‘Tis the Season!
Celebrate the holidays with your favorite Christmas comic books. As the weather gets colder, nighttime comes quicker, and families start gathering, it’s the perfect time for feel-good memories and corny traditions with your favorite heroes, villains, and comic characters. Dive into the festive times with these holiday comic books.
Marvel Holiday Comic Books
Celebrate the holidays all month long with your very own X-Men advent calendar. Merry X-Men Holiday Special (2018) makes the spot as one of the best holiday themed comics because it tells twenty-five tales about merry mutants from December 1 through December 25. Have you ever wondered what Magneto does for Hanukkah? Or how Jubilee skillfully navigates packed malls during the holidays? Or what was Rogue and Gambit’s first married Christmas like? Your favorite X-Men creators come together to put the holiday cheer into our merry mutant family!
Ho ho… ho? Is that Santa Claus? When a god calling himself the first “Santa” appears, it’s up to Deadpool and Spider-Man to SAVE CHRISTMAS from his nefarious “gifts”. Join in on the festivities as our unconventional heroes bring holiday joy though fighting, gambling, and bro out with Santa Claus in Spider-Man/Deadpool (2016) #12.
Notable Marvel Holiday Comics:
- Daredevil (Vol 1) #253 – “Merry Christmas, Kingpin!”
- Deadpool Killustrated (2013) #3 – “The Second of the Three Spirits”
- Gwenpool Holiday Special: Merry Mix-Up (2016) #1
- Man-Thing (Vol 3) #3 – “Christmas in Bedlam!”
- Marvel Holiday Special (2011) #1
- Moon Knight: Silent Knight (2008)
- Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man (Vol 1) #112 – “You Never Make a Sound”
- Power Man and Iron Fist: Sweet Christmas Annual (2016) #1
- Wolverine (Vol 3) #49 – “Better to Give…”
DC Comics Holiday Comics
Travel through the holidays with this year-long festive tale. Batman: The Long Halloween (1996) may not be a conventional holiday story, but it highlights all that we love about our favorite hero, Batman. As a villain starts killing his prey on holidays, it’s up to Batman to fend off mobsters and super villains and solve mysteries before the killer find his next target.
When you search for holiday DC Comics, you’ll find they specialize in anthologies. Whether you love seeing your favorite A-list or C-list hero in a terrifying Halloween tale or a love-filled lullaby, the comic giant has several quick stories you’ll love. In the theme of the winter holiday season, check out these DC holiday collections: DC Universe Holiday Bash I, II, and III (1997 -1999), DC Rebirth Holiday Special (2016), DC Nuclear Winter Special (2018), and DC’s ‘Twas the ‘Mite Before Christmas (2023). Some of the best DC Christmas themed comics feature all the characters you love.
Other DC Holiday Comic Books:
- Batman (Vol 1) #239 – “Silent Night, Deadly Night!”
- Batman: Noël (2011)
- The Batman Adventures Holiday Special (1995) #1
- Green Lantern (Vol 2) #113 – “That They May Fear No More!”
- Lobo Paramilitary Christmas Special (1991)
- New Year’s Evil #1 (2019)
- Starman (Vol 2) #27 – “Christmas Knight”
- Superman’s Christmas Adventure #1 (1940)
- Superman: The Man of Steel (Vol 1) #109 – “World Without Superman”
Independent Holiday Comic Books
Outside of the big two publishers, there are a few great unorthodox Christmas comic books to get you in the mood this season; two coming from the comic legend Grant Morrison. Happy! (2012) tells the tale of a corrupt ex-cop turned hit-man hunting down a Santa-suited killer with the help of a tiny blue horse named Happy. This odd tale is definitely not for the faint of heart, but the story expertly shows the gloomier side of the holiday season, set in gritty New York City.
Morrison also draws on the origins of the Christmas holiday with their series, Klaus (2015), illustrated by Dan Mora. Building on Santa’s traditional Viking lore, this tale follows the story of Klaus, a barbarian swashbuckler, and his wolven companion, Lilli, as they adventure across lands of endless winter, fighting magical forces to make the world safe for everyone with Christmas spirit.
For a more light-hearted holiday tale, the original Giant Days series follows a group of three young adults during their time at university as they build their friendship and discover themselves. But what if this close-knit group never met? The Giant Days Holiday Special (2016) puts an It’s a Wonderful Life-esque spin on this trio of friends to show them the true meaning of their friendship.
Other Holiday Stories You’ll Enjoy:
- Bone Holiday Special (1993)
- A Christmas Bestiary (2023)
- Futurama (Vol 1) #64 – “Secret Santa”
- Hazel and Cha Cha Save Christmas: Tales from the Umbrella Academy (2019)
- Hellboy: A Christmas Underground (2015)
- Sabrina the Teenage Witch Holiday Special (2023)
- Spawn (Vol 1) #39 – “Noel”
- X-Files X-Mas Special (2015)
Honorable Mention
We can’t finish the best Christmas themed comic list without mentioning the most contentious Christmas movie: Die Hard. Enjoy a different take on your holiday traditions with A Die Hard Christmas: The Illustrated Holiday Classic by Doogie Horner and JJ Harrison.
Whether you agree that Die Hard is a Christmas movie or not, this illustrated tale of John McClane’s adventures trying to save his estranged wife from an armed hostage situation is a whimsically retelling of a beloved movie. Told through the classic “Night Before Christmas” poem, find out how McClane will make it home in time for Christmas.
Treat yourself to an uplifting tale this season or find the perfect gift for the comic lover in your life. There’s still time to enjoy these Holiday and Christmas comic books!
0 Comments