan Hickman Omnibus Volume 1.
At 1,192 pages, this hardcover omnibus collects Hickman’s run on Avengers, New Avengers and the six-issue Infinity mini series (among others). Joining him on the odyssey that traverses earth, space and time are illustrators extraordinaire Jerome Opena, Adam Kubert and Mike Deodato among others.
If you, a friend, or loved one loves big comic book crossover stories, this is the one gift to give this year. It runs for about $100 at your local comic book shop, bookstore or at Amazon. And look for the completing Volume 2 next year!
Fourth World by Jack Kirby Omnibus
Speaking of epics, here’s another one:
It starts with an epilogue: There came a time when the old gods died!
In the early 1970s comic book legend jack Kirby took his industrious talents from Marvel Comics and brought them to DC Comics. There, he created a number of new, monthly comic book series – a mythology, really – all interlocked by story and a compelling franchise of characters: the New Gods!
This is where you’ll find, compiled together for the first time, comic books from Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olson along with entire runs from The New Gods, Mister Miracle, The Forever People and The Hunger Dogs graphic novel from the early 1980s.
This is a book that must be read to be believed!
If you, a friend or a loved one is a comic book historian, is a fan of Jack Kirby, or loves science fiction and fantasy literature, this 1,536 omnibus makes a wonderful gift! You can find it at your local comic book shop, book store or at Amazon for around $105.
Our great friend, the dearly departed, Glenn Walker, would surely approve.
Bernie Wrightson Artifact Edition
Sadly, we lost the great artist Bernie Wrightson earlier this year. IDW, publisher of great comics and specialty publications, honours his memory and work with a hardcover book in their Artifact Edition line.
Reserved for industry luminaries, the Bernie Wrightson Artifact Edition measures 12”x 17” – the size of the actual original art! Here, you’ll find covers, splash pages, interior art and covers from House of Secrets #92 (the first appearance of Swamp Thing) as well as Swamp Thing #1. It also includes three fold-out pages and never before seen works from the master artist… well, never before seen until now!
If you have a loved one interested in art, specifically horror art and the comic books of the early 1970s, this is must-have, absolutely stunning, hardcover tome of 152-pages. You can find it at your local comic book specialty shop, or via the IDW store for $125. It can also be found on Amazon, for a lot more.
These books, once published, generally sell out and go up, up up in price, so the holiday season is a perfect time to fetch a copy!
Check back here in a day for part 2 of our comic book collections gift guide for 2017! These next ones will be a little more affordable.
Reblogged this on JP Fallavollita.