2018 CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE

J.C. Vaughn
While you almost can’t go wrong with copies of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, the Thor by Walter Simonson Omnibus, the Daredevil by Frank Miller & Klaus Janson Omnibus, or many other old standbys, it gets a little awkward if you give the same people the same gifts every Christmas or Hanukah, right? With that in mind, here some suggestions for killer holiday gifts that will have the recipients thanking you for years to come rather than re-gifting them at precarious speeds.
As always, these things are purely opinion, but you owe it to yourself to check them out.

EIGHT MILLION WAYS TO DIE
IDW Publishing; $24.95
The quality and permeating ambience of writer-artist John K. Snyder III’s adaptation of Lawrence Block’s acclaimed novel Eight Million Ways To Die may not exactly be shocking, but it’s still a very pleasant surprise. There just aren’t that many creators with this much experience under their belts who are still elevating their game. Eight Million Ways To Die may well be Snyder’s magnum opus, and it is unquestionably the best work of his career. His art and colors flow together in stunning fashion, blending into a gritty, well-researched New York City of the early 1980s with a distinct cast of characters. From bars to back alleys, from high-end hookers to AA meetings, the atmosphere in this adaptation is more than just a mood or a setting; in Snyder’s hands it’s another character. If you like crime comics, this is the genre at its best.

PLANET OF THE APES VISIONARIES
BOOM! Studios; $19.99
As a franchise, Planet of the Apes has a long and sometimes distinguished comic book history, and BOOM! Studios has certainly made a worthy bid to continue that tradition with Planet of the Apes Visionaries. This original graphic novel adapts Twilight Zone creator Rod Serling’s original screenplay for the 1968 feature film. Serling’s first take on the project was closer in tone to the Pierre Boulle novel on which it is based than was the movie, and the resulting OGN seems like a fresh take on the now-familiar concepts. Writer Dana Gould and artist Chad Lewis deliver an entertaining read with strong characters, solid pacing, and of course an incredible situation. Serious POTA fans will notice that the apes resemble the Edward G. Robinson version of Dr. Zaius from the original screen test, which is something of a bonus. One element that shouldn’t go without note: BOOM! has produced this superb hardcover for just a $19.99 cover price.

WILL EISNER: CHAMPION OF THE GRAPHIC NOVEL
By Paul Levitz
Henry N. Abrams/Abrams ComicArts; $40.00
From the days of the Eisner-Iger Studio to the adventures of The Spirit, and from A Contract with God to The Name of the Game, Will Eisner’s name became practically synonymous with pushing the comic art form for everything it was worth. In Will Eisner: Champion of the graphic novel, former DC Comics president and publisher – and noted historian – Paul Levitz celebrates Eisner and his legacy. The book traces this master craftsman’s evolution as an artist, showcases rare and unpublished materials, and analyzes his impact on the art form.

FLIGHT OF THE RAVEN
EuroComics/IDW Publishing; $29.99
This one has been on my list for a couple of years now, but it still comes as a wonderful surprise to many recipients. Unlike the epic Corto Maltese saga by Hugo Pratt, when EuroComics editor Dean Mullaney announced Jean-Pierre Gibrat’s Flight Of Raven, most on this side of the Atlantic had never heard of it. That glaring oversight has now been corrected. This beautiful illustrated original graphic novel is stunning. Set in the waning days of the German occupation during World War II, it’s the story of Jeanne, a French Resistance fighter named Jeanne, and François, a cat burglar, who helps her attempt to rescue her sister from the Gestapo. If you’re looking for a strong heroine, a solid story, and beautiful art, look no further. Once you enjoy this one, check out Gibrat’s The Reprieve.

THE OVERSTREET PRICE GUIDE TO STAR WARS COLLECTIBLES
By Amanda Sheriff and Robert M. Overstreet
Gemstone Publishing; $30.00
I’m so proud to be associated with this book that I can’t help but add it to my recommendations as a Christmas or Hanukah gift for the Star Wars collector on your list. On the heels of witnessing the record-breaking sales of many of the action figures, Amanda Sheriff pushed herself and our team at Gemstone to make this the best book possible. In addition to the action figures, it does deep dives into the comics, and movie posters, and it shines a light on other niches such as video games, novels, soundtracks, and more. It’s packed with pricing, photos, and more than a little insight. For me part of the fun is that Star Wars collecting can still surprise me. Even though I’m a comic book guy, I’ve spent most of my team with this book in the movie poster section. What will be the part that grabs you? Give yourself a chance to find out.

Alexander Raymond
Scary movies may be better suited for Halloween but for fans of the classic Universal Monsters and Hammer Horror films now is the perfect time to add some must-have titles to their collections.

The Universal Monsters are back in all of their black and white glory with the release of a massive 30-Film / 24 disc box set! All the iconic characters are here including Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Invisible Man, The Bride of Frankenstein, The Wolf Man and more. Aside from the movies themselves this set features hours of bonus material that include commentaries, trailers, and even a few variations of certain movies.

While the initial release was not without a few hiccups (there were authoring issues on Revenge of the Creature 3D) the set was re-released to every old school horror fan’s delight. This awesome set contains just about every Universal Monsters movie with most of them presented for the first time on blu-ray. This set is as definitive as you can get.

On the Hammer side of things, Christopher Lee’s Dracula gets his day in the sun, so to speak. Warner Archives has dropped back to back releases of the British gothic horror series.

Dracula A.D. 1972 and the long-awaited Satanic Rites of Dracula both made their blu-ray debuted recently. While neither of these was the strongest entries to feature Chris Lee as The Count, they were heavily anticipated. Warner Archive has given these films the HD treatment ensuring Hammer enthusiasts an incredible presentation.

Dracula A.D. 1972 brings Dracula into the (then) present to torment modern-day Londoners. This movie is noted for showcasing Hammer Glamour goddess Caroline Munro as one of the Vampire’s victims and a stunning opening sequence that features the final battle of Lawrence Van Helsing and Dracula.

Satanic Rites of Dracula was last released by Anchor Bay back in 2004 had been out of print for well over a decade. Only shoddy “public domain” versions of the movie had been available from lower end home video companies. While the Anchor Bay disc was unfortunately non-anamorphic, it did have a decent transfer. Still, this left Hammer completist with a dilemma, overpay for the out of print non-anamorphic disc or watch a horribly blotchy budget DVD. That is until Warner Archive stepped in and restored both movies.

Want to make your horror fanatics happy this holiday season? Stuff their stockings with some of the most iconic characters in Monster movie history – The Universal Monsters and Hammer’s Dracula!

Michael Henry
Beetle Girl #20a
Deadly Egyptian Mummies are rampaging through the streets of Hill Top City. Can Beetle Girl stop this menace or will Ghazia-Queen of the Dead have her revenge? Written by John Michael Helmer with art by Joseph Tenney. Dynamic cover by Jay Piscopo! Download your digital copy
here: DriveThrucomics.com

Ed Catto
THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN GRAVES
by Thomas McNulty with interior illustrations by Ed Catto

This pulp thriller, published by Airship27, features Captain Elliot Graves and his ship, The Reaper’s Scythe sailing the exotic waters of the South Pacific. But the mystery starts in 1944, as Captain Graves has disappeared without a trace, his ship supposedly sinking off the coast of Australia with all hands lost. Eight years later, reporter Bill Harrison finds Graves living in Honolulu and manages to persuade him to recount the events of his last and greatest adventure. The legendary sea captain then reveals for the first time what actually happened on a remote South Sea island that changed his life forever. Writer Thomas McNulty spins a fast-paced tale of two-fisted men, beautiful women and lush island paradises where both heaven and hell await. Here are classic pulp thrills as delivered by a master storyteller.

$16.99 134 pp. • paperback • ISBN-10: 1946183415

Available at comic shops and via Amazon: Amazon.com

THE LOST ART OF KREIGH COLLINS
Volume 1: The Complete Mitzi McCoy
Edited and restored by the artist’s grandson, Brian E. Collins, with an introduction by Eisner Award-winning author Frank M. Young, and an Afterword by Professor Ed Catto.
I first stumbled across Kreigh Collins while researching at the Syracuse University Archives and I immediately became a fan. Lost Art Books just launched the initial volume in a new series devoted to this underappreciated illustrator and comic artist collecting (for the first time) his syndicated Sunday strip Mitzi McCoy in its entirety.
Kreigh Collins (1908-74) had a wanderlust that led to a lifetime of adventures, whether it was leaving his humble midwestern roots to study the masters in the Louvre and hone his craft painting on the banks of the Seine or getting knifed in Morocco while boating and painting his way through North Africa. But equally strong was the draw of his adopted home in Michigan, which is where he launched and set his first syndicated newspaper strip, Mitzi McCoy, in 1948. It didn’t take long, though, for wanderlust to strike again, rendering Mitzi but a precursor to Collins’ eventual 20-year run on the picaresque adventure comic, Kevin the Bold. Lost Art Books celebrates these beautiful beginnings with this first-ever complete collection of Collins’ Mitzi McCoy.
Drawn as well as scripted by Collins, Mitzi McCoy showcased the artist’s skill as an illustrator and storyteller. His picturesque landscapes, lovely character designs, and thrilling action sequences brimmed with detail and charm, and the strip’s ensemble cast rotated in and out of the spotlight taking turns as protagonists in the dozen story arcs collected in this volume.
Afterward by comics columnist and historian, Ed Catto.
$34.95 • 148 pp. • color • paperback • ISBN: 978-1-949699-20-3
Available at comic shops, Amazon and directly from the publisher: PictureThisPress.com

ATTACK ON MARS CAPTAIN ACTION PRINT by JOE JUSKO

Captain Action Attack on Mars! Exclusive Prints by Joe Jusko –available in Artist or Open editions. As part of the upcoming Captain Action uniform set, these official limited edition Captain Action prints render the unique, long-lost “space suit” in a classic style by master artist Joe Jusko. Each is available in autographed and non-autographed versions. Prints measures approximately 11″ x 17″ and are suitable for framing.

Open Edition – Limited to 200 prints: $20 (Autographed by Joe Jusko – $30)
Artist Edition – Limited to 50 prints: $40 (Autographed by Joe Jusko – $50)

Available exclusively from Atomic Toybox : Squareup.com

Angela Melamud
THE SECLUSION

A Dystopian YA Novel by Jacqui Castle
Inkshares Paperback | Publication Date: September 4, 2018
Price: $13.99 USD | ISBN: 9781947848511

In the first piece of dystopian YA in response to President Trump, The Seclusion tells the story of Patch, a young woman who in a fascist future United States begins to question her government and eventually re-discovers the truth about America’s free, democratic past.

Stefan Blitz
OF DUST & BLOOD: THE BATTLE AT LITTLE BIG HORN
By Val Mayerik & Jim Berry

This thrilling tale details the day of The Battle at The Little Big Horn through the eyes of Greenhaw, a 7th Cavalry scout on one side of the battlefield, and Slowhawk, a young Lakota warrior on the other. Featuring appearances of Sitting Bull, G.A. Custer, and Crazy Horse, as well as generous portions of meticulously researched history on every page, the book’s art has been lauded as “Tremendous… Beautiful. Each panel and page could easily be a piece of solo art hanging on someone’s wall.”
9×12, 48pp, full color HC, $17.99; ISBN 978-1-68112-183-3

THE SILENT INVASION VOL.1: RED SHADOWS
By Michael Cherkas & Larry Hancock; Introduction by Max Allan Collins

In this era of fake news and ‘deep state’ this couldn’t be more timely! The paranoid cult-classic science fiction mystery of the early days of indie comics returns!

The series will begin with two books reprinting the original volumes, followed by the never before collected third album and concluding with an all-new fourth book of this epic series of conspiracy and paranoia.

Set against the background of a nightmarish 1950s crawling with communist spies, corrupt FBI agents, McCarthyites, Stalinists, cold warriors, flying saucers, mysterious government organizations, The Silent Invasion weaves a byzantine tale of mystery and deceit as a bewildered investigative reporter Matt Sinkage pursues the truth behind an apparent alien invasion of earth that points to involvement at the highest levels of American government officials.
7×10, 160pp., B&WTPB., $16.99; ISBN 978-1-68112-174-1

THE PROVOCATIVE COLETTE
By Annie Goetzinger

Many biographies describe this uncommon woman and author. It is her years of formation which are focused on here, from her marriage at the age of 20, until her divorce. “One dies only from the first man,” she wrote in 1909. But this death was a new beginning, and the one that signed “Colette” from 1910 on gradually opened her eyes to her condition of a woman who was an exploited writer and a betrayed wife, and who will emancipate herself by writing, and with what talent!

Incredibly complex, powerfully determined, truly gifted, Colette challenged herself to reinvent her life and assert herself as a free woman. In her day, her behavior scandalized and vexed the establishment. But in the end, she helped to free women in their thinking and became member and then president of France’s prestigious Académie Goncourt, among many other honors as one of France’s preeminent authors. For mature readers.
7 ¾ x 10 ¼”, 128pp., full color quarter-bound HC, $24.99; ISBN 9781681121703

A TALE OF A THOUSAND AND ONE NIGHTS: HASIB & THE QUEEN OF SERPENTS
By David B.

Heir to the wise Daniel, Hâsib is a young woodcutter promised to a great future. When his greedy companions abandon him in the middle of the forest, he meets the Queen of the serpents. She then tells her story, a fabulous adventure filled with gods and demons, princes and prophets. We find Prince Janshah madly in love with Shamsa, the bird woman of King Solomon. Love and perjury, epic battles and giant spiders ensue…

From Kabul to Cairo, journeys intertwine with intrigues and spiritual quests while the fabulous nights follow one another. An enchanting and intricately designed interpretation of the story of Hâsib Karîm ad-Dîm, through which fragment of the giant tale David B. opens us the gates of the Thousand and One Nights. For mature readers.
9×12, 112pp., full color HC with gold stamping, $24.99; ISBN 9781681121628

THE BEATLES IN COMICS
By Michels Mabel and Various

Here’s the complete illustrated story of the Beatles from their formation, through the Beatlemania phenom all the way through their breakup. We see how they evolved along with and amplifying the uproar of the sixties, became politically and socially active and have achieved a lasting impact unparalleled in pop music. Chapters combine text and comics for complete information presented in a fun way.
7 ½ x 10″, 232pp., full color HC, $29.99; ISBN 978-1-68112-187-1

Richard Minsky
You Can Do a Graphic Novel: Comic Books, Webcomics, and Strips by Barbara Slate

A 40-year veteran in the field, Barbara Slate guides readers through the same process she learned in her early days working for Marvel and DC Comics—a process she has simplified for the classes she teaches.Learn how to create memorable characters, compelling plots, subplots, and engaging dialog. She shows the secrets to laying out eye-popping pages, and breaking into the business. Learn to trust your creative process—in whatever you do.

Barbara says, “Even if you think you can’t draw, you can learn how to find your own style.” Her method is informed by more than a decade teaching in libraries, schools, art centers and universities. Barbara revised, enlarged, and expanded on the content of her 2010 paperback, You Can Do a Graphic Novel, with the knowledge she has gained in eight years using it in classes and workshops.

Her new approach is based on creating a six-page story. She says, “If you can do a six-pager, you can do a graphic novel.” This new edition includes a series of “Prose from the Pros,” with advice from twenty professionals in comics, strips, webcomics, and graphic novels. A new chapter has tips on overcoming the psychological Saboteurs that prevent you from finishing your book, and the book includes examples of work by students from 8 years old to 65.

Barbara also gives many practical tips to advance the creative process, get useful feedback and deal with the “creative block.”  This guide is useful at every stage, from the novice beginning their first foray into storytelling to advanced professionals with books in progress. It can be used to create works of every genre—fiction, autobiography, history, genealogy and more!

Bobby Nash
Dillon Annual Collection 2018 By Derrick Ferguson
Amazon.comNot only is Derrick Ferguson one of the nicest people you will ever meet, he’s also one helluva fantastic writer and nowhere is that on better display than with his original character and series, Dillon. The new Dillon Annual was released this year and is a perfect jumping on point for new readers.
Dillion Annual 2018 is available in paperback, Kindle, and you can read it FREE with your Kindle Unlimited subscription. Highly recommended.A soldier of fortune gifted with an astonishing range of remarkable talents and skills that make him respected and feared in the secret world of mercenaries, spies and adventurers. A world inhabited by amazing men and women of fabulous abilities that most of us are unaware even exists. Fueled by a taste for excitement, driven by an overpowering desire to protect the innocent, see that wrongs are righted and assisted by a worldwide network of extraordinary men and women, all experts in their fields, DILLON spans the globe in a never-ending quest for the wildest and most breathtaking adventures of all. In this oversized omnibus of past adventures, Dillon faces new enemies, battles a phantom buccaneer on the shores of Xonira, runs a deadly jungle race against a criminal overlord, battles dangerous agents on a speeding train in an attempt to prevent a kidnapping and spends an unexpected wild night out with celebrity rocker SLY GANTLET, whose life offstage holds some surprising secrets. Pro Se proudly presents its debut of Derrick Ferguson’s International Instigator in some of his wildest adventures in the first ever DILLON ANNUAL COLLECTION!Justified: The Complete Series on Blu-Ray and DVD
Amazon.com

This is one of my absolute favorite TV series of all time and the price is right for you to check it out on DVD now.  Highly recommended.

For six electrifying seasons, no crime series proved more combustible than the Peabody Award-winning Justified. At the explosive center of the action, Western-style, gun-slinging U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) confronts murder, drugs, bank heists, mobsters, crime families, corrupt politicians and even his own tumultuous past – and never backs down. His ultimate adversary is the cunning, complex outlaw Boyd Crowder (Walter Goggins), but the real wild card is Ava Crowder (Joelle Carter), the mysterious woman torn between the two men and both sides of the law. From creator Graham Yost and based on legendary author Elmore Leonard’s crime novella “Fire in the Hole,” it all leads to a perfectly unexpected final showdown.

Theme Park Alchemy Candles
ThemeParkAlchemy.com

A one of a kind gift for fans of theme park rides. Their candles recreate the scents that remind you of your favorite rides. A unique gift for theme park fans.

Our products are designed to conjure up all your best theme park memories. We invoke the spirits of our favorite theme parks, of rides current and long gone, to inspire the highest quality scents, and deliver pleasant memories for theme park fans all over. Smell the magic! Smell captures memory, memory begets nostalgia, nostalgia breeds stories, and stories are MAGIC!

 

Bobby’s Big Box O’ Books
Bobby-Nash-News.Blogspot.com

Books make a great gift! Want to give the gift of books to someone on your holiday gift list or maybe even treat yourself? Each box contains EVILS WAYS, DEADLY GAMES!, SNOW FALLS, SNOW STORM, SNOW DRIVE, FIGHTCARD: BAREFOOT BONES, and 85 NORTH, each signed and personalized by the author. Also includes a signed Starship Farragut “Conspiracy of Innocence” DVD and an original sketch by Bobby. Plus, you never know what extra goodies he’ll toss in and he’ll probably do a second piece of art on the shipping box. Together, these book’s retail value is $72.00, but that’s not what you’ll pay for this exciting offer.

You can get Bobby’s BIG Box O’ Books for $50.00 plus $5.00 shipping and handling.
That’s like getting 2 books, a DVD, and a sketch for free.

About the books in this collection:

EVILS WAYS
FBI Agent Harold Palmer teams with a small town sheriff and a local reporter, his brother, to stop a killer before he can kill a group of childhood friends in town for a reunion in this exciting mystery suspense thriller.

DEADLY GAMES!
Police Detective John Bartlett and reporter Benjamin West must put aside their differences and work together when they are targeted by a vindictive criminal seeking revenge from beyond the grave in this award-nominated action thriller.

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