'I Think I Can Manage' is a weekly column by retailer Steven Bates, manager of Bookery Fantasy, a million dollar retail operation in Fairborn, Ohio.  This week, Bates gives us his top gift items this season, in three parts.  The first category he tackles is comics. 

With all of the gift-worthy holidays converging this month-Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Festivus, etc-it seemed appropriate to do a column on some of the things I think make great presents and stocking stuffers.  I've tried to eliminate personal bias and focus only the relative quality of each item, but I'm sure much of this list will reflect my own sensibilities and personality. 

Comics

For kids of all ages, I recommend any of the comic books or trade paperbacks from DC Comics based on animated super-heroes.  Like the cartoons, these treatments of well-loved DC icons like Batman, Superman, the Justice League, and Teen Titans, will give them heroes doing good deeds, with a minimum of violence, angst, and sex.  Kids will enjoy the action, the clean, uncomplicated art, and the straight-forward good vs. evil plots.  Parents and other older readers will appreciate the almost nostalgic approach to the books, reminiscent of the comic books read when they were kids ourselves. 

Specific titles include the monthly series Batman Strikes, Teen Titans Go!, and Justice League Unlimited, and the 'Adventures' trade paperbacks, such as Batman Adventures, Superman Adventures, Justice League Adventures, etc.  Many of these are full-sized trades, but DC has recently released smaller, digest or manga-sized versions of a few. 

For younger readers, I recommend Powerpuff Girls, Scooby Doo, and Looney Toons, slightly more juvenile, but still well worth buying for teens and grown-ups.  For families, you can't go wrong with DC's all ages offerings.

For buyers looking for something a little less sensational, more grounded in reality, and entertaining-yet-thought-provoking, suggest that they explore the alternative section for American Splendor, Strangers in Paradise, Silly Daddy, and Hepcats.  These series (all reprinted in various sized graphic novel compilations) all examine the human condition, in remarkable diverse ways, but with similar results.  After finishing one of these, readers can't help but reflect on their own experiences, question their own beliefs, or thank their lucky stars to have a life easier than that of these characters.  Other choices include Love & Rockets, The Tale of One Bad Rat, and Blankets.  Of course, most of these are definitely not for children!

Manga readers can be as allied to a series or genre as baseball and football fans are to teams or NASCAR fans are to drivers.  You'll need to know a little about their tastes before recommending anything, lest you insult a shonen fan with shoujo book.  One thing that seems almost universally true is that manga and anime fans-otaku-nearly all draw characters inspired by the art style found in Japanese pop culture.  Any of the numerous How to Draw Manga trade paperbacks would thrill most aspiring artists, and you have dozens to choose from, including books focusing on anatomy, costuming, pen techniques, battles, pretty girls, and giant robots.  Most books retail around $20.00, but I highly recommend the starter kit, which includes paper, a pen, shading/tone sheets, and a basic beginner's book in a carrying case, a super value for about $30.00.