February is almost upon us. Love is in the air and presidents are on the news . . . it must be time for Valentine Day and President's Day!

And what do those two holidays have in common? They're great gift giving holidays.

Let me start the ball rolling with a gift I'm planning to give my wife. We were married on February 14 so Valentine's Day is also my anniversary. That means I have to pick up two cards and two gifts.

One of those gifts will be a copy of Harlequin Valentine, a hardcover comic written by Neil Gaiman and beautifully painted by John Bolton.

Harlequin Valentine

In this modern retelling of a classic commedia dell' arte legend of tomfoolery and hopeless, fawning love, creators Neil Gaiman and John Bolton update the relation of Harlequin and Columbine.

A buffoon burdened with a brimming heart, Harlequin chases his sensible, oblivious Columbine around the streets of a city, having given his heart freely. Consumed with love, the impulsive clown sees his heart dragged about town, with a charming surprise to bend the tale in a modern direction.

Gaiman's writing is poetic and as loopy as the subject matter. Bolton's art, a combination of digitally enhanced photo-realism and dynamic painting provides sensational depth with bright characters over fittingly muted backgrounds.

Those who have spent Valentine's Day alone know that the cold February holiday can be hard to swallow. Gaiman and Bolton want you to know that all it takes is a steak knife, a fork, and a bottle of quality ketchup.

Harlequin Valentine contains an additional 8-page backup feature written by Neil Gaiman and illustrated by John Bolton on the history of commedia dell' arte!

Now if I can just think of the perfect anniversary gift . . .