This is a classic Christmas cover. Who would believe the merry masked man as a Jack in the Box would one day become the Dark Knight?

As whimsical as the cover is “A Parole for Christmas” is even more so. In 12 pages Batman discovers his doppelganger, is arrested and assists in obtaining parole for his double. This is a story that would be right at home read in front of a fire with stockings hung with care. A great piece of Batman history from a simpler time.

All that and a Catwoman story headlining the book in “Who is the Greatest Villainess of All Time?”

“…And All Through the House” is a psychological thriller that begins with a Merry Christmas Eve’s murder and ends with jolly just desserts.

The story was later adapted for HBO’s highly acclaimed Tales From the Crypt anthology, but for purists reading the original as told by the Vault Keeper is a pleasure. EC served up a real Christmas treat that year with the premier issue of Panic sporting a seasonal sacking of Twas the Night Before Christmas.

Justice League Unlimited 28

The Phantom Stranger plays ghost of Christmases past for the Flash.

No stranger to time travel, the Flash is transported to times past to better understand the Batman. For those who remember the Grey Ghost episode of Batman the Animated Series the story is all the more poignant. To quote the Stranger, “Happiness does not carry a price tag, Flash, though it sometimes carries a price.”

Mike McAvennie crafts a tale so touching the characters on the page aren’t the only ones left with damp eyes. McAvennie is aided by the simple art of Sanford Greene who captures more emotion with the fewest pencil strokes since Kevin Maguire moving Batman from panel to panel, stoic to awkward to boyish page by page.

The Clown Prince of Crime can’t help but be amused.  By George Kambadais.

Despite a twinge of humbugishness at the outset, Youtube personality ComicDrake delivers a spirited and cheerful review of DC’s Green Lantern: Larfleeze Christmas Special (2011) one-shot.

Clearly the intention of Jack “The King” Kirby – as evidenced by this 1976 Hanukkah card sketch and reportedly confirmed by Kirby during the 90s – Ben Grimm’s Jewish heritage was finally formalized as comics canon with 2002’s Fantastic Four (1998) #56.

Happy Hanukkah, everyone.

Santa takes a break from the busy holiday season to enjoy some comic reading.  Artwork by Ilias Kyriazis.

If you’re in the mood for some Christmas stories this weekend, here’s a little something to compliment Barry’s recent Christmas With The Super-Heroes LP write-up.

In celebration of Star Wars: The Last Jedi making its way to theaters, here’s a festive Bob Wakelin cover gracing Marvel UK’s Star Wars: Return of the Jedi  issue 23.

Honestly, it doesn’t get much better than Vader in a Christmas hat.

A personal favorite, you’ll find this festive Hulk & Rulk composition gracing the cover of Marvel Holiday Spectacular (2009). It’s also the basis for no less than three Hulk (2008) #9 variants. By Ed McGuinness.