For fans who prefer the indie side of comic books, plenty of publishers still carry the torch for original, creator-driven work. Whether it’s through carefully curated imprints like IDW Publishing’s Top Shelf division or singular passion projects, this gift guide spotlighting IDW and Top Shelf’s best leans into stories that blend the supernatural with a healthy dash of pop-culture charm. The focus here in this latest look are the books I’d be delighted to find under the Christmas tree. The reason is that I didn’t pick them up when they first hit shelves.
Under the Tree: IDW and Top Shelf’s Best of 2025
From gentle Halloween spirits to ghost-hunting kids, kaiju art showcases, and enduring literary classics, this curated guide highlights IDW and Top Shelf’s best comics for 2025—handpicked titles that belong under the tree.
Who changes the leaves? Who summons the autumn winds, wakes ghosts, and chills the air just enough to make October feel right? Why, Spoops, of course. These tiny spirits hatch from the smallest gourds in pumpkin patches at the start of every fall, then dutifully tend to their towns to make sure Halloween goes off without a hitch.
Anyone noticing a recurring theme in this pulpy graphic novel gift guide of this publisher’s works isn’t wrong. We love our golden age heroes! Without them, we wouldn’t have many of the blockbuster films and pop-culture icons we adore today. Their fingerprints are everywhere, and the fact that classic tropes still thrive on the big screen says a lot about their staying power. And who knows—maybe these stories will inspire a new generation of readers too.
