If you’re reading this, you love comics. Or at least enjoy them. If you don’t, CNN.com is right here.

Anyways, one of the best things about enjoying a particular hobby or TV show or music group is sharing it with someone else. It’s one of those feel-good moments that brings people together in mutual appreciate or hate (”I think this last season of Heroes sucks!” “Me too!”). The industry at times seems both ‘for kids’ and ‘absolutely NOT for kids’, a ridiculous medium that’s on its way out or something that is hitting the masses and becoming part of modern culture. It’s full of twists and turns and by gosh, there is so much to comic books that the Average Joe(tm) doesn’t understand, wouldn’t it be great to share this great art form with someone you love (or at least like) this holiday season?

How about the fact that you really don’t want to brave the shopping malls and going to the local comic shop is a really easy way to both pick up your pull and get some presents?

Never fear! The comic blogosphere has got you covered. You’re going to see tons of lists for what to get the comic fan in your life, what to get the manga fan, the TV show junkie… it got me thinking. What about just a general list of how to give comics to anyone? No expensive lists, no blatant name dropping, just a general idea to use or give to a loved one that has no idea what a 10-year old boy could want. Even if it is their son and his birthday is tomorrow.

Print this out, take a deep breath, and get shopping!

1) There’s something out there for everyone.

I just can’t stress this enough. I’m sure ten people popped into your head that simply COULDN’T get a comic for the holiday of your choice because they simply wouldn’t like them. Mind you, those kind of people are out there, but they hang out with the people who just hate TV and refuse to even watch a show on DVD because … well, I’m sure they have reasons and I’m sure they are out there. But the fact of the matter is, they are the minority. If you know someone who loves Stephen King, who cried when they saw every Lord of the Rings movie and owns all the DVDs, someone who subscribes to Wired magazine or downloads every episode of the Practice, you can get these people a comic book.

Comics are so diverse in theme and art style and topic that you could literally be doing the industry a service by getting a naysayer a book they really like and showing them all it’s not just tights and big letters that say “POW!” So don’t cross anyone off the list just yet, keep an open mind and let’s go on to #2.

2) Be careful giving gifts you like.

We all know Watchmen is considered a seminal piece in the development of the modern comic. Heck, I even saw the TP being used as a textbook for a university’s modern writing class. It’s great. BUT! It’s not for everyone. I watched a customer in the store try to sell his very fashionable and very bored daughters on all the books that turned him on to comics. He, mind you, was a Harley-riding tough guy with a penchant for the most violent and hardcore titles; he loved these books and tried his damnedest to get his little girls interested and, I tell you, their faces just glazed over at the sight of Spawn.

While a particular comic or trade might have totally sold you on comics and made you the fan you are today, you might want to watch out for getting things that you like for people who just aren’t suited for the same interests. Don’t get me wrong, if you want to bring Persepolis into the coffee klatch because the biography and historical style is just what you’d all been talking about or you know for a fact that if the little woman would just sit down and read Alias, she’d really like it, go for it! The more passionate you are about what you like, the better you can pass that on to the next reader under your recommendation. Just make sure that you’re not preaching to the athiests.

3) Match the comic to other interests.

This is the BEST WAY to give a gift EVER. All you have to do is know the person you’re getting the gift for and you are in like Flynn. Going back to #1, if someone is a fan of SOMETHING, there will be a comic out there for them. From TV shows to movies to particular authors to even music, just keep what you know of them in mind when you peruse the shelves. Helping a lot of very frightened adults pick out something for nieces and nephews they only know through the holidays, it’s best to try and get their mind working on what is known rather than what’s not. Getting down to the most general of questions, I had to ask one aunt what color the nephew’s room was and she suddenly remembered it was covered in Yu-Gi-Oh cards.

It sounds kind of obvious or even mean of me to point it out, but it’s still easy to forget and find yourself paralyzed by a wide selection of books you may not have even heard of. As long as you have just an inkling of who the person is (oh! White elephant gift for work? Get to know the victim or ask about them if you have to.), something can be wrapped up and put under the tree.

4) Enlist the help of your LCS.

I train like Rocky for the holiday season but instead of punching frozen sides of meat, I read a hell of a lot of books. I make it my business to know what is coming out for the younger set, what women want (sans Mel Gibson), what the fan needs and on and on. I am a repository of knowledge. Or at least… some suggestions.

If you’re lucky enough to have a local comic shop, use them like the hip, nerdly resource they are. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you’re completely clueless or just not sure. It just makes sense and if they’re worth their salt, they should be able to bring out recommendations you might not have thought of yet.
5) Comic Related Gifts: for when you don’t want to wrap a trade.

Shopping for someone who’s not “a reader”? Don’t go home just yet; take another tour and see if you can’t find a t-shirt or poster or even an action figure that might make a quirky little gift. Hero ’symbol’ shirts are great because they’re not too obvious and are kind of classy in their own little way. Posters are great for the younger set and there’s a lot of ‘high-end’ artwork that could liven up a room in a hip yet stylish fashion. Heck, even getting a little Superman to brighten up someone’s computer desk is a fun way to subtly exert the comic influence. Just because none of the books seem right, that doesn’t mean the hunt is over.

6) Nostalgia does it every time.

Think Grandma doesn’t want a comic? THINK AGAIN!

A neat way to gift the older set is to find a comic that came from their childhood. No, this doesn’t mean you’re dropping cash on an Action Comics #1, think things like a worn copy of Donald Duck or an Archie Americana Series trade from the time when she was reading comics. One woman came in and bought a comic from our back issues that was from the year her granddad was born and it didn’t have to cost her an arm and a leg.

Just because they think they’re too old for comics now doesn’t mean a well-meaning grandchild can’t show them how fun it was when they weren’t and who knows? Maybe it’ll spark something and create… A Christmas Miracle.

7) Be enthusiastic and know what you’re giving.

I know that last bit was pretty corny, but that’s the sentiment that really makes a gift. At least some enthusiasm for what you’re getting friends and family as gifts this year can go a long way, so maybe take a flip through that Sandman trade the shop keep recommended. Or look find out the older stories that those Marvel Adventures books are based on. Whatever it is, get to know the gift and when your loved one opens up the box on Holiday Eve and goes “I’ve never heard of (Name of Book Here)!”, you can share in the experience rather than say “well, it’s what they said was hot with kids this year.” Because the latter makes the shop keep look bad and we can’t have that.

Anyways, show them some thought went into the gift and, unless they are douchebags, it will be well received.

Children are our future.

Nieces, nephews, brothers, sisters, cousins, sons and daughters. Heck, even that woman you know from work that has a five year old that won’t stop shouting “BAT-MAN!” every time he comes to the office with her? Get those kids a comic stat! Everyone else is just going to get them socks or toys or a video game, but you’ll be giving the gift that keeps on giving: Comics!

I have yet to meet enough people who discovered comics in their later years to count on one hand, so remember how much fun it was to flip through some four color adventure when you were a kid and pay it forward for the holidays. While I may not recommend Civil War for the little ‘uns, you might want to flip through some of those Marvel Adventures or Johnny DC books the Big Two lavish us with every month. Maybe one of those over-sized DK encyclopedias that will teach them everything there is to know on the JLA because there’s nothing better for a fankid than to wear their parents down with obscure facts about the Martian Manhunter.

But, as a small warning, you might want to check in on the id’s interests before you swing that credit card; I was told a lovely anecdote from my Distinguished Colleague regarding a little girl who eschewed Mary Jane and even Spider-Man for some thrilling tales about the Green Goblin, her favorite character. Kids have awesome tastes.

9) Don’t be afraid.

Many a time have I seen the shopper lock in fear and despair over the very thought of getting The Wrong Thing(tm). I can recite my store’s return policy in the careful tones one uses to keep someone from jumping off a ledge and have assured many parents that this book will be liked, no really, they’ll love you, please don’t cry. it’s a weird thing and I hope is simply the habits of the paranoid, but the symptoms are not rare and I know that you may look at your purchases and wonder if you really made the right decision.

Don’t worry. You did.

I know getting comics is kind of a weird gift for most people, but as long as you’re happy to give the gift and they (again) are not a douchebag, holiday cheer will abound. Have confidence.

10) Be careful about shopping for yourself.

Well, you’re confident, loaded down with holiday joy for friends and family alike… why not splurge a little on yourself?

Well, hang on there guy! Warning: People are still shopping for you! And if they know you like comics, they might even be right behind you in that line to check out. As tempting as it may be to grab that Absolute Watchmen you wanted or buy an extra copy of that Marvel Hardcover you’re getting for Friend X (he hangs out with Racer X!), I would wait until the holidays are over so you don’t find yourself re-gifting once again. I mean, they have to give you gifts too and the more it seems like you have “everything” the more fear will set in to the novice comic shopper.

Then again, some of you might have the unfortunate problem of having friends or family that think your love of comics means you’ll really want that copy of the Death of Superman (that you already have banked to put your kid through college… someday) or a new Sabrina the Teenage Witch (though the new manga style really gets under your skin). Sometimes, being a die hard comic junkie means you’re really hard to shop for and sometimes it means there is a list of things you like at your local comic shop just waiting for a clueless shopper. That’s right: your pull.

Let your friends know you have a pull if you get asked the musical question, “What do you want for (*Insert Winter Holiday Here*)?” Let them know that there are people who set aside books for you every week and might have a suggestion as to what you might have gotten recently. Let them know that you hate Sabrina’s new manga style (but don’t rant). Who knows? It might just work. You might even find a pre-paid week of comics waiting for you in your pull!

Or you might want to just hope for a sweater.

Happy holidays.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 5th, 2007 at 1:00 pm and is filed under Comic Books, Features, News & Views, The Fifth Color. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.