Superman Returns
Christopher Reeve Superman Collection
Clerks II
The Ant Bully
Dane Cook – Vicious Circle

Thundercats – Season Two, Vol. 2
Jamie Kennedy’s Blowin Up
Joan of Arcadia – The Second Season
Criminal Minds – The First Season
St. Elsewhere – Season 1

• SCI FI Channel has green-lit TIN MAN, the working title for a wild SF reimagining of THE WIZARD OF OZ as a six-hour original miniseries scheduled to premiere December 2007. [Link]
• A video game tie-in to the fifth Harry Potter movie, HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX, is in development and is scheduled to be released along with the movie in July 2007. [Link]
• Neil Gaiman will answer questions pertaining to STARDUST, the movie adaptation of his graphic novel of the same name, on the official movie Web site. [Link]
• The SMURFS feature film currently in development will be a 3D computer animated movie. [Link]
• Silva Screen Records will release on December 4 the DOCTOR WHO TV SOUNDTRACK, which is the first release of music from the BBC/SCIFI Channel series revival and will include music from Seasons 1 and 2 along with the new version of the theme song. [Link]
• Dave Cockrum, the legendary comic book artist best known for his work on LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES and UNCANNY X-MEN, died Sunday due to complications from diabetes. He was 63. Author Neil Gaiman has a tribute to the artist on his official Web site, which he wrote two years ago for a Dave Cockrum tribute book. [Link]

Do you have a geek in the family? You probably do. The latest studies show that 75% of all households include at least one geek (which is up from 72% last year). And if you do have a geek relative or friend, you’ll want to make him or her happy this holiday. Studies also show that 98% of all geeks like gifts. So we’ve put our fanboy and girl heads together to help you choose the perfect gift for that geek loved one. We’ve chosen the best and most interesting items in comics, books, DVDs, video games, CDs, electronics, and collectibles. Don’t disappoint a geek, buy something below. You’ll thank us later.

(Tell us what you’d like for Christmas below.)

The Absolute Sandman, Vol. 1

By Neil Gaiman, et al. ~ Vertigo ~ $62.37

Collects issues 1-20 of the popular comic book series about the Dream King and his siblings The Endless and deals with Sandman’s imprisonment and the threat to his realm, The Dreaming. This beautiful leather-bound volume also contains all new coloring for the first 18 issues and the script for the World Fantasy Award-winning issue #19 “A Midsummer’s Night Dream,” the only comic book to ever win the award.

Conan: The Ultimate Guide to the World’s Most Savage Barbarian

By Roy Thomas ~ DK Publishing ~ $16.49

This is the first-ever illustrated guide to Robert E. Howard’s most beloved character. The hardcover tome chronicles Conan’s exploits through the ages. A must-have for any Conan fan.

Lost Girls Collected

by Alan Moore, Melinda Gebbie ~ Top Shelf Productions ~ $47.25

This 3-volume graphic novel collection sees fictional heroines Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, Alice from Alice in Wonderland, and Wendy from Peter Pan meeting as adults for an epic adventure of a sexual nature.

Sagittarius Is Bleeding: Battlestar Galactica 3

By Peter David ~ Tor Books ~ $10.17

President Roslin is having disturbing visions and doesn’t know who to trust while the Midguardians vie for power. Based on the SciFi Channel series, this novel truly puts the reader into the minds of the show’s favorite characters with a plot that rivals any of the television episodes in quality.

League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: The Black Dossier

By Alan Moore, Kevin O’Neill ~ Wildstorm ~ $19.79

Set in mid-1950s England under the control of an iron-fisted regime, The League have been disbanded and disavowed. Mina Murray and Allan Quatermain return to their old headquarters for the centuries-old Black Dossier, a book containing the history of League, and must protect the book from their enemies bent on destroying it — and the League forever!

The End (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 13)

By Lemony Snicket, Brett Helquist ~ HarperCollins ~ $6.53

The unfortunate events for Baudelaire orphans Violet, Klaus, and Sunny finally come to an end in this last book of the popular children’s series. Will the evil Count Olaf finally triumph or will the children live happily ever after?

300

By Frank Miller, Lynn Varley ~ Dark Horse ~ $19.80

Miller delves into the Ancient World with a retelling of The Battle of Thermopylae where Spartan King Leonidas and his 300 personal guards battled the massive army of Emperor Xerxes of Persia.

Battlestar Galactica: Season 2.5 (Episodes 10-20)

Universal Studios ~ $31.87

This DVD contains the final 10 episodes of the second season of the SciFi Channel’s revamped series (plus an extended version of episode 10). This story arc sees the intergretion of the Galactica and Pegasus crews; the key role of the Cylon Sharon’s half-human unborn baby in President Roslin’s battle with cancer; and the fleet’s plans to attack the Cylon resurrection ship.

Smallville: The Complete First Five Seasons

Warner Home Video ~ $149.99

The young Clark Kent (Tom Welling) from the planet Krypton finds a new home in Smallville, Kansas, where he struggles with everyday life, love interests, and rivals of the human and alien kind while learning to use his super powers for the greater good of mankind.

Godzilla – Gojira Deluxe Collector’s Edition

Sony Wonder (Video) ~ $15.64

This 2-DVD set contains Gojira, the original Japanese horror film, for the first time on DVD in the United States along with its American remake Godzilla, about a giant radioactive reptile who rises from Tokyo Bay to rampage the city leaving it in ruins and its citizens in terror.

Superman Ultimate Collector’s Edition

Warner Home Video ~ $69.88

This 14-DVD ultimate collection contains the classic Superman I and II movies and the not-so-classic III and IV (all of which star the late Christopher Reeve in the title role); the much talked-about Richard Donner Director’s Cut of Superman II; this summer’s Superman Returns; the documentary Look, Up in the Sky: The Amazing Story of Superman about the original 1938 Superman comic; and an assortment of documentaries, featurettes, cartoons, music, commentary tracks, TV show footage and specials, restored and additional scenes, trailers and TV spots. An absolute must-have for Superman fans.

The X-Men Trilogy

20th Century Fox ~ $29.87

The hit X-Men movie franchise is collected in this set, starring Patrick Stewart as X-Men leader, Hugh Jackman as the steel-clawed Wolverine, and Ian McKellan as rival Magneto. Based on the popular Marvel comic book series, the X movie trilogy has the X-Men fight for mutant rights against the human population that fears them all the while trying to protect the humans from the mutant Magneto.

Akira Kurosawa – 4 Samurai Classics

Criterion ~ $89.99

This 4-DVD set features Seven Samurai, Yojimbo, Sanjuro, and The Hidden Fortress, which is known for its heavy influence on George Lucas and his Star Wars saga.

Friday the 13th – From Crystal Lake to Manhattan

Paramount ~ $48.87

This 5-DVD set contains the first 8 movies in the Friday the 13th horror series about the return (and the return and the return) of Jason Voorhies, the hockey-mask-wearing invulnerable killer who starts out seeking revenge on the premiscuous counselors at Camp Crystal Lake and eventually ends up in the sewers of Manhattan. A bonus disc contains extras, including deleted scenes.

GEARS OF WAR (Xbox 360)

Offered by Microsoft Games ~ $59.99

This Xbox 360-exclusive game pits humankind in a battle for survival against the subterranean Locust Horde.

LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy (PS2) (XBox 360)

Offered by Lucas Arts Entertainment ~ (PS2) $39.95 ~ (Xbox 360) $49.82

Enter the Lego world of the original STAR WARS trilogy to ride aboard Princess Leia’s ship, fight alongside Rebel troops, or engage in a lightsaber battle.

The Warriors (PS2)

Offered by Rockstar Games ~ $19.99

Join the Warriors, a New York City gang wrongfully accused of murdering a rival gang’s leader, as they fight for their lives against an army of gang members as they make their way across the city to their home turf in Coney Island.

Eragon (PS2) (XBox 360)

Offered by Vivendi Universal ~ (PS2) $39.99 ~ (XBox 360) $59.82

Enter the magical fantasy world of Eragon, a young dragon-rider with the destiny to save the world, with dragon flight/flight combo action and magic-based combat.

Justice League Heroes (PS2)

Offered by Eidos ~ $39.82

In this role-playing game, users can fight as Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, or another favorite DC super hero to thwart plans of Brainiac and his band of villains to conquer the world and eliminate the Justice League.

Marvel Ultimate Alliance (PS2) (Xbox 360)

Offered by Activision ~ (PS2) $39.99 ~ (Xbox 360) $59.69

Choose from over 140 characters from the Marvel universe to create a four-member strike force of Marvel super heroes. Outfit the team with power-boosting equipment and a team name, icon, and vehicle, and engage them in airborne, underwater, and outer space combat which will establish the team’s reputation as the adventure progresses.

Apple 80 GB iPod Video (Black)

Offered by Apple Computer ~ $332.49

The ultimate mp3 player with an 80 GB hard drive to store songs, videos, games, photos, and much more with a 320 x 240-pixel display and up to 20 hours of battery life.

Nintendo Wii

Offered by Nintendo of America ~ $249

This new gaming console has a built-in Wi-Fi access, supported by a new online gaming service, and an intuitive, wireless, motion-sensitive game controller shaped like a TV remote.

Sony PlayStation 3 (60 GB)

Offered by Sony Computer Entertainment ~ $699

More than just a video game console, it’s a home entertainment center with video chat, Internet access, digital photo viewing, and digital audio and video — and yes, lots of game play with backward compatible for PlayStation and PlayStation 2 games.

Celestron SkyScout Personal Planetarium

Offered by Celestron ~ $399.95

This handheld device locates and identifies over 6,000 stars, planets, and constellations with a simple point and click of a button. The SkyScout provides entertaining and educational audio and text information (on an easy-to-read red LED backlight display), including facts, trivia, history, and mythology about the most popular celestial objects.

Magellan eXplorist XL Handheld GPS Receiver

Offered by Magellan ~ $305.48

Know where you’re going and how to get there with this handheld global positioning system receiver that sports a 3.5-inch, sunlight viewable, high contrast color LCD screen and an unlimited map storage with 30MB of available internal memory plus expandable memory through a built-in SD card reader/writer.

Audiovox D1915 9″ Portable DVD Player

Offered by AudioVox ~ $149.99

Watch your DVDs on-the-go with this slim portable DVD player with 9-inch screen and integrated rechargable battery with 2.5 hours of play time. This unit plays DVD and CD discs plus CD-R/RW discs with MP3 and JPEG; there’s a built-in SD/MMC memory card slot for photo slideshows; built-in stereo speakers, and headphone input. Comes complete with AC adapter, wireless remote, carrying case, and car power adapter — great for long trips with the loved ones.

Tenacious D The Pick of Destiny [LIMITED EDITION]

By Tenacious D ~ Sony ~ $23.99

Serving as the soundtrack to the flick of the same name, the D, a.k.a., The Greatest Band in the World (according to them), are back to rock your socks off. The tunes tell the tale of Kyle Gass and Jack Black’s destiny from their origins to their rock-off battle with the Devil himself. The Limited Edition version contains a 3D digipak, 8 tarot cards, exclusive poster, and the actual guitar “pick of destiny” in a special embossed metal box.

Where’s Neil When You Need Him?

Neil Gaiman, Various Artists ~ Dancing Ferret Discs ~ $13.99

Seventeen international acts, including Tori Amos and Rasputina, offer up 17 songs of various musical styles, all of which were inspired by the works of best-selling author and creator of the Sandman comic book series Neil Gaiman.

Spaced Out:
Best of Leonard Nimoy & William Shatner

By Shatner, Nimoy ~ MCA Import ~ $14.98

Shatner and Nimoy attained their slot in the geek pantheon with their roles as Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock, but at some point, the fame went to their heads, so much so that they decided to go where no tone-deaf spacemen should go — the recording studio. This CD collects their songs (recorded as solo acts, not as a duo) from 1967-1970, including Shatner’s talked-out Beatles cover of “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds” and Nimoy’s ode to Tolkien’s hobbits, “Ballad of Bilbo Baggins.” While the artists were certainly serious about their musical endeavors, these tunes will no doubt provide hours of laughter.

Flash Gordon Soundtrack

By Queen ~ Hollywood Records ~ $12.99

This has to go at the top of the list of best movie soundtracks of all time. With music provided by rock legends Queen, the soundtrack to the 1980 film contains the classic “Flash” theme (Flash! Ah-ah! Saviour of the universe!) along with a synth-heavy score and bits of movie dialogue sprinkled throughout (Flash, Flash I love you, but we only have fourteen hours to save the Earth!).

The Transformers: The Movie – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Various Artists ~ Volcano ~ $10.99

Soundtrack to the 1986 film, based on animated the Transformers TV show about the transforming robot Autobots and their battle against the evil Decepticons. The CD includes the triumphant 80’s rock stylings of Stan Bush (You got the touch, you got the power!) and a new take on the Transformers theme song (More than meets the eye!).

Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk

Meco ~ Hip-O Records ~ $9.98

Get your roller disco skates out and boogie along with this funked-up retake on the John Williams Star Wars theme, along with several remix versions.

McFarlane Toys Monsters 4: Twisted Fairy Tales RED RIDING HOOD

Offered by McFarlane Toys ~ $49.99
A sexy, vicious Little Red Riding Hood strikes back in this figure where the Big Bad Wolf gets what’s coming to him!

Marvel Legends MONSTERS Action Figure Gift Set

Offered by Marvel ~ $39.99

This features Dracula, Zombie, Mummy, and Frankenstein in 6-inch super–articulated form inspired by Marvel comics The Tomb of Dracula, The Tale of the Living Zombie, Werewolf by Night, and Monsters Unleashed Frankenstein.

THE SIMPSONS Box Set “Ironic Punishment”

Offered by McFarlane Toys ~ $19.99

Inspired by the long-running animated series’ episode “The Devil and Homer Simpson” in which Homer Simpson sells his soul to the Devil for a donut, this figures features donut-eating action with over 200 donuts to use to force-feed Homer.

CORPSE BRIDE Action Figure Series 2 Set

Offered by McFarlane Toys ~ $74.99

This set includes 6 individually packaged 6-inch action figures — Victor, Corpse Bride, Bonejangles, Mrs. Plum, Mayhew, and Albert — from the stop-motion movie by Tim Burton.

STAR WARS R2-D2 Interactive Astromech Droid

Offered by Hasbro ~ $109.99

R2-D2 can be your very own sidekick with this unit that walks, talks, and responds to over 40 voice commands!

TRANSFORMERS Optimus Prime (20th Anniversary Edition)

Offered by Hasbro ~ $69.99

This 12-inch-tall leader of the Autobots transforms and rolls out into semi truck mode and speaks phrases from the 1986 Transformers movie.

In recent years, there’s been mainstream acceptance of geek-themed entertainment, which has led to some amazing TV programming like SciFi Channel’s BATTLESTAR GALACTICA and EUREKA. Now, NBC has put forth what is, in my opinion, one of the best shows EVER to grace the small screen — HEROES. I like how it’s treated with realism and is not a glorified parody of the superhero genre. Hiro Nakamura, who can bend time and space, is already one of the greatest geek TV characters and is well on his way to be as beloved as Mr. Spock. Thanks to this show, I look forward to Mondays for the first time in my life. (I’m also thankful this year for the Video iPod, the iPod movie store, IO’s Boost 30 megabit broadband service — three great tastes that taste great together. And special thanks to WordPress, PHP, Ajax, coffe2code, and my close friend Nicolai [who brought them all to this tasty webmaster’s plate], and a perennial thanks to Moore’s law, for continually proving itself true.)

Peter David is the kind of author you can count on. When you see his name on something, you know it will be good. I discovered the author in the summer of 2003 with the release of FALLEN ANGEL. After FA, which DC cancelled last year, was given a new home at IDW Publishing, I ached for my next David fix, so I started digging into the writer’s archives this year. Thanks to Marvel Comics’ current CIVIL WAR event, I jumped on to David’s relaunched X-FACTOR, and stuck around for FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN. His STAR TREK novels are some of the best in the expanded universe, and much to my delight, his latest novel, SAGITTARIUS IS BLEEDING, is set in the world of SciFi’s BATTLESTAR GALACTICA and most definitely rivals any of the show’s episodes in quality. (I’m also thankful for Golden Oreos, Diet Dr Pepper, and The Moon.)

I know that episodes of STAR TREK TOS are worshiped as gospel by some, with each flaw, limitation, or inconsistency (and there were a few of each) loved and treasured as much as every moment that made the show such absorbing television. I do not agree; Star Trek TOS was a show constructed very much in a hurry and on a limited budget. Mistakes were made. The episode remasters only seek to bring a more modern and consistent look to the special effects sequences in the series. There are no “Han shot first” moments in the episodes screened so far. The changes seem to be tasteful, respectful, and very much in keeping with the spirit of the original STAR TREK. To these eyes, it simply looks better than ever.

In addition to writing and directing the forthcoming WONDER WOMAN movie, Joss has been writing ASTONISHING X-MEN. I have read X-MEN comics here and there over the years, but have always been confounded by the sheer number of X-MEN titles. It was a no-brainer, though, that I would jump on board the newly revived ASTONISHING series when I heard Joss was taking the helm. I was even more excited when I heard that it would be drawn by John Cassaday, whose work on PLANETARY I greatly admired. Once again, Joss lived up to my expectations and delivered a great storyline that brought back a personal favorite, Kitty Pryde (Shadowcat), as a central character. He even resurrected (in more ways than one) her touching romance with Colossus. ASTONISHING X-MEN was easily my favorite series of the past year. As if that wasn’t enough Joss to be thankful for, it was recently announced that he will be taking over my other favorite new series, RUNAWAYS. Although I’m sad to see series creator Brian K. Vaughan leave, I can think of no one better suited to take over this great, character-driven title than Joss. The only thing I’m not thankful for is that he still hasn’t cast Wonder Woman. Why won’t he just take my advice and cast Roseanne? C’mon Joss, you know I’m right.

Aside from the importance of family and friends and the ability to breath fairly constantly, there is nothing to be less thankful for than the continuing energetic rise of technology. To which we all should hail. This very moment a brutish man from an unnamed telecommunications company (which sucks, by the way) is refitting my home with glass fibers that will be sending light into a small box with incredible speed and accuracy. This illumination will then be transfered into another language I cannot possibly comprehend and then be forwarded through the very air I breathe into the small yet very sexy laptop on my, ahem, lap. Then yet another transference into English for me to view, in any font or size or style or color I want. Why, I could even have it read to me! This fantastic invention will further give me the ability to video conference with my Australian relatives with hardly any latency. Speaking and seeing them as if they where in the very room with me — only without the odorous stench of my brother (kidding). At present I am reading one of Patrick O’Brian‘s fictional but historically accurate accounts of the British naval Captain Jack Aubrey and how they lived in the early 1800s; so this amazing technology boggles my mind more than it usually would. To imagine what it would be like to have a three-masted wooden ship and a coach and horses as the fastest means of communication from West Orange New Jersey to Surfers Paradise in Australia — 9,609.8 miles (as Google flies) — makes my smile all the more wholesome.

• SCI FI Channel’s hit series BATTLESTAR GALACTICA will move from its current time slot on Fridays at 9 pm to Sundays at 10 pm ET/PT starting January 21. [Link]
• Awarding-winning director Robert Altman, known for such films as M*A*S*H, THE PLAYER, and GOSFORD PARK, died Monday of complications due to cancer. He was 81. [Link]
• Warner Bros. is close to signing Anne Hathaway to star as Agent 99 with Steve Carell in GET SMART, a feature adaptation of Mel Brooks and Buck Henry‘s sitcom creation. [Link]
• New Line Cinema has made a deal for Michael Scott‘s fantasy series THE IMMORTAL NICHOLAS FLAMEL, which reality-show creator Mark Burnett will produce. The series, which begins with THE ALCHEMYST, is being eyed as a six-picture franchise. [Link]