*Merry Christmas everyone. As you might have guessed by the rest of the stuff on SotS this week, we are in the midst of our Christmas Spectacular. And what holiday season isn’t complete without a trip to Still on the Shelf for some reading goodness? So sit back, sip that mug of hot chocolate, enjoy your Christmas presents, and relax a little.

*I was way ahead of the game this year in my gift purchasing for most of my family. I was even kind of proud of myself this year. But as happens ever year, I still needed some last minute gifts. So on my quest I head out to Best Buy to see what I can find.

The place is naturally packed and I eventually find what I’m looking for. As I approach the check out line I notice that they have the whole area roped off. You have to stand in a long line before you can even get to the check out lanes. I guess this is done under the pretense of ‘efficiency’. However, I think it’s just to force you to walk past the useless stuff they are trying to sell. I’m not sure how they expect anyone to have the willpower to walk by a copy of Sylvester Stallone’s Cobra and not buy a copy.

Eventually however I enter a lane to pay for my purchases. I get the standard “happy holiday’s” and that’s when I notice the cashier’s nametag. It simply says “B”. Apparently the rest of the consonants nametags were already taken.

*It’s nice to see that GI Joe is enjoying a full resurgence in the toy market. Of course it’s being marketed more under “Venom v. Valor” than “GI Joe”, but it’s still the same thing. Some toys are just classic, and should be available for all generations.

Personally I was always a fan of the TV show, although some people preferred the comic. I liked the fact that the cartoon was ‘simplistic’ in the sense that no one ever died and the good guys always won. Is there any reason children shouldn’t be allowed to believe that life is that simple? The world is a complex and dangerous place. Why can’t we just have cartoons that are simple and entertaining?

*Anyone looking for last minute stocking stuffers would do well to keep in mind the old DVD. There are a lot of good comic related movies out on DVD right now, and even some movies that weren’t so good. My personal recommendations would include Spider-Man 1, Spider-Man 2, and Blade. I don’t think you can go wrong with any of those movies. They are entertaining and (mostly) based on the comic book property.

*Of course if you didn’t want to go the movie DVD route, there are numerous shows on DVD that would make a nice gift.

*Isn’t it interesting that there are still certain toys and games that haven’t changed in decades? I saw a Connect 4 commercial that I swear I could have seen when I was seven. Even the Connect 4 box hasn’t really changed. I guess when you managed to build a timeless classic, why mess with it?

*Very few superhero games are any good. In fact, most of them are just truly awful. And some of the games are so bad it almost makes me want to give up the hobby. However, one game that has gotten some critical acclaim, as well as popular support, is X-Men: Legends.

Another good game is City of Heroes. This is a Massively Multi-player Online Role Playing Game. In other words, you play it online with other people.

I haven’t played either, but I’ve heard very few criticisms of either game. So take that advice for what it’s worth. (Perhaps not very much!)

*Have you seen the new Darth Vader Mask? It’s a replica mask with the “front box” doo-hickey thing that Vader used to wear. It looks very authentic for a children’s toy. And in addition to looking great, it also has some very cool features.

The basic draw of the toy is that it ‘changes’ your voice to make you sound Vader-like. It also comes with pre-programmed lines from the movie (you know, the good ones. The ones before Episode I). Who hasn’t wanted to be Darth Vader at one time or another? Heck, I think I still want to be Darth Vader. And unless you are gifted with the Force, this may be your only chance.

The best part of this toy has to be the commercial though. The marketing is brilliant, because it targets both the father and the kid. The kid wants the mask for all of the above reasons. The dad wants to get the kid the mask because it’s a toy he would have wanted. But it also appeals to the dad’s parenting senses. The commercial throws a little twist, by ending with the dad sitting ominously at his desk instructing the kid to take out the trash. The kid responds in Vader-like fashion, “As you command”. And takes out the trash (and presumably any Jedi along the way). What parent doesn’t want his/her kids to listen obediently? And if you can get them to do that with a Vader mask, then all the better.

*On a side note, spell check on my computer automatically capitalizes the word ‘Jedi.’ I suppose next we’ll find out it’s an officially recognized religion.

*Comic books, cartoons, toys, and Christmas all seem to go together so perfectly. We all know the huge marketing pressures that occur every year. The frenzied last minute shopping we are all guilty of. Yet every year Christmas turns out to be ‘worth it’. I find that there is still something special and magical about getting that much beloved toy on Christmas morning.

As a child, Christmas was defined as a success if I woke up and found that Santa had delivered some GI Joes and possibly a Transformer or two. Nothing could have been better. I could hardly contain my enthusiasm for the getting the Terror Dome, some vehicle or Snake Eyes.

As I got older, my attention shifted to video games. I still think the greatest Christmas I ever had was the year we got our Nintendo. Talk about Christmas excitement!

And now, ironically, it seems I’ve come almost full circle. This year I’m hoping to get some comic book-related gifts (as well as some video games). It’s become a bit of a tradition for the siblings in our family to buy toys for one another, even though we are all older. My sister still finds some little toys and Garbage Pail Kids for us. While my brother and I typically exchange comic book-related gear, usually HeroClix and a TPB or two.

It’s a good season, and one I’m grateful for getting to spend with my family. So how about you guys? What kind of toys/presents did you love to get as kids? Any comic book related holiday traditions? Let us know in the forum below.

Here at Off the Cuff - World HQ, we’d like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thanks for reading the column, you make it all worth while.

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