As the kids’ graphic novel market continues to grow and expand, publishers are boxing and bundling popular titles into gift sets that will make a big impression at holiday time. Here’s a look at some of these jumbo packages.
The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror Ominous Omnibus Vol. 1: Scary Tales & Scarier Tentacles (Abrams) collects stories from the Bongo Comics series, with contributions from Sergio Aragones, Kyle Baker, Evan Dorkin, and Stan Sakai, among others. The collection presents individual stories, rather than full issues, grouped by themes such as “Technology Run Amok” and “Trick or Terror” and presented in an oversize format, with bright colors and glossy paper. The 400-page hardcover includes an introduction by Bart Simpson himself, and the slipcase glows in the dark (Ages 12+; $39.99)
Just Beyond Gift Set (BOOM! Studios) boxes up four graphic novels by Goosebumps creator R.L. Stine: Just Beyond: The Scare School, Just Beyond: The Horror at Happy Landings, Just Beyond: Welcome to Beast Island, and Just Beyond: Monstrosity. Each volume has a standalone story about a group of kids fighting real monsters. Stine knows how to lace his stories with just enough humor to keep them from being too intense. Disney+ based an eight-episode series on the comics. (Ages 9-11; $39.99)
Dog Man: The Supa Buddies Mega Collection boxes up all ten volumes of Dav Pilkey’s goofy superhero series with a price tag of $129.99. In November Graphix will release the Cat Kid Comic Club Trio Collection, a boxed set of the first three volumes of the series, with an MSRP of $38.97. The newest Cat Kid book, Cat Kid Comic Club Collaborations, is also scheduled for November and will have an MSRP of $12.99 for the paperback and $24.99 for the hardcover. (Ages 7-9)
Dark Horse Comics offers two box sets of its Minecraft graphic novels: Minecraft Boxed Set collects Minecraft, Vols. 1-3, by Sfe R. Monster and Sarah Graley, and Minecraft: Wither Without You collects that three-volume series by Kristen Gudsnuk. Both box sets include a bonus poster (see “Dark Horse Announces Two ‘Minecraft’ Boxed Sets and New OGN“), are rated for ages 10 and up, and are priced at $32.97. There’s also a new Minecraft title due out in early November: Minecraft Open World: Into the Nether, by Stephanie Ramirez, rated 8+ with an MSRP of $10.99.
Magic Tree House Graphic Novel Starter Set (Random House Books for Young Readers) includes the first four volumes of the graphic adaptations of Mary Pope Osborne’s Magic Tree House chapter books. These are faithful adaptations, by Jenny Laird and artists Kelly and Nicole Matthews, of the prose originals, in which a brother and sister travel through time to have adventures in a variety of historical settings. (Ages 6-9; $39.96)
Stranger Things Omnibus: Afterschool Adventures (Dark Horse Comics) bundles up three original graphic novels set in the world of the Netflix show but focusing on the experiences and emotions of the children after the horrifying events in the show. The omnibus collects Stranger Things: Zombie Boys, Stranger Things: The Bully, and Stranger Things: Erica the Great, all written by Greg Pak and Danny Lore with art by Valeria Fovaccia. MSRP is $19.99. These three titles are also available as Stranger Things YA Box Set with a list price of $36.97. (Ages 8+)
Andrews McMeel has gathered up and omnibized two trilogies of Enola Holmes graphic novels, adapted by Serena Blasco from the prose series by Nancy Springer that stars Sherlock Holmes’ teenage sister. Enola Holmes: The Graphic Novels, Vol. 1 collects The Case of the Missing Marquess, The Case of the Left-Handed Lady, and The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets, and Vol. 2, due out in December, includes The Case of the Peculiar Pink Fan, The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline, and The Case of Baker Street Station (Ages 9-12; Paperback: $14.99). Fans of the movie may prefer Enola Holmes: Mycroft’s Dangerous Game (Legendary), a new story by writer Mickey George and artist Giorgia Sposito, that bridges the gap between the first and second movies (Ages 10+; Paperback: $17.99)
Can’t get enough of teenage sleuths? Nancy Drew Omnibus, Vol. 1 (Dynamite Entertainment) binds up three of the original Nancy Drew graphic novels written by Stefan Petrucha, with art by the late Sho Murase. These stories were originally published by Papercutz as single volumes in 2005 (Ages 8-12; Paperback: $17.99).Source: ICv2
