Since Christmas is right around the corner, I thought, hey, why not make a few gift suggestions for when you’re sitting on Santa’s knee?

Peter de Sève’s second collection, Local Fauna, is as fat, sassy, and gorgeous as was his first (A Sketchy Past, 2009). Featuring a wide selection of film designs, published works, previously unpublished paintings, sketches, and comps it is capped with a rollicking give-and-take interview with Peter conducted by the creator of Calvin and Hobbes, Bill Watterson. This is the book you’ll want to both get and give (and, psst, signed copies are available from Stuart Ng).

Speaking of Calvin and Hobbes, Andrews McMeel has started to republish newly designed affordable 2-volume boxed collections of the beloved strip with the first, The Calvin and Hobbes Portable Compendium Set 1, appearing recently. As fresh and funny today as it was when they first appeared (beginning in 1985), we could all use a little C&H (and Spaceman Spiff) to brighten our days.

Award-winning comics artist, illustrator, filmmaker, and influential designer, Dave McKean has been knocking us out for decades. From The Sandman to Batman: Arkham Asylum and beyond, Thalamus: The Art of Dave McKean, released as a two-volume slipcased set from Dark Horse, celebrates all aspects of his multi-faceted career.

Arthur Adams is another giant in the comics world and Flesk Publications has finally given him the juicy retrospective he deserves in The Art of Arthur Adams. This 9″x12″ book features 200 carefully selected drawings with commentary from from each phase of his forty year career.

If you haven’t decided on a 2024 calendar yet, The Frazetta Girls have just released theirs featuring a nice selection of Frank’s classic paintings. The one shown is a limited edition so if you want one, don’t delay: they’re going fast.

BlackMoonPrint has released this dandy shirt—which is also a great reminder (to ourself and others) to go to our/their favorite artists’ websites and do a little shopping to encourage them to keep creating. I think I’ll buy a stack of these so I can wear one every day.

Of course in the past I’ve mentioned the “bookazine” that Cathy and I have been producing every blue moon, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t shamelessly plug it, point out that it’s limited to 1000 copies, and is available exclusively from Bud Plant, Stuart Ng, and Greg Ketter. (And…psst again: Bud has a limited number of copies with a signed Brom bookplate.)

Happy Holidays All!