It is now 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.

Doctor Who: Missy Vol. 1

Titan; $17.99

Missy, the Master’s female guise, takes control of her story in Doctor Who: Missy. The Master has been imprisoned in the Stormcage Containment Facility for who knows how long when the Doctor comes for a visit. Only it’s not the Doctor. It’s Missy in all her charismatic glory pretending to be the Doctor and toying with her past self in the process. She breaks the Master out of prison so that he can help her find a fragment of the key to time.

Jody Houser nailed Missy’s sense of humor with its homicidal quirks and effervescent mocking. The writing for Missy is so on point that the reader can hear Missy actress Michelle Gomez delivering the lines. Watching Missy attempt to impersonate the Doctor is both funny and insightful. She must act against her own nature while trying to break out of a prison and does so by pointing out the absurd ways that the Doctor operates. The conversations between her and the Master give telling glimpses into each version of the character.

Originally a four-issue story, Doctor Who: Missy Vol. 1 is a blast for any fan of the modern Doctor Who TV show.

Harley Quinn Vol. 1: Hot in the City

DC; $19.99

In her first solo series during the New 52, Harley Quinn left Gotham City to embark on a new life in Coney Island. This version of Harley was more lighthearted and funnier, though still homicidal when the mood struck. Free of her abusive relationship with the Joker, she becomes the landlord of a building populated by carnival performers, joins a roller derby team, eventually rejoins the psychology field, and leads a team of wannabe heroes.

Harley Quinn was an absolute blast with Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti behind the wheel. Their take on the character is a mix of juvenile jokes, mallet slamming violence, and a lot of heart that fostered loyal relationships. It established the modern version of Harley and has become the standard by which new Harley comics are measured. She and the rest of the cast are so weird and likeable as they deal with some of the strangest scenarios this side of Gotham.

The book featured art by several talented creators, including Chad Hardin. The book is packed with energy and comedy gold shown through Harley’s expressions and the odd residents of her building. No space is wasted on the page with little jokes and easter eggs drawn into the panel backgrounds. It is not hyperbole to say you will laugh out loud reading this book.

Lady Mechanika: La Dama de la Muerte

Benitez Productions; $9.99

Lady Mechanika is a steampunk comic set during the turn of the 20th century. The titular lady survived a serial killer and had several of her body parts replaced by mechanical means. With no memory of her past, Lady Mechanika becomes a private investigator who is always searching for answers to those cases and her own. In La Dama de la Muerte, she travels to a remote Mexican village to recover after suffering a significant loss. But as the locals try to involve her in their Day of the Dead traditions a bloodthirsty gang interrupts the festivities. It turns out this is a regular occurrence and one which Lady Mechanika wants to end.

Co-written by series creator Joe Benitez with M.M. Chen, La Dama de la Muerte (which translates to The Lady of Death), is beautiful and haunting. It’s a straightforward story of a hero taking on a terrible enemy to protect innocent people and it does not hold back on the cost they face.

The artwork by Benitez and Martin Montiel with colors by Peter Steigerwald, Beth Sotelo, and Mike Garcia is stunning. It blends Mexican culture, the Old West, and mysticism to provide a keen look at the Mexican holiday, as well as the frightening aspect of the villains. Every page is structured differently, and the details are a feast for the eyes.

Nocterra Vol. 1: Full Throttle

Image Comics; $9.99

Ten years ago, the world was blanketed by darkness. As confusion and fear spread, the situation became even more terrifying when people and animals got infected by the dark and turned into ravenous shades. Val Riggs, who grew up in this reality, transports people and supplies across the dangerous dark landscape in her well lit 18-wheeler. When one of her travelers promises a sanctuary, she and her brother will take their most dangerous drive yet. If that wasn’t enough, there’s a villain so mysterious and sinister that his only defining feature is a Cheshire cat-sized grin.

The field of post-apocalyptic stories can get pretty crowded, especially with teen/young adult leads, but Scott Snyder and Tony S. Daniel are up to challenge. With the setting in constant darkness and the threat of becoming a monster so overwhelmingly easy, the stakes are high at all times. The energy is consistently up as they’re always racing away from monsters, other pursuers, and the dark itself. As a character, Val is enjoyably complicated. She’s surly and sometimes harsh (which makes sense given her circumstances), but with her brother, she is nurturing and protective, and on the road she’s all guts.

The art is gorgeous. There’s so much detail in the raw emotion on characters’ faces and in the memorable settings. It has nice closeups in the moments of stillness, lots of depth for the action movie-esque chase scenes, and because there are so many types of monsters the creature designs don’t get stale. It’s an exciting read from start to finish.

Vagrant Queen Vol. 1

Vault Comics; $17.99

Vagrant Queen is the story of a faraway galaxy where the monarchy has been overthrown and the young queen escaped before she could be assassinated. As the new republic is established, Queen Elida fashions herself a new identity as a scavenger. Living on the fringes of society, she’s just trying to survive undetected and have a few adventures with her friend (and occasional thorn in her side) Isaac. But things go wrong when Commander Lazaro becomes obsessed with finding a weapon with extraordinarily dangerous capabilities. Now Elida is faced with saving the very people who have been hunting her for years.

First of all, who can resist reading a graphic novel called Vagrant Queen. The title is such an attention grabber. Second, the book is really fun. Writer Magdalene Visaggio created a small group of characters who are tough and easy to root for or against in this strange sci-fi world. The pacing is quick, the dialogue is sharp, and it covers real issues without being heavy handed.

The look of the book is equally distinctive. Jason Smith’s art is somewhat exaggerated, giving the book a unique look but not to the point of distraction. Colorist Harry Saxon enhances the art by providing a big color palette that saturates many panels, while leaving room for the darkness of space. It’s an all-around fun book for sci-fi/comedy readers.

-Amanda Sheriff