Deck Your Store with Cool New Comics

From Sunday Press's lovingly preserved, full-size reprint of Frank King's classic strips from the 1920s to Sam Ita's ingeniously designed Moby-Dick Pop-up Book, today's comics come in all kinds of formats. These days it's even become fashionable to say we're in the midst of a new golden age of comics. It's hard to imagine a recent period with more creativity and invention—let alone such impressive production standards. So we've put together a list of wonderfully conceived comics and comics-related titles that should bring a holiday smile to the fanboys, fangirls or otaku who stop by your store.

PulpHope: The Art of Paul Pope by Paul Pope (AdHouse, $29.95)

Comics, illustrations and critical opinion by the Eisner Award–winning comics artist.

Sundays with Walt and Skeezix by Frank King (Sunday Press Books, $95)

A broadsheet-sized (21”×16”) hardcover reprint of the classic strip's early years.

Plasticland by Frank Kozik (Dark Horse, $29.95)

Edgy toy design by the seminal rock poster designer.

Moby-Dick: A Pop Up Book by Sam Ita (Sterling, $24.95)

Melville's classic, transformed into a 3-D graphic novel.

Tekkonkinkreet: Black & White by Taiyo Matsumoto (Viz, $29.95)

A poignant, experimentalist manga about two unusual street urchins.

Heroes, Vol. 1 by various artists (DC Comics, $29.99)

A hardcover collection of weekly Web comics created in conjunction with the hit TV show.

Amano: The Collected Art of Vampire Hunter D by Hideyuki Kikuchi and Yoshitaka Amano (Dark Horse, $29.95)

Slipcased collection of Amano's art based on the Kikuchi series, plus a new short story.

Remembrance of Things Past: Swann in Love by M. Proust; adapted by Stephane Heuet (NBM, $16.95)

A hardcover adaptation for the classier comics reader.

Beowulf by Gareth Hinds (Candlewick Press, $21.99)

The sturdy legend gets a dynamic, woodcut-inspired retelling in this Xeric Award winner.

The Marvel Vault by Roy Thomas and Peter Sanderson (Running Press, $49.95)

A unique history of Marvel Comics using reproductions of historical mementos and collectibles.

Spider-man: The Icon by Steve Saffel (Titan Books, $49.95)

Spidey's history and popularity is traced through toys, comics and pop culture spinoffs.

The Art of Bone by Jeff Smith (Dark Horse, $39.95)

Sketches and annotated reference materials capture the humor and dark fantasy of Smith's epic.

Ascend: Special Edition by Keith Arem (PCB/IDW, $75)

A much-revised, oversized, slipcased hardcover of the writer/director's 2005 fantasy epic.

Moomin Book Two: The Complete Tove Jansson Comic Strip by Tove Jansson (D&Q, $19.95)

A charming, gently humorous Finnish classic about a family of hippo-like trolls.

Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus Vol. Three by Jack Kirby (DC Comics, $49.99)

Psychedelic sci-fi and brain-blasting imagery in “King” Kirby's tales of Jimmy Olsen and Darkseid.

The Artist Within by Greg Preston (Dark Horse, $39.95)

Photos capture comics legends, from Jack Kirby to Craig Thompson, in their native habitats.

Battle Royale Ultimate Edition by Koushun Takami and Masayuki Taguchi (Tokyopop, $24.99)

This deluxe edition of a riveting and brutal tale of survival puts the X in Xmas. Not for kids!