Can it really be the holidays again so soon? Thatâs right, folks, weâve taken another trip around the sun, and itâs time to gather those you love close and enjoy the holidays! No matter what youâre celebrating, you just have to get that special something for those special someones in your life. Thatâs where we come in. Our CXF North Pole Squad has been hunting for the best suggestions for the comic-book-loving, fan-brained people in your life. You canât go wrong with these picks!
[Ed. note: For more gift guide recs, check out Latonya Pennington’s picks for non-Big Two superhero comics.]
Comics
$ Various
There is nothing like getting actual comic books on Christmas. Behind the scenes at CXF, we do an annual dollar-bin Secret Santa gift exchange with a $10 limit. Itâs always fun to see what our friends dig up out of the bins on a limited budget. And inevitably the books we get are something weird, wild and new to us. Whether you spend $1 or $100, give the gift of comics this holiday season. Use the Comic Shop Locator to find a comic shop near you.
Bags & Boards
$ Various
In the spirit of the old Comic Shops News gift guides, you know what goes great with a stack of comics? Bags and boards (to keep the comics in pristine condition to be enjoyed for decades, not for investment purposes, of course). Even if the recipient regularly bags and boards their books, they can always use more. Feel like splurging? Buy the resealable bags so they don’t need to be taped up, or upgrade to a pack of archival mylar bags for the really fancy comics.
Hot Wheels âTrack Fleetâ Optimus Prime
$10
OK, this isnât the sold-out Hot Wheels Optimus that transforms. That thing is crazy cool. But maybe you watched Transformers One and thought, what if I could just steer a little Optimus Prime truck around my desk at work? For a mere 10 bucks (cheaper than an Energon cube), you can steer Prime all over the place just like you did with your favorite Hot Wheels. Except this one has the Matrix of Leadership! Fair warning: Does not transform! Is just a truck! Is still pretty fun! Roll out with Optimus here.
Upside-Down Spider-Man Phunny Plush Window Clinger
$17
Whatâs better than a Spidey plush? A Spidey plush that hangs upside down. Whatâs better than a Spidey plush that hangs upside down? One with a suction cup that you can stick to all kinds of surfaces and let your olâ Peter Parker dangle. Want him looking down on your workspace? Thwip. Your kitchen while you cook? Thwip. Surprise your friends by hanging Spidey where theyâll least expect it. Available for pre-order here.
Jeff the Land Shark Plush
$20
Come on, everybody loves Jeff the Land Shark! Maybe youâre a fan of the Itâs Jeff! Infinity Comics by Kelly Thompson and Guruhiru, or maybe you like moving him around in Marvel Snap or even his animated adventures on Marvel HQâs YouTube page. Whatever the case, you might have thought more than once about what it would be like to own your own cuddly Jeff, and now is your chance. From Bleacher Creatures, the same folks who brought you plush Lockheed, you can get your own stuffed Jeff and hug him whenever you want. Willing to wait till January? Bleacher Creatures is also releasing an X-Men â97-themed Gambit. Get huggable Jeff here.
Department of Truth Satan Logo Shirt
$20
Nothing says Christmas quite like Satan! No, I didnât misspell Santa. Just imagine all the questions youâll get walking into Christmas dinner with this festive Department of Truth logo shirt on. Is it conspiracy minded? Are you actually Satanist? Only you know for sure, and you arenât telling. Get yours here.
Mike Mignola: Hell, Ink and Water
$40
If you didnât have an opportunity to see Mignolaâs small gallery show of original artwork at the Phillip Labaune Gallery in New York City this fall, you can still get a copy of the catalog in a beautiful hardcover edition. The book features all the artwork from the exhibition, including watercolor work not published elsewhere, and of course your buddy Hellboy and some other heroes show up, too. If you like skeletons and tentacles? This is a dream come true. Get a copy here.
Storm Gloves from Heroes & Villains
$45
Keep those hands nice and warm even when you canât control the weather with these fun winter gloves complete with wrist-level Xâs. These are supposed to evoke Storm, but I think they just look classy. Perfect for hand holding with your favorite mutants. Get a pair here.
Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection
$50
If you didnât grow up in the era of the Marvel vs. Capcom, but are still a mark for a great fighting game, you canât miss out on Capcomâs newest release, which combines six different arcade classics, including X-Men vs. Street Fighter and Marvel vs. Capcom 1 & 2. This collection also includes the weird Punisher side scroller for some reason. Bring the excitement of Shuma Gorathâs whipping tentacles into your home like it was 1995. Available in digital download and physical versions for Switch and PS4. Get your copy here.
Disney Plus Steelbooks
$ various, but usually around $50
We’re lovers of physical media here at ComicsXF, and while the various Marvel and Star Wars series have been a bit of a mixed bag, we greatly appreciate Disney finally putting some of those series out on Bluray (and in sleek, well-designed packaging to boot). Sure, we’re not exactly clamoring to revisit Falcon and The Winter Soldier on 4K, but WandaVision was pretty good! Obi-Wan had its moments, and what better way to prep for season 2 of Andor than binging the first season without eating up internet bandwidth? Best of all, these discs will live forever on a shelf, free from the capricious whims of a Disney exec who could order them removed from the service at any time. Find them here.
GI Joe: A Real American Hero! Compendium One
$64.99
If your pal lacks the muscle-y forearms necessary to peruse an omnibus, softcover compendiums offer a less back-breaking alternative to enjoying large chunks of comics in one package. Since taking on the G.I. Joe license a little over a year ago, Skybound has re-energized (Energon-ized?) the franchise. Which makes now the perfect time for the real American hero in your life to revisit the original Marvel Comics. Robert Kirkman and friends are both celebrating and deconstructing via this deliciously chonky (yet physically manageable) collected edition, available here or wherever books are sold.
Agatha All Along RSVLTS Hoodie
$82
Maybe you were as surprised as the rest of us when Agatha All Along was actually good. Right now, you might still be humming âThe Witchesâ Roadâ in between Christmas carols. If you need a little witchy fashion for your own witchesâ road, may we recommend this patterned hoodie from RSVLTS, wallpapered with gnarly trees, crystal balls and Agathaâs signature broach. As the temperature goes down, down, down in the winter months, this is sure to keep you toasty. You can get one here.
The DC vs. Marvel Omnibus
$150
You donât have to worry whether your pal is a âDC personâ or a âMarvel personâ with this one â everybodyâs favorites are here to beat the crap out of each other and to canonically settle some middle school playground arguments once and for all. The omni also showcases a host of great creators, including Walt Simonson, John Romita Jr., Denny OâNeill and Dan Jurgens. You can get a copy at your local comic shop or right here.
The Lego X-Mansion
$330
Itâs been a full decade since the release of Legoâs first (and for many years only) X-Men set, X-Men vs. The Sentinel (76022) and DarthKy and GlenBrickerâs unfortunately rejected Lego Ideas X-Mansion proposal. But 10 years later, The Lego X-Mansion (76294) is finally here. While not as complex or cool as the Lego Ideas version, fans will be excited by the 12 minfigs, a giant Sentinel, and rooms like the Danger Room and Cerebro chamber. The build is modular, allowing you to pop off ceilings and floors and look into all the individual rooms. Really the only uncool thing about the set is its price, which due to its licensing makes it slightly higher than other 3,000-piece sets. If you can stomach the price and have room on the mantle, this one is bound to make an X-Men fanâs dreams come true. You can buy it here from Lego.
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Whatever you end up getting for your friends, family and anyone else important in your life, remember that the best gift is your love and support! Make sure everyone knows you care, and donât forget to take care of yourself! From our CXF family to yours, weâre wishing you an Absolutely Super Uncanny Incredible Amazing holiday season!
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