IDW provided readers with a weekly four-color advent calendar leading to the big day in December 2015.

Offerings included the previously reviewed Transformers and My Little Pony Holiday specials as well as The X-Files and Jem Holiday specials and the first of three Mickey and Donald’s Christmas Parade books.

Cover priced at $5.99 readers received 66 pages of holiday happiness featuring three stories, “The Blight Before Christmas,” “Christmas Clubbing” and “The Sinister Space Santa.” Uncle Scrooge, Donald and nephews further provide Yuletide yucks in one-page vignettes “Meter Your Maker” and “High Tech Herbert.”

It’s a bloody Bacchanalia when a department store Santa is possessed by Animus, “a level 9 demon,” for Christmas 2006.

If you’re looking for some homey Christmas Eve reading by the hearth, to paraphrase Ben Kenobi, “this isn’t the issue you’re looking for.” Blood stains the worn and gritty floors powdered with cinders tramped in by Christmas consumers with torture the currency.

Blade’s story is interrupted with peeks at his past to understand how best to death the present day danger. It doesn’t end well.

DC Comics Presents 67

E. Nelson Bridwell and Len Wein serve up a holiday comic book worthy of Curt Swan’s Superman.

Toyman tackles Christmas consumerism by unleashing his nefarious toys on a public panting to pile presents under the tree. Superman teams with his North Pole neighbor, enlisting Santa’s elves and his faithful flying reindeer, to halt Toyman’s plans.

The confrontation leads to a Noel knockdown, drag ‘em out fight between The Man of Steel and renegade toys. The outcome is never in doubt as Santa swings the Yuletide of battle leaving Superman wondering if it was all a dream…only to find a gift of presents past.

DC Holiday Special 2017

With 2017 history it’s time to be thankful DC remembered fans with a stocking stuffer holiday special.

The tales make up a worthy Tannenbaum tome as Jeff Limire bookends the seasonal sandwich of stories with Bibbo championing Superman and his deeds throughout the year to a doubting Clark Kent with John Constantine tossing in his two pence worth.

The meat of the book belongs to Sgt. Rock, the Atomic Knights, Flash (both Barry and Wally), Green Arrow and Black Canary, Deathstroke, Swamp Thing and Wonder Woman. Denny O’Neil returns for a haunting Batman yarn that warms no hearts.

“The Silent Night of the Batman” is the encore. Reprinted from Batman 218, “The Silent Night…” was the 1960s decade closer for Caped Crusader. Easily the best story of the book and has oft been reprinted capturing hearts again in the Batman by Neal Adams Omnibus, Batman Illustrated by Neal Adams (Vol. 2), Batman: The Joker’s Revenge trade paperback, Christmas With the Super Heroes (1988), Limited Collector’s Edition C-43 and Showcase Presents Batman trade paperback (Vol. 5).

Not the best for a good year, but a good way to start a new one.