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Some kids grow up idolizing superheroes. Others, however, can't get enough of fictional scientists like Doctor Doom, Lex Luthor, and Dr. Frankenstein. They're brilliant kids who are at home tinkering with tech or playing around with bugs outside, kids that get a kick out of figuring out how things tick. If you know a kid whose response to Tony Stark and Bruce Banner creating a killer robot in Avengers: Age of Ultron was, "I could probably do a better job," or a kid who has been all about STEM innovations from before they knew what the acronym meant, this list will help you keep your junior mad scientist too busy to consider taking over the world.

While holiday cheer can take different forms for everyone, is there anything more in keeping with the season than plopping on the couch and cozying up to the "Have Yourself a Morlock Little Christmas" episode from the '90s X-Men animated series? I think not my friends. Gift giving isn't the easiest task, but if you have a hardcore X-Men fan in your life, we have some suggestions that might help.

I've expressed my excitement about Deadman: Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love plenty of times before. Written by Sarah Vaughn with art by Lan Medina, it's a gothic haunted house story that's simultaneously retro in its tone and progressive in its politics. DC has provided ComicsAlliance with an exclusive look at Medina's design process for the book, as well as art from both Medina and guest artist Phil Hester.

Friedrich Nietzsche once had a famous quote about gazing into the abyss and the abyss gazing unto you in return. I don't know Nietzsche, but I can only assume he actually meant that if you gaze into the abyss (space), the gays will gaze back at you — because space is filled with gays and they don't appreciate your rude staring. If you know someone who is all about gays in space (cue the Saturday Night Live theme song, though maybe not the rest of the skit) or cosmic queer folk, from #Stormpilot to Mass Effect, consider these holiday gifts. Retrograde Earthen ideas of love and gender most certainly not included.

Enamel pins have taken over the world this year. They're cute, fun, and affordable! You can show off your favorite pop culture obsessions, or your attitude towards the world, all with a simple pin on your lapel. But let's be real; you're probably wearing more than one. They're mini works of art that you can wear; what's not to love? Independent artists are especially benefiting from the enamel pin trend, as they can make these extremely popular items at a pretty low cost. Our gift guide includes many of these independent designers selling their pins on Etsy, as well as some of the larger, more prominent enamel pin pioneers. We have no doubt you'll find the perfect pin for everyone on your holiday gift list!

There's always been a seamless crossover between video games and comic books, and odds are if you're a fan of one, you're a fan of the other. Comics have been adapted into video games and vice-versa for almost as long as video games have been "a thing," and as both mediums have evolved, so too has the quality of those crossovers. With the holidays around the corner, we've put together a selection of some of the best video game related comics and art books for the gamer in your life.

If you know someone who has succumbed to the cult of Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye, whether they're a new convert or a long-time fan, we've put together a gift guide to some of the best of these toy robots, and other merchandise featuring them, so they can let the whole world know how they feel about Transformer.

As the first and greatest superhero of them all, it only stands to reason that Superman would be leading the charge with some of the wildest and weirdest comics of the time. His amazing list of super-powers allowed him to have crazy adventures that many other characters couldn’t dream of having, but he also got strange new (but often very short-lived) powers to let the creators go even crazier with him. All of which leads us to why you’re really here, to see this gallery of panels from Silver Age Superman comics presented completely without context. Some are weird, some are wacky, some are befuddling, but they’re all pretty fun, and the best part is this is just the teeniest, tiniest tip of the iceberg when it comes to Silver Age insanity. Just try to make sense out of them and enjoy!

Warm up your body and soul this season with a steaming hot mug of feelings and coffee. Stories like the fabled "coffee shop AUs (alternate universes)," where licensed characters are imagined in low-key, romantic settings, have been derided by some as lacking drama or conflict, and to that I say: thank god. We don't need to fantasize about conflict or drama in all our fiction when we can just greet what's waiting on our front door. Sometimes, the soul just needs kindling. Share the gifts of feeling and warmth with this coffee shop AU gift guide.

Magical girls are special. They defend love and justice with a squad of their best friends, and they look cute while they're doing it. Their transformation sequences into their alter-egos are filled with sparkles. They remind us that the girly aesthetic is not a bad thing, and can actually be very powerful. You've probably got a few magical girls in your life, so we've put together this gift guide to inspire you to find the perfect presents for them.