By ANDREW A. SMITH, Scripps Howard News Service

Comics: 'Manara Library' volumes are flat-out gorgeous

Milo Manara is one of Europe's most famous artists, known for his beautiful women, meticulous craftsmanship, sweeping landscapes, storytelling skills and even pornography. He's been reprinted in America before, but Dark Horse is doing it in a huge and comprehensive way, commensurate with the Italian artist's international stature.

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Comics: Justice League fights real-world hunger

While comic-book-industry news is usually all about characters, creators and circulation, sometimes the real world intrudes -- for good or ill. This week we have an example of each.

Heroes Against Hunger

On Jan. 23, DC Entertainment unleashed its superheroes on a real-world crisis: hunger in the Horn of Africa.

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Comics: Comics-based films to put on your calendar

If you thought Hollywood strip-mined comic books for movie ideas in 2011, you ain't seen nuttin' yet.

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Comics: 'Inner Sanctum' conjures up tales from the old radio show

The Golden Age of radio is a nearly forgotten era, which makes it all the cooler that writer/artist Ernie Colon has brought it back in graphic-novel form.

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Comics: 'The Phantom' is all over the place

My introduction to Lee Falk's "The Phantom" was in comic books, not the syndicated comic strip. Thanks to Hermes Press, you can experience both at the same time.

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Comics: Annotated 'Sandman' enhances Neil Gaiman series

Ever since Neil Gaiman's astonishingly literate "Sandman" series ran from 1989 to 1996, I've wanted someone to point out the cool stuff I missed. And now, with DC/Vertigo's lavish "The Annotated Sandman Volume One" ($49.99), that project has begun.

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Comics: DC relaunch of superhero universe tops 2011

As we look back on 2011, there is little doubt about the year's No. 1 comic-book story: DC's September relaunch of its entire superhero universe.

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Comics: 'Supergods,' 'Star Wars Encyclopedia' on gift list

Still looking for the perfect gift for the geek in your life? Here's our third and last round of suggestions:

"Supergods: What Masked Vigilantes, Miraculous Mutants and a Sun God from Smallville Can Teach Us About Being Human," by Grant Morrison (Spiegel and Grau, $28) is a book that's as hard to categorize as its author.

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Comics: More gift ideas: Archie, 'Spy vs. Spy,' Peanuts

We're entering the home stretch on the holiday season, and I've yet to scratch the surface on potential gifts for the beloved geeks among us. Here are some more:

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