Sometimes I’m left dumbfounded that many people covering the comic book industry couldn’t understand how Marvel Comics, the publishing arm of the organization, fits perfectly into the overall business strategy for Marvel Entertainment and its parent company Disney — that it is the central hub that connects the dots between all the various departments utilizing Marvel-branded content or licensed products. (It’s also not that important, unless you start writing speculative pieces with a limited understanding of, well, business.)

That was the intention behind a SXSW panel featuring Marvel Chief Creative Officer Joe Quesada and Editor in Chief C.B. Cebulski earlier this week. Sure enough, the pair spent nearly an hour outlining the various ways original work in the comic book publishing arm translated over to other mediums with great financial success. Some of the best examples included major comic event storylines being adapted to blockbuster big budget films (Civil War, Infinity War) and mobile game Contest of Champions using exact costume designs from current comic series runs.

I’ve long maintained that comics are the greatest Christmas present since there is a comic for everyone you know, even if they don’t know it yet. So, take a look at the list of titles below and see if there’s something out there for someone you know. Or maybe just pick up something for yourself, because there’s nothing wrong with that. We’ve assembled for you a list of some of the best comics collections that have been released this year, so let’s all find something to curl up with beside a nice fire.

See here below for our Holiday Geek Gift Guide 2018 for Comic Books and Graphic Novels.

Stan Lee, the legendary comic book writer, editor, and creator, died this morning at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA, according to THR, who confirmed the news with a family representative. He was 95.

Lee, who had become ill in recent years, was reportedly rushed to the hospital earlier today for an undisclosed medical emergency. The man who was behind the creation of such characters like Spider-Man, the X-Men, Fantastic Four, Hulk, Black Panther, and so much more is survived by his daughter Joan and his younger brother Larry Lieber. His wife of 69 years, Joan, died at 95 in July 2017 after complications from a stroke; their daughter Jan passed away three days after her birth in 1953.

Here’s a new image you might want to sink your teeth into. Just ahead of its panel at San Diego Comic-Con, Sony has dropped new images from Venom, their first Spider-Man-Less spinoff.

While many have questioned if a universe full of supporting Spider-Man characters, villains, and anti-heroes can work, its titles are attracting some talent. For Venom, the talent doesn’t get any bigger than Tom Hardy, who plays the title character. Now before we get to see more from the film at SDCC this week check out the new image, along with what Hardy and director Ruben Fleischer had to say about the film, below.

Deadpool 2
Directed by David Leitch
Written by Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, Ryan Reynolds
Starring Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Zazie Beetz, Brianna Hildebrand, Morena Baccarin, Leslie Uggams, Julian Dennison, Karan Soni, Stefan Kapicic, T.J. Miller
20th Century Fox
Rated R | 119 Minutes
Release Date: May 18, 2018

A review of Deadpool 2 is an exercise in futility. You already know if you’re going to like it or not, the only real question is “how much?” You know you’ll laugh, again though, “how much?” I don’t want to spoil any of the jokes, quotes, or guest appearances, so what exactly do I write in this review??? I’ll try to answer the above mentioned questions in the most Deadpool way I can: staring at camera, winking… “A f*ck lot” and “Laughed till I peed blood.” Ok… maximum effort!

Deadpool 2 once again stars Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson, the 4th wall-breaking, merc with the mouth who spends his days tracking and brutally slaying an international array of baddies and cracking jokes on Hugh Jackman, Ryan Reynolds’ filmography, and really all superhero movie conventions. This time, however, after an early dose of reality, Wade realizes he may in fact have to accept certain conventions, amongst these, a team-up with the X-Men.