We’ve been running several e-tail items here on The Beat over the last few weeks but as the precious hours until Christmas morning tick away, there’s no time to trust to the Post Office, so may we suggest a trip down to the local comics shop for some great gifts? Here are some stores with gift suggestions of their own:

Joe Field at Flying Colors in Concord, CA has an ad about shopping local that is running on local TV stations. And here’s a Gift Guide video. AND a nice shopping list to print out:

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• The Big Planet chain in metro DC has this spiffy cut-out gift guide

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Edward Greenberg at Collector’s Paradise Comics & Gallery in SoCal suggests a couple of items which are doing well:

In both of our stores, one of the biggest lines of products for holiday gifts has been the Eaglemoss line of Metal Figurines. Each one is individually boxed, and come with a very good quality magazine on the character. Over 300 characters from Marvel & DC have been made and we try to have as many in stock as possible. People come to us for the selection, which is second to none.

Jason Grazulas at BSI Comics in Metairie, LA suggests:

Transformers Vault
“Officially licensed by Hasbro, Transformers Vault: The Complete Transformers Universe reveals, for the first time ever, a comprehensive history of the Transformers. Fans now have a hands-on guide to the epic battle between the Autobots and Decepticons, including the toys, the original animated series, comics, collectibles, and merchandise, as well as animated and live-action feature films. Five visually driven chapters go behind the scenes of everyone’s favorite robots in disguise, featuring early animation sketches, interviews with creators, patents, prototypes, action-figure designs that never made it to production, vintage packaging art, and development art from the films.”

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Batman Noel
“Written by LEE BERMEJO Art and cover by LEE BERMEJO Inspired by Charles Dickens’ immortal classic A Christmas Carol, BATMAN: NOEL features different interpretations of The Dark Knight, along with his enemies and allies, in different eras, from writer/artist Lee Bermejo (JOKER). In this spectacular, oversized graphic novel, Batman must come to terms with his past, present and future as he battles villains from the campy 1960s to dark and brooding menaces of today, while exploring what it means to be the hero that he is.”

Steve Anderson at Third Eye Comics in Maryland tells us his two-stores have their own gift guide up. And he has a gift suggestion:

My own personal last minute gift suggestion is Walking Dead Rise of the Governor. This has been mega popular, as it’s an item that most fans will like, but have not yet gotten around to purchasing themselves yet. I’m still impressed by how many people are coming through for this one.

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As far the number one gift idea we’ve been recommending? Batman the Black Mirror. A good Batman graphic novel never fails, and this is one that fans who may have read the story in issues, would still want to own.

These all sound great to us — and check out past Gift Guides for more ideas. Happy shopping, everyone!

1 COMMENT

  1. To the many retailers who read this post:

    How many of you have wishlists on file at your store? If a parent or friend knows the recipient shops at the store, can they walk into that store, give the name to clerk, and walk out with confidence that the recipient will love what they got?

    Because that’s why my mother doesn’t give me graphic novels for Christmas… she’s worried I might already have a copy. (Even when I made a list with ISBNs, still bupkiss. But she hasn’t thrown out my comics, and she exposed me to Wilhelm Busch, so I can’t complain.)

    Just a bit of constructive criticism, but the time to advertise shopping lists is at HALLOWEEN. So that when customers come in for your Blackest Friday sale, and for that awesome Small Business Saturday event sponsored by American Express, you’re ready to sell.

    Oh, and wouldn’t it be cool if customers could use that wishlist as a gift registry? Weddings, baby showers, bar mitzvahs, report card time…

    So, all you awesome comics retailers, you’ve got a big event next October to promote Holiday shopping at your store… Are you ready?

    I am! My wishlist is here:
    http://my.barnesandnoble.com/Torsten-Adairs-WishList/cm/271620/

    (And what I really want? The Criterion edition laserdisc of “The Cowboy Wally Show” staring Chris Farley. Some think he was better in “A Confederacy of Dunces” (for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor), but this is funnier and has so many great quotes!)

  2. I get the point about ‘shop local’ and am all for it, but you have to admit that posting a ‘shop local’ ad on the internet is kind of ironic.

  3. Interesting wishlist, Torsten. I’d be curious to know what recent comics-related purchases you’ve bought for yourself. Seems to me those would be the ones that you really, REALLY wanted, enough to self-gift them.