Ryan Riley: December 2008 Archives

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.

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.

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 first article will focus on some of the finer graphic novels that are currently available for purchase. Some of these books are pretty highly priced, but all of them will prove to be a worthy addition to your bookshelf, if for no other reason than they are mostly hardcover editions.

Absolute Watchmen (DC Comics, $75.00)

The trailer for the upcoming adaptation of this book touts it as "The most celebrated graphic novel of all time". There aren't a lot of fanboys that could make a convincing argument otherwise. Any comic book enthusiast worth their salt will have Watchmen in their collection. But this "Absolute" version of the book is an ideal present, as there probably aren't a lot of people that have this premium slipcase hardcover edition. With restored artwork & coloring by Wildstorm FX & John Higgins (the colorist on the original mini-series), you won't find a more visually stunning version of the book. It also contains 48 pages of supplemental material, like portions of Alan Moore's original script, concept sketches by Dave Gibbons among other things.

The Ultimates Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 Hardcover (Marvel, $29.99 each)

Like many other comic book fans, I was blown away by how well-done the "Iron Man" movie was. I even liked Edward Norton as Bruce Banner in "The Incredible Hulk". But the thing I was most impressed with was the fact that they were both interconnected with the intention of bringing these characters together (along with Captain America & Thor after their own films are completed) in an Avengers movie. This unprecedented film-making approach was borne largely from the work done on The Ultimates by Mark Millar & Bryan Hitch. Heck, "Iron Man" even snagged the idea of casting Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury from Millar & Hitch.

The Ultimates, like all of the other titles in Marvel's Ultimate line of books, takes the brainchildren of Jack Kirby & Stan Lee and gives them a more contemporary origin. In this case, Millar reinvented the concept of the Avengers as a government-sanctioned group of superhumans called the Ultimates. Some of the characters in the Ultimates are reimagined by magnifying personality flaws (Tony Stark as a functioning alcoholic, Hank Pym as an abusive, pill-popping headcase) while others are reinvented by Millar asking the simple question "Why have these characters been portrayed a certain way all these years?" Among his solutions to this dilemma were a Captain America that had no compunctions about using guns and a Hulk that went around eating people and robbing the corpse of an obese man for pants that would fit him. These books don't have any special features that you can't find in the normal trade paperbacks, but that's beside the point. This is probably the one Marvel book I would recommend to people that wouldn't normally read a comic book, it is that darn good.

Heroes Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 Hardcover (Wildstorm, $29.95 each)

As a fan of the TV show "Heroes", I will be the first to admit that the show has lost its way a bit. We're all hoping that that the writers will do something to make sure the series turn the corner before it jumps the shark, but until then you can content yourself by delving more into additional backstory from seasons 1 & 2. Both Heroes hardcovers collect the webcomics that were published on the show website between episodes. They are a series of vignettes similar in style to the mini-stories done in the Classic X-Men reprints back in the 1980's. In some cases they offer a little history lesson, such as Noah (a.k.a. HRG) meeting Claire for the first time or the first meeting between Linderman & Papa Petrelli in Vietnam. There are also other tales that offer substantial roles for bit-playing characters like Eden and Hana Gitelman (a.k.a. Wireless). It is a must have for any fan of "Heroes".

World of Warcraft Vol. 1 Hardcover (Wildstorm, $29.95)

This book is meant for the comic book fan that can't seem to tear himself away from World of Warcraft, the MMORPG from Blizzard that has taken many a gamer away from the outside world. With the "Wrath of the Lich King" expansion freshly released, these gamers have been pulled away again. This collection, which contains issues #0-7 written by comics icon Walt Simonson, tells the tale of an amnesiac human that emerges in Horde territory. After his enslavement by an Orc Shaman, he embarks on a quest to regain his lost memories that pits him against Horde & Alliance alike. This story could be just the thing to lure the gamer in your life from his PC long enough to open their Christmas presents and enjoy a holiday feast with your family before he or she disappear back into the land of Azeroth.

The Umbrella Academy: The Apocalypse Suite Limited Edition Hardcover (Dark Horse Comics, $79.95)

I'll confess that I didn't really have high hopes for this book when I heard that it was written by Gerard Way, the lead singer of the Emo-charged rock group My Chemical Romance. But I have to give credit where it is due, it's actually a very well-written and well-conceived story. The Umbrella Academy tells the tale of seven children that were born of women that had shown no signs of pregnancy and developed superpowers. They are brought together and adopted by a millionaire inventor to save the world. They disband, only to come back together when their adopted father dies. This unique story has the potential to get the Emo-kid in your life into comic books.

Bone: One Volume Edition (Cartoon Books, $39.95)

This is the one comic book that I would heartily recommend for readers of all ages. Previously collected in multiple trade paperbacks that are now somewhat hard to find, this single edition presents the perfect point for new readers. Bone is so highly regarded that in 2005, Time Magazine touted it as one of the ten greatest graphic novels of all time. The story opens with the main protagonists are the three cartoon character-looking Bone cousins, the level-headed Fone Bone, the slow-witted Smiley Bone and the avaricious Phoney Bone are smarting from having been run out of their hometown of Boneville due to the antics of Phoney. After being separated and accosted by "stupid, stupid rat creatures", they end up in a mysterious valley, where they meet the lovely Thorn and her grandmother, Grandma Ben, whose hobbies include engaging in protracted footraces with cows. Bone is a wonderful blend of fantasy and humor, and would make a perfect gift for both adults & children.

Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall (DC/Vertigo, $29.99)

In the very first article I wrote for this blog I revealed that Green Lantern is my favorite superhero of all time. But there is a big difference between a great comic book character and a great comic book. In that regard, I'd have to say that Fables is my all time favorite comic book. The book is about storybook characters we all grew up with like Snow White, Old King Cole, the Big Bad Wolf, etc., that have been exiled from their homelands in other dimensions and are living in New York. That in itself is an intriguing notion, but it is the writing of Bill Willingham that makes Fables a must-read story. 1001 Nights of Snowfall is told in similar fashion to Neil Gaiman's Sandman: Endless Nights, featuring stories about many of the core cast of Fables that reveal both what led each character to escape their homeland and hidden, more sinister aspects of each character's origins. Ever wondered what really happened with Snow White and those dwarves or how the Big Bad Wolf gained the ability to blow away the houses of little piggies? This book has the delightfully dark answers. And because it is not part of the regular series, it is pretty safe to give to someone that is already a Fables fan as they might not have bought it for themselves yet.

In conclusion...

As always, if there is a great graphic novel gift idea that you think I left out, leave some feedback in the box below. Who knows, you might just know of a gift that I can have my lovely wife get me for the holidays.

In the days ahead I'll be writing subsequent articles in this series that will highlight gifts for comic book geeks in other media, such as DVD's, video games, collectible books and other items.