Issue 6 - Drop the Sweater - Buy them Comics! HulkX's 2004 Holiday gift guide

Every year, I still get to fill out a Christmas list for my grandparents. In addition to putting down the things that I want, I also list a few things I don't want - specifically sweaters and lounge pants, both of which I have in abundance. But that's beside the point. Here are a couple of great comics available for your Christmas/Hanukkah/Quanza needs this year. Enjoy!

Bone: The One Volume Edition

 It's a 1300 page comic book kids. 'Nuff said. Really, this may be one of the neatest books out there, as it collects Jeff Smith's epic story of three misfits who are comically plunged into a fantasy world of prophecy, danger, and quiche-loving rat creatures. Retails for $40 but you can get it only for under $30. 

Runaways

Bryan Vaughan (current Ultimate X-Men scribe and former Mystique writer) created one of the most unique and engaging books of the year, which follows a group of kids who discover their parents are members of a super villain cadre known as the Pride. Humor, suspense, and drama are blended masterfully in this coming of age tale. And best of all - both Volumes (1 and 2; 3 will be out early next year) are in digest form and are $8!

Y: The Last Man Vol. 1: Unmanned

While on the subject of Vaughan, I'll add this book as well. A plague hits earth and kills every male mammal but Yorick Brown and his pet monkey Ampersand. A great way to get introduced to non-superhero comics, with lots of dark humor and interesting commentary, particularly on gender politics. $13. 

Fables Vol. 2: Animal Farm

A literary collision of Animal Farm and Lord of the Flies, the second volume of Fables really gets Bill Willingham's tale of storybook characters living in exile in modern day New York rolling. This story is good on a bunch of different levels.  $13.

New X-Men Hardcover Vol. 3

 I figure there should be at least one X-Men item on this list, eh? It collects the end of Grant Morrison's revolutionary run ("Assault on Weapon Plus", "Planet X", and "Here Comes Tomorrow"). I wasn't sure about Morrison's work until I read this stuff, at which point I became a full convert. This work is beautiful, masterful, and tragic, and should change the X-Men forever. (Let's not get our hopes up). $30 ($25 online).

Alright, you get all that stuff in your stocking and you're a lucky fanboy or girl (plus you have a really big stocking). Additionally, I'd highly suggest the Hellboy Director's cut DVD now available. I think in many ways it is the best comic book movie of the past year (far better than Punisher, and with more heart and less dopiness than Spiderman 2) and this version has a ton of extras not included on the original DVD release. I don't have it yet, so if someone wants to stuff my stocking (I say that in the manliest way possible) feel free. Seeya next time!

- The author, Dwain Smith knows he's gonna get more sweaters for Christmas this year. He bides the time by surfing around www.ahoy-matey.com.