There’s plenty of comic books gifts to give your friends and loved ones this holiday season and as we get closer and closer to shopping deadlines, we’re doing our best to turn you on to some of the most perfect books to give.
Last week, we published the first part of our Holiday Gift Guide 2023: Comic Book Compilations. That entry lists four must-have or must-give books. If you missed that particular column, you can catch it right here.
Without further ado, let’s get into part two!
Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons
Released earlier this year, Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons is the 232-page hardcover compilation of the three-issue Black Label miniseries, originally published by DC Comics to much acclaim a few years ago.
Truly, it’s one of the most beautiful books you’ll ever see.
Writer Kelly Sue DeConnick shows her love of Wonder Woman and the character’s history and surrounding mythos on each and every page alongside her three artistic partners, who elevate that love to an even higher standard. Indeed, those three artists are some of the best in the business: Phil Jimenez, Gene Ha and Nicola Scott. Every chapter is a gorgeous work of art and a wonderful read, but Jimenez’s contribution, the first chapter of the series, is a standout. An Eisner Award winner, his detailed line work and design is absolutely mesmerizing. It’s the stuff of museum and art gallery displays and it’s in-depth world-building for Wonder Woman and the history and culture of her people. You can hear us gush about it both here and here.
Anyone who loves history, superheroes, or has an interest in the Greek pantheon of Gods and the world they existed within, will adore Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons.
You can catch a sneak peek at the book along with interviews with the creators directly below.
Night Fever HC
Show of hands: who else out there loves the noir genre? Thought so!
We conveniently listed another crime/noir book in our first installment of the Holiday Gift Guide, but here’s another for any fan of corruption, mystery and murder.
Billed as a “riveting tour of the night”, the 120-page hardcover Night Fever is brought to you courtesy of two masters of the medium who know all about noir in writer Ed Brubaker and his longtime illustrator partner, Sean Phillips. It’s the story of Europe-bound businessman Jonathan Webb, who is taken on a violent city tour by his guide, Rainer, and is shown a world of secrets, danger, and darkness. What shadows live within a man, threateningly clawing for escape?
Night Fever is a compelling look at what lurks in the bars and alleyways in unknown cities – as well as what dark traits might reside in strangers – and inside us all.
A perfect gift for crime and mystery enthusiasts, you can watch a trailer of the book directly below and get a real feel for the nighttime fever!
Watership Down: The Graphic Novel
Certainly, if you’re of a particular age, you’ll remember author Richard Adams and his beloved tale of rabbit-survival and friendship, Watership Down, from either your childhood or your youth. Perhaps you experienced the original book or, if you’re like me, the animated version of the story.
In either case, you’ll remember how lovely it is, and how sad, and how absolutely harrowing.
Why not share those deep emotions with someone you care about this holiday season – this time in a brand new 384-page graphic novel format?
Adapted and illustrated by James Sturm and Joseph Sutphin, Watership Down: the Graphic Novel is a wonderful visualization of the award-winning story, first published in 1972. Its narrative is rich, brisk and compelling, its drawings and colour palette are lush, immersive and traumatic – and altogether beautiful. It is the tale of a small group of rabbits who flee the destruction of their barrow for the peace of a new home atop the grassy hill of the idyllic Watership Down. Of course, trials and tribulations, impediments, and death, and most importantly, friendships and family are encountered along the way.
Although it might look cute from the outset, you could be forgiven thinking the book is a perfect gift for a young(er) child. But there are vicious scenes here, ones that could haunt nightmares for years to come. Take it from first-hand experience: be careful as to who you might gift this book!
Still, Watership Down is a wonderful, coming-of-age read and this visual interpretation is a particularly amazing publication, created with much love for the source material. It’s meant to be poured over and adored by any lover of fables, allegories and dramas with emotional threads that stay long after the reading.
Middlewest: The Complete Tale – Paperback
Released at the beginning of this year, the 560-page trade paperback of Skottie Young’s (I Hate Fairland, Strange Academy) and Jorge Corona’s (No. 1 With A Bullet, Feathers) Middlewest: The Complete Tale compiles issues 1-18 of the fan-favourite and Eisner-nominated story.
Lucky for us this holiday season, it also includes exclusive bonus material!
Middlewest: The Complete Tale follows young boy Able and his childhood companion fox as they flee their storm-ravaged town and adventure through a landscape of fantasy and mystery. In their travels their encounter carnies, soothsayers and hobos, bridge trolls, spirits, magic, forgotten children and endless forests. It’s a wonderful tale of family history and self-discovery.
You can watch the original trailer for Middlewest directly below.
That ends this second installment of the Biff Bam Pop! Holiday Gift Guide 2023: Comic Book Compilations.
We’ll be back again shortly with the third and final part of our guide to comic book compilations – covering you for all of your must-get holiday shopping thrills!
