Today’s non-holiday adds a little mystery with its unknown origins and dark lenses. Today is National Sunglasses Day.

Since 2009, June 27 has been set aside for a subject lauded in song and popularized in film. From ZZ Top’s Dark Sunglasses to Arnold’s trademark shades in the original Terminator, sunglasses are a fashion statement and a health recommendation.

Each year National Sunglasses Day gains momentum from organizations such as The Vision Council. Humans may love the sun, but it doesn’t always reciprocate. Harmful UV rays cause our eyes to be at risk while we have fun in the sun.

Four Color Holidays’ spokesman for the day wears his shades for a completely different reason. Or, he used to before he donned his red and black singlet.

When Simon Williams first appeared, his green and red togs seemed a cross between nightmare and Christmas. Later he would don a red safari coat, black tights and boots. No matter what his fashion fau

Avengers (1963) 9x pas, Simons, aka Wonder Man, would have his red sunglasses.

In the beginning they resembled lenses in his facemask, but by the 1970s and his Marlin Perkins-inspired ensemble, they were definitely red sunglasses.

Williams began his career in what appeared to be a one-and-done as a villain in Avengers issue nine. Having appeared to have died, Williams did not return until Avengers 58 four years later.

The Avengers had conveniently saved his mind in a computer.

Oh, yeah, Simons had already been transformed into a being of ionic energy, seeking revenge against Tony Stark.

Anyway, following his reappearance in Avengers 58 the character was shelved for another few years only to return in a comatose cameo in Avengers 102. Kang the Conqueror would revive Simons/Wonder Man in the Avengers story arc 132-34.

Simon would finally become an Avenger after two more guest appearances with Avengers issue 160. Simon would pal with Hank “Beast” McCoy, even trying their hands at Hollywood.

He became a founding member of the West Coast Avengers in 1984, then joined Force Works a decade later. In 1994 he starred in his own series for 29 issues. Simons rejoined the Avengers in 1998. He has remained with the team since in most of its incarnations.

Now, to celebrate today, grab your favorite shades, head over to your local comic book shop and pick up some Wonder Man issues.

An American Christmas! acts as a backdrop to tie up some loose ends before the original Secret Wars kicked off.

Captain America (1968) 292

Steve Rogers/Captain America is haunted by a recurring dream that isn’t a dream. A black crow visits Captain America while Steve goes about his holiday happenings.

Supporting characters receive the spotlight with J.M. DeMatteis moving the story along. The season acts as so much background with snow and Christmas decorations in the periphery.

The Black Crow is dispatched by stories end with the epilog showing the Avengers as they speed toward their destiny with the Beyonder.

Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars was a 12-issue mini running from May 1984 to April 1985. The series is most notable for the licensing deal with Kenner and the introduction of Spider-Man’s black costume.

A sequel, published from 1985 to 1986, ran nine issues and spilled over into most of the Marvel Universe in the form of cross overs. While the best-selling comic book of the year, it is also one of the most despised.

Batteries Not Included is a Vision-centric story as he follows leads to his past.

Most of the seasonal spirit stems from Wanda Maximoff. Her apostle, Holly, is taught what midwinter and Christmas mean to witches.

The second Vision and Scarlet Witch mini is made up of 12 issues, beginning in 1985. Steve Englehart weaves a story allowing Wanda to become pregnant through magical means. The book is fairly self-contained and the children are discarded shortly after.

The series would have repercussions in the Marvel Universe years later in the mutant mini House of M. Scarlet Witch would suffer a mental breakdown from the loss of her children and try to resurrect them.

Vision and Scarlet Witch were wed in Giant-Size Avengers number four. Bill Mantlo and Rick Leonardi penned and penciled the duo’s first mini released in 1982.

To mix it up a little, let’s toss in some Marvel “horror” for this Halloween ’19. Avengers Assemble Season Three, Episode Seven is worth a sit back in your most comfy chair with a bowl full of Halloween candy.

Marvel Holiday Special 2011 TPB

The early days of the Christmas Treasury Editions and their skimpy Santa’s bag of holiday stories were long past when Marvel published this volume.

Each of the offerings is a reprint beginning with “Have Yourself a Sandman Little Christmas” from Marvel Team-Up 1 followed by “Demon” from Uncanny X-Men 143. The remainder of the book pulls from either the 2004 and 2005 Marvel Holiday Specials.

Of course the first two stories are a glimpse of Merry Marvel of old, but the newer offerings provide a look at how far the House of Ideas has come.