Marvel Holiday Special 2011 TPB

The early days of the Christmas Treasury Editions and their skimpy Santa’s bag of holiday stories were long past when Marvel published this volume.

Each of the offerings is a reprint beginning with “Have Yourself a Sandman Little Christmas” from Marvel Team-Up 1 followed by “Demon” from Uncanny X-Men 143. The remainder of the book pulls from either the 2004 and 2005 Marvel Holiday Specials.

Of course the first two stories are a glimpse of Merry Marvel of old, but the newer offerings provide a look at how far the House of Ideas has come.

The Punisher was a hot commodity in the early 1990s so it was no surprise Marvel used one of its bigger money makers to fill the coffers even more. Taking that same character and putting in a setting as harmonious as Christmas time was a nice dichotomy.

Beyond that, The Punisher Holiday Special is anything but special. The first two stories are unspectacular just putting Frank in a position for blood letting. The third is a three-part act that’s as textless as it is tacktless.

There’s an innocence that’s rekindled as Impulse discovers a childhood he never had. Maybe that’s what helped make the DC Universe fun again. Each issue held a charm that made you wanna be young again.

Especially the Christmas issues.

Toss in guest stars Plastic Man and Mr. Mxyzptlk and, well, there’s Christmas magic again.

Here’s a blueprint for a Christmas comic book. Like the Pixar movies, Impulse is for young and old alike. Not just this issue – “Christmas Impulse” – but all 89.

Taken as a one-and-done readers unfamiliar with Bart Allen’s little Alabama universe may feel some confusion. My recommendation is take issue one, read and repeat until you’ve devoured the run.

Hail to the King, Baby.

Too bad the King isn’t in evidence for the Christmas carnage. Absent is the usual machismo and roguish charm of Bruce Campbell under the direction of Sam Rami. It’s a fast read that seem to be over before it began.

Ben Grimm is the star of this Christmas tale as he takes leave of Marvel’s first family for a holiday outing to haunt his former neighborhood to help an old friend.

Dr. Doom appears long enough to justify his spot on the cover and Stan Lee dusts off an old soap box and trims it in Christmas colors as 1991 passes to history.

The heavily Pogo inspired Bone teamed with former Hero magazine, one of the early 1990s monthly price guides, for the three-page “Happy Winter Solstice!” short. Bone and company celebrate Christmas in their own fashion with Thorn and Grandma while spreading a little holiday cheer to the, “stupid, stupid rat creatures.”

Also included is a pin up and interview with creator Jeff Smith.

Klaatu barada nicto replace Merry Christmas at S’Mart during this 2009 holiday special.

Hide the kids and minorities as Ash Williams mixes his wisdom taking on Deadites, good girl art and the seasonal rush of last-minute shoppers with only a chainsaw to save the world.

Army of Darkness Ash’s Christmas Horror (2009)

Army of Darkness Ash’s Christmas Horror (2009) (variant)

Great cover, but misleading.

While I love the issue, Impulse 34 does not contain a Christmas story. Don’t let that deter you from picking this and the following issue outta the back issues for a good read.

Who am I kidding? Pull the trigger and pick up the whole run. You just have to wait till issue 45 for a Christmas story.