Peter David authors “You Better Watch Out” and that’s all you need to know to pull this out of the back issue bins.

This is one of my favorite Spider-Man Christmas stories focusing more on Peter than Spidey as the title was originally designed to do. Just a step behind, poor Mr. Parker teeters on the periphery of the holidays until bottoming out sharing a Coke Classic with his costume.

When a department store Santa tries to burgle his shapely neighbors’ apartment Spidey saves Christmas Eve and the man of the hour saves Christmas by bagging the bad guy and ensuring Peter is at his aunt’s for Christmas breakfast.

Spider-Man’s Christmas (1984)

Spider-Man’s Christmas, a Super-Size Coloring Book, was released in 1984 presumably as companion book to the Marvel Super-Heroes’ Christmas. Aspiring artists were invited to color a story featuring Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Aunt May and the Green Goblin.

An oddity with the book is the fact there are two editions. One is 32-pages in length and another 24 pages.

Hanging 10 on the ‘Net it looks as if the 32-page book has a gold binding and the abbreviated 24-page version has a red binding. Don’t hold me to this, but the descriptions on eBay seem to prove that theory out.

Note the shameless Secret Wars plug

Marvel was on the marketing move in 1984. In addition to its Secret Wars line the company licensed the rights to color its creations with a couple activity books including this one. The only thing rarer than seeing the Rhino peeking through the holly is finding an edition untouched.

Marie Severin didn’t date this pin-up, but I’d put it somewhere between 1970 and 1972 based on the characters in evidence. This may be the only time Conan experienced Christmas.

No idea where this came from (contact us), but thought it would be appropriate for the site.  C’mon, Santa, the Grinch and Hulk. Where else can you find this holiday triumvirate? Just goes to prove what a magical time of year Christmas really is.

For me How the Grinch Stole Christmas is the premiere holiday animation as Boris Karloff purrs through Dr. Seuss’ prose.

Update:  Artwork by Michael Delmundo!  – Jeff

Excalibur started as a promising book under the guidance of mutant wrangler Chris Claremont with pencils by hot artist Alan Davis. The series quickly became mired in a multi-issue story arc, but it’s still nice to see Dave Cockrum remembering the team’s heyday with a holiday rendering.

Cronus, or Saturn, decks the concrete canyons of New York with bodies to show his displeasure at having his holiday usurped by a fat man catering to the kiddies.

Title characters Spidey and Deadpool are tapped to stop the Christmas carnage by showing him the true meaning of the holiday with an evening of debauchery to turn back the time and tide of destruction.

The issue is gift wrapped with laughter and an exchange of pleasantries and presents.

Sweet Christmas is the story’s title and rallying cry for Luke Cage, Danny Rand, Jessica Drew and Daimon Helstrom while putting the kibosh on Krampus’ bid for world domination.

Jack “King” Kirby does the art chores for an early Marvel Christmas card.

Merry Christmas are the last words uttered by the Frankenstein monster’s new-found and short-lived friend as a Salvation Army Santa tinkled his bell. Doug Moench never told readers if she received her wings as the grenade exploded while she tried to save a faux president.

No Christmas cover or hint other than snow that this would dovetail into Christmas.