Gift Guide 2016

Western comics have been drawing inspiration from manga and anime for a generation now, both artistically and narratively, and a whole bunch of today's bestselling comics creators owe a debt to their lifelong love of Japanese pop culture. If you know a fan of anime and manga who wants to make the jump to North American comics, we've put together this gift guide full of great suggestions.

From its days as unfamiliar black-and-white single comics discovered as if by chance in Western comics shops, manga has become the biggest-selling sector of the comics industry, and an influence on dozens of creators in the North American industry. Much like Western comics, manga is for everyone, so if you know someone who loves comics but has never got into manga, we've put together a gift guide with great ideas for books and movies that you can buy them this holiday season.

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.

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!

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.

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.

Anyone who identifies as a comics nerd (and we use that word in the most celebratory sense) must love reading. And even beyond reading comics, there are plenty of books about comics that they could be reading. So dive in to this gift guide and find a book or two for the history buff, nerdy academic relative, or bookworm kid in your life!