Welcome readers to the first annual Holiday Buyers Guide! For our first day in this five part series we will be looking at comics and manga. Now, parents always claim to have trouble getting their kids into reading, so do what we geeks do for our own kids, give them a comic book or volume from a popular manga series! Give kids a story where they can learn morals, be entertained, and maybe widen their own vocabulary. Yet, do not forget these are for all ages too, or we would not be even including them in the Holiday Buyers Guide! Getting someone an issue, a trade, or even an entire series could make the perfect gift. Below are our choices from this year’s releases.
Comics:
DC Universe: Rebirth #1 Deluxe Edition MSRP: $17.99
This is where it all begins, the start of the DC Universe once more. In this issue written by Geoff Johns with artists Matt Santorelli, Joe Prado, Phil Jimenez, Ivan Reis, Ethan Van Sciver, and Gary Frank. This combination brings you to the DC Universe fans new and old have come to love. Geoff Johns makes it clear that the DC Universe is back to what made it amazing.
Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers Vol.1 MSRP: $19.99
If anyone needs a real reason to buy Boom’s Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers, one can check out Ben’s Comic Talk where he delivers a huge in depth summarization about the series. Long story short, it is an amazing series and easily one of our favorites released in 2016!
G.I. Joe vs. Street Fighter, Vol.1 MSRP: $19.99
G.I. Joe vs. Street Fighter brings together two franchises that people love in the best way possible. We have to say that this series was not only fun, but had a solid storyline as well. We don’t want to spoil too much as to what goes on in this volume, but it is action packed! We had Aubrey Sitterson writing this series with Emilio Laiso doing an amazing job on the artwork. One cannot go wrong with picking this title up for a friend or loved one.
Batman: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles No. 1 MSRP: $19.99
Batman: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was one of our favorite crossovers from this year. James Tynion IV delivers an amazing as the series writer, it is really fantastic. Tynion throughout this series really understands the characters and their dynamics. Going in several thought that Batman would have a bigger presence but it’s well balanced between the Turtles and Batman. With Freddie Williams II doing the artwork, it is a well-crafted book that all ages can appreciate.
Champions #1 MSRP: $4.99
We have the younger heroes of the Marvel universe coming together in this first issue. This ongoing series is written by Mark Waid and with Humberto Ramos doing the artwork. We have to say that this series is set up to be fantastic. Story wise, it was a strong issue one that set up not only this team but their purpose. One can easily jump into this series without knowing any of the characters prior.
Scooby-Doo Apocalypse Issue 1 MSRP: $3.99
What happens when DC puts Mystery Inc. in a realistic setting? Well the answer would be that crazy things obviously occur such as Scooby-Doo is a failed bio-weapon created by Velma! Need we say more on how crazy this world truly is?!
Godzilla: Raid Across Time MSRP: $3.99
This current on-going Godzilla series from IDW features the King of the Monsters and the other kaiju terrorizing the world in different time periods. The first two issues feature Godzilla in all his glory ravage Japan in the feudal era, and combat the Greek Gods. Whereas the third issues features Megaguirus in medieval England amidst the chaos that was the Black Plague! Following the brief detour the final two issues return to focus on the King…
Manga
Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt Vol. 1 MSRP: $14.99
This side-story within Yoshiyuki Tomino’s epic tale of the Universal Century depicts the stories of ace pilots, Io Fleming and Daryl Lorenz; two pilots on opposite sides battling for control of the Shoal Zone. The Shoal Zone a highly strategic area for either side of the war, but a graveyard to colonies that features high electromagnetic fields that causes discrepancies to mobile suits and vehicles. Thus bringing forth a different style of mobile suit combat!
Ultraman MSRP: $12.99
Viz Media began distributing this on-going Ultraman manga series in 2015 and it quickly rose in popularity, possibly due to Ultraman’s resurgence via Crunchyroll! The series is an indirect-sequel to the original Showa Era, where the son of Hayata/ Ultraman, Shinjiro wears an armor bestowing to him the abilities of Ultraman to defeat aliens and monsters. Currently the series up to its sixth volume which released in November, with volume seven scheduled for a 2017 release.
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 3: Stardust Crusaders Vol. 1 MSRP: $19.99
The third series in the long running Jo Jo’s Bizarre Adventure manga is finally being released, which introduces “Stands”; a power where a spiritual manifestation of the user comes out and fights for the owner as well as has its own unique abilities. New readers actually do not have to worry about if starting at this point since each part tries to be self contained, as well as Part 3 should easily gets one up to speed about, Dio!
Tiger & Bunny Volume 9 MSRP: $9.99
For any Tiger & Bunny fan, the final volume is must an own and luckily enough is also a late 2016 release making it another perfect gift! Adapted from Sunrise’s hit superhero anime, the manga retells the story of the aging Wild Tiger being partnered with an upcoming hero, Barnaby Brooks, who Wild Tiger nicknames Bunny. Yet with this being the end of the manga’s run how will things turn out, and what are changes from the anime? Find out all the answers buy this issue!
The Legend of Zelda: Legendary Edition Volume 1 MSRP: $17.99
Nintendo’s ever-popular Legend of Zelda series received a manga adaptation by Akira Himekawa. The Legendary Edition features two volumes from Himekawa’s telling of the Ocarina of Time, as well as feature new covers and colored artwork. Now, fans can read how Link journey in obtaining the Tri-Force!
Pokémon: Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire Volume 1 & 2 MSRP: $4.99
Based on the games of the title, this manga is the sequel to Pokemon Adventures: Ruby & Sapphire. Years have passed since Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald defeated the likes of Team Aqua and Magma, but the world is still in danger! Steve Stone re-lists our heroes to help him save the world, and possibly lock the secrets of Mega Evolution. The threat they face now is a meteor that is on course with the Earth, and how it co-exists with the discovery of the symbols ‘Alpha’, ‘Omega’, and ‘Delta’ correlating with the region’s signature legendaries.
My Hero Academia MSRP: $9.99
My Hero Academia began its North American in late 2015, but since then has become highly popular on-going manga series with six volumes already on sale. Which means now is the perfect time to start! Follow the adventures of Izuku Midoriya as he hopes to become the greatest hero that world has ever seen. Luckily enough for Izuku, his mentor is currently the greatest of them all, All Might.
