Books – Spidey Librarian

Gifts Your Spider-Fan Will Love For Any Occasion, Part 1: Spider-Man Media

Books, Comic Books, List, Movies, Spider-Man, Video Games

This blog post contains affiliate links.

You might have guessed it by now, but I’m kind of a fan of a certain wallcrawling, web-slinging superhero. And while I may not always know how to anticipate my enemies’ attacks, I’m reasonably attuned to some of the desires of those who think Spider-Man and his friends are pretty great. While it might be a little late in the holiday season to grab these gifts or stocking stuffers, the nice thing about them is they make excellent selections for the Spider-Fan in your life the whole year round!

This was originally intended to be a single post covering a wide range of gifting ideas, but there are SO MANY different gift categories that feature Spider-Man, I’ve decided to break it up into several posts covering different gifting areas. Each article will contain links to both specific items and to general shopping areas where you can browse for other items in that section. We’ll cover the gamut, from graphic novels and video games to movies, collectibles, clothing and accessories that feature Spider-Man, Miles Morales, Gwen Stacy, and so many of the characters we’ve come to know and love over the years.

And while these are by no means exhaustive listings of Spider-Man gift ideas, they should provide an excellent start to searching for something to satisfy your beloved Spider-Fan’s web-slinging heart! We’ll start with arguably the most popular category, narrative media — movies, TV shows, books, and video games!

So with that said, let’s have a look at some of the best gifts you can grab for your Spidey-obsessed friends, family and loved ones!

Video Games

Spider-Man has been featured in an enormous amount of video games, from a self-titled Atari 2600 game in 1982 to the spectacular 2018 Marvel’s Spider-Man and its superb half-sequel Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales. In addition, he (and other Spider-Folks) have been a part of various Marvel video games, such as the LEGO Marvel Super Heroes and Marvel Ultimate Alliance games. While there are probably too many to list here, and not all of the games he’s been in are guaranteed hits, there is no denying that the web-slinger is a hot commodity who’s basically made for video gaming.

In addition to the two latest Spider-Man games, we’re getting a sequel in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 in 2023. Here are a few personal recommendations for video games in which you can play as Spider-Man.

Graphic Novels — Spider-Man was created 60 years ago, and has been starring in his own comics as well as guest starring in others ever since. There is a LOT of lore that has developed in that time, much of which the movies, video games, and other media have pulled inspiration from to portray their particular depictions of Peter Parker, Eddie Brock, Miles Morales, and so forth. The adventures, trials, and tragedies Peter and his friends have endured in the comics over the decades feature compelling narrative, fantastic artwork, and tie-ins to the greater Marvel Comics universe.

Some stories from Spider-Man lore are truly iconic and stand out among the others. While I have many more recommendations than what’s shown here, this is a good sampling of tales from Spidey’s very storied history.

Movies — Spider-Man’s influence at the box office can not be denied. Filmmakers, moviegoers, and critics can’t seem to get enough of the webhead, no matter what they might actually say. While they’re not all smash successes, the overall body of Spider-Man films–as well as those of Spider-Man adjacent characters–makes for a much beloved and well regarded collection of stories. While I often watch the films digitally, I also like to have DVDs or Blu-Rays of them in case I somehow find myself without internet and craving a Spidey movie fix.

TV Shows — My first memories of Spider-Man come from the cartoons, and I struggle to remember a time when there wasn’t some iteration of the wallcrawler on the small screen. While there have been many versions of the webbed wonder on television–mostly, but not exclusively in animated media–it goes without saying that some shows were better than others. With that said, television has often been the first point at which children meet the arachnotastic superhero, and through which some of them are cultivated into Spider-Man enthusiasts.

A good number of these series are not available in boxed sets, but you can make up for some of these gaps by checking which streaming services, such as Disney Plus, offer them.

Books and Novelizations

While comic books and graphic novels probably come to mind first when most people think about Spider-Man, it is well worth noting that there is plenty of (primarily) prose media that covers the exploits of the wallcrawler, both in the fictional and non-fiction realms. While many of the novelizations are products of their time from several decades ago (and therefore difficult to find), there exist plenty of guides, encyclopedias, timelines and so forth that discuss the chronicled history of Spider-Man and his friends. These resources tend to get updated every so often, as Spidey’s adventures are always ongoing on the comics.

As you can see, there’s no shortage of adventures to read, play, and watch where the web-slinger is concerned. The items featured above are worthy additions to any Spider-Fan’s library, and will hopefully inspire some gift ideas as you shop for them.

Keep an eye out for the next post in this series, covering Spider-Man collectibles, in the near future!

Creation vs. Consumption

Books, Horror, Movies, Writing

Even though I’m only just now getting around to reading the novel–well, I suppose “reading” as in listening to it on audiobook–one of my favorite horror stories of all time is Stephen King’s It. The 1990 made for television miniseries scared the hell out of me as a tween, and I loved it for it. There was always something about Pennywise, as portrayed by Tim Curry, and more recently by Bill Skarsgard, that really succeeded in both creeping me out and eliciting a delightful sense of terror in the whole killer clown as a villainous entity. I’d been unsettled by them before–Poltergeist jumps readily to mind–but this story really gave the trope new life in my imagination, and remains impossible to forget to this day.

I don’t know all of the lore behind It (hence the reason I’m listening to the audiobook), but I’ve certainly heard quite a bit of it, even without having read the notoriously doorstop-sized tome King wrote. I’ve been regaled with tidbits from the more cosmically inclined pieces of lore from the story by countless enthusiasts on YouTube. Friends who have read it have explained to me, in great levels of detail and with appropriate shock, the infamous group sex scene that has never been given life in the films. And I’ve heard, from friends, YouTubers, and internet boards at large about how It and its characters and settings connect with the rest of King’s larger dark universe. It’s fascinating stuff, and I plan to explore it as time and energy allow.

It’s no surprise to me that, at its heart, It is a story about consumption versus creation. Pennywise, as the titular It, consumes the children of Derry, Maine every 27-28 years before returning to its slumber. While It has no qualms about taking adults, It prefers children, particularly when they’re scared (the analogy of fear as a ‘sauce’ or ‘salt’ to the ‘meat’ that is the children). It consumes, then sleeps for nearly thirty years, then returns to consume again. Derry’s precarious prosperity seems tied to It’s existence, and even when Pennywise slumbers, It’s influence still manifests in subtle ways, which only seems noticeable to the town’s children.

Even the story’s heroes, the Losers Club, are plagued by the forces of consumption in their lives outside of Derry. Sure, they joined together as kids to defeat It, but once they moved on they forgot each other and their shared experience. They forgot about Derry, and It. And though they may have made prosperous lives for themselves, none of them ever managed to have children. The narrative suggests this is a result of It’s influence over them, even from afar, making Pennywise/It–already a consummate consumptive entity–a force that stops them from creating life of their own.

If It cannot consume the precious life you create, then you will not be allowed to create. Pretty dark stuff.

And it’s at this point that I tie that theme into my own life, and the lives of many artists, writers, creators, and humans at large. I learned a long time ago that, when people have free time, they basically spend it doing one of two things: creating, or consuming. Consuming food, consuming entertainment, consuming air, water, energy, and so on. Creation, while satisfying, is a lot harder to pull off, or at least do well: writing stories, painting, building, sculpting; hell, even cooking dinner is harder than eating it.

We rely on creators for the things we consume, and for many of us, having things to consume is all we need. There are a ton of creators out there, of many and various things, after all. But there are many of us who need more than to simply consume. Whether it’s a need to prove onself, or because someone has an idea or a thing they simply need to share with the world, there are creators.

For the past few months, I have not been one of them.

I’ve been caught up in the throes of consumption, and it’s not always easy to break out of them. For me, the poison tends to be video games, which are so very entertaining, but which also aren’t exactly good for encouraging moderation in their consumption. I haven’t written in this blog for several months, and have done little in the way of writing that wasn’t either directly related to my job, or directly related to video gaming. I have become obsessed with having the highest score, unlocking the latest reward, or getting the latest piece of shiny equipment for my characters.

All of which, aside from the straight objective of entertainment, serves no real purpose.

I’m not saying that entertainment in and of itself is a bad thing, but when you’re putting most of your spare time into it, it becomes an obsession. It takes you away from friends and family. It takes you away from creating–or in my case, writing. And ultimately, it can chip away at your soul. Your potential for doing other, greater, things is simply sucked away.

And I’ve finally started to feel that.

I’ve known it, intellectually, for some time. But knowing it and feeling the large swaths of time passing in idle bouts of doing essentially nothing are two separate things. The obsessive abandon you put into consumption of a particular thing eventually wears off, and you start to realize there’s more you could be doing, if you weren’t sinking all of your time, and energy, and passion into something that wasn’t already made simply to be consumed.

I’m not saying I’m kicking my video game habit. I’m not sure I’m strong enough for that. But I am saying I’m aware of it enough to be apprehensive. I’m trying to break free of it, or at the very least strike and maintain a healthy balance between my gaming and my creativity. I’m going to try to write more, though of course I can guarantee only that right now.

Hopefully this is the start of many more successive and regular blog entries. Hopefully I’ll be able to get a bigger chunk of my novel edited and ready for publication. Hopefully I can find the strength to leave behind the obsessions with which I distract myself from creating. Hopefully I can do all these things and much more.

Because hope, as Stephen King also wrote, is a good thing. Maybe the best of things. And while that line may not be from It, It is also ultimately about hope, and its power (along with that of friendship) to overcome darkness.

So, as I continue to listen to It, I also have hope that I will continue to write regularly, and create regularly.

When the Paladin Wins Out: A Library Tale

Books, Movies, Self Improvement

As I mentioned in my previous post, I have a paladin and a rogue vying for influence over my actions. Sometimes paladin wins out, sometimes the rogue does.

This story is one in which my inner paladin demonstrates why being the goody-goody sometimes works out for the better.

In spending time with one of my friends a few months ago, we ended up talking about Frank Abagnale, Jr., who is the basis for Leonardo DiCaprio’s character in the movie Catch Me If You Can. I had neither seen the movie nor read the autobiographical book after which it was named, but Mr. Abagnale’s life was so fascinating that I soon ended up seeing the movie after that conversation (it’s GREAT! If you haven’t seen it yet, do so). I knew I had to read the biography next.

I’m a librarian by profession, so I had easy access to the means to acquire it. I put a hold on the book, got it a few days later, and started reading. It was a fascinating book, but as many of you know, life often gets in the way of your leisure reading time. I was only about 100 pages into the book when it came due, so I went to renew it–and found that another library customer already had a hold on it.

Now, when a customer has a hold on a book or other library item you have checked out, that means you need to return it by the date it was due when you checked it out. You can’t renew or extend the due date on that item, as you’ve had the length of the loan period–usually 2 or 3 weeks–to read, watch, or listen to the item in question. If you don’t return the item by its due date, you are penalized with a daily fine. Many library customers are familiar with all of this.

Since I was a library employee, though, I had a privilege that our other customers didn’t. I wasn’t fined for items that were overdue (at least not at first–you could be charged for the replacement of the item if it wasn’t returned by a certain point). It was at this point where the rogue and the paladin started to pull me in different directions.

The rogue whispered in my ear to finish Catch Me If You Can. I could have kept the book, which I was really enjoying and really did want to read. I could delay for however long it took me to read the book, which wouldn’t have been that long, right? What harm could really come of it?

But the paladin had words for me, too. Words of honor, and integrity, and the idea that library rules existed for a reason. Would not I be undermining the system by which our taxpayers are supposed to be guaranteed free, equitable access to library items if I selfishly kept them when I shouldn’t? How could I call myself a good librarian if I didn’t support it?

The paladin won out that day. As a library manager, it was up to me to set a good example for my co-workers and not abuse my privileges. Besides which, I’d seen cases of staff abuse of their privileges that had resulted in people losing their jobs and/or being disciplined because of it. I didn’t want to go down that path, or even start to.

So, with a heavy heart, I played by the rules, checked in the book that was due, and put it in transit to the next customer, forlornly wondering if I would be able to continue reading Catch Me If You Can anytime soon.

As it turned out, it was very soon.

Not five minutes later, I was at the desk, and looking for items to shelve. A customer came in, returned some items and left before I could issue them a receipt. Imagine my delighted surprise when I got to the audiobook they’d returned, which happened to be the book I had been reading, Catch Me If You Can. And, as a bonus, it had no existing holds on it.

I didn’t actually let out a whoop and jump for joy, but I did do a small arm pump and grin big as I checked the audiobook out. I actually really enjoy audiobooks, and spent enough time in my car that I would easily finish this one within two week. I decided to start listening to it from the beginning, and ended up loving the whole thing.

And I could swear the paladin was smiling down at me, and at the rogue, who was rolling his eyes dismissively. His words to both, “You see? Even when you can’t always see it, there is always a way to do right and still be victorious.”

Touché, Mr. Paladin. Touché.

Star Wars Legends: the Ganner

Books, Comic Books

I still lament Disney’s decision to relegate the Extended Universe of Star Wars novels, comics, and video games to a non-cannon “legends” status, meaning that, at least according to the property’s new owners, it didn’t really happen. There has been so much amazing content from that era, starting with the memorable and compelling Heir to the Empire novels by Timothy Zahn, that it seems a waste to just say that all those wonderful stories never happened. Grand Admiral Thrawn, Mara Jade, Corran Horn, Kyle Katarn and Dash Rendar… those great characters may never have actually existed, though it’s possible some of them may be salvaged in the Disney NWO for Star Wars.

I wasn’t terribly into the New Jedi Order series of novels. I’d been reading the books a long time at that point, and had developed a kind of weariness with continuing the journey. After reading the first book, Vector Prime, I decided not to continue reading after enduring the heroic, but untimely death of a major character, Chewbacca. I kept tabs on the developments of that series, but didn’t read any further than Wikipedia (as well as Wookieepedia) in order to see what had been going on.

Now, I’ll admit, I was tempted several times to start reading again. The synopses of the plots and action alone were compelling and inviting to me. From Corran Horn’s duel with a Yuuzhan Vong over the fate of a planet, to the Jedi strike team’s disaster at Myrkr (resulting in Anakin Solo’s death), there were a lot of stories that clearly had stark impacts on the cast of characters, and the universe of Star Wars itself. I held firm, but I researched extensively the stories that really held my interest.

Perhaps the most epic, heroic, and downright legendary one was the final fate of Ganner Rhysode.

Ganner Rhysode was a Jedi character, who had been among the first students in Luke Skywalker’s Jedi Academy on Yavin IV. He was a promising Jedi, but was also vain, obsessed with his looks, and a bit too “swashbuckling” and concerned with playing the hero to actually work on being a hero. All that changed on a mission with Corran Horn, where Ganner received a prominent facial scar, which he left as a reminder to be more humble and not overestimate his own abilities. It was a good development for the character.

Later, Ganner finds Jacen Solo undercover on Coruscant, and apparently helping the Yuuzhan Vong. Captured and tormented by the Vong and Jacen, he eventually comes to learn that Jacen has been working to get close to the World Brain controlling the mass terraforming of Coruscant. When Jacen goes to commune with the World Brain, Ganner comes to terms with his desire to be a hero, and elects to stay behind in the Well of the World Brain to hold off the Yuuzhan Vong warriors who are pursuing to stop them. He knows it is a sacrifice that will cost him his life.

What unfolds is one of the most jaw-dropping displays of heroism I’ve read about in Star Wars.

Led by Nom Anor, a prominent Yuuzhan Vong leader, thousands of warriors come to the Well, ready to cut Ganner down. Nom Anor attempts to reason with Ganner, who refuses to yield and allow them to pass. But Ganner will not yield.

“You are only one man!” Nom Anor tells him.

“I am only one Jedi,” Ganner replies. That line still gives me shivers.

Ganner goes on to claim the threshold for himself, and that any Yuuzhan Vong who wants to pass will only die if they try. “Bring on your thousands, one at a time or all in a rush. I don’t give a daman. None shall pass!” he claims, and the fight begins.

At first the Vong warriors attempt to take turns facing him in one-on-one combat, honorably. But Ganner takes them all down, one by one. They start moving in on him in groups, hoping to overpower and wear him down, but Ganner manages to take all of them out as well. He sustains minor scratches and wounds from some of the Vongs’ poisoned weapons, but due to his connection to the Force, Ganner has essentially become one with the Force and is able to shrug the damage off to continue fighting–and winning.

The groups got larger. Ganner Rhysode kept winning, piling the bodies of his fallen foes to make barriers for the newcomers. And eventually, Ganner defeated all of his opponents. At that point, the Vong unleashed a tank beast on him, and Ganner used the Force to bring the entire Senate dome down on them and himself, sacrificing himself to guarantee Jacen access to the World Brain, which allowed him to influence the organism’s worldshaping of Coruscant. It also allowed Jacen, who would be important to ending the war later, to escape.

The display of tenacity and martial prowess displayed by Ganner by thousands of Yuuzhan Vong eventually earned him a place among their gods. A legend developed around the fight, in which “the Ganner” is an invincible Jedi giant who guards the Gate to the Lands of the Dead with his ever-burning blade of light, making sure the dead do not return to trouble the living. There are words engraved on the stone of the Gate, reading: “NONE SHALL PASS”

When your enemies are so impressed by you that they place you in their mythology, then you’ve definitely done something right.

I can’t help but be floored by this story. Even just the summary and scant dialog I’ve read make me shake my head in wonder. Writer Matthew Stover must have an amazing imagination, as well as a strong liking of the character, to give him such a strong send-off. Even Chewbacca, whose heroic sacrifice was forever seared into my memory, wasn’t given so epic a death scene. No one else in Star Wars has received that kind of treatment, and it was something that really stood out to me.

There’s no word as to whether we’ll get to see Ganner Rhysode in the new Disney versions of Star Wars, but I hope we’ll see some iteration of his legend in the movies at some point, as it’s truly a tale worthy of film.