December is the time of year when gift-giving is on our minds as we hunt for the perfect presents for friends and family. If you are seeking gifts for the comic book lovers in your life, the Gemstone staff would like to offer some interesting suggestions of trades and graphic novels that they might enjoy. In this article, the selections come from our Associate Editor Amanda Sheriff.

E.X.O. The Legend of Wale Williams Part One
Youneek Studios; $14.99

When tragedy strikes the Williams family, it drives an impenetrable wedge between father and son, causing the younger to flee his home. Five years later, Wale Williams returns to his home of Lagoon City in Lagos, Nigeria when his father has gone missing. Dealing with the flood of memories and regrets he feels upon exploring his childhood house, he makes an astonishing discovery – a high tech suit hidden in his father’s laboratory. When an organization known as the Creed uses similar tech to intimidate the city’s residence, the reluctant hero dons the suit to protect the city.

Set in the not too distant future of 2025, this story is an amalgamation of a classic tragedy told through advanced technology. What befalls the family is terrible, but it inevitably leads to the city gaining a champion. Creator-writer-art director Roye Okupe does a wonderful job of defining the characters, making them sympathetic and interesting through their virtues and flaws. Okupe is quite talented at writing smooth, practical dialogue, as well as subtle twists in the story that are not telegraphed or distracting (which can also be seen in his book Malika: Warrior Queen).

The art by Sunkanmi Akinboye and colors by Raphael Kazeem are dazzling and beautiful. The story flows smoothly from page to page and the details put into the E.X.O. suit make it crackle with energy.

Okupe has provided a new hero to root for in a fresh landscape that should be around for a long time.

Maneaters Vol. 1
Image; $12.99

Teenagers can be terrible, selfish, and hormonal. In Maneaters, writer Chelsea Cain and artist Kate Niemczyk take that to a whole new level.

A mutation has occurred in the human population, specifically to teenage girls when they begin menstruating, that is turning them into large cats. Not big versions of the cute, fluffy housecat, but rather full-sized panthers with a taste for human flesh. This has necessitated the creation of special medicines and hormones to stop women from menstruating, as there’s no way to tell which young lady will become a killer cat. It also means the creation of a special law enforcement unit and segregationist attitudes toward women.

This is a weird one, plain and simple. The book dips into serious subject matters, the major one being sexism, but it’s comical rather than heavy handed with plenty of topical zingers, cheeky innuendos, and sly jokes. Cain and Niemczyk work well together, with the tonally perfect artwork enhancing the comedy and emotions of the book. It’s also filled with some outside the box real photo art, including an entire issue packaged as a boys’ magazine on surviving big cats.

The first four issues of Maneaters are available in this trade paperback and they do not disappoint.

Star Wars: The Original Marvel Years Vol. 1
Marvel; $39.99

In April 1977, a month before A New Hope was released in theaters, Marvel began publishing Star Wars comics. That run, which began with a six-issue adaptation of the movie, went on for 107 issues and 3 annuals, as well as content in other publications. For modern readers or those looking to reread the series without tracking down the full series, the Star Wars: The Original Marvel Years omnibus is a good option.

The first volume of the omnibus contains Star Wars #1-23, plus stories from Pizzazz #1-16, and Star Wars Weekly #60. It opens with the six-issue movie adaptation then kicks off the series’ original stories consisting of one-offs and short arcs by Roy Thomas and Archie Goodwin, with art by Howard Chaykin and Carmine Infantino. The first original adventure, a Han Solo-Chewbacca story arrived in #7 (January 1978), introducing Jaxxon, the rabbit-like smuggler and pilot, and Don-Wan Kihotay, a delusional old librarian who fancied himself a Jedi.

They introduced the House of Tagge, a new antagonist for the series in the guise of a scheming noble family. They own the powerful megacorporation Tagge Company, employ a private military, and support the Galactic Republic. Desiring power, family head Baron Orman Tagge even tried to usurp Vader’s position at Emperor Palpatine’s side. This arc also introduced the Wheel space station, a casino-filled Vegas style setting.

This book is a great addition to any Star Wars collector’s library. Since the series was still in its infancy, it’s interesting seeing how the creative team interprets the characters (look for a very different Jabba), settings, and potential scenarios that might befall them. They capture the voices and personalities of Luke, Leia, and Han quite well, building on their unique heroic styles established in the first movie. The omnibus is also an entertaining throwback to 1970s style art and panel blocking, rendered by industry greats.

There’s also an introduction by Thomas (which falls at the back of the book) and a cover and artwork gallery.

The Walking Dead: Here’s Negan
Image; $19.99

The Walking Dead is home to some pretty outlandish characters for a book that isn’t about superpowered heroes. The book gave us the likes of Rick Grimes, Michonne, and the Governor early in the series, but Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard proved they had plenty left in the tank at issue 100 when they introduced Negan.

The charismatic villain did two things very well: he proved himself to be the worst foe Rick’s group faced and somehow he made us like him too. His large personality led to the standalone graphic novel, Here’s Negan. Since he swung the fatal hit that killed a beloved character in The Walking Dead, comic readers wanted to know more about him. This book provides that backstory, starting before the zombie apocalypse when Negan is married and a high school athletic coach, his initial reaction and survival tactics once the dead rise, and the creation of his beloved Lucille.

Negan’s origin story provides important context to the character and the attributes that we can’t help but like. His devout use of profane language, his hard-edged masculinity, and his charisma are on point. He has moments of self-preservation and heroics that juxtapose how closely Negan and Rick can come to being the other. It also explores the rapid social and moral breakdown that is found in the main series. Plus, the oversized hardcover format gives it the kind of towering presence and durability that Negan would just love.

Wonder Woman: A Celebration of 75 Years
DC; $39.99

In 2016, Wonder Woman reached her 75th year in comics and DC commemorated the event with this special 300-page hardcover. Starting with her debut in All Star Comics #8, the book is segmented into topics of “The Amazon,” “The Princess,” “The Ambassador,” and “The Warrior” with issues from each decade.

The book features key characters and storylines throughout Wonder Woman’s history. It illustrates the trajectory of how the character and female superheroes have been viewed over the years, becoming more heroic, assertive, and physically imposing like her male counterparts. The book shows how some writers prefer stories about her mythological side while others center theirs on her superhero powers.

With stories by her creator William Moulton Marston, and the likes of Robert Kanigher, Denny O’Neil, Roy Thomas, William Messner-Loebs, Phil Jimenez, Gail Simone, and Amy Chu, Wonder Woman: A Celebration of 75 Years is a love letter to the Amazon princess, her legacy in comics, and the impact she has had on the medium.

Editor’s note: And of course we hope you’ll consider our books for your holiday gift-giving needs as well, including The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide #50, The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide #1 Facsimile Edition, Overstreet @ 50: Five Decades of the Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide hardcover and softcover, The Overstreet Price Guide to Batman, The Overstreet Price Guide to Star Wars Collectibles, The Overstreet Guide to Collecting Tabletop Games, The Overstreet Guide To Collecting Horror, The Overstreet Guide To Collecting Concert Posters, The Overstreet Guide To Collecting Video Games, The Overstreet Guide To Collecting Movie Posters, The Overstreet Guide To Cosplay, The Overstreet Guide To Grading Comics, The Overstreet Guide To Collecting Comic & Animation Art, and The Overstreet Guide To Collecting Comics.