FIFTH DEGREE: LAST minute gifts

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by Josh Crawley

I know the chances are pretty slim someone is going to need this & read it this year, but I’m behind on my own wrapping and crafting of custom X-Mas gifts, so you’ll get what I give you. (Also, I never write these soon enough. I should just start writing next year’s Christmas column in a couple weeks.)

We’re going to do this a little bit out of order, but bear with me.

WRAPPING COMICS?
Wrapping comics is a pain the bum. They’re flimsy, and you can bag & board them before wrapping (which you should probably do anyways), but that really does take the surprise out of it. Also, who knows who’s going to throw it around before you get it and mangle it. “So maybe I should put it in a box?” You say. Correct! most people have flimsy clothing boxes laying around, and while they seem nice, they aren’t. They’re too big.

Unless you get sneaky and use ones designed for children’s clothing (and lingerie). one of the local dollar stores sells a pack of four or five for, you guessed it, a dollar. While you’re there, but sure to grab some tissue paper and pad the heck out of that box, too!

HARDCOVER OR SOFTCOVER?
Personally, I’m all about hardcovers. Plus, if you don’t have access to a decent box for wrapping (see above), they still wrap pretty decently. Softcovers? Not so much. Also, as was pointed out to me by Sam (a regular customer at the retail store), some of them really aren’t nice quality gifts. Sure, the content may be great, but the presentation? Not so great. For example? The new editions of Transmetropolitan. They’re designed well, people say terrific things about the story and art, but the reproduction isn’t really bookshelf quality, let alone gift quality.

That being said, my list of last minute gift ideas is going to start out with a softcover…

LAST minute gift IDEAS!

green lantern Corps: Recharge

Green lantern Corps: Recharge is a terrific gift for that person in your life who liked green Lantern: Rebirth, or maybe just that fan of Kyle Rayner that hasn’t picked a comic book up in ten years. The Corps, though, didn’t rate getting collections in hardcover until the recent emerald Eclipse, much to my disappointment.

Batman: private Casebook

Need something for that Batman fan that really liked the animated series? Why not pick up a copy of the Batman: private Casebook hardcover, written by Paul Dini? (I actually plan on giving this to someone who hasn’t read comics in a few coons’ ages). A terrific follow-up (or something for someone who thought Batman: R.I.P. itself was over-rated) would be the Batman: Heart of Hush hardcover (a stand-alone tie-in to Batman: R.I.P.).

Yeah, I managed to get more Dustin Nguyen product in a column; deal.

Superman: Red Son

Need something for someone who likes Superman and Eastern Bloc propaganda posters? The Superman: Red son Deluxe edition hardcover should be just about right!

Immortal Iron Fist Omnibus

For that pal who likes pulp-inspired superheroes  in a contemporary setting, with some martial arts thrown in, the Immortal Iron Fist Omnibus by Matt fraction (with Ed Brubaker) would be nice under the X-Mas tree. If you liked Fraction’s work there, but don’t know his pre-Marvel work, it’s criminal if you haven’t read Casanova volume 1: Luxuria in hardcover.

Criminal: The Deluxe Edition

Speaking of criminal, You can’t go wrong with the Criminal Deluxe edition hardcover by Brubaker & Sean Phillips.

I could probably do this for another couple hours, but I really need to let my body recover from a pretty busy weekend (including the Shibs opening for the Subatomic CD release party). I also need to finish up some of those presents I mentioned, but that’ll have to wait until tomorrow night.

Want more of me running my mouth? check Twitter. need to tell me something? email & post info below!

josh@westfieldcomics.com

Westfield Comics
ATTN: JOSH
7475 Mineral point Rd STE 22
Madison WI 53717
______________________
Josh Crawley is the tenured Master of disaster for Westfield Comics, not to be confused with Josh Crawley, the keyboardist for Everclear.

Purchase

Green lantern Corps: Recharge

Green lantern Corps: emerald Eclipse

Batman: private Casebook

Batman: Heart of Hush

Superman: Red son Deluxe Edition

Immortal Iron Fist Omnibus

Casanova volume 1: Luxuria

Criminal: The Deluxe Edition