Throughout the year, it seems like there’s a holiday every six weeks or so. But there’s only one real holiday season: the post Halloween march towards Christmas.
Arguably, the so-called holiday season gave way to crass commercialism decades ago. It’s all about the gifts, right? What can we buy for other people? And what will we get in return?
But the holidays can also be more than just the presents under the tree. For many people, the holidays have meaning and personal significance. It’s a time for family and friends. “Peace on Earth and goodwill towards men.” That’s not such a bad ideal, is it?
In comic books, it’s long been a tradition to put the world’s greatest superheroes into holiday stories and watch them react as they try to rise to the occasion. It’s good to remember that our our four color heroes can be very human, with the same flaws and failings as the rest of us. These stories also serve as a reminder that not every problem can be solved by a fist to the face.
For this year’s holiday season, CraveOnline has assembled a list of our favorite holiday comics with appearances by Spider-Man, Batman, Superman, Hellboy… and a few surprises along the way. These are the comic book stories that can inspire generosity, hope, empathy, and possibly even some laughter along the way.
Of course, you should feel free to share your favorite holiday themed comics in the comment section below!
Our Favorite Holiday Themed Comics
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10. The Lobo Paramilitary Christmas Special
There are plenty of heartwarming Christmas comic books out there... but this isn’t one of them.
The Lobo Paramilitary Christmas Special was a very darkly funny parody of the Christmas season, in which the Main Man (that’s Lobo, for all of you non-comic folk) accepts a contract on Santa Claus’ life from the Easter Bunny... because the Easter Bunny was tired of getting less attention than Old Saint Nick.
Did I forget to mention that prior to the New 52 reboot, Lobo was an intergalactic space biker bounty hunter who was prone to graphic bursts of violence?
I don’t care what anyone says. The ‘90s were awesome!
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9. Marvel Holiday Special # 1
When it comes to Christmas humor, Marvel has its own brand of comedy. Case in point, 2005’s Marvel Holiday Special # 1 featured a re-purposed Ultron body that was turned into a robot Santa. Except the body was still evil... and thus it became Santron.
I really love comics.
Santron ended up attacking the Avengers holiday party at Doctor Strange’s house before the heroes managed to trick Santron into eating a “cookie” that disabled it. And because the Avengers are the very best heroes, they even extend a second chance to the misguided woman who created Santron.
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8. Uncanny X-Men # 230
The late ‘80s were a strange time for the X-Men. Back then, Marvel’s team of Mutant superheroes were hiding out in the Australian Outback and the world believed that they were dead. The X-Men also took over an abandoned town that had been used by the violent cyborg thieves known as the Reavers.
In Uncanny X-Men # 230, Longshot (one of the X-Men) was beset by psychic visions that allowed him to see how many of the Reavers’ spoils had been stolen and whom they truly belonged to. So, in the spirit of the Christmas season, the X-Men played Santa Claus and traveled around the world in a single night to return the stolen treasures to their rightful owners.
And then they had a Christmas party. Like you do.
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7. Flash # 73
It’s rare when a Christmas comic book story not only works on its own terms, but also sets up a much larger tale. Flash # 73 not only does that, it makes it look easy.
Casual comic book fans many not recall that Barry Allen was dead and gone back in 1993. His nephew by marriage, Wally West was the new Flash. In this issue, Wally found himself grappling with adulthood and his childhood memories while spending Christmas with his girlfriend, Linda Park and Jay Garrick, the original Flash.
Naturally, some problems came up that only two Flashes could handle, before Linda gave Wally the perfect Christmas gift. And then the universe itself seemed to reward the extended Flash family with the unexpected return of Barry Allen himself.
Later issues would delve into the mystery of Barry’s resurrection, but this was a singularly happy moment for The Flash and a great comic book as well. -
6. Spectacular Spider-Man # 27
Spectacular Spider-Man # 27 shamelessly swiped several of Bill Watterson’s Calvin and Hobbes snowmen gags. They’re still funny, but even as a homage it felt a bit overused in this issue.
The saving grace of Spectacular Spider-Man # 27 is that it also features a heart-to-heart with Peter Parker and his late Uncle Ben. During Peter’s annual Christmas pilgrimage to Uncle Ben’s grave, he imagines a long conversation with the man who was like a father to him.
Even though Peter is fully aware that Ben is just in his mind, this actually helps him move past a lot of his guilt and grief as he remembers the best of times with his Uncle. It’s a moving story for one of Marvel’s greatest heroes as he gets some much needed emotional closure... for at least one night.
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5. Hellboy Christmas Special #1
Mike Mignola’s Hellboy may be a demon from hell, but he’s also the “World’s Greatest Paranormal Investigator” and a really good guy.
In the Hellboy Christmas Special #1, Mignola expertly told a straightforward Hellboy story while adding in the holiday elements as well. On Christmas Eve, Hellboy answers the final request of a dying old woman to find and release the trapped soul of her daughter. But the old woman doesn’t see Hellboy as a beast or a monster... she thinks he’s Father Christmas.
On this occasion, Hellboy certainly was. Monstrous spirits were vanquished and a mother was reunited with her child before the end of her life. That’s a pretty good night’s work and a damn good story.
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4. Superman: Peace on Earth
Illustrator Alex Ross and veteran animation writer Paul Dini teamed up for a series of painted DC graphic novels that were collectively called The World's Greatest Super-Heroes. But their best collaboration came in Superman: Peace on Earth.
For this adventure, Superman took it upon himself to set an example for the rest of humanity and personally ensure that everyone in the world would have food on Christmas. It’s an admirable goal, but even Superman’s powers can’t always overcome fear and paranoia, both from the people of Earth and their governments.
Superman has his limits, but his heart is boundless. He can’t do everything for humanity, but even in failure he manages to be an inspirational figure.
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3. Fables # 56
For those of you who aren’t reading Fables, it’s a comic book series that postulates that every single legend (or Fable) is real, with most of the European Fables living in New York after being driven out of their own worlds by an all-powerful Adversary.
A few years into Fables’ run, the series unexpectedly introduced Santa Claus as yet another Fable. Ambrose, one of the sons of Snow White and Bigby Wolf, encountered Santa Claus and asked him a question that many people have wondered: how does he visit so many houses in one night?
I loved the answer to that question, so I’m not going to spoil it here. But it’s enough to say that this was a great Christmas issue.
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2. Batman: Noël
Artist Lee Bermejo wrote and drew the Batman: Noël graphic novel that was released in 2011. Taking a major cue from Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol, Noël casts Batman as the heartless Scrooge while he relentlessly hunts down the Joker and terrorizes one of Joker’s former henchmen.
Like any good Scrooge, Batman is visited by three individuals who essentially stand in as the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future that force Bruce Wayne to realize that he’s lost his way.
As the narrator of the story puts it, “for this story to make sense... for it to mean anything... you have to believe in something. Something very important. You have to believe people can change.”
Even in his darkest moments, Batman is capable of rediscovering his human heart.
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1. Starman # 27
It’s been 13 years since Starman came to an end at DC Comics, so most comic book fans may not know who Jack Knight is. But they should, because Jack Knight was one of the most human heroes that DC has ever had.
Starman # 27 was written by series creator, James Robinson and illustrated by Steve Yeowell. In this story, Jack is on his way to a Christmas dinner party with his closest friends and family when he comes across a man dressed in a Santa Claus costume who is crying on a park bench.
This “Santa” is a homeless veteran named Pete, who was robbed of a locket that was the only thing he valued in this world. So, Jack takes it upon himself to help the man recover the locket because it was all he had left of his family.
During their adventure, Pete proves that he has a heroic spirit as well when he saves a man’s life. While Pete is grateful for Jack’s help, he doesn’t expect any more aid from him. However, Jack refuses to let him be alone and he brings Pete to the Christmas party... where he is met with open arms.
In this instance, Jack’s greatest gift was his humanity. A few simple acts of kindness can be a transformative experience. And it made for a truly compelling Christmas story.
