It’s that time of year where you may have to buy some presents. I thought I would use my Five Comics format to suggest some purchases. They are all out this year, and I tried to go for a variety of genres so you can find something for the comic fan or potential comic book fan in your life. Or perhaps you deserve a treat!
David Ferguson
The Deviant Volume 1 (2024) and Volume 2 (2025)
Created by James Tynion IV and Joshua Hixson
Originally published in The Deviant #1-9 (2023 – 2025)
Collection: The Deviant Vol. 1 (2024) and Vol. 2 (2025)
Genre: Crime, Horror, LGBTQ+
ISBN: 978-1534356917
• Buy Volume 1 from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link) | Buy it via UKBookshop.org (Affiliate Link)
ISBN: 978-1534374270
• Buy Volume 2 from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link) | Buy it via UKBookshop.org (Affiliate Link)
James Tynion has become the go to guy, for me at least, for horror stories, and they come in a wide variety. Department of Truth. Something Is Killing The Children. Exquisite Corpses. Mixing different genres in with the horror. This one is crime, and features a serial killer. It is also interesting to see a queer creator take on a queer serial killer as there have been many problematic portrayals in media.
“As snow falls over Milwaukee in 1972, a blood-stained Santa Claus commits unimaginable atrocities against young men. Fifty years later, a troubled young writer interviews this so-called “Deviant Killer,” who still maintains his innocence from behind bars. And as Christmas approaches once again, the past returns, wielding a sharpened ax.”
The series started in 2024 but the second and final volume came out in 2025. Crime sells in the UK and Ireland. I just wish more people looked to crime comics. So one for the crime and / or horror fan you know.
Hello Sunshine
Created by Keezy Young
Originally published as Hello Sunshine (2025)
Genre: Supernatural Horror, Mental Health, YA, LGBTQ+
ISBN: 978-0316509572 (Paperback Edition)
• Buy it from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link) | Buy it via UKBookshop.org (Affiliate Link)
I don’t know how I discovered Keezy Young online, but the cover of her book instantly had me sold. The creator has dealt with mental health issues herself, and was sensitive to how people with mental health issues are treated in horror. She does a great job with this and it is very hard to believe that this is her first graphic novel.
“A boy named Noah comes home from bible camp to find that his secret boyfriend, Alex Lombardi, is missing after a severe mental breakdown. Noah finds himself teaming up with Alex’s angry twin brother, Jamie, the twins’ dog, Cass, their determined childhood friend and neighbour, Sky, and Izzy, who is Alex’s shy best friend (as well as Jamie’s girlfriend), in order to try to figure out what happened to Alex, and whether it has anything to do with his mother’s death five years before.
After strange things start happening in the Lombardis’ dilapidated house, Noah and his new friends start to think that maybe Alex didn’t just run away, and that Desdemona Lombardi’s mental illness may not have been all that it seemed.
Hello Sunshine is a horror story about severe mental illness, grief, and family; although it explores darkness, it also contains themes of love, hope, and humour.”
An obvious choice for the Young Adult audience, but I think everybody should check this out.
Angelica and The Bear Prince
Created by Trung Le Nguyen
Originally published as Angelica and The Bear Prince (2025)
Genre: Fairytale, YA, LGBTQ+
ISBN: 978-1984892669 (Paperback Edition)
• Buy it from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link) | Buy it via UKBookshop.org (Affiliate Link)
Trung Le Nguyen has previously released the wonderful graphic novel, The Magic Fish (2020), so I was looking forward to this one. Once again, he uses a fairytale to help tell a real life story. That could have come across as repetitive, but the story is quite different, so it feels like something fresh.
“Angelica was the girl who could do it all – until suddenly, she couldn’t. Burnout hit hard. Now, after some very low moments, she’s ready to get her life back together, thanks to her friends, and one very surprising source of comfort.
A bear…
Peri is the mascot of the local theatre. He’s been sending Angelica supportive messages from his social. They’ve become friends, and Angelica might even have… a crush?
Determined to find the human behind the bear costume, Angelica gets a summer job interning at the theatre. She might never go back to being the girl who can do everything, but perhaps she is becoming the girl who can magically have it all.”
One you can easily give to the younger comic book fan in your life, but I think everyone can appreciate. Not for kids though, as there is some adult language.
Birds of Prey by Gail Simone
Created by Gail Simone, Ed Benes and Joe Bennett
Originally published in Birds of Prey #56-90 and Birds of Prey Secret Files 2003 #1 (2003 – 2006)
Collection: Birds of Prey by Gail Simone Omnibus Volume 1 (2025)
Genre: Superheroes, Spy fiction
ISBN: 978-1799502937
• Buy it from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link) | Buy it via UKBookshop.org (Affiliate Link)
I had to include at least one superhero comic collection. When I began collecting comics, I was largely a Marvel guy. So when I started reading this series, I was going in blind, but it did not matter. The writing was that good. This is the series that I feel made a name for Gail Simone, who has gone on to write a number of series, including the excellent Secret Six (which has also gotten the omnibus treatment in recent years). She is currently killing it on Uncanny X-men.
“Gail Simone’s groundbreaking Birds of Prey run begins here – witness Black Canary, Huntress, and Oracle soar to new heights in this action-packed, character-driven epic!
The Birds of Prey take flight in this thrilling omnibus collecting the start of Gail Simone’s legendary run! Black Canary, Huntress, and Oracle form an unstoppable team, facing off against criminal masterminds, deadly assassins, and threats that push them to their limits. From a high-stakes battle with the ruthless Savant to a life-changing encounter with Lady Shiva, the Birds navigate danger at every turn – while forging unbreakable bonds along the way.”
If you are feeling generous, this is the one to buy for any comic book fan or, perhaps, someone who wants to get into them. As I mentioned, you need no DC comic book knowledge going in.
Silver: Unearthed
Created by Michael Carroll and Joe Currie
Originally published in 2000AD Progs #2390-2399 (2024)
Collection: Silver Volume 1 HC (2025)
Genre: Horror, Science Fiction
ISBN: 978-1837865598
• Buy it from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link) | Buy it via UKBookshop.org (Affiliate Link) – available from 18th December 2025
“Earth, the year 2001. A group of armed survivors sought out the resting place of a five-hundred-year-old vampire, who may just help them against the alien Sepsis, who invaded the planet a few decades earlier. The vamp, called Baroness DeSilva, soon proves to be a powerful ally , as she fights to defend her food source from the extra-terrestrial enemy!”
Silver started in 2024 and is on its second volume, but Rebellion will release a nice hardcover of Volume One just before Christmas. It’s an entertaining concept, vampire vs. aliens, excecuted brilliantly. One for the Thrill Seekers and fans of great science fiction. Any comic book fan will appreciate it or, perhaps, give it to a newbie.
David Ferguson
All the books above are currently available from both your Local Comic Shop or bookshop
David is a writer of stuff on comics and pop culture for GCN.ie. He is also a contributor and editor (Hugo nominated) for Journey Planet | Follow David on BlueSky
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: 2000AD, British Comics, British Comics - Collections, Comics, downthetubes Comics News, Features, Reviews, US Comics
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