December 11th: 14 days and counting…

As mentioned earlier this month, Superman: The Animated Series was another breath of fresh air from network wanna be Fox. Using the same format as Batman: The Animated Series, Superman proved he could hold his own in the animated jungle of Saturday mornings.

While he may have followed Batman on Fox, Superman was first out the gate in 1941 when Fleischer Studios released nine cartoons under their imprint. Each episode cost $50,000, a little over $8,000 minute. Fleischer Studios dissolved a year later and reformed as Famous Studios who animated the remaining eight shorts.

Superman would remain vacant from the animated field for over 20 years until The New Adventures of Superman aired. He later was teamed with Batman for The Batman/Superman Hour. Throughout the 1970s and early 80s, Superman would pretty much partner with his fellow crusaders in various incarnations of the Justice League beginning with The Super Friends in 1973.

So, enjoy the Man of Steel as he helps Santa bring warmth and cheer to all the good boys and girls around the world.

December 10th: 15 days and counting…

I’ve had this ornament long enough I can’t remember where it originally came from.

The company responsible for this piece of whimsy began overseas with a dream by a visionary in the Christmas market.

Hallmark normally overshadows most other ornament makers, but Kurt S. Adler was christened America’s Father Christmas by Life Magazine in 2002 for his lifelong pursuit of production and profit.

Adler was born June 19, 1921, in Wurzburg, Germany. He moved to the United States at the age of 16 to live with an uncle to escape Nazi Germany. He served as a shipping clerk in the United States Army during World War II. When the war ended, he continued his trade learned in the armed forces by importing products to the U.S. He soon focused exclusively on European Christmas items such as figurines and snow globes. Next were artificial trees from Nuremberg in the 1950s and light strands from Italy in the 1960s.

His empire continued to grow with the licensing of figures from such well-known companies as Walt Disney and Warner Brothers.

Adler passed Nov. 25, 2004, due to heart failure. His legacy continues on many trees throughout the world, especially the United States.

December 9th: 16 days and counting…

Calling the Caped Crusader commemorates not only Batman but the familiar Bat-Signal for 60 years of service.

The Bat-Signal was first introduced in Batman lore in Detective Comics issue 60 1942. Post crisis, the signal “first” appeared in various books including Batman: The Man Who Laughed and the Legends of the Dark Knight storyline featuring Hugo Strange.

It guested in the Batman and Robin serial by Columbia, in the pilot episode of the 1966 Batman television series, and as a gift to the Gotham Police Department at the end of the 1989 Batman movie.

December 8th: 17 days and counting…

Any comic book devotee will tell you what a turbulent time the 1990s were for comic books and Marvel in particular. The situation was simply a money grab as the company was sold a few times over, based on inflated sales at the comic book shops. When the bubble finally burst, Marvel found itself filing for bankruptcy as it floundered to stay afloat.

Avi Arad, ToyBiz owner and executive producer on the X-Men the Animated Series, showed foresight by licensing out some of the product. Blade saw a return of $70,000,000, but Marvel only received $25,000. Same with the X-Men and Spider-Man movies.

What it did do was set up a formula that brought Marvel out of its financial distress; rather than farm their talent out, Marvel formed its own studio and began utilizing its characters, allowing the company to reap the rewards directly.

Yet, during the strife of the late 90s, Marvel carried on as best it could, licensing out not only its characters to films, but pimping out just about anyone to turn a profit. Three of the biggest – and most recognizable – names at the time were Hulk, Spider-Man and Wolverine. This ornament three-pack housed in a metal lunchbox-type holder showcase that trio.

Wish I had this set.

December 7th: 18 days and counting…

Also known as the Jackie Chan Batman (based on the animation house), The Batman had the misfortune to appear as the heir apparent to Batman: The Animated Series being the first to follow the highly touted fan and critic fav.

The Batman began airing Sept. 11th, 2004, on Kids WB, then moved to Cartoon Network (remember them?).  Even in the wake of B:TAS, The Batman did earn six Daytime Emmy Awards. The series also spawned a direct-to-DVD Batman vs. Dracula feature length animated film.

The series makes it to the tree with five mini ornaments including Batman, Joker, the Batmobile, logo and Penguin.

December 6th: 19 days and counting…

Marvel’s counterpart to DC’s Batman: the Animated Series was, well, X:Men: The Animated Series.

Airing a month behind Batman, the X-Men proved why it’s printed source material had outpaced the rest of the company’s titles.  X:TAS aired from Oct. 31, 1992 to Sept. 2, 1997. In its prime, the series reached 23 million households.

While many of its fellow cartoons proved to be little more than hour-long advertisements for toys, X-Men served a dual purpose. Not only did it hawk merchandise, but it provided quality entertainment as writers were able to pull from over two decades worth of material. Some of the more popular storylines adapted for the small screen included the Dark Phoenix Saga, Days of Future Past and the Genosha Island story arc.

X-Men: The Animated Series began to falter as the fourth season wore on, but producers Saban Entertainment funneled a few extra dollars into the show for a fifth and final season consisting of 11 episodes.

Nostalgia allowed the show to pick up where it left off with a single – to date – season of X-Men ’97. Streaming on Disney+, X-Men ’97 premiered March 20th, 2024 with two episodes. A total of 10 episodes aired.

To commemorate the return, a special, limited edition Wolverine Unmasked ornament was sold by Hallmark at the San Diego Comic Con.

December 5th: 20 days and counting…

Superman is the first of the superheroes, custodian of truth, justice and the American way courtesy of two scrawny Ohio kids. Yet he was four years later than Batman in making his animated Fox TV debut, appearing Sept. 6th, 1996.

In the wake of Batman’s success, Fox execs tapped the Man of Steel for his own animated show. Its final episode aired Feb. 12th, 2000.

Midway through the show’s run, it was combined with the New Batman Adventures to form The New Batman/Superman Adventures. The series further cemented an animated universe including guest stars Batman, Flash, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and Hawkgirl. Not coincidently, Justice League Unlimited spun off the series.

This Warner store exclusive was another late 1990s offering selling for a mere $8, less than $16 today.

December 4th: 21 days and counting…

Long the flagship of Marvel, Spider-Man remains part of Stan Lee’s Mount Rushmore of creations. As the comic book collecting market bloomed, collector pieces appeared from every corner of the merchandising market. Hallmark, as we’ve learned earlier this month, started in 1997, but Spidey and some of his friends were given even posher treatment with numbered porcelain ornaments.

This one was offered at the turn of the millennium complete with certificate of authenticity.

December 3rd: 22 days and counting…

There was a time not so long ago superheroes and their source material weren’t as welcomed by the masses as they are today. Superman and, later, Batman, laid the foundation for the phenom that was the 2010s with heroes literally popping off the big screen (in 3-D) and sons and daughters now taking part in conversations of who was more powerful: Superman or the Hulk.

But, as the original Batman franchise was buried with poor decisions and enough camp even Adam West and Burt Ward were embarrassed, an upstart network was forging ahead with original programming that still resonates with the faithful.

Harley Quinn was one of the break-out stars of the never-to-be-topped Batman: the Animated Series. Created by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm, Quinn debuted Sept. 11, 1992, on the 22nd episode: Joker’s Favor. Initially she was to be a one-and-done, simply entering to serve cake and exit. She proved to be a fan favorite on the series.

It took another seven years before she became part of the print DCU in 1999 in the one-shot Batman: Harley Quinn issue one.

This ornament is another late 90’s homage to the Joker’s former love interest.

December 2nd: 23 days and counting…

Hallmark began producing and marketing ornaments in 1973. It wasn’t until the late 1990s they started giving us what we really wanted with Spider-Man and the Hulk.  Jade Jaws is sporting some uncharacteristic blue jeans as he gallops along the tree.  Still, a nice addition to anyone’s season.