If you're like me, however, you wait until panic sets in (somewhere around the third week of December) before you scramble to the malls to join the other geniuses who were also caught by surprise that Christmas is coming this year, too. Fortunately, Dark Horse has the answer to your shopping woes.
older readers
* For the serious-minded parent or older sibling who accepts the fact that you read comics, but has no personal interest in gaudily-costumed thyroid cases bouncing around the pages of a funny-book, try a copy of Joe Kubert's Fax from Sarajevo. This is a timely and powerful story by one of the industry's all-time greats, so pick up a copy for yourself, too.younger readers
* For boys, you could certainly do worse than to give copies of Ricardo Delgado's Age of Reptiles: Tribal Warfare or Art Adams' Creature Feature. Both are packed with the kind of wild action and exciting stories that made most of us comics fans.* It used to be hard to find comics material that would appeal to girls. But with Eric Shanower's gorgeous adaptations of L. Frank Baum's Oz books (there are currently four to choose from), your search will be short and successful.
non-readers
* We all know people who won't read a comic to save their lives. But that doesn't mean you can't find a gift for them at your local comics shop. For instance, who wouldn't love the classic (and classy) Sin City Zippo(TM) lighter? The recipient doesn't have to be a smoker (though they may feel the need to start after explaining to their wife or girlfriend why they're carrying a lighter from "Molly's Escort Service").* T-shirts are practically the uniform of the '90s, and Dark Horse has two new offerings from Winterland Apparel: a basic-black Dark Horse logo shirt, and an all-new Madman shirt featuring art by creator Mike Allred.
* Hobby-minded folks on your list will be impressed by Kent Melton's sculpture of The Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot. Inspired by the amazing comic by Frank Miller and Geof Darrow, this double-figure kit requires minimal assembly, and comes with instructions for a variety of simple to not-so-simple paint jobs.
* And, when all else fails, you can always resort to giving paperweights. But we've got the paperweight to end all paperweights: a pre-painted and ready-to-display figure of The Flukeman from The X-Files. Agents Mulder and Scully's most popular adversary has been produced by Bowen Designs to ship in time for Christmas.
If you're still stuck for ideas, pick up a copy of Diamond's Previews and check out Dark Horse's extensive list of exciting graphic novels, model kits, and other items. Happy shopping!