By Ryan Riley, Contributor
The holiday season is well under way, and that means the time has come to shop for Christmas (or Kwanzaa, or Chanukah, or Festivus) present for friends, family and loved ones. If you have someone in your life that is a self-professed comic book geek and are having trouble finding a suitable present for them, this series of articles is meant for the likes of you. If you are a self-professed comic book geek and simply want to scope out some of the goodies to be had this holiday season for yourself, these articles are also for you.
This second article will highlight some of the more prominent comic-based DVD/Blu-Ray's and video games that are available to buy for the holidays.
Videos
The Dark Knight (Warner Home Video, $14.99 - $64.99)
OK, "The Dark Knight" is an obvious choice for this list, and is clearly destined to be the most popular comic book-related film purchase of the holiday season. And with Heath Ledger scoring a "Best Supporting Actor" nomination from the Golden Globes, it's sure to prove even more popular. But if you really want to go for what George W. Bush would refer to as "Shock & Awe" from your friend or loved one, then get them the limited edition bundle. It comes with "The Dark Knight" Blu-Ray disc and a miniature Batpod accessory. Among the special features are aspect ratios of 2.40:1 (normal) with Imax sequences in 1.78:1 ratio, special "making of" featurettes and 6 episodes of a specially made news show that one might see on a Gotham cable network. It also features a digital copy of the movie that you can view on your PC any time, and the BD Live feature, which you can use to record your own video commentary with the film. You could use it to make your very own "MST3K" commentary, or you could actually use your powers for good. It's all up to you.
Iron Man (Marvel/Paramount, $14.99 - $64.99)
The hype surrounding "The Dark Knight" kind of overshadowed the other great comic book-based film that came out this year, "Iron Man". Robert Downey Jr. just owned the screen with his portrayal of Tony Stark, and the fact that he has been tapped to play the character for an "Iron Man" sequel and an upcoming Avengers movie just speaks of how confident Marvel is in his performance. This film also has multiple versions of the film available for purchase, but the one that stands out is the limited edition gift set. It comes with the two-disc DVD, a collectible Iron Man mini-bust and a $50.00 gift card from Sideshow Collectibles. The DVD features an impressive 7-part documentary that gives a comprehensive behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film. This gift set is indeed a kick-ass gift to give to the geek in your life.
Robot Chicken Seasons 1 - 3 (Warner Home Video, $29.99)
This is the perfect DVD series for the nostalgic geek in your life. For those of you not in the know, "Robot Chicken" makes use of toys and stop-motion animation to create one of the most irreverent comedy shows on television. Anyone that grew up in the 1980's will get a kick out of Voltron getting into a dance battle with a nimble Ro-Beast. Nowhere else will you be able to see your favorite comic book characters getting on each other's nerves while living together under one roof in the "Real World: Metropolis", or watch Brainy Smurf solve a series of murders in the Smurf Village ala the movie "Seven". Many of the episodes from each season have commentary by series creators Seth Green & Matthew Seinreich, deleted sketches and lots of other features.
Justice League: The New Frontier (Warner Home Video, $19.99)
This animated movie is an adaptation of the comic book mini-series Justice League: The New Frontier by Darwyn Cooke. And other than the "Sin City" movie, this film is likely the most faithful adaptation of a comic book made thus far. So it is very safe to say that if the person you are getting this film for has read the book, they will definitely enjoy it. And it's also a great gift for the Silver Age enthusiast, as the story perfectly meshes the sensibilities of 1960's storytelling with a compelling, intelligently-written plot that rivals most contemporary comics. It boasts an all-star cast with names like David Boreanaz, Neil Patrick Harris and Kyra Sedgwick, and the Special Edition contains featurettes that show how the film was created. This is the perfect gift for fans of Silver-Age comics.
Video Games
Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe - Kollector's Edition (Midway, $59.99)
This is the most recent video game offering featuring DC comic book characters, pitting them against the mainstays of Mortal Kombat. Ever wanted to see Batman go toe-to-toe with Scorpion or watch the ultimate catfight between Catwoman and Kitana? If so, this is the game for you. The Kollector's Edition boasts a print with artwork by fan-favorite artist Alex Ross and a 16-page mini-comic with art by Midway's John Tobias among other things. Fans of Mortal Kombat will have to get past the fact that they will be unable to perform fatalities on DC characters. DC fans will have to let go of the logical notion that there is no way in heck the majority of the MK characters would stand a pig's chance at a barbecue against someone like Superman or The Flash. If you can get over those preconceptions, MK vs. DC looks to be a well-made fighting game.
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance (Activision, $19.99)
OK, this game is now over two years old, but it is still one of the finest examples of how a comic-based video game should be made. Activision has done this style of action/RPG many times in the past, most notably with the X-Men franchise. But Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is where they took things to the next level. Its story brings together the most popular members of the Avengers, the X-Men and the Fantastic Four along with others like Spider-Man and Daredevil to battle an alliance of super-villains led by Dr. Doom. Besides the slick, tight gameplay, you also get alternate costumes for each character that come with different stat bonuses. If the Marvel geek in your life has not yet gotten this game, he or she will kick themselves for missing out on it once they play it.
Justice League Heroes (WB Games, $19.99)
Here is another title that is a bit out of date, but it is to the DC Superheroes what Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is to Marvel. Justice League Heroes is a thoroughly enjoyable adventure pitting the members of the Justice League against the forces of villainy in the DC Universe. Featuring a story written by Dwayne McDuffie, the head writer on the "Justice League Unlimited" animated series and the current writer on the Justice League of America series. As you guide your team of heroes through the storyline you determine what abilities they gain as a result of gaining levels. Because of its age, this is a title that you can pick up on the cheap without scrimping on quality, which is more important than ever given the state of our economy.
Iron Man (Sega, $29.99)
This game was based on the "Iron Man" movie, and while very few movie-based games are as good as the parent material, this game came fairly close. It places you in the jet-boots of Tony Stark as he goes up against terrorists that are using his company's weapons to kill innocent people. You have access to all of the weaponry at Iron Man's disposal, as well as the ability to use the enemy's own weapons, like surface-to-air missiles, against them by catching them and throwing them back. This game is pretty well-executed once you get used to the controls, and it is visually stunning. It is perfect for the fan of the comic and/or the movie, but be sure to keep them away from the booze when they go to play it. You don't want them to be that much like Tony Stark.
Disasters always come in threes...
...and this column is no exception. The final article in this series will highlight some of the miscellaneous, harder-to-find gifts for the comic book geek in your life, like prop replicas, collectible figures and books. See you guys next time.
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