Spider-Man Holiday Special 1995

For me, Spider-Man has an expiration date. From 1962 to sometime in the late 1980s.

These are the magic years for me. The ones covering my initial discovery of the character; the books I read growing up.

By the time this holiday collection of Spidey and his amazing friends and family emerged, I’d ceased to read any of his titles. It wouldn’t be until Brian Michael Bendis created the Ultimate Spider-Man would I return. That was still years away.

After meandering through that lead, I’ll say it’s an okay read. The Holiday Special. Sure, there are some plot devices that baffle me. With little background after five or six years away many things had happened. Especially the Clone Saga that seeped into some of the stories.

Black Cat and Venom’s popularity are in evidence as each star in their own story. Aunt May – who is dead (?) at this point – guides former beau Willie Lumpkin to romance.

But, the shortcomings are forgiven with “Merry Christmas, Mr. Storm.” The final tale told, it’s touching and sweet as the new Spider-Man (?) meets the Human Torch for their annual gift exchange atop the Statue of Liberty Christmas morning.

Sholly Fisch crafted a flashback to stir memories of Spider-Man in his younger days. The sequence is bookended in the current Spider-Man timeline, again, hearkening back to the clone era. Actually, the clone storyline is the basis for the story.

As stated, the remainder of the book is dedicated to some sappy storytelling with “A Matter of Faith,” “The Venom Claus,” “The Cat Who Stole Christmas” and “Companions.”

Wally West assumed the mantle of Flash following DC’s condensing of multiple universes with Crisis on Infinite Earths in 1985. Prior, Wally was a back-up feature in the Barry Allen Flash comic book first appearing in issue 110 (Flash 1959). Later he would become a founding member of the junior Justice

Flash (1987) 73

League called the Teen Titans as Kid Flash.

Barry Allen “died” in issue eight of the original Crisis imprints sacrificing himself to save the multiverse. A sad event for us Silver-Age fans of the Scarlet Speedster.

Yet the rebooted Flash (1987) with Wally in the red togs was an excellent series. Enough so Mark Waid’s “Christmas Rush” is a little disappointing. Not that it’s a bad story, but you feel it’s a bit rushed. Pun intended.

Wally and Golden-Age Flash, Jay Garrack, spend Christmas Eve as Santa’s helpers averting disaster where they find it. Their night ends with a Christmas Miracle, helped along by Wally, as a young family finds redemption in remorse and new beginnings.

As eve turns to Christmas day, Wally is reminded simpler presents are the most meaningful.

To be honest, when I pulled this outta the Christmas comic book box I had completely forgotten why I’d picked it up in the first place. Beyond it has a Christmas cover and obviously is a holiday issue. As if the skeleton in the red-union suit on the cover shinnying down the chimney wasn’t enough the cover blurb reads, “Special Hate-The-Holidays Issue!”

I started the first story, “Son of Santa,” a Mark Gruenwald/Alan Kupperberg production. Not the greatest, but passable. As the spoiler title announces, Santa’s long-lost son learns of his legacy, avenges his father’s death and keeps the traditions alive.

By the time I came to the second installment of the anthology book, simply titled “Howard the Duck,” I remembered why I really bought this.

Steve Grant and Paul Smith send the un-merry mallard through a parody of It’s a Wonderful Life. My biggest complaint is how brief the story is. Not Mr. Duck at his best, but I love me some HTD.

“Dr. Deth” by Larry Hama and Bob Camp is fairly incoherent. As is Mike Carlin’s “Slaybells.”

“Santa Bites the Big Apple,” Allen Milgram’s offering, could be an unused Golden Age EC script that didn’t pass muster.

Finally, “Buck Bizarre” is a two-page tale that does little to redeem anything before or after Howard’s story.

An interesting cover with little substance – other than Howard – to follow. Not a bad encapsulation of the decade to come.

The Vampire’s Christmas

The Vampire’s Christmas is a meandering tale of Tobias Esque, the vampire, trolling the streets of New York on Christmas Eve in search of his next meal.

Joseph Michael Linsner and Mike Dubisch (literally) paint a lavish backdrop that does little to save the soul of the story. Esque, as he’s referred to through much of the book, has few redeeming qualities. Not that he worries about what readers thinks. During his search, his travels take him along a path of holiday cliches. Each of which he pontificates over giving voice to much of how we feel.

A brief origin allows the reader little insight into his past giving even less reason to feel any remorse for his affliction.

Again, not that he sees vamperism as anything other than his current existence.

When Esque does commit some good will, mostly by condition rather than choice, he is rewarded with a full stomach to be followed by a questionably deserved slumber.

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Following a formula of saccharine story telling, Riverdale’s eternal teens celebrated the 1974 Christmas season in the Archie Giant Series imprint under the subtitled Archie’s Christmas Stocking.

Always entitled Archie’s Giant Series, the first six issues, beginning in 1954, appeared under the Christmas Stocking imprint. During the run, lasting until 1992, the subtitle would shift to reflect the intent of the book.

By issue 228 Archie and the gang had moved into the 1970s. The era was signified – and simplified – in fashion and vernacular only. The stories remained rooted in their innocent origins of the 1940s. Watergate, Vietnam war and any other concerns of the day were absent short of the first story, “Brownie Points.” Even corporate greed is candy coated as Santa’s favorite elf, Jingles, is recruited to bring American pride back to the factory floor.

The rest of the 52-page book is devoted to strife such as Jughead’s tender stomach and Pop’s decision to fly south for the winter.

Wal-Mart and DC have coupled again to produce the super-store exclusive World’s Greatest Super-Heroes Holiday Special 100-page Comic Giant.

World’s Greatest Super-Heroes Holiday Special

As with its October counterpart, this volume kicks off the holiday season with an original story, this time featuring The Flash. Scott Lobdell and Brett Booth provide a 12-page tale told in fast fashion featuring a multitude of the Sultan of Speed’s rogue’s gallery. “Twas the Riot Before Christmas” allows the reader to ease into the book and mood.

“Metropolis Mailbag” is a re-telling from Superman (1987) issue 64. The story has all the trappings of a hackneyed holiday story, but Dan Jurgens gives readers some Christmas magic by making it work – on all levels.

“All I Want for Christmas” is pulled from the DCU Infinite Holiday special (2007). Supergirl learns Christmas spirit sometimes just means forgiveness.

“Good Boy” is the second of the real gems in this volume. Originally written and published in Batman (2016) annual one, Alfred proves even the world’s greatest detective can sometimes be blind.

Hanukah is represented in “Light in the Dark.” Batwoman finds traditions are what we make them. With a little help with from friends. This was first published in the DC Rebirth Holiday Special.

Still a marquee name, Harley Quinn’s 2015 Christmas special was ransacked for “Killin’ Time,” a New Year’s Eve nod.

Finally, “The Epiphany” showcases the Green Lantern Corps.

For all Wal-Mart’s faults, at least the company knows how to usher in a Merry Christmas. Even if they aren’t allowed to say it.

Larry Hama is not Steve Gerber.

But, who is?

Hama dusted off the little-used mallard for the 1997 Christmas special visiting all the holiday tropes. Still, there’s something missing. An intangible Gerber always provided through his skewed view on life.

Howard the Duck Holiday Special (1997)

Overall it’s a good take on Howard living in “a world he never made.” The speech-challenged avenger of non-public domain video material is in evidence. Complete with an over-sized firearm mocking the multitude of vengeance-hungry anti-heroes compensating with armories that would put all but the hardiest in hernia wards.

Next are the young and avarice seeking Santa’s lap and goody bag.

Hydra represents the corrupt corporations offering cookie-cutter solutions for the holiday season.

Toss in a couple sexy sirens to help with the carnage and the 1990s are encapsulated.

Really, The Howard the Duck Holiday Special is worth picking up. It’s just hard to read someone else handling creative chores with a character so singly associated with his creator.

Even Batman has his Rosebud.

If that reference is too obscure, Google it or watch Citizen Kane.

Batman and Christmas are synonymous for me. Stockings trimmed in faux fur stuffed with Lifesavers, Crayola crayons and rolled up 100 pagers. Batman was featured in all. From his self-titled book to Detective Comics, World’s Finest and Brave and the Bold.

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And, those wonderful Limited Collector’s Editions.

With the success of Tim Burton’s Batman (1989) movie lightning struck twice. After lying as dormant as Adam West and Burt Ward’s careers following the 1966 Batman television series, the term Batmania was dusted off.

Trading cards, breakfast cereal, apparel, anything and everything that could sport a Bat emblem did.

DC Comics chose that time to release the first new Batman title since 1940 with Legends of the Dark Knight. The title followed the soon-to-be standard five-issue story arc with one-and-dones dribbled between. It was hit or miss. When it did hit, the stories were good.

“Favorite Things” was a one shot dated January 1996.

In it Bruce Wayne finds his house burglarized. The deeper violation is with what the robbers stole. Over the course of the next couple days Batman terrorizes the underworld in an attempt to retrieve his lost treasure.

Not the best Batman holiday issue, but not the worst. Usually these books can be found in dollar bins making it worth the price of admission.

Known for reprints of their popular characters, Marvel mined the 1970s Ghost Rider stories for Original Ghost Rider. The title only traveled 20 issues before the gas tank ran dry, but did make a pit stop in issue 19 for “Silent Night…Deadly Night.”

While not from a Ghost Rider book, the holiday fare still showcased Johnny Blaze, alongside Ben Grimm, in the Thing’s Marvel Two-in-One imprint.

Four Color Holidays has glossed over the book in an earlier post, but, like Marvel, we’ll retread familiar ground.

Original Ghost Rider 19

The story takes place Christmas Eve 1974. The Fantastic Four are entertaining Namorita, Wundarr and Medusa with the lighting of the Christmas tree. Mr. Fantastic has absented himself to his lab monitoring a stellar disturbance over Arizona. Ben Grimm volunteers to physically investigate so Reed can spend time with friends and family.

Ghost Rider has noticed the disturbance and opts to investigate himself.

To meet the Two-In-One title requirements, Ben and Ghost Rider join forces to battle lesser Marvel villain Miracle Man. Using his matter manipulation skills, Miracle Man has chosen to recreate the Immaculate Conception.

As stated in the previous review, the story borders on absurdity, which is almost typical of the 1970s Marvel era.

Flash forward to the early ‘90s and comic books have become self-inflated parodies of themselves again. Characters like Ghost Rider have been resurrected and their books are selling like hotcakes in the new speculator market. Multiple copies flew off spin racks and shelves, especially when other hot characters guest stared. By issue 15 Marvel had slapped together a special glow-in-the-dark cover.

The public had tired of the character after 93 issues and he was retired to guest appearances in other books.

Still, he will always be immortalized in the 1974 Marvel version of the second coming.

Clive Barker’s Hellraiser Dark Holiday Special (1992)

Clive Barker’s Hellraiser Dark Holiday Special qualifies as a Christmas comic in name, cover and framing story only.

Loosely based on the Hellraiser franchise that spawned nine films, the Marvel vision featured an anthology of stories and characters. The series ran 20 issues, several one shots and four mini-series.

The holiday special consists of three vignettes bordering a soup kitchen massacre. Three Cenobites have been dispatched to restore order to the chaos of carnage.

The three short stories include “Child’s Play,” “Sheddim” (Hebrew for demon or spirit) and “Nursery Crime.” Each of the tales are triggered by a totem found at the shelter. The first is a cheap puzzle box stamped “Made in Taiwan” designed after the Lemarchand Configuration fans are familiar with that signals players are ready for pleasure.

That’s followed by a new take on the old Golam legend in pre-war America.

Nursery Crime is a beautifully painted short of a children’s tale thought to bring fame, but instead pulls the reader into the story itself.

Boom! Studios took over publishing rights in 2011 with Clive Barker’s graphic novel imprint Seraphim Inc. assuming the title in 2017.