Here’s a selection of top gift ideas for readers of pop culture in the family.
The Walking Dead: The Popup Book (Insight Editions, $65) — You are reading this correctly lovers of Robert Kirkman and AMC’s zombie apocalypse television series. The traditional book format that allowed kiddies to reveal wondrous 3-D imagery literally popping off the page now features some violent and grotesque moments tied to the popular show.
Within five large splash pages (almost 12 inches tall by 10 inches wide) readers find illustrated versions of rotting characters and places seen in the TV series. The most insane spread displays a three dimensional, cardboard zombie head that cracks open with the pull of a tab to reveal its gross insides.
Famous undead in the book range from Michonne’s armless walker to the gross well walker and the zombie bicycle girl while locations featured include Atlanta’s city street full of the undead, a stunning look at the West Georgia Correctional Facility under attack and the creepy governor’s trophy room.
Suffice to report, this will cause any fan of “The Walking Dead” to drool with glee.
Marvel’s The Avengers Encyclopedia (DK Publishing, $40) — Fans of the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes now have an easy, although weighty, way to appreciate their favorite Marvel superhero team and its villains.
SEE ALSO: Zadzooks: 2015 Gift Guide for ‘Star Wars’ fans
This 352-page, large (roughly 10 inches wide by 12 inches tall) and heavy tome offers a colorful look at over 250 characters aligned with or against “The Avengers” broken down thematically by their types of powers.
For example, learn about Iron Man under the “Upgraded” section, or Jessica Jones under “Greatly Gifted,” or the synthozoid Vision under “More Than Mortal.”
Readers also get an overview of important comics storylines in the team’s history such as “Civil War,” “House of M” and “The Korvac Saga.” More important, a detailed index helps quickly find entries and mentions to more obscure characters as the Armadillo, Whizzer and Plantman since diving into the thematic concept can get a bit confusing.
Best of all, all dossiers offer beautiful artwork and comic-book covers culled for over 50 years worth of “Avengers” sequential art starring legendary artists such as Jack Kirby, John Buscema, George Perez, Gene Colan and John Romita.
Ghostbusters: The Ultimate Visual History (Insight Editions, $50) — The most beloved supernatural comedy franchise in the history of cinema gets a fantastic homage via a 192-page, full-color, hardcover book packed with behind-the-scenes goodies and information.
With a forward by Dan Aykroyd (Dr. Raymond Stantz) and introduction by director and producer Ivan Reitman, readers take a very hands-on journey through the making of the two original movies and the expanded “Ghostbusters” multimedia universe. They get help from never-before-released photos and concept art from Sony and pages of interviews and background compiled by author Daniel Wallace.
SPECIAL COVERAGE: Zadzooks 2024 Holiday Gift Guide
Besides looks at the iconic costumes, the Ectomobile, Proton Pack and PKE Meter, what makes this book a home run with fans is the included and removable pop-culture nuggets. They include a Stay-Puft Marshmallow sticker, Dr. Peter Venkman’s business card, a booklet of the Hotel Sedgewick storyboard sequence and an animation character layover from the “Ghostbuster” cartoon, just to name a few of the takeaways.
This is a hands-on, visual smorgasbord of a gift for anyone who knows the difference between a Slimer and a Gozer.
• Joseph Szadkowski can be reached at jszadkowski@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.