Black Friday 2023 comics recommendations
Word Balloons #1190: Shopping ideas for the comic-book fan in your life
It’s “Black Friday” 2023, and I have a few ideas for comics fans this holiday shopping season. The day after Thanksgiving, often called “Black Friday,” has long been considered a day to kick off the holiday shopping frenzy potentially. As a comic-shop owner myself, I’d love if you considered your local comic shop for some of your holiday gift needs. Comic supplies, like bags and boards, are a frequent need, and most comic shops sell gift certificates as well. Other specific recommendations below.
Immortal Hulk Omnibus
One of the best-reviewed Marvel series in recent years is collected under one cover in the “Immortal Hulk Omnibus.”
Collecting around 60 issues of the “Immortal Hulk” saga primarily from writer Al Ewing and artist Joe Bennett, the omnibus delves into the monstrous nature of the Hulk in a horror-style reinvention.
Retail for the omnibus is $150.
The One:12 Collective Superman: Man of Steel Edition
Mezco creates high-quality action figures with cloth clothes and multiple heads and accessories in roughly a six-inch, or 1:12 scale.
The One:12 Collective Superman: Man of Steel Edition wears the classic comic-book suit including a cape with an integrated posing wire. He comes with seven head sculpts, including a heat-vision version. Retail on the figure is around $125.
Invincible Compendium Vol. 1
Writer Robert Kirkman joins artists Cory Walker and Ryan Ottley for this slam-bang Image Comics superhero tale about a young man who discovers he has inherited powers from his alien father. This series is the basis for the Amazon Prime animated series. Issues #0-47 are collected in this $64.99 compendium.
Masters of the Universe: Masterverse TPB
Top comic-book creators explore their version of the 1980s cartoon icon He-Man in the collection of this fantasy anthology series.
Written by Tim Seeley (“Hack/Slash”), artists include Sergio Aragonés (“Groo,” Mad Magazine), Kelley Jones (“Batman,” Deadman), E.J. Su (“Transformers”) and many more.
Collects Masters of the Universe: Masterverse #1-#4. Retail is $19.99.
Blue Lock Vol. 1
Soccer players from across the country compete to become Japan’s next top striker as a mad coach brings them to a high-tech colosseum called Blue Lock. Now, 300 of the country’s top players face bizarre challenges to become the top player. A special edition of the first volume of this manga was recently released to comic shops. Retail is $12.99.
Speeding Bullet Black Friday & weekend specials
Specials for Black Friday, and Small Business Saturday and Sunday at Speeding Bullet Comics are as follows:
- Select trades will be $5 and $10! (Look for the markdown table!)
- Comic Book Sets will be 25 percent off!
- Statues will be Buy One Get One Free!
- Toys will be Buy Two Get One Free!
- Back issues in the bins priced at $3 or under are just $1!
Matthew Price, matthew@matthewLprice.com, has written about the comics industry for more than two decades. He is the co-owner of Speeding Bullet Comics in Norman.