Every year, we kick off our end of the year extravaganza with this, our Holiday Gift Guide. Regardless of what holiday(s) you celebrate, we all need gift ideas for the folks in our lives who would rather a comic or a LEGO set than another sweater or a Starbucks gift card. We are here for you!
This year we asked our staff to fit in their gift selections according to five themes:
Below are the items our staff selected for this year’s guide and, if you happen to see an Amazon link at the end of the listing, that link will take you to the special Multiversity Amazon Affiliate store, and will help earn us microcents if you buy it through there!
Happy Holidays from us, and enjoy the Gift Guide!
Cartoon Saloon’s Irish Folklore Trilogy ($66.99)
Three absolutely gorgeous Academy Award-nominated films from Ireland’s Cartoon Saloon, namely The Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea, and at long last, Wolfwalkers, which until now was trapped on that streaming service that has Ted Lasso on it — this lavish box set is well worth it for the last film alone, a searing indictment of England’s colonization of Ireland, but y’know, for kids! – Christopher Chiu-Tabet
The Movie Art of Syd Mead: Visual Futurist by Syd Mead ($28.89)
This is a tough category for me, as I am very much the person who goes and buys what I want basically when I want it. (Woe is me, right?) But this is an item I have thought about a bunch over the years and just never picked it up (and did add to my gift list this year that I emailed to my family), even though it is fairly cheap for a big art book of its kind. If there is a sci-fi movie you love, Mead probably did concept art for it. Over the years he even dabbled in the world of comics, doing sketches and covers for various series. Probably best known for his work on classic films like Blade Runner, TRON, or Aliens, Syd Mead was called a futurist because he could create these visions of a possible future, rather than just throwing a bunch of weird ideas and fantastical technologies together and calling it science fiction. His work and ideas continue to influence pop culture to this day, and he was working on new films even up to just a few years ago, shortly before his death in 2019 at age 86. If you are reading the current “Blade Runner” comics, you will see Mead’s work on many a variant cover. All are pieces of concept work he did on the original film. This hardcover book showcases an in-depth history of his work is a must own for sci-fi fans, not just to admire his incredible illustrations, but to fully appreciate his impact on the world. – Christopher Egan
Displate The Child Wall Art (prices range from $44 – $149 depending on size, finish, and choice of frame)
My better half introduced me to Displate a few years ago with a Doctor Who themed piece. They make metal art prints that hang really easily in your house (no nails! no Command strips you have to eventually replace!). We are big into collecting original art for our house, which we normally get on the con circuit. Well, there were no cons attended in this house this year, so the art is a little lacking. And what better to decorate my home office than with the cutest Child around? – Kate Kosturski
After a three and a half-year hiatus “Saga” is back, so if you want to prepare yourself by reading everything again, or for the first time, these two options are the best. If you want the cheapest option, you can buy the compendium for less than $50, it’s not so cute and it damages fairly easily, but it’s the best option to use and abuse the book binge-reading it as many times as possible.
Of course, you can buy the hardcovers for $150, but the a great option is the brand new Box Set, collecting the nine paperbacks without the hassle of hunting each one down for a very fair $112.50. Then, you will be ready. – Ramon Piña
Young Justice: Outsiders the Complete Third Season ($20.60)
Remember when we took to the internet to demand they #BringBackYoungJustice? Well, they brought back Young Justice, and it was good. We’re getting season 4 on HBO Max, but while that’s still airing, we can always go back and catch up on the third season. We get new teams and heroes coming together, new threats, and some shocking twists. Plus, supporting this season means we’re likely to keep getting more Young Justice, which is certainly something on my wish list. – Robert Pleasant
Jason Aaron Thor Omnibus 1 ($125 retail)
This is the first of (I believe) two omnibi collecting the entirety of Jason Aaron’s time with Thor. If you or anyone you know has either never read this run OR has read it but wants a beautiful and decently affordable – and in print! – version for their shelves, this is the book for them. It’s not technically out yet, probably due to the supply chain and papers issues, but that’s OK. It’s worth the wait. Trust me on this one. – Elias Rosner
This event is the weird second DC Crisis, but isn’t really positioned that way, either in or out of the reality of the comic. It is only in retrospect that it is elevated to its vaulted place of import, but still doesn’t get its due as a truly groundbreaking era of DC Comics. While the innovation would continue and even improve a few years later, this is ground zero (pun intended, deal with it) for a more interesting DC Universe. Without “Zero Hour,” there’d be no “Starman,” which means no JSA revival, which means Geoff Johns isn’t the DC golden child, which means no “Green Lantern: Rebirth,” which means no New 52, which means no…well, you get the point. While “Crisis in Infinite Earths” was the bellwether of a new era of comics, that new era don’t start, in earnest, until “Zero Hour.” – Brian Salvatore
Did you know that WolfWalkers has been adapted to a comic book, which means that The Art of WolfWalkers is now tangentially a comics-related gift? In all seriousness though, I cannot recommend this book enough. Cartoon Saloon’s Irish trilogy all have a shared aesthetic, and it’s fascinating to see the character designs start out trying to find the character, then hone that character to suit the style of the film. The visual development of the wolf point of view sequences is also fascinating, as it still has to use the same language as the rest of the film, while also functioning in a strikingly different way. Plus there are plenty of script pages, storyboards, and color keys. There’s plenty of beautiful art, of course, but the focus is always on how it tells the story and works as a whole. – Mark Tweedale
One Piece Color Walk Compendium ($39.99 each)
This was a huge year for “One Piece” and there’s a lot of ways to engage with and enjoy the long-running series. One of those ways is by picking up the Color Walk Compendiums, which showcase Oda’s art in breathtaking cover. Volumes 1 and 2 feature artwork from East Blue to Skypiea and from Water Seven to Paramount War, respectively. You’ll want to get a jump on these before the third volume releases next year, featuring art from stories after the time-skip. – Zach Wilkerson
Various Marvel Comics Collections (prices vary)
I’ve been going big on collecting various Marvel omnibuses and trades over the last 2 years, really trying to catch up and learn more about characters I love. There are a bunch of series I’m basically in the middle of and looking forward to reaching the end for Christmas. Right now, my obsession is collecting stories of characters I love, or even just like, in runs by creators considered to be some of the best of all time. Things like Matt Fraction and David Aja’s run on “Hawkeye,” the biggest inspiration for the current Disney+ show, this can be found in four trade paperbacks, two beautiful hardcovers, or one giant omnibus. An excellent self-contained run that can get readers up to speed on the more current comic book version of Clint Barton, and seeing some of the origins of Kate Bishop’s Hawkeye. I’ve also been collecting Walt Simonson’s classic run on “Thor,” some of which has been used in details of the MCU films, and can sort of be used a blueprint for where Thor’s adventures on the big screen can go. It’s an amazing jump on point even for readers who hardly know the character outside of the films, or at a more surface level. Reginal Hudlin’s famed run on “Black Panther” is a stellar piece of the character’s history. It touches all aspects of the Marvel universe with major connections to the X-Men and the Avengers, we get an incredible look at T’Challa, and all of his supporting characters, and of course one of the best versions of Wakanda up to that point. This run was a huge inspiration on the 2018 film and a must for those looking to read more “Black Panther.” The whole series is collected in three beautiful trade paperbacks. Check out your local comic shop or wherever comics are sold to find any of these. – Christopher Egan
Comic Longboxes (prices vary, item linked here is listed at $26.99)
Although most of my reading is digital, I still have some print issues that I purchase, either because they’re not available digitally or I want to keep them for some reason. And things are starting to get unwieldy, which saps my desire to get reading. I need some new longboxes to get things in order (and after that, the time to read it all). – Kate Kosturski
I mean, I might cry next month, I really need to keep reading Hazel’s story. Plus, it’s a dollar cheaper than most books and has 44 pages. I predict that this will cause a craze and speculation bubble not seen since “Edge of Spider-Verse #2” (Spider-Gwen), so, buy early to avoid sold out. – Ramon Piña
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 2021 256GB ($679.99)
I do most of my daily comics reading digitally so a tablet that can actually support the apps I use, as well as at a large size, is a must. I’ve found that my Galaxy Tab s2 (yes it’s that old) just isn’t cutting it anymore and while looking around, I came across this baby.
12” screen. Stylus to help my RSI. Crystal clear colors and, most importantly, an up-to-date OS and security updates. This is the tablet I need and if you’re going to splurge on the digital comics reader in your life, this is the tablet for them.
I will admit that there are plenty of very good tablets, most at 10” or 8”, for far less money. In fact, even the 64GB version is, like, $100 but if you’re using this for comics? Come on. You’re gonna need those gigs. Is this definitely cheaper than the comparable Ipad Pro? Uh. Duh. Could I have put that here instead, if price doesn’t matter? Probably but I’m an android user so I’ll let Mark Tweedale espouse the virtues of the iPad Pro’s humungo screen. – Elias Rosner
I read digital comics on laptops and desktops but I think my enjoyment of digital comics would grow considerably if I had a decent tablet to read them on. And since I’m reading 90% of my comics digitally now, it seems like less of a desire and more of a necessity. Plus, it’ll be easier on my eyes when I do the Crossword. – Brian Salvatore
Spider-Man: No Way Home soundtrack by Michael Giachino
Maybe I’ve got my hopes a little too high for this soundtrack. Michael Giacchino is my favorite composer, and I love when he’s given a series to work on, because as much as I love his musical themes, it’s the way he develops them that I really love (see his Planet of the Apes films and LOST). And this third MCU Spider-Man film has a huge palette to play with. Could we actually hear Danny Elfman’s Doc Ock theme (one of the best villain themes ever)? Look for this one December 17. – Mark Tweedale
Superman and the Authority Hardcover ($24.99)
One of the finest Superman writers of all time returns once more with this delightful coda on their decade spanning body of work. DIsplay this one on your shelf proudly alongside “All-Star Superman,” “Action Comics,” and “Final Crisis.” – Zach Wilkerson
Apparel By London 1888 (prices vary)
Artist Christopher Ott started London 1888 over a decade ago doing original pieces of horror and sci-fi characters as art prints for a great price. He has since moved on to a wider variety of prints, shirts of all kinds, hoodies, trucker hats, leggings, stickers, pins, face masks, and more. You are guaranteed to find something to wear on his site. He still does a majority of horror characters, but has moved on to comic book merch, more sci-fi, films of all kinds, and so on. His site also showcases some pieces and apparel by comics/visual artist Jeff Zornow (@ZornowMustBeDestroyed!). It’s a great collection of things to wear created by a guy who loves all the stuff we do. Full disclosure, Chris and I became friends years ago, but I met him because of his fantastic work. He’s a fan of throwing in extra goodies with every order, and he really goes over the top with his repeat customers. And if something goes wrong with your order, you will definitely get taken care of with a replacement with something extra, and awesome, thrown in for your troubles. Because the company is technically just him and his girlfriend, don’t expect Amazon fast shipping, but it will arrive at a normal speed. And remember, support small businesses! – Christopher Egan
Vera Bradley x Peanuts Fringe Scarf ($50.00)
Bag retailer Vera Bradley has come a long way from “those quilted bags your mom or aunt has” with their pop culture collaborations to appeal to younger generations. Their latest is a holiday collection with Peanuts, and this scarf is soft, stylish, and a cute way to show off one of the most iconic comic strips of our age. – Kate Kosturski
HEX X Jim Lee Collectors Backpack ($139.95)
A couple of years back, HEX partnered with Jim Lee to design special backpacks for comic creators and collectors, this is the one for the latters; within its many charms, it has a special pocket for the “Overstreet Guide”, I wish I had that level of commitment, bringing the Overstreet to cons. So, I have wanted to own this one for years. – Ramon Piña
I struggled with this one because I don’t really buy many wearable fan items. Not only do I not know what to look for then, I have no idea which links might be reputable! This made it very hard to find any Jujutsu Kaisen merch to recommend. Instead, I found a series I knew would have merch up the wazoo – Demon Slayer – and picked a pin of my fav trash boy Zenitsu. Look at his terrified eyes! Don’t you just want to wear that? – Elias Rosner
There are few superhero logos as good as the Madman logo. Sort of a portmanteau of the Shazam logo and an exclamation mark – or is it a question mark? – it is also the rare superhero shirt you can wear nowadays without too many normies knowing what you’re sporting. – Brian Salvatore
Shirts by Erica Henderson (prices vary)
You know what’s even better than a DC shirt with the Batman logo on it? Actual art from a comics artist on a t-shirt that the artist owns and profits from. In this case, I’m picking Erica Henderson (“The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl”, “Dracula, Motherfucker!”) because I took one look at her shirt designs and now I need them to live. – Mark Tweedale
Naruto Collection by Hypland (prices vary)
Get that ninja drip with Hypland’s incredible line of Naruto themed apparel. I’m personally a fan of the tie-dye Ichiraku Ramen shirt. Of course, you could certainly go all out with a Jonin Tactical Vest. – Zach Wilkerson
A lot of people played the Mass Effect trilogy for the first time this year after the release of the Legendary Edition, and with word of a deal for an Amazon series nearing completion, now’s a good time to inform those new fans that there were some excellent books, beginning with original lead writer Drew Karpyshyn’s prequel to the first game, depicting the history between Captain Anderson and Saren Arterius. Yes, there were a lot of comics as well, but Karpyshyn’s prose trilogy is where you really want to begin the EU — you may be amazed to learn how much of Mass Effect 2 was introduced in advance. – Christopher Chiu-Tabet
BEWARE! The Art of Goosebumps by Sarah Rodriguez & Tim Jacobus ($26.99)
For horror fans born in the 80s & 90s, there is no doubt in my mind that the beloved “Goosebumps” series by R.L. Stine was a touchstone in your horror journey growing up. This over-sized hardcover coffee table book is filled with a deep-dive history by author Rodriguez and gorgeous reproductions of every single piece of art used for the covers created by Jacobus. All of which is some of the greatest pop culture art of the last 40 years. While “Goosebumps” was a novella series for kids, it too had its own comic book run, so it does fall under our usual umbrella. This one just dropped on 11/30/21, so it is available RIGHT NOW. Reader Beware, You’re In For A Scare (and a rampant nostalgia attack). – Christopher Egan
For many years, one of my reading resolutions (inspired by this site) is to dive into the world of Hellboy. But the breadth and depth of the world makes it hard to know where to start. Enter these “Essentials” collections, hand picked stories from Mike Mignola designed to help new readers. – Kate Kosturski
If there’s one book that flew under the radar both in 2020 and 2021, it’s “Knock ‘Em Dead” by Elliot Rahal, Mattia Monaco, et al., published by AfterShock.
A supernatural horror story about the world of Stand Up Comedy and the inevitable consequences of fame. You won’t be disappointed. – Ramon Piña
How To Take Over The World ($28.00)
It’s no secret that I’m a fan of Ryan North’s work, ever since I read “Unbeatable Squirrel Girl.” While this has nothing to do with Squirrel Girl at all (in fact, since it’s about taking over the world, it’s practically the opposite), his humorous how-to guide for a villain looking for world domination is a clever, humorous book filled with ideas just crazy enough to work. He’s already shown us how to invent everything, now we get to learn ways to use that technology for evil, and it’s gonna be both engaging and a laugh at the same time. – Robert Pleasant
Last year, I told you all to get the “Strangers in Paradise” box set. Well, I’m back to tell you to head back over to Terry Moore’s website and get your hands on the glorious green hardcover omnibus for “Rachel Rising.” After many years out of print, it’s back, though in limited quantities.
This is the story that first got me hooked on Moore’s work and was the entry point for a lot of readers. It was also his final long-running series and that’s a shame. It’s a true jewel of the horror genre and you should all read it. Specifically in this very fancy, very green version. – Elias Rosner
Supergods by Grant Morrison ($18.00 retail)
As the world continues to be less than super, we need Morrison’s intellectually stimulating yet emotionally resonant views on superheroes to get us through the days, weeks, months, and years of hate, disease, and those 1-877-Kars-For-Kids commercial. – Brian Salvatore
The Essential Guide to Comic Book Lettering ($15.29)
If you follow Nate Piekos (AKA Blambot) on Twitter, then you’ve probably seen a few of his posts about comic book lettering. On his website, there are a whole bunch more. And yet, there is still so much to say… so he wrote a 250-page book about it. If you have any interest in comic book lettering, whether it is as someone that wants to do lettering themself, as someone that works with letters frequently, as a comics reviewer, or just as a reader that wants to appreciate this craft more, then you should absolutely pick this book up. – Mark Tweedale
Shonen Jump Subscription ($2 per month)
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a hundred times; this is the best gosh darn deal in all of comics. Come for the deep back catalogue with fantastic series like “Dragon Ball” “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure,” and “Demon Slayer,” but stay for the ongoing series like “One Piece,” “Sakamoto Days,” and “Me & Roboco.” – Zach Wilkerson
Playmobil Star Trek USS Enterprise NCC-1701 ($454.98)
It’s Captain Kirk (Shatner, not Pine, sadly)’s original Enterprise! It’s huge! It’s got Kirk, Spock, Bones, Uhura, Scotty, Sulu and Chekov, and a bridge and engineering section for them to work in! Introduce a child (and your inner child) to one of sci-fi’s greatest sagas with this epic toy today! (Well, not today, but the hyperbole is the point Mr. Spock!) – Christopher Chiu-Tabet
Ghostbusters Plasma Series Neutrona Wand ($124.99) and Proton Pack ($399.99)
This is more of an I.O.U. gift as the neutrona wand is a pre-order now in production, and the proton pack is part of one of Hasbro Pulse’s most recent crowd funded projects – soon to be put into production, but because both are available for order now. I want them now! And there’s photos online, so print them up and throw them in a festive card this month. Both items are screen accurate re-creations of Egon Spengler’s equipment. Full lighting scheme, full movie sound effects. Gorgeous craftsmanship! The pack even has a few pieces that can be swapped out to give it the few customizations made by Phoebe in Ghostbusters: Afterlife. This is the “toy” Ghostbusters fans have been wanting since 1984. So while technically two items, they obviously need to be bought together. These are a bit pricey, but hey, anything of quality usually comes with a higher price tag. Soon you can bust ghosts with the best of them. – Christopher Egan
Yes, I know it’s over 9,000 pieces. Yes, I know I have no idea where I’m going to put it in the house. But when it comes back in stock, I’ll be damned if I don’t have it. – Kate Kosturski
LG HU80KA 4K CineBeam Projector ($2099.99)
This monster is portable and has the best image and speakers, you could use it in your house or make an improvised cinema with your friends, it’s really expensive, but just imagine the possibilities. – Ramon Piña
Icons of the Realms Miniatures: Tiamat ($367.74)
Okay, full disclosure: this is way too expensive for anyone to consider getting unless they really like Tiamat and have an excessive amount of money to spend on D&D things. So basically, Joe Manganiello and no one else.
But if you happen to be Joe, or be in a similar position, holy moly is this an amazing miniature. In fact, it’s so large we can’t even call it a “miniature,” as it’s over a foot large and two feet wide with its wingspan. But just look at it – that detail, the pose, the sheer presence of the queen of evil dragons! Imagine the look on your players’ faces when you drop this on the D&D playmat and tell them to roll for initiative.
On the other hand, spending nearly $400 on a single miniature will only encourage WizKids to keep raising their prices… but it sure is nice to look at. – Robert Pleasant
Jack Daniel’s Oak Barrel Dice ($167 retail)
DnD dice are everywhere now, both pre-made and made to order, ranging in price from anywhere between $20 and $2000. There are even licensed dice, like these Adventure Zone dice by Evewynn, and, technically, my pick here. They’re not the priciest dice out there but they are the dice that made me go UM, EXCUSE ME?
These are wooden dice. Made from Jack Daniel’s barrels. I am not joking. I can’t think of a better wild, out-there gift for the nerd in your life than this or any of the other pricey but beautiful dice at Artisan Dice. – Elias Rosner
A Hofner Contemporary Club Bass ($749.00 retail)
When you want to sound like Paul McCartney and look like Tina Weymouth, accept no substitute. – Brian Salvatore
The Mitchells vs. the Machines (Blu-ray) ($22.96)
If you somehow missed The Mitchells vs. Machines when it debuted on Netflix this April, Sony Animation has once again upped its game in terms of stylized CGI and hand-drawn hybrid animation—and considering their previous film was Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, that’s a big deal. Every single frame of this film is a work of art, accentuating the interior lives of its characters (especially Katie). And the thing is, while streaming is great for accessibility, it doesn’t offer much in appreciating all the work that went into this film. That’s why this Blu-ray is a must. The commentaries, behind-the-scenes documentaries, deleted scenes, animatics. . . it’s got all the good stuff. Plus you can look at all the little details sprinkled through the end credits without Netflix interrupting to tell you to watch something else. – Mark Tweedale
Red (Taylor’s Version) Vinyl ($49.99)
*Vince Ostrowski voice* – SIMP! – Zach Wilkerson
We are the Multiversity Staff, and we love you very much.
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