Dark Horse Employees know comics! Here's the top picks to spark your gift giving inspiration from the people working on your favorite series
The last-minute gift-giving rush is upon us, and the staff of Dark Horse Comics has a few recommendations for those eagerly seeking advice on the best books to grab for those hard-to-gift individuals on your list. Straight from the incredible team that brings you countless heart-stopping, spine-chilling, laugh-out-loud comic series and graphic novels, here is the Dark Horse Employee Holiday Gift Guide.
Assistant Editor Rose, selects Purgatory Funeral Cakes Volume 1
By Sanho, lettering by Michael Heisler, Translation by Danny Lim
"A tender and heartwarming story of love and loss, this book has gorgeous art and was a real joy to work on. I can't recommend it enough!"
V.P. of Business Development Tim, picks Dr. Werthless
By Harold Schechter, Eric Powell
"Dr Werthless is mandatory reading for all true crime and comic history buffs. Frederic Wetham nearly destroyed the entire comic book industry, all while he worked with some of the most reviled psychopaths and murderers of modern history. Truth is scarier than fiction!"
Assistant Editor Jenny recommends Red & Blue: Monster Hunters
By Sara Soler, lettering by Joamette Gil, Translation by Silvia Perea
"If a Pixar movie were a comic, it would be this book. On the surface, it's for the littles--with bright, engaging artwork, two protagonists with opposite personalities solving a mystery together, and a built-in lesson about doing the right thing even when it's difficult. But the details in this tale of teamwork are both hilarious and relatable for the older crowd, too. It's the perfect book to read over and over as a family. Get it now to have it for the holidays. It released on December 16th!"
Publicist Kaitlyn recommends The Complete Harrow County Compendium
By Cullen Bunn, Tyler Crook, Carla Speed McNeil, Hannah Lavender, Jenn Manley Lee
"There's a reason why Mike Mignola, Mark Millar, The Guardian, Paste Magazine, Bloody Disgusting, and more have praised Harrow County as one of the best modern horror comics series; Cullen Bunn has written a southern gothic story for the ages and Tyler Crook's work is so lush that I would step into the world of Harrow County if I could, haints and all. And even if you have read all of Harrow County, you won't want to miss all the extras--like short stories and comics, pinups, and more behind-the-scenes looks at the making of Harrow County--that the Compendium includes!"
Assistant Editor Tara selects Living Hell
By Caitlin Yarsky, Clayton Cowles
"Living Hell has humor, heart, demons from hell, and a dog named Pants. What more could you want? Written and illustrated by the extremely talented Caitlin Yarsky, Living Hell is the perfect gift for the urban fantasy lover in your life."
V.P. of Book Trade and Digital Sales Mark recommends Dr. Werthless
By Harold Schechter, Eric Powell
"Another impressive collaboration between Eric Powell and Harold Schechter (Did You Hear What Eddie Gein Done?). This fascinating book explores the life of Dr. Fredric Wertham, known for his crusade against comics in the 1950s. It goes way beyond his image as a humorless scold to explore his background and motivations, resulting in a fascinating portrait of a complex man simultaneously driven by progressive ideals and personal ambition. "
Licensing Coordinator Haley selects Cat + Crazy Volume 1 and Volume 2
By Wataru Nadatani, Translation by Zack Davisson
"For all the crazy cat lovers in your life, these books are a must. The illustrations capture cats and the people who love them so well. They are sweet, silly, and a true joy to read. 11/10, no notes."
V.P. of Product Development and Sales Randy recommends The Goon: Them That Don't Stay Dead
By Eric Powell
"I was beyond happy to see The Goon return to Dark Horse Comics. The Goon is one of the most fun comics and has stellar art and storytelling. I am thrilled to find myself back on Lonely Street and spending some time with Goon and Franky!"
Sales Accounting Executive Riley picks Barstow
By Rebekah McKendry, David McKendry, Tyler Jenkins, Justin Birch
"This goopy and brisk supernatural crime thriller takes all the grit and wayward ambitions of the rural American southwest and poisons it to the root with satanic cults and ancient evil. Starkly colorful and violent all over, Barstow kept me reading to the inevitable conclusion that no good deed goes unpunished and everyone loses when we fiddle with powers beyond our control."
Editor Judy recommends Lone Wolf and Cub Deluxe Edition Volume 1
By Kazuo Koike, Goseki Kojima, Translation by Dana Lewis
"The groundbreaking samurai masterpiece by Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima finally gets the deluxe treatment! Experience the first volume of one of the most powerful and influential manga ever created now in an oversized hardcover edition oriented in the original right-to-left reading format."
Accounting Clerk Julia recommends Into the Unbeing Volume 2
By Zac Thompson, Hayden Sherman, Jim Campbell
"Do you or folks you're shopping for love cosmic horror & sci-fi? Allow me to recommend Into The Unbeing, a surreal climate horror story in the vein of Annihilation. The art blew me away, and the story gave me a lot to think about, ending with even more questions than answers."
Sr. Director of Licensing, Lance, picks FML
By Kelly Sue DeConnick, David López, Cris Peter, Clayton Cowles
"FML is a unique, genre-bending ride that is equal parts fantasy horror, coming-of-age drama, and metal-fueled catharsis. For readers who enjoy emotionally complex stories with a supernatural twist, this IS a must-read."
Assistant Editor Jennifer selects Midst: Tales from the Cosmos
By Colin Lorimer, Jasmine Walls, Kendra Wells, Alejandro Aragon, Aviv Or, Vash Taylor, Chris O'Halloran, Quinton Winter, Kelly, Nichole Matthews, Jim Campbell, Will Kirby
"Dive into this unique sci-fi western anthology and explore the people, places, and bizarre phenomena that will immerse you in unexpected stories from the strange and expanding cosmos of Midst! Each of the three tales features incredible art, characters, and interesting stories to get lost in."
Publicity Manager Ally recommends Kill All Immortals
By Zack Kaplan, Fico Ossio, Thiago Rocha, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, Oliver Barrett
"Everything Kaplan writes brings me joy, and I have re-read Kill All Immortals over and over enjoying new things about the story, Ossio's art, and Rocha's colors every single time. But something I think is worth mentioning here, as I will consistently sing the praises of the powerhouse writers and artists I am lucky enough to work with, is the way Otsmane-Elhaou's lettering impacts the way everything feels on the page. Just crack open this paperback and look at the range and emotion in the lettering and you will understand that there are some books that deliver the full package, Kill All Immortals is easily one of the top books in that category for me and it will likely appeal to any fan of John Wick, or powerful violence in the face of supernatural odds!"
Digital Sales Manager Arc recommends Planetes Deluxe Editions
By Makoto Yukimura, Translaton by Yuki Johnson
"Planetes is the perfect gift for fans of slice-of-life (in space) manga stories! And now this beloved classic has received the Dark Horse Deluxe treatment and is available in a gorgeous hardcover format that features debossed patterns on the front and back covers, metallic copper gilded page edges, and a ribbon bookmark. Hey, I'm not the only one who thinks the book looks great. Planetes Deluxe Edition Book 1 won the 2025 American Manga Award for Best Publication Design. It really is a stunning book to behold!"
Assistant Editor Joseph selects Stranger Things and Dungeons & Dragons: The Rise of Hellfire TPB
By Jody Houser, Eric Campbell, Diego Galindo, Diana Sousa, Nate Piekos, Magali Vilanueve
"Spell slinging, sword swinging, and the luck of the dice shaped the lives of the Stranger Things boys well before they had real monsters to face. This D&D crossover delves into Eddie Munson's past, how he became Dungeon Master of the Hellfire Club, and how he first recruited Lucas, Dustin, and Mike into his adventuring party. Throughout, there are brilliant glimpses into the fantasy world that they explore together. Written by Jody Houser (Doctor Who, Star Wars) and Eric Campbell (Frank Frazetta's Dawn Attack), this book is a must-read for fans of tabletop role-playing games and the hit Netflix series! "
Sales Accounting Executive Riley recommends The Complete Harrow County Compendium
By Cullen Bunn, Tyler Crook, Carla Speed McNeil, Hannah Lavender, Jenn Manley Lee
"This modern classic brings Cullen Bunn's unique take on rural myth, ghosts, cryptozoology, curses, family ties, small town culture, and more to insane levels of beauty and horror via Tyler Crook's watercolor and ink. If you have not read this, buy two, one for yourself and get another for anyone you love that's into the spookies. "
Need more recommendations? Take a look at the Dark Horse Creator Gift Guides from Zack Kaplan, Tate Brombal, Wendy and Richard Pini, and Tiffany Smith for more great ideas.
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