Don't let your holiday gift-giving commitments get you down. I have the answers to all of your shopping dilemmas right here. No need to take notes; just rip this page right out of the comic (after purchasing it, of course) and start shopping!

We'll start with the small stuff -- the stocking stuffers. Individual comics fit the bill perfectly, and what says "Christmas" more than copies of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Mark Schultz's Subhuman, or The Terminator? Actually, Buffy #4 contains a lovely holiday story, so you might want to pick up several of those.

Okay, what's next? You may get invited to a party or two, so you'd better have some "hostess gifts" on hand. I suggest trade paperbacks. Dark Horse has a wide variety from which to choose, from classics like Aliens, Star Wars, or Frank Miller and Geof Darrows' collaborations Hard Boiled or The Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot, to our latest releases, Groo, Sin City: Booze, Broads, & Bullets, and Space Usagi.

Hipsters on your list will love the Too Much Coffee Man Gift Pak. This lovely gift box contains a generously sized coffee mug, a T-shirt, and a handsome pin, each emblazoned with the image of Shannon Wheeler's caffeined-out hero. (Or, if you're on a budget, each of the items is also available separately.)

The older set will have hours of fun with any one of the many Dark Horse Zippo® lighters, DH shot glasses, or combinations thereof. New for December is the latest, officially licensed, Bettie Page Zippo® (number 3 in a series) with a beautiful Jim Silke illustration of Bettie as Cleopatra.

Children of all ages will be delighted with Dark Horse's new action figures. Choose from Ghost (also available in two variant forms; glow-in-the-dark and chrome) or Martha Washington (available with three different hair styles, each variant with her own unique collection of gear). All of the figures come with exclusive special-edition comic books and feature packaging that allows you to take 'em out and play with them without destroying the package.

Finally, for that special someone, Dark Horse has the much-anticipated X-Files figurines. Choose from Fox Mulder or Dana Scully (or get both -- they're for that special person in your life, remember?). Sculpted by Carl Surges, these fully painted figures perfectly capture the essence of everybody's favorite FBI agents. These are a must-have for any Filesophile.

Happy shopping, and Happy Holidays!
Randy Stradley
the special someone in your life