Red and green. They say the official colors of Christmas were chosen because we spend til we bleed. It also had to do with holly branches, but that’s not the metaphor I need right now.
We round out our week of holiday gift guides with the highest of high end goodies. The wallet-busting deluxe editions so appropriate to the economic climate. Consider this your Sky Mall catalog of yuletide comics decadence.
For its rich, rich marrow:
The Complete Bone in Color
We’re pretty sure they consulted the guys who saved Apollo 13 to develop the binding technology that made this mammoth omnibus possible. Over 1300 pages rendered in color to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Jeff Smith’s fantasy epic Bone. The previous single volume edition in black and white remains pretty dope, but the quality of this slipcased hardcover edition with its lush colors makes it an absolute landmark. It certainly doesn’t hurt that it’s one of the most impressive tales in American comics, all told through a singular voice. ($90 on Amazon)
You need reasons? How about five?
Parker the Martini Edition
The first two entries in Darwyn Cooke’s sensational adaptation of Westlake’s Parker saga are bigger and better than ever in this deluxe slipcase. Appropriately black and blue, and outfitted with sumptuous bonus material, it’s the Miles Davis bootlegs of your premium comics collection. It’s the first thing you want to grab before slapping on a getaway face and starting your new life as a mug with principles. ($75 retail, and a merciful $47.25 on Amazon)
For Asgard!
Thor by Walt Simonson Omnibus
The definition of definitive. Had the Thor story begun and ended with these pages, it’d still be legend. From the arrival of Beta Ray Bill, a chance meeting with Clark Kent, the death of Odin, and an amphibious transformation, this is a bona fide epic. Clocking in at over 1000 pages, it’s also worthy of the tome moniker. If they loved the flick and want to see a master storyteller at his peak, Simonson’s Thor hammers it home. ($70.45)
For…we seriously have no idea, but we like talking about it.
DC The New 52 Omnibus
Earlier this week, Josh C. rounded a long list of gifts for boys aged 7 and made a special highlight for the fan who has everything. This? It’s for the fan who needs everything. All 52 #1 issues of DC Comics’ 2011 relaunch are packaged together in a 1200+ page behemoth. It retails for $150, making it one of the pricier samplers yet printed. It’s hard to say if a new reader would benefit from this anthology of teasers, but as a keepsake, it’s about as comprehensive a time capsule for DC comics in 2011 as you’ll find in one place. ($89.99 on Amazon)
For Johnny, man! We’ll do it for Johnny!
The fantastic Four by John Byrne Omnibus
If John Byrne’s tenure with Marvel’s First Family is the second most popular Fantastic Four run in history, it’s only because he’s going toe-to-toe with the King himself. But if you want to go a little more modern than a Stan Lee script, this is your jam. This one also features relevant issues of Alpha Flight, Avengers, and Spectacular Spider-Man. ($77.17)
For those who smell like teen spirit:
The New Teen Titans Omnibus vol. 1
If Red Hood and the Outlaws has you less hot than bothered, consider revisiting the iconic 80s series that put the Star in Starfire. Dick Grayson comes into his own as captain of The New Teen Titans, a team that once vied for supremacy with the irrepressible X-Men. Next year’s second volume leads us into “The Judas Contract,” which Conor rightly suggests as the coolest name for a superhero story just about ever. Off the shelf, it goes for about 75 clams, but online it can be had for a price that practically disqualifies it from this list. ($41.40)
For Doop, when it happens.
X-Statix
What’s weird and wild and Allred all over? It’s the X-Statix by Peter Milligan and Mike Allred. Big Two superhero comics had never been so bizarre, and this motley crew of mutants set a new tone for subversion. Combine Milligan’s wild, gross-out scripts with art from Allred, Darwyn Cooke, Sean Phillips, Duncan Fegredo, Paul Pope, Nick Dragotta, and Phillip Bond…and you’ve got money well spent. ($74.55)
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I want most of these, so forwarding this to my girlfriend, thanks!
Looking forward to the collected #2’s from DC.
Why would anyone want that New 52 Omnibus…?
If they were all 1 shots maaaayyyybbbeeee, but they’re most all part 1’s of story arcs. I agree, its kind of a “huh?” buy
I want it. It’s a nice piece of history.
But why? I mean, sure, now that it exists, its something to “want”. But I can’t imagine anybody before going “Man, I REALLY wish they would release all the DCnU #1s into one giant collection.”
This collection would also play nicely into the, “Remember how the Purple Hooded Woman appeared in all the first issue?” crowd.
@Blargo: I said why: “It’s a nice piece of history.” I have fond memories of that first month reading all those books.
I’m not interested in owning the omnibus myself, but I’d add that if someone wanted to get all 52 first issues, this is a fairly inexpensive way to do it, buying it on Amazon makes them around $1.70 an issue.
My post Christmas shopping is for me. I am enforcing for myself a strict 1 omnibus/absolute a month rule. FF by Byrne in January, then X-Statix in February. I bought a bunch of the Teen Titans issues during that Comixology sale a few weeks ago, so I’m not too concerned about picking up that hardcover.
$90 for The Complete Bone is a pretty good deal (thats what she said). =p
I’m really thinking about getting that book.
At this point it’s pretty rare that a “that’s what she said” joke, but that one did the trick.
completely unintended…i spent 10 minutes trying to figure out a way to phrase it without leaving myself open. You just can’t talk about that book and not have that one pop up… =)
I meant to add “makes me laugh.” I definitely shouldn’t comment at the end of my lunch as I’m heading to a meeting or I skip really important parts of phrases.
I saw a copy of the New 52 hardcover at the Isotope Batwoman party, it’s massive.
Basically there are 7 expensive things on this list and I want 6 of them. Damn.
That Byrne collection would be nice!
I would love to have that John Byrne FF omnibus
I got the Parker Martini Edition. WOW, just WOW! It’s gorgeous. By far the most attractive, coolest book I own. And for less than $50 on Amazon? That’s a crazy good buy! Trust me on this. Well trust Paul at least, because his word holds much more weight. It’s a must buy.
Man, I’ve wanted that X-Statix Omnibus since the moment I heard about it. I had no idea until the Ifanboy video show on Allred that he ever did any big two superhero stuff! Supercool.
X-Statix (and the preceding X-Force run) were awesome. If I didn’t already have the floppies I’d be all over it. Heck, if I had the money I’d still be all over it. Even if omnibuses so huge (1200 pages!) are not very comfortable to read. In Italy it’s going to be reprinted in seven paperbacks!
I want pretty much all or that. I own several bits anyway.
That Teen Titans book looks pretty fun. They live in a “T” !