From Batman #285.  Pencils by Romeo Tanghal with inks by Frank Springer.

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“Mr. Wilson and His Gang at Christmas,” as the book is subtitled, focuses on the curmudgeonly neighbor showing some holiday spirit in two tales.

“Jolly George” is a more religious outing focusing on the “the reason for the season.” Dennis and the gang learn the meaning of a nativity while Mr. Wilson learns the importance of those around him.

“Generous George????” is a more secular story, but no less expansive with the emotional ending. Mrs. Wilson facilitates her husband’s good will with a nudge to help Dennis and the other children. Mr. Wilson finds his efforts are reward enough in the end.

Archie pushes his Christmas wares in this late ’70s house ad.  To this day, Archie Comics continues to be a prolific publisher of holiday themed stories.

Marvel Holiday Special 2011

Marvel dusted off previously released material offered through Comixology in digital format for the 2011 Christmas Special offering a mixed bag of holiday cheer.

Spider-Man stars in “Cold Hearted Christmas.” Family is missed the most when gone from the holidays. Justice and compassion do work in unison, though.

“Logan’s Lost Lesson” is pretty much what the title suggests. Wolverine doffs his work clothes to teach hockey and a lesson to the naughty at Xavier’s School for Gifted Students.

“Ol’ Saint Nick” is Nick Fury handing out a Christmas pummeling to the agents of Hydra while on an important mission to show a man his future.

“Chinese Food for Christmas” has a meeting of the non-Gentiles of the Marvel Universe. Together they prove there’s more than one way to celebrate Christmas.

Replete with the character’s trademark wit and blue sense of humor, Ryan Reynold’s silver screen Deadpool has proven a hit with comic book fans.  Leading up to the original film’s 2016 release, a Christmas themed trailer teaser trailer (yes, that’s right – a trailer teaser trailer – because these are a thing now) was released in late 2015.  Enjoy.

Indicia dated 1963, this 80-page tome was available for the 1962 holiday season back in a time when Christmas was still identified as such.

Gold Key published Walt Disney’s Christmas Parade from 1963 to 1972. For a quarter readers were immersed in 80-pages, including front and back inside covers, of seasonal stories – for the most part. Factoring inflation, that quarter translates to $2.05 in today’s funds. Whether these are reprints or not is unclear, but they appear to be.

Carl Bark’s Duck family is heavily featured in the book. Of the 11 shorts, six are Donald or Uncle Scrooge-centric. This includes the untitled opening tale. Donald and nephews attempt to provide there miserly uncle with a Christmas gift he’s never had:  the spirit of the season.

Mickey and Goofy pair to stop ne’er do wells as they fleece motorists on their way for vacation.

Walt Disney’s Christmas Parade (1963) 1

Not a Disney mainstay, but part of the stable, Li’l Bad Wolf and dad are the stars of the next story. The wee wolf helps his father and saves Christmas for one of the three little pigs.

Brer Rabbit is a “Hoodwinked Helper” as the wicked witch attempts to steal the joy of a white Christmas from the woodland folk. Next up, Ludwig Von Drake foils a diamond heist in the “Cuckoo Clock-Caper.”

Donald and Daisy are up next with another adventure. Duckburg Square is in need of the annual Christmas Tree. Scrooge has “untold acres” of firs, but is reluctant to part with any for fear of income lost in donated timber.

Chip and Dale “Share and Share Alike” when Donald chops down there new home.

Not a Christmas story, but tossed in for good measure, “Adventure in Gluey Woods” showcases Donald and the nephews.

Not to be short changed, Mickey and his nephews are up next with “The Early Christmas.”

Gyro Gearloose unleashes a sequel to Them when Huey, Duey and Luey try to get out of chores.

Finally, the Duck nephews and nieces combine forces to help Scrooge stop the Beagle Boys from stealing all the Christmas trees in the “Flying Firs.”

Oh, and Ludwig Van Duck makes an appearance in another Uncle Scrooge short.

Marvel’s 1972 holiday card featuring artwork by Herb Trimpe.

To say the 1950s were a simpler time would be to do so through the rose colored glasses of ignorance. While North and South Korea waged war, the Red Scare enveloped America, and those of a different color still drank from separate water fountains, Dennis the Menace was born.

His inspiration was birthed a few years earlier.

Dennis is the namesake of creator Hank Ketcham’s son. By age four Ketcham decided to draw from the adventures of his rambunctious son and start a cartoon strip. Dennis the Menace originally appeared in a meager 16 papers, but his popularity grew.

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By 1959 the strip had become popular enough a television sitcom was based on the character.

Cut to 1978 and Dennis the Menace is still appearing in newspapers across the nation and in comic books. For Christmas of ’78 Dennis and gang have convinced themselves their foil, Mr. Wilson, is really Santa Claus. Hence the title:  “Secret Santa.”

Their belief is strong enough to cause Wilson to sleep walk his way through Christmas Eve dressed as the man of the hour himself delivering gifts to the neighborhood children.

The quick telling is supplemented by re-runs of the newspaper strip. Readers are encouraged to cut the stories out and make their own book of holiday fun.

In addition to the 1959-1962 black and white televised adventures, Dennis was animated in 1986 for a syndicated run. The feature was dusted off again in 1993 for re-runs and advertising for a live-action movie that same year.

Spider-Man espouses some New York Christmas Spirit in this festively trimmed Amazing Spider-Man #166 panel.  Pencils by Ross Andru with inks by Mike Esposito.

Okay, Marvel phoned this one in.  But, it’s still worth the original $3.99 price tag if for no other reason than “Fin Fang Foom saves Christmas.”  It’s even the title of his tale so no spoilers there.

Marvel Holiday Special 2007

“A.I.M. Lang Syne” is told in stages.  Readers meet Joel and Peggy as New Year’s Eve unfolds during the annual A.I.M. end of year party.  Peggy is employed by the evil agency and an unsuspecting Joel is her plus one.  To say he’s a bit overwhelmed by the festivities would be an understatement.

Following their one-page introduction, “How Fin Fang Foom Saved Christmas” unfolds.  This imaginative romp features Dr. Strange’s faithful servant Wong as he meets the legendary lizard of old.  Wong learns wisdom does come with age and contemplates the loneliness of the last of a species.

“A.I.M. Lang Syne” picks up a few hours after our initial meeting with Peggy and Joel and is interrupted by the Thing and Annihilus sharing a knock down over the ABC’s of battle – literally.

Another brief interlude with Peggy and Joel before the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe entry for Santa Claus. Then, back to the young couple as they share a kiss amid a Hulk rampage.

The final panel promises the romance will be continued the following year. Marvel lied.

Ralph Macchio adds a final note thanking all who bought the book which closes with reprints of covers from previous holiday specials.