Valentine’s Day Picks for Lovers and Fighters (and kids!)

Looking for a last minute Valentine’s Day present? Chapel Hill Comics can help you out! Come on in and we’ll hook you up with the right rgift for that special someone:

Valentine picks for lovers!

To maximize your coolness, pick up one of our signed copies of Jim Rugg’s new book Afrodisiac! He kicks butt and woos the ladies. We even have a few deluxe special edition copies which come with a fancy dust jacket and exclusive, signed and numbered print. Far out! We also have signed copies of Rugg’s other comic masterpiece, Street Angel. It’s got a holiday-appropriate pink cover, and plenty of ninja-fighting, skateboarding, girl hero action.

Does your Valentine rock? Then Scott Pilgrim 5 would make a perfect gift! Indie rock, video games, and robot battles for the hand of a beautiful lady are the major plot points of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s latest book. Plus, the book’s cover is MEGA SHINY. Everyone loves something shiny for Valentine’s Day!

Do you want to sink your teeth into a great love story? Look no further than Fables, one of our most popular ongoing series. Volumes 1-8 in particular chronicle the epic tale of Snow White and Bigby Wolf. The romance is woven in among tales of war, treachery, and intrigue. Fall in love with a new series on Valentine’s Day!

If you have a long-distance love, check out XOXO, James Jean’s amazing collection of postcard art. Jean is one of the most talented illustrators working in comics today, and his previous art collections have become pretty valuable. Don’t miss out! (We also have Jean’s latest sketchbook, PR3, as well as a large but affordable book of prints–Kindling).

Another great gift for art lovers is The Art of Romance, a collection of awesome old-school romance novel covers. The kitschy titles and extra-dramatic artwork are sure to bring a beautiful smile to your Valentine’s face.

If your idea of romance is leaping into your lover’s arms in fear, then Locke & Key is perfect for you. Volume 1 introduces you to the Locke family, their tragic past, and the creepy ancestral home that is their present. Volume 2 continues the tension & sense of impending doom–a familiar-looking stranger has moved into town and befriended the Lockes, but he seems to have sinister motives. We’re two issues in to the third series, where the Locke children begin to discover traces of their father’s past in Lovecraft, Massachusetts. This is one of the best comic series right now, so check it out!

Equally scary (and therefore a perfect excuse for some snugglin’) isThe Walking Dead series. Volume 1 is a great place to start, as main character Rick tries to navigate the zombie-plagued streets to find his wife & son. True love conquers the undead.

Gus & His Gang is a cowboy love story with universal appeal. While Gus can’t seem to catch a break with the ladies, his fellow outlaw Clem has fallen head-over-heels for a captivating red-haired photographer. Will Clem’s passionate affair get in the way of the gang’s heist plans? Will Gus ever find a girl willing to put up with his enormous nose?

How to Love is an interesting anthology with a holiday-appropriate theme. The variety of artistic styles keeps you reading, and the different interpretations of “love” are food for thought. Check this book out if your Facebook relationship status is “It’s Complicated.”

If you want to impress your date with a locally-made gift, pick up Jason Strutz’s The ABCs of Animal Love. He uses people to illustrate the courtship & mating behaviors of a variety of animals, making you wonder if we humans are missing out on something.

Of course we have plenty of Uglydolls in all shapes and sizes. Each one has its own story, and there’s bound to be one that suits your Valentine perfectly. A fuzzy soft monster is a great way to get the lovin’ started!

Valentine picks for fighters!

We have a fresh infestation of Gigantic Microbes, which make disgustingly cute throw pillows, as well as the slightly smaller but no less virulent Giant Microbes. They make perfect gifts for your anti-love, or your cute biology lab partner!

Did you miss your “Missed Connection” this year? Live vicariously through I Saw You, a compilation of illustrated “Missed Connections” from Craigslist, edited by the always-hilarious Julia Wertz. This book has all the romance, and none of the creepy dudes who smell like dirty socks! You win.

Are you totally grossed-out by love? Then Uzumaki is the perfect Valentine’s Day diversion for you. The three-volume series follows Kirie and her boyfriend Shuichi as their town is destroyed by a mysterious spiral pattern. “Wait,” you say, “that doesn’t sound gross!” Believe me, there’s no time to concentrate on love when spirals are drilling through the foreheads of Kirie’s schoolmates and tying her parents’ tongues in slobbery knots.

Also gross, and totally bizarre, is Lisa Hanawalt’s appropriately titled I Want You. Strange & icky humor in the vein of the Boys Club series, or Johnny Ryan’s work, this little book would make a perfect gift for that person you love to hate. The art is great, but the content is definitely adults-only.

If your idea of Valentine fun is moping around & listening to J. Geils Band’s “Love Stinks” on repeat, check out local artist Adam Meuse’s Sad Animals. It’s full of well-drawn, cute animals lamenting their lots in life. Commiserate or maybe laugh yourself silly with this little book.

Valentine picks for kids!

Do you love the retro stylings of Archie & his friends in Riverdale? We have the perfect Valentine gift for you! The six-issue series of Archie marrying his high school sweetheart finished up last month, so you can pick up the whole thing in the store and find out who he chooses–Betty or Veronica!

If you aim to please your Valentine, nothing could be better than the final volume in the very popular Bone series: Crown of Horns. What will happen to the Bones? Will the rat creatures finally get them in a quiche? Or will they help Thorn save the day? Will Fone Bone finally admit he has a crush on Thorn?

If you’ve already snatched up Bone vol. 9, check out our other Bone-related books: Rose; Jeff Smith: Bone and Beyond; and Bone prints signed by Jeff Smith!

The pink-and-black art of the Babymouse series is perfect for Valentine’s Day! There are 12 books about Babymouse & her adventures, including Heartbreaker, which is all about February 14th!

The samurai series Usagi Yojimbo usually focuses more on battle than love, but try Vol. 22, Tomoe’s Story, for a little bit of romance. Usagi and Tomoe have been friends & partners in battle for a long time, but this book explores some of the quieter moments in their friendship. (Don’t worry, there’s still plenty of sword fighting to be had!)

If none of these work for you, come on in and we’ll help you find something else!

Erin!
Chapel Hill Comics
316 W Franklin St
Chapel Hill, NC 27516