Finally, some down time devoted to catching up on hauls from the year past.

Pulling from a box of unread issues, I decided to finish what Marvel Team-Up books I’d picked up. As most any collector of any length of time can tell the uninitiated, you tend to give, buy and trade/sell books on a regular basis. Spider-Man titles are no exception.

Marvel Team-Up (1972) 79

I know I’ve owned issue 79 before. I know I’ve read it before. But, when I cracked the cover and started, I was pleasantly surprised to find this is a Christmas comic book.

Of sorts.

The story takes place Dec. 22, 1978. Chris Claremont is very specific on that. The date is front and center in the opening dialog box. The snow is falling across New York City, evening a backdrop as the moon shies behind thick stratus clouds. No colored lights lift the night’s burden. The first few pages are exercises in a Glynis Wein blue period.

Having set the mood, in prose and color, a young John Byrne pencils Spider-Man swinging to the Daily Bugle for the annual Christmas party. A quick change to Peter Parker and the titular character is greeted by Mary Jane and mistletoe.

What romance she wished to rekindle is squashed as Peter is ushered out the door on assignment to cover strange doings up town.

As promised on the cover, Red Sonja guest stars with Spidey making for an odd pairing. Still, the story works. And, as any red blooded American boy from the 1970s can vouch, when you found an appearance of Red Sonja on the spin racks, it was a good week.

Claremont and Byrne, already a team on The Uncanny X-Men, wrap the story up in the industry standard 17 pages leaving the reader fulfilled and satisfied their 40 cents didn’t go to waste.

Still out on this one. Of course I’m still out on Skottie Young’s take on Deadpool. Daniel Way is, by far, my favorite of the Merc With the Mouth scribes, though Nick Giovanetti and Paul Scheer made for a talented team on Spider-Man/Deadpool.

“Christmas Missed Us,” takes a page out of Keith Giffen’s Lobo’s Paramilitary Christmas Special. Actually, it takes a huge chunk of pages complete with a contract on Santa and showdown at the North Pole.

This time ‘round, Deadpool is contracted by a very disgruntled contingent of children when the Jolly Fat One fails to make his rounds. Pooling allowances and a healthy response to a hastily gathered “gopayme” account, DP’s fee is rendered.

Young deviates further by saving Santa the ignominy of having sat the season out via his own volition. Instead an evil elf has organized the other elves and rallied them around corrupt corporate-at-large (at least in the Marvel universe) Roxxon.

Deadpool fulfills his obligations and saves Christmas making for a happy ending all the way ‘round.

The 2018 Christmas season was celebrated with a plethora of seasonal covers and stories. Much thanks to both Marvel and DC for their efforts to keep us readers happy.

Settling into Christmas Eve with Marvel Team-Up (1972) #1. Pencils by Ross Andru and inks by Mike Esposito.

Power Man’s favorite holiday catch-phrase. By Sanford Greene.

As America packed away its bicentennial banners and fervor, Marvel began packaging its third, and final, Holiday Grab-Bag. And, that’s what it was, a holiday-less hodge podge of reprints pulled from Avengers (1963) issue 58, Daredevil (1964) number 86, Marvel Team-Up 6 and Tales to Astonish (1959) 93.

Roger Stern was a lowly assistant editor in charge of choosing reprint material for Marvel’s stable of twice-told-tale books. He was tasked to fill the last of the holiday specials with suitable material. Having already used what little was available the previous two years, Stern was faced with a daunting task.

Marvel Treasury Edition 13

As Stern told Back Issue magazine, issue 85, Christmas in the Bronze Age, from 2015; he pulled the most tear jerking stories he could find to fill the book. Choices made, he found the book was still 10 pages short. Stern approached Editor Archie Goodwin who freed money for what Stern termed a “framing sequence” for the stories.

Fanboys were given the Giant Superhero Holiday Grab-Bag Nov. 16, 1976, complete with a Gil Kane/Joe Sinnott cover featuring the Marvel mainstays. Stern penned the opening story, “Tis the Season,” showcasing the super heroes playing in the snow. Reprints included “…As Those Who Will Not See!” with Spider-Man and the Thing, “Even an Android Can Cry” featuring the Avengers, Hulk and Silver Surfer shared “He Who Strikes the Silver Surfer” and “Once Upon a Time – The Ox!” showcasing Daredevil and Black Widow.

This was the final Marvel holiday special until the 1990s. By then the House of Ideas would have a better catalog to choose from, even tossing in original material.

For me, nothing will ever beat the original specials from the 1970s. They were the perfect size to lie stomach down on the floor and marvel – pun intended – at the craftsmanship of those earlier Marvel Age stories.

Deadpool lampoons a favorite holiday film.  Artwork by Marco D’Alfonso.

Finally, a chance to plug Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur on the site.

I did not start with issue one. Nor issue two, three, four, etc. I didn’t come on board until much later when I found a back issue bin and a sizable chunk for a buck each. The title and covers intrigued me. Plus, the minor characters don’t bow to most current crossover events, yet allow readers to keep a toe in the Marvel Universe.

Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur 37

After the first couple issues I was hooked.

With a few holes to fill, I scrambled to finish the series to its current point. Then sat down to read ‘em all again. Much like Impulse and Young Justice, they were as satisfying the second reading.

To bring the uninitiated to speed, Moon Girl is Lunella Lafayette, a nine-year old who just happens to be – purportedly – the smartest person in the Marvel Universe.

She and Devil Dinosaur, formerly of Moon Boy and Devil Dinosaur, a Jack Kirby creation from 1978, teamed and bonded courtesy of Amy Reeder, Brandon Nontclare and Natcha Bustos.

For issue 37, Lunella and Devil Dinosaur face down Frosty Jack who attempts to thwart Christmas. Yancy Street is saved – as is the rest of New York and the world – with a paraphrased “Twas the Night Before Christmas” narration and tight dialog.

Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur is one of those all-ages books that actually works. On all levels. It’s affirming for children of all ages, genders and creeds. There’s a hint of Calvin and Hobbes mixed with Inspector Gadget and fisticuffs.

Behold, Galactus, Cracker of Worlds.  Artwork by Mike del Mundo.

Marvel’s Giant Superhero Holiday Grab Bag hit newsstands Nov. 25, 1975 on the heels of DC’s Limited Edition (C-43) Christmas With the Super-Heroes.

This second tabloid-sized special featured a collection of already told tales from the Bullpen’s fertile imagination. Having mined the few holiday stories the House of Ideas had floating around the previous year, this second book proved more Christmas in cover and theme than interior stories.

Marvel Treasury Edition 8 (1975)

Nick Fury opens the book with “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” taken from Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. issue 10 published in 1969. Nick’s night with surprise guest Laura is interrupted by a call to save the free world from the Hate Monger. Any seasonal spirit is forgotten as Fury does his best 007 impression to foil world domination. He’s rewarded for his efforts with his blond bombshell waiting for him at his apartment to watch the sun rise on Christmas morning.

There’s as much holiday spirt in the story “Spider-Man Goes Mad!” as there is in the name. Pulled from Amazing Spider-Man issue 24, the reprint marks the first time the story saw print since it was originally published.

“Jingle Bombs” uses a snowy backdrop and a few Christmas decorations to give the impression of the holidays for Luke Cage.

An abbreviated reprint of Incredible Hulk 147 is next. Entitled “Heaven is a Very Small Place,” the Hulk believes in a mirage where even he is accepted.

Dr. Strange battles Nightmare on New Year’s Eve in “Eternity, Eternity” reprinted from Dr. Strange 180.

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.