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.”

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.

Marvel’s holiday card, circa 2010.

The latest episode of This Week in Marvel touches on two Thanksgiving themed comics, Franklin Richards: Happy Franksgiving #1 (2006) and Power Pack #19 (1984).

If you’re looking for more turkey tales, check out Marvel.com’s list of Thanksgiving reads.  Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

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.

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.

A one-shot of mistaken identity, revenge and redemption in a short 33 pages.

Everybody loves Halloween. Well, almost everybody. For instance, not Spider-Man. Spider-Man and semi-sober friends caring for their very drunk friends.

An amusing story as told by Bill Hader and Seth Meyers. Yes, that Seth Meyers: comedian, writer, political commentator, actor and TV host.

And, yes, that Bill Hader. Both are Saturday Night Alumni.

Kevin Maguire handled penciling chores. Yes, that Kevin Maguire. His resume is too long to list here, but, trust me, if you aren’t familiar with the artist, take time to get acquainted.

Anyway, back to the story already in progress…

In New York City it’s hard to swing a dead cat without hitting a super hero. Or villain. Halloween multiplies the meta population as the citizens emulate favorites. Normally not a problem, but this Halloween eve is plagued by at least one too many Spider-Men.

Rather than give too much away, go pick up a copy and enjoy some holiday hijinks Spidey style.

Spider-Man: The Short Halloween one-shot (2009)

Spider-Man: The Short Halloween hardcover (2009)

Baby, it’s cold outside. Cold enough to freeze the webbing in your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man’s web-shooters. Still, it’s two days before Christmas – in New York City – whatta ya expect?

This exothermic process will cause our hero problems later, but is foreshadowed several times before the big brouhaha.

As stated above, it’s just days before Christmas and Peter Parker is cash poor. Though gifted with the strength and agility of his name-sake, Peter just can’t catch a break. Crime is on the downside and he needs $99 for Aunt May’s Christmas gift.

No amount of web swinging bears fruit. He does mistake two well-meaning Santas for the Santa burglar. Spidey even assaults a father dressed as Saint Nick trying to impress his children.

The hapless hero finally seems to make good when he not only defeats the Chameleon – surprise villain – but is able to document the fight in photos. True to Parker luck there’s no one to pay him for his photos and Peter is back to square one.

He finally realizes it’s not the dollar amount attached to the gift, but the heart strings. In a Christmas miracle even JJJ comes through.

Marvel Adventures is an all-ages imprint formally published under Marvel Age. The stories are one-and-done rather than multi-issue arcs. The imprint ran from 2005 to 2010 when it was rebooted as Marvel Adventures Spider-Man and Marvel Adventures Super Heroes. Each ended in 2012 to be retitled Ultimate Spider-Man and The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Super Heroes Adventures to dovetail with Disney XDs cartoon block.

Dallas is known for many things; the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, its football team, oil and cotton, a prime-time soap, but not New York superheroes.

That didn’t stop Marvel Comics Group and the Dallas Times Herald from offering at least five different adventures as give-aways.

America had just learned the answer to, “Who shot JR,” when the first of the lot was published. Most teamed Spider-Man with the Hulk, the latter still featured on his own television show. By the fourth venture creative heads decided to celebrate Christmas with Spidey trading quips and fisticuffs with his old foe the Kingpin.

A reluctant Peter Parker – who has never spent a Christmas with anyone, but Aunt May – is cajoled into acting as J. Jonah Jamison’s personal photographer for a dinner with billionaires.

The Kingpin, who didn’t receive an invitation, substitutes himself as the hired Santa. With his flunkies the Kingpin crashes the party taking all in attendance hostage. His asking price is $10 million per head.

Pre-dating the original Diehard movie, Peter slips away to trade casual clothes for his union suit. One-by-one he takes out the Kingpin’s hired help forcing a showdown between he and Kingpin.

In the end, it’s host Stanley Mudge who helps Spidey defeat Kingpin and save Christmas Eve – for his guests and Peter is who whisked back east in Mudge’s personal jet to spend Christmas day with Aunt May.

In addition to the first two team ups with the Hulk, Spidey found himself in search if the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders and in one final adventure with his Amazing Friends, Iceman and Firestar.

No figures can be found to see if the promotions boosted sales, but by the Dec. 8, 1991, the Times Herald shut its doors. Assets were bought the next day for $55 million and dispersed.

Spider-Man: Christmas in Dallas

Spider-Man: Christmas in Dallas (original cover art by Marie Severin)