The usual Gang of Idiots celebrated the 1987 Christmas season in satirical style with three offerings: “Christmas Carols for the Dysfunctional Family” by Frank Jacobs and Tom Bunk; “Fearless Predictions for 1998” by Desmond Devlin and artist Paul Coker and the “Office Christmas Party Mistletoe Agreement” from writer Barry Liebmann and Marshall Vandruff.

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.

When you reach that age where this constitutes a fun and exciting New Year’s Eve.

And to be honest, I can’t say I mind it much.

Happy New Year, everyone.

Forget resolutions – embrace the revolution.  Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, and Catwoman bring in the New Year in Batman: Li’l Gotham (2012) #4, a digital-only effort later reprinted in Batman: Li’l Gotham (2013) #2 and Batman: Li’l Gotham TPB Volume 1.  Artwork by Dustin Nguyen, written by Nguyen and Derek Fridolfs.

Superman’s Christmas Adventure (1944)

Superman may have been one of the original pop-culture phenoms. Following his first appearance in Action Comics issue one his fandom grew exponentially with his likeness featured in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and The Adventures of Superman radio program both offered in 1940.

By 1942 Action Comics, Superman and Superman Quarterly were reportedly selling 1.5 million issues a month. The following year Superman hit the big screen in animated form courtesy of Fleischer Studios.

It’s no surprise the Man of Steel would be sought after for further promotional roles following the 1940 volume one of Superman’s Christmas Adventure. As with the first go round Superman’s Christmas Adventure volume two was a give-away for department stores and other companies.

This is the book everyone should be reading.

Imagine Scooby-Doo and Mystery Inc. mashed with Resident Evil and elements of the Walking Dead. That’s Scooby Apocalypse.

The gifted tag-team of Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis reimagines those meddling kids in a world devoid of any of the pop-flower power culture amidst which they were spawned in 1969.

For their 20^th offering Scooby Apocalypse presents a post-apocalyptic Christmas – of sorts. More plot than season driven and not an issue to jump on board with. Just a nice present for the faithful fans.

Superboy and the citizens of Smallville (though not named) turn the tables on Santa Claus in “The 33rd Christmas.”

When a local man hits hard times his past good deeds deliver a future for him and his wife.

The homespun holiday tale, dated February 1947, is as American as a Norman Rockwell painting.

Just a Christmas cover for the 2001 year with issue 85, though the interior pages offer a theme of cold. Bugs, Yosemete, Beaky Buzzard and Sylvester and son weather frigid temperatures for some yucks.

DC was to recycle the cover for issue 193 10 years later for a “Looney Yule.”

Bugs and Daffy miss their turn in Boise to find themselves at Santa’s workshop. The desirous duck attempts to unionize the elves and receives Christmas culm for his efforts.

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?”