Reading comic books has always been a great way to escape from the real world and after the year we’ve just had, the situation of which is likely to continue on into 2021, now more than ever is a great time for some escapism. So this holiday season, give the gift of comics – there’s plenty of new offerings: an all-new Dune adaptation; a master edition of Alan Moore’s From Hell; and even an audiobook for Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman! There’s lots to choose from, so check out our picks in our Holiday Geek Gift Guide 2020 for Comic Books and Graphic Novels.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Every Generation #1 Print | Digital “Where All Paths Lead”
Written by Nilah Magruder
Illustrated by Lauren Knight
Colored by Alex Guimaraes
“The Hilot Of 1910”
Written by Morgan Beem and Lauren Garcia
Illustrated by Morgan Beem
“The Sisters Of Angelus”
Written and Illustrated by Caitlin Yarsky
Letters by Jim Campbell
Covers by Mirka Andolfo, Caitlin Yarsky, Celine Loup, Kajo Baldisimo
Publisher: Boom! Studios | 42 pages | full color
Release Date: June 3, 2020
I must admit, I always enjoy stories with an origin feel to them. Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Every Generation #1 is an oversized comic with three separate, but still related, stories. As any fan of the Buffyverse knows, Slayers have come and gone for centuries. When one dies another is called. This newest release gives us a short story from the lives of three Slayers, but not all of them have happy endings. But then, that is not really news, now is it?
It feels a bit strange, writing a review of Hellboy Winter Special 2019 when it is 72 degrees outside, but that’s Texas for you, make no mistake. Putting the hell in Hellboy, in my opinion. But, be that as it may, this is one amazing one-shot comic. In true Dark Horse fashion, everything is a bit darker and twisted than what most other comic companies produce. And that, my friends, is why I love almost everything they produce!
2019 was an amazing year for comic books and graphic novels, as well as the franchises they spawned. Sequential art is a medium unlike any other and it appeals to a certain type of person. If you happen to be shopping for just such a person, then this list is sure to help you find the perfect gift this holiday season! There are so many choices to be had, though. We have Batman, John Wick, Hulk, Conan, Stranger Things, and even Lucifer from which to pick. Whatever your decision may be, just know that these were lovingly hand picked to be the best we found this past year. Sure, there are a few reissues, but many folks are discovering these titles for the first time anyway. Why should you not be the one to introduce your friends and relatives to some spectacular content?
So please dig into our Holiday Geek Gift Guide 2019: Comic Books and Graphic Novels below for our favorites from this year. We did all the hard work so you don’t have to!
Sons of Chaos Hardcover | Kindle
Writer: Chris Jaymes
Illustrator: Ale Aragon
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Release date: June 2019
I’m a sucker for a good historical novel. Done right, it can drop you into a time period, introduce you to characters you see as dear friends or bitter enemies, and immerse you into historical events in a deeply meaningful way. The graphic novel Sons of Chaos by writer Chris Jaymes (Party of Five, Chicago Hope, Lost) illuminates the harrowing 19th-century events of the Greek War of Independence through the lens of tragic underdog Marcos Botsaris. Game of Thrones meets 300 in this bleak-yet-epic saga portraying the costs of brutal and anything-but-fair conflict with impressively natural pacing. Massive, lustrous pages serve as a backdrop to the grandiose, fantastical, and occasionally wincingly violent artwork illustrated by Ale Aragon (28 Days Later, Deadpool).
Students of the Unusual™ comic cover used with permission of 3BoysProductions
The Mercuri Bros.™ comic cover used with permission of Prodigal Son Press
