December 18th: Seven days and counting…

Its simple and elegant, but speaks volumes.

The red block design features the Marvel Comics logo with super heroes on one side and villains on the other. Heroes include Thor, Captain America, Spider-Man, Black Widow, Hulk and Iron Man. Villains are Loki, Red Skull, Hela, Thanos and Ultron.

   Amazingly, these are the same heroes and villains featured in recent movies allowing both theater goers to enjoy as well as comic book veterans.

   This is part of the less expensive Hallmark ornaments produced for outlets like Walmart. It doesn’t diminish the enjoyment of adding this one to the tree.

December 17th: Eight days and counting…

Yes, we just had Catwoman ready for the tree a couple days ago, but this is The New Batman Adventures Catwoman.

And, a new addition to my super hero tree.

Complete with makeover for the new series that ran on Kids‘ WB from Sept. 13, 1997 to Jan. 16, 1999. TNBA was the successor to Batman the Animated Series which had just finished its 1992-95 run.

The New Batman Adventures were streamlined to easier facilitate animation and mimic Superman: the Animated Series which began airing a year earlier. In 1996 through 2000 the two partnered for become The New Batman/Superman Adventures.

While the series was curtailed before the new millennium, it did serve as a template for the 2001 and 2003 video games, Batman: Vengeance and Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu, respectively.

Catwoman was revamped with an all-black bodysuit similar to the one to be used in Batman Returns. Most of the other rogues gallery received an upgrade as well.

Appropriately enough, the new series kicked off with Holiday Knights, three holiday-themed vignettes beginning December 22 with Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy, followed by Batgirl and a straight out brawler between Batman and Robin and the Joker on New Year’s Eve.

December 16th: Nine days and counting…

Wolverine first appeared in the final panel of Incredible Hulk 180, cover dated October 1974. His first full appearance was the following month in issue 181 and, then, on the first page of Hulk 182.

Nothing else was planned for the character until it was decided to include him as a member of the X-Men in Giant-Size X-Men in 1975. Even then, he took a back seat in the Chris Claremont written book until artist John Byrne came aboard to help steer the series through issues 108 to 143. As a native born Canadian, Byrne chose to feature fellow Canuck Wolverine more prominently in the story lines. Because of which, Wolverine’s popularity grew until he’s become one of the most recognizable Marvel heroes today.

This Carlton Cards Heirloom ornament was offered in 2004.

December 15th: 10 Days and counting…

Still looking good for her age, Catwoman – aka Selina Kyle – debuted in Batman issue one of 1940. She was granted some time off between 1954 and 1966 when the Comics Code Authority was enacted. These issues involved the rules regarding the development and portrayal of female characters that were in violation of the Comics Code.

Since her revival, Catwoman has been portrayed in all media, most notably by Lee Meriwether in the 1966 Batman movie, followed by Michelle Pfeiffer in Batman Returns in 1992, Halle Berry in Catwoman in 2004, Anne Hathaway in The Dark Knight Rises of 2012 and Zoe Kravitz in the 2022 version of The Batman. Julie Newmar and Eartha Kitt also embodied the femme fatale for the late 1960s Batman television series. Camren Bicondova and Lili Simmons adopted the role for Gotham.

Her brief bio is offered on the back of the 2012 Hallmark box: “Since a troubled childhood left her to fend for herself, Salina Kyle has taken to the streets, adopting the purr-fect guise for a skilled cat burglar. Stalking slyly through the night, the feline felon known a Catwoman leaps through Gotham City with acrobatic grace, robbing from its citizens and playing a dangerously seductive cat-and-mouse game with Batman. And he’d better be on his toes because this kitten’s got claws…and a whip!”

December 14th: 11 days and counting…

Hallmark offered this Spider-Man ornament for the 2005 season complete with Holiday Memory Card in case Web Head was gonna be a present.

The back of the box reads, “What happens when a nerdy science student accidentally gets bitten by a radioactive spider? Comic book history! Reluctantly at first, a shy Peter Parker uses his amazing agility and extraordinary sensory powers to launch a heroic fight against crime. He learns along the way that ‘with great power, there must also come great responsibility.’ Introduced in 1962, Spider-Man has won the hearts of countless fans as he pits himself against the most menacing lineup of superhuman villains in the comic universe.”

December 13th: 12 days and counting…

I admit I do not have these but am intrigued at the selection. I can certainly understand the Flash, Batman, Superman and Robin, but I’m mystified by what appears to be Alfred in the lower left-hand corner of the box. Not that I’m taking anything away from Batman’s trusted compatriot.

DC Superhero
mini-ornaments

Let’s face it, Alfred has been the keeper of Batman’s secret as long as pretty much anybody. In addition, he’s been the Dark Knight’s doctor, confidant and voice of reason longer than anyone else.

Alfred Thaddeus Crane Pennyworth, originally Alfred Beagle, first appeared in Batman issue 16 in 1944. While Don Cameron and Bob Kane, writer and penciler respectively, are credited as the faithful butler’s parents, there is strong evidence to suggest Victor McLeod, Leslie Swabacker and Harry Fraser gave life to Alfred for the 1943 Batman serial. DC Comics asked the trio to take a back seat and allow Cameron to write the original Alfred story prior to the serial’s release.

This five-piece festive set is courtesy of Kurt Adler.

December 12th: 13 days and counting…

You’re gonna see a lotta Spider-Man ornaments in this countdown. Yes, he’s one of my favorite heroes – Jeff’s, too – and he just seems to be a natural to hang from the tree.

Since there’s a lotta Spidey here on the countdown, let’s see just how many times he’s made the Christmas comic book list for Four Color Holidays:

• Firestar, Spider-Man and Iceman at the Dallas Ballet Nutcracker
• Spider-Man Kids julehefte
• Sensational Spider-Man 24
• Spider-Man Holiday Special 1995
• Marvel Adventures Spider-Man 46
• Spider-Man Christmas in Dallas
• Spider-Man’s Tangled Web 21
• Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man 112
• Spider-Man’s Christmas 1984
• Spider-Man/Deadpool 12
• Amazing Spider-Man 314
• Spectacular Spider-Man 173
• Amazing Spider-Man 166

These are just the Christmas related issues, so if you’re a Spider-Man fan, please check out the other appearances our favorite Wall Crawler has made for other holidays.

In the meantime, please click away at the list provided for reviews of Spidey’s various yuletide adventures.

Kurt Adler 2004 Spider-Man

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.