In part 2 of our holiday gift guide, our comic-book critics Joseph McCabe and Giaco Furino take a long, hard look at some of this year?s most significant graphic novels, as well as trade paperbacks collecting comic books. Looking to add a little fear to your loved one's funnybook diet? You?ve come to the right place?

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight, Volume 1: The Long Way Home (Dark Horse Books)

Joss Whedon?s return to his most famous creation kicked off in fine style this year with the debut of Season Eight, a much-hyped, direct continuation of the Buffy TV show in comic-book form (courtesy of Dark Horse). Whedon?s apparently outlined the entire run of the book, the same as he did for each season of the show, and he?s handled the scripting chores himself on the five issues that comprise Volume 1 (essentially the season?s first episode), collected here in a trade paperback entitled The Long Way Home. Unsurprisingly, the characters? voices ring true to their television counterparts, and Whedon?s trademark wit and love of genre is evident throughout this initial story, which finds Buffy, her pals and their army of Slayers headquartered in Europe following the events of season 7, where they?re carrying out commando raids on demons, and suddenly find themelves confronting a foe from their past. (For the record, Willow?s leading a platoon of witches, Xander, still in his eyepatch, is barking out orders and geek references in equal measure, and Dawn?s a giant.)
What is surprising, however, is the quality of the artwork, courtesy of cover artist Jo Chen and interior artist Georges Jeanty. Chen?s lovely paintings perfectly capture the likenesses of the Buffy cast, while and tossing them into new poses and situations, and thus (unlike so many other media tie-ins) remove any suspicion they?re mere publicity still rip-offs. Jeanty?s work is even more impressive?taking each actor?s likeness and reimagining it as a fifty-fifty blend of photorealism and cartoon. (The effect?s oddly reminiscent of Frank Miller?s early work on Ronin and Dark Knight Returns.) And, as a strong as it is here, it gets even better, and more consistent, on the follow-up arc (issues 6 through 9 of the comic), which sees the return of fan-favorite Faith in a story that?s half La Femme Nikita, half Donnie Brasco. -- Joseph McCabe

Hellboy: The Troll Witch and Others (Dark Horse Books)

There?s a lot of Hellboy out there these days. Fans can enjoy the character in animated movies, toys, games, novels, and Guillermo del Toro?s ongoing film series. But, for my money, the hulking red devil?s best in his original form: comic books?particularly the ones drawn by Hellboy creator Mike Mignola. Volume 7 of the collected Mignola Hellboy?entitled The Troll Witch and Others?recently saw print from Dark Horse. In addition to bringing readers up to date on the talented auteur?s work, the book throws in a couple of bonus tales, illustrated by comics legends Richard Corben and P. Craig Russell (the latter?s Hellboy tale published here for the first time). Mignola, however, handles the scripting on all issues, giving them a consistent tone that befits the character?a burly, working-class alternative to Sandman?s art-pop take on mythology and folklore.
The best of the stories contained herein, culled from a variety of sources published over the last several years, is the tragic title tale of two sisters. It?s proof positive that, again like Sandman, The Spirit, and other great comic characters, Hellboy is often little more than a witness to his book?s finest moments. -- Joseph McCabe

The Complete 30 Days of Night Trilogy (IDW Publishing)

If you?re thinking of shelling out a few extra bucks for the horror comics fan in your life this holiday season, you can?t go wrong with this, IDW?s deluxe hardcover, slipcased, signed-and-numbered edition of Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith?s 30 Days of Night trilogy. Collecting the original graphic novel, Dark Days and Return to Barrow in all their lush, painted glory, The Complete Trilogy?s one-hundred dollar price tag may scare some away, but for those who enjoyed the recent screen adaptation and want to own the complete vampires-in-Alaska saga in the finest edition possible, it?s a must. ? Joseph McCabe

Stephen King?s The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born (Marvel)

Hot damn, but this is beautiful! Even if one grew tired of Stephen King?s series of bug-crushing thick high fantasy novels; even if they?re not a big fan of comics scribe Peter David, or his take on King?s characters? verbose dialogue (and, admittedly, it?s not for everyone), few will be left cold by Jae Lee?s gorgeous painted art on this series, collected here in a reasonably priced hardcover just in time for gift-giving. The story, concocted by King?s assistant Robin Furth under his own watchful eye, details the early years of the Gunslinger himself, Roland. Minus the baggage that the series acquired as it progressed, this is actually a fast-paced corker of a read. And fear not if it leaves you wanting more?there?s a second series from the same creative team starting up in ?08! -- Joseph McCabe

MPD Psycho (Dark Horse)

Normally I?m the type of person who runs from ?horror manga?. I find most boring, relying on cheap scenes of violence and mutilation that seemed to have been pulled, directly, from Ichi the Killer. So I started MPD Psycho with a pretty low set of expectations. It took about three pages to make me feel like a fool for judging too hastily.
Surprise, surprise?this beautiful and vivid manga is not only original in Eiji Otsuka?s wild, weaving storyline, but also completely catches the eye of the reader. Sho-u Tajima?s artwork is lurid, and personalities ooze from the character drawings. The story follows a criminal profiler with multiple personality disorder. It would take pages to fill you in all the way, so here are some of the more interesting details: A.) Serial killers are all over Japan, and their methods and motives are all wildly different and smart. B.) As of the end of Volume 2, the main character has four personalities (some of which may be evil). C.) The killers all have barcodes on their eyes, as does our protagonist, and D.) A young man with white hair and rubber suits follows everyone around. Enough said?
I recommend this manga with all the critical authority I can muster. Even if you don?t love manga, even if you don?t love weaving stories, this one deserves a shot. -- Giaco Furino

Beowulf (IDW Publishing)

The tale of Beowulf is an old and epic one. The poem deals with the issues of bravery, hubris, and a man?s position in the world in relation to his kingdom. It was always a progressive tale, but for some reason it never really transitioned well to other media?until now. Neil Gaiman and Roger Avery have done the unthinkable?they?ve toyed with the story of a literary classic and made a fiercely accessible and action-filled screenplay, the comic-book adaptation of which--by writer Chris Ryall and artist Gabriel Rodriguez--is collected here by IDW.
One of the original roadblocks in Beowulf?s transition to film was the way the action was paced. In the poem there about five major scenes involving exciting, gripping action, but they really aren?t connected, leaving a narrative flow necessary for comics or film sparse and scattered. What Gaiman and co. have done with the storyline is link it all together in a way that will keep the casual reader interested and the hardcore lit. buffs nodding their heads with a sly smirk. The artwork in this piece is dazzling. The colors drip and explode, and the action paces itself very well. There is an especially beautiful panel that shows, using only the distance from Beowulf?s forehead to nose, the passage of a great amount of time. The women are buxom and the men are strapping, and the creatures (Grendel, Grendel?s mother, a Dragon and some sea monsters) are gloriously detailed. It does take a few pages for the action to really start up, and there are some scenes that look beautiful but aren?t totally necessary, but other than that this is a tight piece of comic-book beauty. If you?re at all interested in the work of Gaiman, the original poem, the new Zemeckis film coming out, or just good old-fashioned monster bashing, check out this graphic novel. ? Giaco Furino

Zombies Vs. Robots (IDW Publishing)

Zombies Vs. Robots, the comic illustrated by Ashley Wood and written by Chris Ryall, bursts from the page with a palpable, if unwieldy, force. The storyline is clever and fairly involved, and the artwork stands apart from most of today?s comic art. The plot follows a group of robots left to survive for themselves after scientists open a portal to the future which unleashes a zombie plague. Zombies now roam the earth, and the robots live on to perform the duties they were programmed to perform. The story is interesting enough, but in the end there really isn?t a strong through line or plot. Wood?s artwork, too, poses a problem of duality. While it is, far and away, some of the most beautiful comic art I have seen (and surely, some of the oil paintings in it will shame even the most skilled illustrator) it is at times too disjointed, too chaotic. The fervor and tenacity of the art doesn?t really match the slowly paced storyline either, but rather they invoke an unnecessary sense of urgency. In the end, while this is beautiful comic with an interesting concept, it just can?t seem to pull itself together. And besides, if you name a comic Zombies Vs. Robots, you would do well to have an abundance of scenes where zombies square off against robots, and this comic simply didn?t deliver to the volume that one would expect. Check out this lovely hardcover if the concept is just too appealing for you to pass up, but be warned: you really don?t get enough of what the title promises. -- Giaco Furino