• Sandman - I don't have the words to do it justice.
  
• John Byrne's OMAC - A good time traveling story. Feels like you're reading a 80s/90s action movie, [sic].
  
• DC Kingdom Come - I'm not a huge fan of Superman but in series I ended up liking him, (and finding Batman to be that much more a badass). It even perked my interest in Shazam, (still haven't picked up anything but I'm thinking about it).
  
• Grant Morrison's run of Doom Patrol
  
• Top 10 - A weird science hero multiverse cop type drama.
  
• Buzzkill - A short limited series. This one took me completely by surprise. I highly recommend to check this one out.
  
• A God Somewhere - Really, really dark story.
  

Ugh....ok, lets give this a try:

>"Spiderman has been in the exact same pose as Spiderwoman!"

It's sort of a similar pose, but the Spiderman cover is a lot busier in terms of detail on Spiderman and the other guys, so much that your eyes aren't directed towards his butt (they almost point away from it). The Spiderwoman cover on the other hand looks much plainer, where most of her body is just one color showing clearly where her butt is, not to mention that her butt just flat out looks wider and takes up more space on the cover. And that huge gap between her buttcheeks looks so odd that it sticks out every time I look at it. Oh and the background of the city just so happens to be behind her butt, so by looking at the background you'll inevitably guide your eyes towards her butt.

But enough of that point; what Maddox here seems to not realize is that the Spiderwoman cover is merely a symptom of a bigger problem where women can ALMOST ONLY exist in comics when they're titillating and not when they're NOT titillating, while men can have a wider range of options. Sure, men can be titillating, but they can also be NOT titillating; women don't have this option. So often do they have these weird poses that are drawn to show off their boobs and butt in the same shot, with no regard for human anatomy.

That's what the Hawkeye-Initiative was created for; to show that women regularly get weird sexy poses that would look ridiculous on men. Oh sure, Maddox gives one example of Spiderman doing a weird pose, but not only does it seem sexual, but it's also worth mentioning that the cover was drawn as recently as 25 years ago. Like, it might not be a genderless problem if you can only find one male example in the last 25 years, but plenty of women example in recent memory. And though I can't really tell what spiderman is doing in that picture, the reversal with Spiderwoman is totally not the same pose (and minus the cameltoe, it probably wouldn't even be that sexualized).

Now just to be clear, the problem isn't that Spiderwoman is sexual; the problem is that EVERY woman in comics is sexual, and this cover certainly doesn't help us break down that barrier. I mean, look through this blog to see:

http://eschergirls.tumblr.com/

There are hundreds of these. Hundreds. Go through them all, if you can. And again, we can still have sexy women superheroes dress in spandex and contort their bodies like male superheroes do, but we need more women to also NOT do those things, just like other male superheroes.

No problem! There was a reprint of After Man in 2018, and it's affordable under $40. Man After Man has indeed been out of print since 1990 and is fairly pricey between $100-300. Dougal Dixon has many other books too such has The New Dinosaurs, If Dinosaurs Were Alive Today, and many other dinosaur related books (many for children.) Most of these are out of print as well and are expensive, but worth it if you're really interested. Maybe you could luck out at your local library and just rent them.

There is however a rare book he made that was only released in Japan for some reason (and of course it's the most badass one) called Greenworld (グリーン・ワールド) about humanity colonizing an alien world and taming certain inhabitants. Although I've never seen Greenworld for sale on English sites, if you know how to order from Amazon Japan you can find the two books in the series for less than $20 a piece.

I linked to some PDF's in my original comment if buying isn't an option.

Does he have a force fx lightsaber? I don't care how old you are, Star Wars kids never grow out of wanting a lightsaber. If your budget is that high, you can get one with a detachable blade easy.

If he's into comics, maybe you could consider getting him an Absolute edition of one of his favorite comics. If he likes Watchmen, for example, there is the out of print (but still in your price range) Absolute Watchmen.

Barnes and Noble is currently having a sale on the criterion collection, so if you know he really likes some of the movies in that catalog, you can get him the best DVD or Blu versions of said movies.

If he's into alien, you could get him the Alien Vault or some such movie-related book.

On the computer side, maybe you can upgrade his input devices with something fucking badass, like a dasKeyboard or a R.A.T. 9 mouse (but beware, some people really hate the latter).

This may or may not appeal to him, but personally I think a DNA Portrait would be awesome.

Edit: also beware, the daskeyboard is loud, and not everyone is in love with mechanical keyboards.

> Like, the Neil Gaiman opus comic?

Yes!

> Does that include the one shots, like "Dream Hunters"? Or the Sandman/Sandman Mystery Theater crossover?

Yes. Even specialty bound editions; bonus points if it is Season of Mists for the theosophical, theological, and philosophical paradigms pertinent to the Craft, especially the price of Obligations and Oathes.

> Where do the Death oneshots "Time of Your Life" and "High Cost Of Living" fit into this paradigm?

Again, YES!

> I have so many questions.

See above.

That is it, and is a great way to read a great run by Paul Dini.

He also created this, but its a bit pricey too -

http://www.amazon.com/Zatanna-Everyday-Magic-Paul-Dini/dp/B00138HIE4

I've had the pleasure of reading it and it was an incredibly good story. Had that 'Animated Series' caliber of writing via Dini.

My favorites are really obscure, you probably haven't heard of them:

Fashion in Action

Journey, Vol. 1

Journey, Vol. 2

Toadswart d'Amplestone

Moonshadow

Now, I know, I know, you said "non-Superhero" but I'll also give you 3 superhero books that might change your mind.

Starman Omnibus Vol. 1

Tom Strong Vol. 1

Astro City: Life in the Big City is currently FREE on Kindle and Comicsology!!!

Well, the Rusty Brown story is shaping up well, but it's currently spread over about six short books (Acme Novelty Library, numbers 16-20, plus a few other bits elsewhere) and remains unfinished. He publishes another installment every year or so. But the Acme Novelty Library (the one I linked to above) is full of great shorter narratives, and Quimby the Mouse, while mostly earlier work, is also worthwhile if you still want more.

If you want some more Corrigan-esque stuff, the latest book -- Acme Novelty Library 20 is part of the larger Rusty Brown story arc, but it's also a standalone story about a tangential character.

Only ones I have that really go into it deep is that mini-series just called "Krypton." It was pretty great.
https://www.amazon.com/World-Krypton-1987-Complete-Miniseries/dp/B0084BBSYY

Edit: Looks like its actually called "World of Krypton." How was I supposed to know when right on the front cover of all 4 books it says "KRYPTON" in big bold letters!

Venom Vol 1

In addition to what Biz recommended, I would also suggest Venom vs Spider-Man. It is cheaper than the Birth trade and has all of the important issues of Venom's origin.

Spider-Man Carnage is also a 'must have' as it is the origin of Carnage.

Finally, you can check out the Venom checklist on TVS to find other stories you are interested in. Hope that helps!!

Of more recent stuff, these are my two favorite books yet:

• Vision (The Vision)
  
• Thanos Wins (Thanos Vol 2, #13-18)
  
• Currently only available as back issues, check your local comic book shop. They'll either be out on the rack or somewhere in a box towards the back.
  
• The Unbelievable Gwenpool
  
• Vol 1
  
• Vol 2
  
• Vol 3
  
• Vol 4
  
• Vol 5
  
• Avengers: No Surrender
  
  These books are all pretty stand alone and don't require too much back ground information to get started. You should be familiar with some backstory for The Vision and Thanos if you're going to read those books, though. Nothing extensive, just the basics. Reading their wiki pages should get you where you need to be.

I've wondered about Fantastic Four? We know Fox has the film rights in perpetuity as long as they release at least one new film every 8 years. If they don't make a film the rights revert back to Disney. But do Fox have the option to sell the rights to another studio while they maintain them? Like could Fox sell the rights to Warner Bros., and now WB can make a Fantastic Four film, and have them appear in films with their other characters. There was a Superman/Fantastic Four crossover comic years ago, what if they made that into a movie?

I know, very unlikely, I'm just imagining...

Wow. I did not realize such a key character had such few trades published over the years.

Even in the earliest compilation trades he is absent, like this one and this one and this one.

And here I thought he was always popular, being a founding member of the Justice League, and being one of the Super Friends.

Lots of stories are some combination of Spidey/Venom vs. Carnage or Venom/Carnage vs. Spider-Man. Here are a few that might interest you -

Amazing Spider-Man 361-363. This arc is the birth of Carnage's symboite and bonding with Cletus Kasady:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Amazing-Spider-Man-361-Stan/dp/B000U3K0LQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415022242&sr=8-1&keywords=amazing+spider-man+361

Maximum Carnage. 14 part story that is probably the most popular Carnage book out there:

http://www.amazon.com/Spider-Man-Maximum-Carnage-Tom-Defalco/dp/0785109870/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415022398&sr=8-1&keywords=maximum+carnage+comics


Venom vs Carnage. This is the arc of when the Toxin symboite was born:

http://www.amazon.com/Spider-Man-Venom-Carnage-Peter-Milligan/dp/0785115242/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415022192&sr=8-1&keywords=venom+vs.+carnage

Minimum Carnage - Flash Venom and Kaine (Peter's clone) fight Carnage in the Microverse:

http://www.amazon.com/Carnage-Minimum-Chris-Yost/dp/0785167269/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415022471&sr=8-1&keywords=minimum+carnage

You bought volumes (books) 1,2,3

You can wait for volume 4

or

buy a single issues (14+)

https://www.amazon.com/Old-Man-Logan-Comic-Book/dp/B01N02VFU4/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1488320210&sr=1-1&keywords=old+man+logan+14

or You may go to comic shop for single issues

or you may buy digital version from amazon/comixology

March 8 - date of issue 19 (last issue from vol 4)

You may also buy Marvel Unlimited and read other series

I think that You should have fun reading Moon Knight

https://www.reddit.com/r/comicbooks/comments/5it0pg/survey_results_best_marvel_books_2016_expost/

I love Uncanny Avengers:Unity by Duggan. Starting from issue 6 ... each new issue is better than previous one. (5-6 issues=1 volume). This is the longest ANAD Marvel team book. but this book has different style than OML

I thought so as well, but didn’t want to toot my own horn. Also, I was responsible for these masterpieces: Scooby Doo: Haunted Theater and Power Rangers Dino Thunder Play-A-Sound.

So, yeah, I’m kind of a big deal.

300 by Frank Miller

The Mystery Play by Grant Morrison

Harlan Ellison's Dream Corridor by Various

The Medusa Chain by Ernie Colón

Almuric by Roy Thomas & Tim Conrad

Joe the Barbarian by Grant Morrison (deluxe edition)

I really enjoyed the Marvel Now run by Bendis. He gets a lot of hate but it was a great jumping off point for new readers.

Check out Parker: The Hunter - It's a great crime noire tale with very unforgiving anti-hero at it's core. It's a story about love, betrayal and retribution and is fantastic.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Parker-Hunter-Darwyn-Cooke/dp/1600104932

Also you should check out Saga of The Swamp Thing if you enjoyed V for Vendetta, and Watchmen too. Both are by Alan Moore and while Watchmen has the more violent and anti-hero feel, they both get pretty dark and are written fantastically well.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Saga-Swamp-Thing-Alan-Moore/dp/0930289226/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1344687793&sr=1-2
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Watchmen-Alan-Moore/dp/1852860243/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1344687811&sr=1-1

One more you might enjoy would be Arkham Asylum - Grant Morrison really goes to town on this one and it's some of his darkest work. I know it's not exactly the anti-hero you were looking for, but it might be the right up your street if you're into the darker books.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Batman-Arkham-Anniversary-Grant-Morrison/dp/1845760220/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1344687884&sr=1-1

Adventures of Superman Annual #6 - "The Super Seven Part I: The Longest Night" - Long after Earth has been conquered by aliens, only seven superheroes remain.

http://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Superman-Annual-Longest-Comics/dp/B000TSBBLK

i got them all in one from amazon (in hardback though)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Watchmen-Alan-Moore/dp/1852860243

Are you thinking of Zatanna: Everyday Magic (2003)?