Luke Skywalker by Hollis Brown Thornton

Today’s Nerdage gift guide suggestion points out art print possibilities from 20×200.

Here’s a description of their geek-friendly art from a news release:

20×200 uses the internet to make fine art accessible to everyone, and they focus on new and emerging artists. For people looking for cool, affordable gifts, their Geek holiday editions include Hollis Thornton’s pigment prints of Luke Skywalker, Mark Richards’ Apple 1 photos,  and Chad Hagan’s Nonsensical Infographic No.4. 

Here’s how the prints are created, from the 20×200 FAQ:

Our prints are created in close collaboration with our artists and artisan printers. The majority are archival pigment prints, made with the most technologically advanced digital printers, using long lasting, stable inks on 100% cotton rag paper.
Occasionally, our artists choose to use an alternate printing technique—letterpress, photographic C-prints or silkscreens, for example. And sometimes our artists offer original works, drawings or paintings, created with materials of their choice.

The details and/or materials of each artwork are noted on its edition page, and the packing slip includes detailed information about the art you’ve purchased.

Check out the selection here: http://www.20×200.com/sets/2-geeks

For more gift ideas, see http://blog.newsok.com/nerdage/tag/gift-guide-2012

- Matt Price

Today’s Nerdage gift guide recommendation is a chance to gift an all-you-can listen buffet of audiobooks.  At the site Audiobooks.com, you can buy gift subscriptions for 1, 3,6 or 12 months.

Audiobooks.com can be listened to via the web or streamed or downloaded through an Apple or Android product.

According to a news release, the Audiobooks.com library contains 15,000-plus best sellers and new releases, including popular titles like The Hunger Games trilogy, and adds new titles frequently.  While audiobooks.com doesn’t have every audio book title ever, look at Audiobooks.com as a Netflix-type option: A large library of titles with no upper limits on how much you can consume from it once paying the monthly fee.

“Audiobooks.com is committed to providing members with access to unlimited audio books instantly, anywhere,” said Ian Small, General Manager of Audiobooks.com, in a news release. “Members can use the apps to download audio books and listen to them wherever they are with their mobile devices.”

Audiobooks.com members can apps at the Apple App Store or Google Play.  The monthly membership fee at audiobooks.com is $29.95.   When you buy a gift subscription, you can also recommend a first listen for your gift recipient.

For more gift ideas, see http://blog.newsok.com/nerdage/tag/gift-guide-2012

- Matt Price

Not sure what to get for a hard-to-shop-for nerd on your list?  In today’s suggestion in the Nerdage Gift Guide, you can shop with Highland Titles to make your friend a Lord or Lady, and conserve Scottish forests while you’re at it.

Information from a news release:

With the holiday season just around the corner, millions of gift giving Americans will once again be faced with the same frustrating question, “What do I get for the person who has everything?” Highland Titles, one of the world’s leading innovators in land preservation, is offering a unique, fun and eco-friendly opportunity to purchase souvenir plots on its estate in Glencoe Wood, Scotland – located just two hours from Glasgow – granting the legal use of the Scottish title of Laird, Lord or Lady.

The Highland Titles gift is all about land conservation.  Over the last thousand years, the forests throughout Scotland have been destroyed by industry and farming – in fact, only 1% of the native woodland is all that remains today.  With the priority of eco-conservation initiatives increasing across the globe, Highland Titles has created a new approach to Scottish land conservation by selling small plots to help fund the rescuing of woodlands, tree planting, maintenance and acquisition of land at risk of development – ensuring it cannot be purchased or developed. Plot sizes range from one square foot to 1,000 square feet and are available for purchase starting at $49.99.

“We have created a new approach to raising funds to support the restoration of destroyed woodlands and preservation of land at risk for development,” said Stephen Rossiter, marketing director, Highland Titles.  “It is imperative that we conserve our remaining forests and replace trees that have been lost for the sake of biodiversity, wildlife, carbon sequestration and the enjoyment of future generations. Extending the Scottish tradition of a descriptive title such as Laird, Lord or Lady is just great fun. It is something that our customers from all over the world really enjoy.”

When buying a one square foot plot, the consumer will receive:

• The title of Laird, Lord or Lady of Glencoe
• A high quality, full color, gift folder containing all your documents
• A legal title deed for your land ownership, on velum parchment
• Master Title Deed to change your title on bank accounts, driving license and other ID
• A map of Glencoe Wood and directions as well as instructions on how to visit and find your personal plot.
• Information and pictures of the area, Glencoe Wood and our conservation project.
• A bumper sticker for you to proudly display your new status (Laird, Lord or Lady)

As part of the purchase, Highland Title owners will receive a Master Title Deed licensed paperwork should they choose to officially change their title on bank accounts, credit cards, driver’s license and other forms of identification. Additionally, Lairds can visit their plot at any time without difficulty. Many Highland Titles plot owners choose to visit and camp on their site.

Founded by Professor Peter and Laura Bevis, a biologist and accountant respectively, the Highland Titles concept was conceived in 2005 during a preservation project on their family estate in the Scottish Highlands.  After creating 12 new wooded areas on family-owned land, they realized that to make a difference, they needed to purchase degraded land that was still capable of being restored to full health.

More information about Highland Titles is available at www.highlandtitles.com, or on Facebook.

For more gift ideas, see http://blog.newsok.com/nerdage/tag/gift-guide-2012

- Matt Price

DVDs, comic-book collections and more are available for holiday season

When it comes to holiday gift-giving and receiving, it’s a great time to be a comic-book fan. If you have a comics fan in your life, there’s a wide array of gift possibilities on shelves at comic-book stores and other retail outlets. Most comic stores should have staples including comic-book collecting supplies, graphic novels and gift certificates. Here are some suggestions for the comics fans on your list.

Movies

It was a big year for comic-book heroes in the cineplexes this year, with “Marvel’s The Avengers,” “The Amazing Spider-Man” and “The Dark Knight Rises,” all now available on DVD and Blu-ray.

“Marvel’s The Avengers” is available in a variety of formats; the four-disc version including a Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, DVD, digital copy and digital music download retails for $49.99.

“The Amazing Spider-Man” is available in multiple formats as well; the three-disc combo with Blu-ray, DVD and UltraViolet digital copy retails for $40.99.

“The Dark Knight Rises” Blu-ray/DVD Combo plus UltraViolet Digital Copy hits shelves on Tuesday with a suggested retail price of $35.99; the box set of the “Dark Knight Trilogy” on Blu-ray retails at $52.99.  In addition, the film is available for DVD and for download. For even more Bat-action, the animated feature “Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part 1” is available on Blu-ray ($24.98) and DVD ($19.98), as the first part of the adaptation of Frank Miller’s acclaimed graphic novel features Batman returning from retirement to again face a crime-filled Gotham City.

And that’s just the start of possible gift ideas for comic-book fans this year.

Graphic novels

“Avengers vs. X-Men” from Marvel Comics retails for $75. The biggest crossover of the year is collected in an oversized hardcover edition from Marvel Comics. The Avengers, including Captain America, Iron Man and Thor, face off against the X-Men, including Cyclops and Emma Frost, in this storyline that topped the sales charts this summer. The hardcover collects “Avengers vs. X-Men” 0-12; the AVX Point One story; “AVX: VS” 1-6 and “Avengers vs. X-Men: Infinite” 1, 6 and 10.

Ed Brubaker’s crime drama “Scene of the Crime,” originally published by Vertigo, is back in a sharp hardcover edition from Image Comics. Extras include the original proposal for the series from Brubaker, and additional art from series artists Michael Lark and Sean Phillips. The book retails for $24.99.

Chris Ware’s “Building Stories” is perhaps more than a graphic novel — the large box contains 14 different items that make up the overlapping stories of people living in the same building. The book has a suggested retail price of $50.

Books

Two recently released books about comics offer behind-the-scenes glimpses at comics history.

Superman: The High-Flying History of America’s Most Enduring Hero by Larry Tye follows the creation of the Man of Steel by a pair of Cleveland teenagers, and traces the history of the hero from the 1930s to today.

Marvel Comics: The Untold Story by Sean Howe traces the company responsible for Captain America, Spider-Man, the Hulk and more back to its earliest days in the 1930s through its revival in the 1960s under Stan Lee, to its box-office ubiquity now, with a warts-and-all presentation of the ups and downs along the way. The suggested retail price for the hardcover is $26.99.

And more

Kohl’s is offering Superman cufflinks for the well-heeled Superman fan. The silver-tone cufflinks are .75 inches in length. The cufflinks have a suggested retail price of $60.

“Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth,” $49.99 for Xbox Kinect and Wii U, features Marvel heroes including Iron Man and Captain America in a game based on the Marvel Comics storyline “Secret Invasion.”

Action figure collectors with space to spare will likely enjoy the playset “Marvel’s The Avengers S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier.” Based on the flying base from the Marvel film, the mobile battle station is more than 3 feet long and has space for more than 30 3.75” Marvel figures. The boxed version of the Helicarrier includes a Captain America figure and five firing missiles.

To see more comics-related gift guide suggestions, go to http://blog.newsok.com/nerdage/tag/gift-guide-2012

- By Matthew Price
WORD BALLOONS
From Friday’s The Oklahoman

If you or someone on your list have managed to acquire a Wii U, then a fine choice for a game would be “Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition.”    According to a news release, the game “allows players to truly become the Caped Crusader with the newly designed, wrist-mounted Batcomputer which can be used to select gadgets, track evidence, upgrade gear, set and detonate explosive gel, and more.”   Gamers also have the opportunity to play as Catwoman in her own storyline that interconnects with Batman’s story.

The game is rated T for Teen and has a suggested retail price of $59.99.

See Friday’s The Oklahoman for more gift ideas, or check http://blog.newsok.com/nerdage/tag/gift-guide-2012

- Matt Price

Today’s Nerdage gift guide recommendation will allow you to re-enact some key scenes from “Marvel’s The Avengers.”  The S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier from Hasbro has a suggested retail price of $69.99 and is recommended for ages 4 and up.

Here’s Hasbro’s description:

Earth’s Mightiest Heroes need Earth’s most amazing vehicle! Straight out of the  … MARVEL film THE AVENGERS, this mobile battle station features launching projectiles and an incredible scale—at more than 3 feet long, it’s the largest MARVEL vehicle ever created by Hasbro, with space for more than 30 3.75”MARVEL action figures! (Figures sold separately.)

The boxed version of the Helicarrier includes a Captain America figure and five firing missiles.  This would have been a huge hit under the Christmas tree in my younger days (and heck, probably would still be).

See Friday’s The Oklahoman for more gift ideas, or check blog.newsok.com/nerdage/tag/gift-guide-2012.

Found via 80sTees.com, today’s Nerdage gift guide suggestion features two fantasy icons of the 1980s, He-Man and She-Ra.

Here’s how 80sTees.com describes this intriguing item:

You’ve heard of pleather, well grab yourself this Faux Masters Of The Universe Sweater! It’s made of sweatshirt material, so really it’s a sweater wannabe.

Though it only officially aired once in 1985, many people remember the He-Man/She-Ra Christmas Special fondly. Where else would you see He-Man, She-Ra and even Skeletor getting into the spirit of Christmas? We want to help you celebrate Christmas with an Eternian twist, and so we present to you the He-Man and She-Ra Faux Christmas Sweater. Designed to look like an ugly Christmas sweater, this festive holiday sweatshirt features superhero twins She-Ra and He-Man against a snow flaked background. He-Man’s so jolly that he’s even wearing a Santa hat! Any Masters Of The Universe fan who’s been on Santa’s “Nice” List, like Kevin, will definitely appreciate this holiday treat.

There are limited places you could wear this, but I still think it’s pretty awesome.

See Friday’s The Oklahoman for more gift ideas, or check blog.newsok.com/nerdage/tag/gift-guide-2012.

- Matt Price

Another recommendation from the Nerdage gift guide is “Coloring for Grown-Ups,” a funny take on growing older through the lens of a coloring book.  The book was created by Ryan Hunter and Taige Jensen, creators of “Hipster Olympics” on YouTube.

Here’s a description of the book, from Penguin Group:

The activities in the book resemble typical, coloring-book-style pages, but with a slightly twisted perspective that offers an ironic look at the stereotypes, habits, and challenges of modern adulthood. COLORING FOR GROWN-UPS has dozens of fun adult activities, games, and puzzles including:

§ “Hipster or Homeless?” coloring page

§ Construct Your Online Dating Profile!

§ A maze to help deflect pesky creditors

§ Decoding secret messages of Real Estate (hint: “recently renovated” = recently swept)

§ A doodling page reserved for drawing the person you thought you’d grow up to be before abandoning all your hopes and dreams!

…And many more amusements that combine the mindless joy of childhood coloring with the mind-numbing realities of real-world living!

Depressingly realistic and fun for any occasion – COLORING FOR GROWN-UPS is the perfect stocking stuffer and indispensable addition for adults of any age…sober or otherwise.

See Friday’s The Oklahoman for more gift ideas, or check http://blog.newsok.com/nerdage/tag/gift-guide-2012

- Matt Price
See below for more images.

Between now and Christmas, Nerdage will look at several gift options for the geek on your list.

Today’s suggestion:

Hallmark offers the Darth Vader Peekbuster.  Here’s the description from Hallmark:

Got a gift sleuth in the house? Here’s proof that present-peeking leads to the dark side! Every move triggers one of nine alert messages from Darth Vader on this motion-sensing ornament.

See Friday’s The Oklahoman for more gift ideas, or check http://blog.newsok.com/nerdage/tag/gift-guide-2012