Scratching your head on what to get for the comic enthusiast in your family? Look no further than this 2014 guide to the best gifts to get for all the members of your family!
For the Children
Got some children that you are indoctrinating to become a Batman fan? Or are you just a kid at heart? Check out these items.
FISHER-PRICE Imaginext® DC Super Friends™ RC Transforming Batbot
Young Super Heroes will have TWICE the fun with a robot and a tank in one! This crime-fighting robot transforms to a cool “armored” tank and back again just by turning the disk on the Batbot or using the Remote Control. Besides an awesome transformation, kids can continue the action by activating the claw or launching disks at their favorite Gotham City villains (Villains sold separately)! There are lights, more than 100 sound effects and phrases and two different modes to help create new and different adventures every time kids play
LEGO Duplo Batcave Adventure
Enter the Batcave and get ready for some exciting adventures! Park the Batwing and get to work with all of the amazing Batman™ gadgets, but watch out – Catwoman is sneaking about! Help Batman quickly down the slide to capture her. Your child will develop creativity and building skills with this iconic, easy-to-build set featuring lots of extra bricks for extended play. Fire up the imagination with endless super hero role play opportunities.
MATTEL Batman™ Gotham City Tunnel Takedown™ Figures
Sinking into the sewers, the battle for Gotham City has gone into the slimy stomping grounds of Solomon Grundy. His evil team, featuring The Joker and Two-Face, may thrive in the underground, but it is no match for Batman with his large swords and trusted allies. Your slime is up, Grundy!
I CAN READ! 2 Justice League Reading Collection
The Justice League Reading Collection contains five action-packed stories: Batman versus Man-Bat, Superman versus the Silver Banshee, I Am Aquaman, Meet the Justice League and Going Ape. With a plastic carry-along handle and Velcro closure, this boxed set of Level 2 I Can Reads is sure to thrill young Super Hero fans of Batman, Superman and the Justice League. I Can Read! books are designed to encourage a love of reading. All of the titles in this boxed set are Level 2, geared for kids who read on their own but still need a little help.
THE BRIDGE DIRECT Flying Heroes
The most iconic DC Comics Super Heroes are taking flight! With a quick pull from the launcher, kids will be able to unleash their favorite Super Heroes and watch them fly like never before. Grip it! Rip it!
For the Christmas Tree
One of my favorite things to see each season are the ornaments that Hallmark comes out with. Check out these ornaments based on DC Comics characters.
Batmobile
Behold the gadget-filled automobile used to help Batman™ fight crime! Press the button on this Batmobile ornament and you’ll hear a clip of iconic music from “The Batman Theme.” Press the button on the ornament to hear music from “The Batman Theme.”
Holy Hit TV Show, Batman!
Clank! Clash! Kayo! BATMAN™ combines his Super Hero skills with smooth BATUSI dance moves to create one entertaining, yet formidable, force. Fans of the hit TV show will love adding this pop culture icon to their collection.
Bane
The training days for Bane with the League of Shadows prepared him for his merciless siege on GOTHAM CITY. This limited-quantity ornament shows the ruthless anarchist as he prepares to face the DARK KNIGHT.
Superman: Defender of Mankind:
The alter ego of CLARK KENT™ strikes a formidable pose to ward off evil villains. Though his powers are great, SUPERMAN™ exercises great morality, responsibility and justice when it comes to using them, making him the perfect Super Hero for defending your tree.
For the Media Lover
Have a DVD fanatic in your family? Two must-haves this holiday season are the Limited Edition Batman 1966 complete series, and both seasons of the amazing Young Justice tv series. Never seen them? Take a chance and get them…you won’t be disappointed!
Young Justice (Season 1):
In Young Justice, being a teenager means proving yourself over and over — to peers, parents, teachers, mentors and, ultimately, to yourself. But what if you’re not just a normal teenager? What if you’re a teenage super hero? How much harder will it be to prove yourself in a world of super powers, super villains and super secrets? Are you ready to come of age in such a world? Are you ready for life or death rites of passage? Are you ready to join the ranks of the great heroes and prove you’re worthy of the Justice League? That’s exactly what the members of Young Justice — Robin, Aqualad, Kid Flash, Superboy, Miss Martian and Artemis — will find out … whether they have what it takes to be a proven hero. From Warner Bros. Animation and based on DC Comics characters, Young Justice is a bold new animated series. Are you in?
Young Justice: Invastion (Season 2):
A lot can change in five years, as our super heroes are about to find out. And there’s some new residents to be found at Mount Justice: new team leader Nightwing, Wondergirl, Blue Beetle, Batgirl, Bumblebee and Beast Boy. Young Justice will need all the help it can get as an alien presence has infiltrated Earth, while certain members of the Justice League are forced to stand trial at the criminal hearing off-world. Watch as The Reach, spearheaded by the quick-talking Ambassador and backed by the muscle of Black Beetle, manipulates a trusting public while maintaining its shadowy maneuvering with The Light. So report in for an epic 20-Episode adventure, as the risks have never been greater and the conflicts never so far-reaching. The epic finale will shatter everything you know! Special Features: Commentary Track on series finale episodes “Summit” and “Endgame” with creators Greg Weisman and Brandon Vietti along with vocal cast Jason Spisak (Kid Flash) and Stephanie Lemelin (Artemis). Behind the Scenes featurette.
Batman ’66 Complete Series (Seasons 1-3) Limited Edition BluRay:
*ALL 120 Original Broadcast Episodes Fully Remastered In HD OVER 3 Hours Of ALL NEW Extras: *Hanging with Batman – A true slice of life in the words of Adam West *Holy Memorabilia Batman! – A journey into the most sought after collectables through the eyes of 3 extraordinary collectors *Batmania Born! – Building the World of Batman – Explore the art and design behind the fiction. *Bats of the Round Table – A candid conversation with Adam West and his celebrity friends, chatting all things Bat ’66. *Inventing Batman in the words of Adam West (episode 1 &2) – A rare treat for the fans as Adam discusses his script notes on bringing Batman to life in the first and second episodes *Na Na Na Batman! – Hollywood favorites stars and producers recount their favorite Batman memories Highly Collectible Premiums: Hot Wheels® Replica Batmobile The Adam West Scrapbook 44 Vintage Trading Cards.
For the Gamer
Got gamers? Along with Christmas we are given breaks and occasional snow days! What better way to spend those days off than playing a Batman video game. An oldie but a goodie is the Arkham Trilogy:
In Batman: Arkham Asylum, the Dark Knight takes on his greatest challenge yet when he becomes trapped with all of his most dangerous villains inside the insane asylum of GOTHAM CITY – ARKHAM ASYLUM! Batman: Arkham Asylum exposes players to a unique, dark and atmospheric adventure that takes them to the depths of Arkham Asylum –Gotham’s psychiatric hospital for the criminally insane. Gamers will move in the shadows, instigate fear amongst their enemies and confront The Joker and Gotham City’s most notorious villains who have taken over the asylum. Using a wide range of Batman’s gadgets and abilities, players will become the invisible predator and attempt to foil The Joker’s demented scheme. Batman: Arkham Asylum features an original story penned exclusively for the game by famous Batman author and five-time Emmy award winner, Paul Dini, whose credits include Lost season one and Batman: The Animated Series. With amazing graphics and a moody, immersive setting, Batman: Arkham Asylum offers diverse gameplay options that push the envelope for all action, adventure and superhero games.
Batman: Arkham City is third-person Action-Adventure game that delivers an authentic Dark Knight experience rooted in an original and engrossing story as well as a combination of melee combat, stealth, investigative and speed-based challenge gameplay. A sequel to 2009’s Batman: Arkham Asylum, Arkham City features the full range of classic enemies seen in the previous game, in addition to Catwoman, who is a playable character and has her own storyline in the new release. Additional features include: a range of new gadgets, an increased number of possible melee opponents and a range of movement options for Batman that include leaping, sliding, gliding and the grapple hook.
Batman: Arkham Origins features an expanded Gotham City and introduces an original prequel storyline set several years before the events of Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City, the first two critically acclaimed games of the franchise; Taking place before the rise of Gotham City’s most dangerous criminals, the game showcases a young and unrefined Batman as he faces a defining moment in his early career as a crime fighter that sets his path to becoming the Dark Knight; As the story unfolds, players will meet many important characters for the first time and forge key relationships
All games are available for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC…and the recently-released Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham:
The best-selling LEGO Batman videogame franchise returns in an out-of-this-world, action-packed adventure! In LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham, the Caped Crusader joins forces with the super heroes of the DC Comics universe and blasts off to outer space to stop the evil Brainiac from destroying Earth. Using the power of the Lantern Rings, Brainiac shrinks worlds to add to his twisted collection of miniature cities from across the universe. Now the greatest super heroes and the most cunning villains must unite and journey to different Lantern Worlds to collect the Lantern Rings and stop Brainiac before it’s too late. Available on PS4, PS3, XBOX One, Nintendo Wii U, PC, Nintendo 3DS, PS Vita
For the Sneakerhead
Everyone needs shoes, right? Why not some snazzy DC Comics shoes?
The World’s Greatest Detective fearlessly and cleverly tracks down Gotham’s roots of injustice. He exemplifies the pinnacle of human ability, overmatching his foes with advanced combat techniques and intellectual prowess. Defending Gotham with a watchful eye, he strikes in the shadows with precision and poise to halt crime its tracks. He is the Batman, and a big helping of justice is what’s for dinner. Converse and DC Comics team up to bring you the Batman All Star Hi. Available only at Journeys, this exclusive sneaker features nocturnal black and blue Batman graphics and bat-signal tongue patch. Canvas upper, rubber sole, navy blue lace-up. Available only at Journeys!
Known as The Joker, he indulges in the pleasures of menacing mind games, causally cackling in the face of heroism and all things wholesome. He’s a serious threat to Gotham, but not all that serious himself. Straight out of Arkham Asylum and available only at Journeys, this Joker edition Converse All Star Hi features a gray canvas upper with Joker face, HA HA HA text, a classic lace closure and durable rubber sole with Joker text tongue patch. Coming to a store near you in December; Only available at Journeys!
Harleen Quinzel, the Arkham psychiatrist who fell in love with the Joker. A “mad love” would lead her to a life of crime as Harley Quinn, frequent accomplice, and would-be-girlfriend of the Clown Prince of Crime. Step into a life of crime with the new Harley Quinn Sneaker from Converse All Star! The Harley Quinn Sneaker displays a hi top style with printed canvas upper, lace up closure, Harley Quinn tongue logo tag, and durable rubber outsole. Only available at Journeys!
The Justice League made its comic book debut in 1960 by appearing in The Brave and the Bold #28. Fast forward nearly 55 years and the super team is still holding up in All Star formal. All is right in the universe when an All Star squad of heroes like the Justice League posts up on a Converse All Star Hi. Available only at Journeys, this Justice League All Star Hi features a canvas upper with graphics of Superman, Batman, Flash, Green Lantern, and Aquaman. Classic Converse lace closure and durable rubber outsole. Available only at Journeys!
For Everyone Else
Can’t find something specific that works for someone on your list? These options should work for just about everyone.
Batman: A Visual History
Created in full collaboration with DC Comics, this hardcover compendium celebrates Batman’s 75th anniversary by revisiting his greatest stories and the writers and artists who created them. Presented in a collector’s slipcase featuring specially commissioned artwork and containing two exclusive original prints by a top DC Comics comic book artist, Jason Fabok, Batman: A Visual History is packed with pages of stunning, full-color comic book art, including high-quality prints of classic and fan-loved covers. Written by leading DC Comics historian, Matthew K. Manning, with a foreword by Frank Miller, this definitive guide is organized by month and year, starting in May 1939 through April 2014, and charts the debut and careers of the Super Heroes and super-villains, including Robin, the Justice League, The Joker, and Catwoman, associated with the Dark Knight.
Montegrappa DC Comics Batman Pen
Phenomenally successful, Montegrappa’s Batman pen collection has inspired a range of writing instruments sure to delight any comic book fan with a love for objects related to favourite characters. Called “DC Comics Heroes & Villains” – the new series commences with four pens for four characters in each category. All will be offered as fountain, rollerball and ballpoint pens. Chosen for the first quartet of heroes are Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and Green Lantern. The nemeses of Batman comprise the first four villains: The Joker, The Penguin, Catwoman and The Riddler. Every pen boasts an evocative design, in each hero’s or villain’s signature colour scheme. Batman, of course, is all in black, with the ‘Bat’-Symbol on the cap’s top, and a pocket clip with lowrelief full-height figure. For more info head over to Montegrappa.
For the Comic Collector
Finally…the moment you’ve been waiting for! Here is a short list of the comics I think all Batman fans should read! (Please note: this in no way represents the thoughts or opinions of anyone else on TBU besides Stella!)
The Long Halloween:
Taking place during Batman’s early days of crime fighting, this new edition of the classic mystery tells the story of a mysterious killer who murders his prey only on holidays. Working with District Attorney Harvey Dent and Lieutenant James Gordon, Batman races against the calendar as he tries to discover who Holiday is before he claims his next victim each month. A mystery that has the reader continually guessing the identity of the killer, this story also ties into the events that transform Harvey Dent into Batman’s deadly enemy, Two-Face.
The Black Mirror:
In “The Black Mirror,” a series of brutal murders pushes Batman’s detective skills to the limit and forces him to confront one of Gotham City’s oldest evils. Helpless and trapped in the deadly Mirror House, Batman must fight for his life against one of Gotham City’s oldest and most powerful evils! Then, in a second story called “Hungry City,” the corpse of a killer whale shows up on the floor of one of Gotham City’s foremost banks. The event begins a strange and deadly mystery that will bring Batman face-to-face with the new, terrifying faces of organized crime in Gotham. This volume collects Detective Comics #871-881.
Hush:
BATMAN: HUSH is a thrilling mystery of action, intrigue, and deception penned by Jeph Loeb (BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN) and illustrated by comics superstar Jim Lee (ALL STAR BATMAN & ROBIN, THE BOY WONDER) in which Batman sets out to discover the identity of a mysterious mastermind using the Joker, Riddler, Ra’s al Ghul and the Dark Knight’s other enemies – and allies – as pawns in a plan to wreak havoc. This volume collects Batman #609-619
Batgirl/Robin: Year One:
Here it is: Robin’s baptism by fire as dons the costume of Robin, the Boy Wonder for the first time and patrols the night by Batman’s side. In his earliest adventures, Robin learns very quickly that what he thought would be fun is actually a matter of life and death. And in the action-packed origin of the original Batgirl, explore Barbara Gordon’s transformation from average citizen into costumed super-heroine.
Batman and Robin vol 1: Batman Reborn:
Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely, the creative team of ALL-STAR SUPERMAN, reunite to tell the adventures of the all-new Batman and Robin. The Dark Knight has fallen, sacrificing himself in the Final Crisis to defeat the ultimate evil. Tim Drake has laid down the mantle of Robin to search the world for a sign that his mentor can be brought back from oblivion. Now there’s a new Dynamic Duo in town. Dick Grayson, the original Robin, has taken up the cape and cowl of his former partner, and Damian Wayne, the assassin-raised son of Bruce Wayne, has become a deadly new Robin — ready to fight crime by any means necessary. Together, this masked Odd Couple must stop a rising tide of villainy whose savagery and brutality are unlike anything Gotham City has ever seen. They must also overcome a lethal pair of rival vigilantes with ties to their own tragic pasts — and stay away from each other’s throats long enough to succeed. This volume collects Batman & Robin #1-6.
Batwoman: Elegy:
In these tales, now available in trade paperback, Batwoman battles a madwoman known only as Alice, inspired by Alice in Wonderland, who sees her life as a fairy tale and everyone around her as expendable extras! Batwoman must stop Alice from unleashing a toxic death cloud over all of Gotham City — but Alice has more up her sleeve than just poison, and Batwoman’s life will never ever be the same again.
So there you have it! From kids to adults; from gamers to readers; anyone can find something to love from DC this holiday season! Good luck…and don’t break the bank trying to get everything!
