Posted Monday, November 13th, 2017 by Barry

Sugar and Spike 56

It’s their first Christmas and one of confusion as the toublesome tykes attempt to make sense of the season.

Presents grow “up” from the floor of the closet, snow grows “down” from the sky. The toddlers tackle the turmoil only to find the true meaning of the Christmas by giving it away.

Super and Spike 56

Posted Monday, November 13th, 2017 by Barry

Monsters Unleashed (1973) 10

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.

Monsters Unleashed (1973) 10

Posted Monday, November 13th, 2017 by Barry

Todd the Ugliest Kid on Earth 8

Todd the Ugliest Kid on Earth 8

Todd the Ugliest Kid on Earth 8

Not sure where to start with this one other than this is where the series ends.

Todd the Ugliest Kid on Earth received high praise during its abbreviated run with lush illustrations and biting satire covering every aspect of American life from sitcoms to Comicon.

For the final hurrah Ken Kristensen and M.K. Perker send Todd to hell – literally – to save Santa and Christmas. Toss in Joan Crawford emceeing a parent therapy meeting, enough racial epithets to make even my Dad blush and golden virgins and you’d be as confused as I was after finishing the issue – even after three re-reads.

Posted Monday, November 13th, 2017 by Barry

A Distant Soil 26

The disclaimer on the cover says it all: Waning – This happy Christmas cover has absolutely nothing to do with what’s going on inside this book. However, the artist has always wanted to do a holiday cover and here it is. Merry Christmas from the crew of A Distant Soil.

A Distant Soil 26

Posted Monday, November 13th, 2017 by Barry

Franklin Richards “Everyone Loves Franklin” (2006)

Four shorts bookended by Christmas tales. No Christmas cover, though.

The first born of Marvel’s First Family makes his own adventures away from his famous parents, uncle and Godfather. Most of Franklin’s sugar-fueled adventures involve good intentions, but quickly pave the way to frantic escapades.

Franklin Richards “Everyone Loves Franklin” (2006)

Posted Monday, November 13th, 2017 by Barry

Captain Atom (1987) 13

Captain Atom (1987) 13

Captain Atom (1987) 13

Buyer beware:  the cover is far more festive than the issue.

If a first-time reader as I am/was, the soliloquy synopsis from the primaries does little to prep for the story. Or entertain for that matter.

The issue finally picks up when 1980s greed brings about arson on an old tenement building inhabited by squatters and homeless. Captain Atom saves the day in true Christmas fashion and is celebrated while a death causes ruminations for the antagonist.

Not the best of what’s out there, but still an attempt to bring the season into the DC Universe.

Posted Thursday, November 9th, 2017 by Barry

Superboy (1990) 12

Superboy isn’t alone in the super powers department for Christmas 1990. Magic, cable television and fevered dreams bring Smallville a “Christmas Wish,” from writer John Moore, art by the incomparable Curt Swan and inks by Ty Templeton.

Merry Christmas from one of the final Superman-family works by the artist who defined the Man of Steel for three decades. Swan died in 1996 at the age of 91 after completing art chores on Alan Moore’s non-canonical “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?”

Superboy (1990) 12

Posted Thursday, November 9th, 2017 by Barry

Daredevil (2011) 7

There’s a lotta baggage with Daredevil by now, but readers can still enjoy the story.

Basically the Man Without Fear makes his own miracles as a Christmas outing turns deadly for himself and eight young charges.

Daredevil (2011) 7

Posted Thursday, November 9th, 2017 by Barry

Panic (1954) 1

This companion comic to EC’s original Mad only lasted 12 issues, but is still loved by fans today.

Panic proved promising from the start with a send up crime noir story, television satire, fairy tale and comedic approach to Christmas. More specifically the holiday chestnut Night Before Christmas. Bill Elder took much liberty with the imagery while leaving verse intact for this 1954 maligning of the holidays rounding the poem out with a Christmas card from EC’s stable of talent and ringmaster William Gaines.

Panic (1954) 1

Posted Thursday, November 9th, 2017 by Barry

Scooby-Doo (1997) 67

Scooby-Doo (1997) 67

Scooby-Doo (1997) 67

When Ebenezer Scrooge is forewarned of ghosts to come, who’s he gonna call? That’s right: Mystery Inc.

A brief investigation of the bedroom where Scrooge was confronted reveals smudges on the floor leaving the gang to believe the threat was not a dream.  With the stage set, Shaggy and Scooby are volunteered to pose as Scrooge for the night. As promised the CEO and President of Scrooge Inc. Accounting, Tax Preparation and Loans is visited by three ghosts.

What the plan doesn’t anticipate are Fred, Velma, Daphne and Scrooge all locked in the closet they plan to spring their trap from.

We’ll leave the unmasking to the tale’s reader.

In addition to the haunting holiday yarn the book leads with a 10-year anniversary return to the Tonya Harding-Nancy Kerrigan Olympic fiasco only with ghosts and different skaters. And no real violence. So, maybe not an anniversary tale, but one reminiscent.