Holiday gift ideas for the comic book geek in your life - Part III

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 final installment will highlight the best of the rest of the items available for purchase this holiday season for your loved ones or for yourself. If I had to place them in a category it would be "miscellaneous". I know that doesn't sound promising, but read on and I think you'll be suitably impressed.

Green Lantern Abin Sur Power Ring & Battery (DC Direct, $249.95)

Being a Green Lantern fan, this one is obviously my favorite of the bunch. This is a replica of the power ring and power battery bequeathed to Green Lantern Hal Jordan by his dying predecessor, Abin Sur. Besides being a very true-to-life representation of Hal Jordan's badge of office, it's also functional (after a fashion). Just place the ring against the face of the lantern and it lights up as if it's recharging the power ring. I dare you not to recite the Green Lantern oath when you have this bad boy in your possession. Of course, if you're the type of comic book geek that would actually want to own one of these (like I am), it would probably be nigh-impossible to fight the temptation. Just keep it behind closed doors if you don't want those nice young men in those nice white coats to come and take you away (ha ha, ho ho, he he)!

500 Essential Graphic Novels (Collins Design, $24.95)

A book that lists graphic novels doesn't seem like such a great gift at first, since you'll likely be pointed in the direction of Watchmen, The Dark Knight Returns, etc. But because there are 500 graphic novels in this book there are bound to be many books that not only have you not read, but you probably never even knew existed. Each book chapter focuses on a different genre, with each entry containing a concise plot synopsis and a star rating. This is obviously a great gift for an avid reader of graphic novels, but because it also provides an age-rating system it lets parents of a younger comic book geek know which books are suitable for their children and which aren't. If you're a parent that encourages their child to read comic books but don't want books like Transmetropolitan or Scalped to warp their fragile little minds, this is the gift that keeps on giving.

Heroes - Hiro's Sword & Sheath (United Cutlery, $189.99)

Now you too can own the sword once wielded by Takezo Kensei on the TV show "Heroes". This limited edition collectible blade is a faithful recreation of the slick sword that Hiro Nakamura ganks from Linderman's collection. The sword is made from a tempered, hand-forged steel blade, a leather-wrapped handle, a rayskin-covered grip and an engraved brass "helix" on the hilt. It has a wood sheathe and includes an ornate wooden display stand. It must be stressed that this is not a toy, and any sword should be handled carefully, but if you want to strike a pose by holding the sword and scrunching your face like Hiro, knock yourself out. The only people that will be injured will be the people that lose their breath laughing at your antics.

1:6 scale The Joker Collector Figure (DC Direct, 175.00)

I have seen many of the figures based on Heath Ledger's Joker, and for the most part I have been rather unimpressed. None of the figure sculpts ever seemed to get his likeness quite right. Then I saw this figure at the DC Direct website and was blown away. This collectible figure looks to capture the sheer anarchy that was Ledger's Joker in the masterfully filmed "The Dark Knight". The resemblance is dead-on, the figure itself has 32 points of articulation and the accessories, including painstakingly sewn fabric clothes, Joker playing cards, the trademark switchblade and interchangeable hands, are logical. Of course, the price tag ensures that the figure is not a present for the young'uns to play with around the Christmas tree (unless you've got a Mark Cuban-style bankroll), but it is by far the best-sculpted Joker figure to be had, and serves as the perfect gift for any Batman enthusiast.

"300" Spartan Helmet Prop Replica (Neca, $59.95)

If you want to get a comic book and/or movie-based prop for your loved one but don't have a lot of green in the wallet, the Spartan Helmet prop replica from the movie "300" is the gift for you. It is a fiberglass replica of the helmets worn by the Spartan soldiers in the movie based on the Frank Miller comic book. There were only 5000 of this limited edition replica made, and the price is such that the average consumer can purchase it without too much buyer's remorse.

Blade Movie Replica Stakes (United Cutlery, $69.99)

These replicas of the silver stakes used by Wesley Snipes in all three "Blade" movies are a sleek and stylish, yet inexpensive gift to give to your comic book geek this holiday season. The set comes with three polished aluminum stakes with removable end-caps, an adjustable nylon sheath and a display that can either be mounted on your wall or stand on its own. There are lots of other Blade movie replicas available as well, but not only is this set slick-looking, it is also the least likely to harm someone in the wrong hands.

Doctor Who Sonic Screwdriver Replica (Underground Toys, $17.99)

You've got my friends Ross & Heather to thank for this gift idea. Ever wonder what to get the Doctor Who fanatic in your life? Look no further than this replica of the multi-purpose tool that has gotten various incarnations of the time-travelling Doctor out of many a jam. Among its features are a button-activated light with requisite sound effects from the show and a hidden ultraviolet pen that writes in "invisible ink" with a UV light to see the invisible writing. If you don't appreciate the novelty of writing you can't see with the unaided eye, you can always switch to the alternate standard pen tip. Sadly, it won't pick locks or take down an annoying co-worker, but it is nonetheless a well-made and somewhat functional replica.

The DC Vault (DC Comics, $49.95), The Marvel Vault (Marvel, $49.95)

Both of these books have been touted as a "Museum in a book", and taking a look at the contents of each book, the description is very apt. The DC Vault comes with artifacts like a Junior Justice Society of America decoder ring from 1942 and Public Service Announcement pieces featuring Superman & Batman, while the Marvel Vault has past treasures like a recreation of the famous Marvel No-Prize and a membership to the Merry Marvel Marching Society. And both books offer a comprehensive look at the history of each company, from their humble beginnings to the evolution of the characters that have defined their existence. Either one of these books are a wonderful gift for comic book enthusiasts of any age.

Thus ends the gift guide

Hopefully these articles gave you some ideas on what to give the comic book geek in your life. In any case, if you are still at a loss for what to get them you can always stop at your local comic book shop to solicit some advice from the experts or get a gift certificate so they can choose their own gift.